Abstract: A system of hardware and software provides a systematic and systemic method for performing assessment of the effectiveness of different levels within an institution. The system includes template driven definitions that span multiple tiers of hierarchically arranged operating units within the institution thereby providing flexibility and customization to handle a user-definable model of the institution's organization. In particular, modeling of different nodes of the institution is performed in a flexible manner that may apply to various institutions regardless of their particular organizational structure.

Abstract: A system of hardware and software provides a systematic and systemic method for performing assessment of the effectiveness of different levels within an institution. The system includes template driven definitions that span multiple tiers of hierarchically arranged operating units within the institution thereby providing flexibility and customization to handle a user-definable model of the institution's organization. In particular, the assessment management system may share data in a format that is importable by other management systems. Sharing of data does not necessarily mean the concurrent sharing of data but rather that the data is exported in a format that is transportable to another system. Portions of an assessment project may be shared in this way with other institutions even if the organization levels and other operating units are not the same between the two institutions.

Abstract: A system of hardware and software provides a systematic and systemic method for performing assessment of the effectiveness of different levels within an institution. The system includes template driven definitions that span multiple tiers of hierarchically arranged operating units within the institution thereby providing flexibility and customization to handle a user-definable model of the institution's organization. In particular, one or more concurrently active assessment projects may be associated with an assessment initiative. In this way, portions of data collection and reporting may be shared within the program initiative and its various, associated assessment projects.

Abstract: A system of hardware and software provides a systematic and systemic method for performing assessment the effectiveness of different levels within an institution. The system includes template driven definitions that span multiple tiers of hierarchically arranged operating units within the institution thereby providing flexibility and customization to handle a user-definable model of the institution's organization. In particular, a model is stored of a plurality of organizational levels of the institution, wherein each organizational level includes at least one respective, associated node. For any node, at least one customizable assessment project associated with that node is created and presented to a user; then, the at least one customizable assessment project is completed based, at least in part, on first input received from the user.

Abstract: A system of hardware and software provides a systematic and systemic method for performing assessment of the effectiveness of different levels within an institution. The system includes template driven definitions that span multiple tiers of hierarchically arranged operating units within the institution thereby providing flexibility and customization to handle a user-definable model of the institution's organization. In particular, instruments may deployed selectively to a variety of different recipients. The selected group of recipients may be based on, for example, demographic, course, program, institution, section, education experience, and section-related criteria.

Abstract: A system of hardware and software provides a systematic and systemic method for performing assessment of the effectiveness of different levels within an institution. The system includes template driven definitions that span multiple tiers of hierarchically arranged operating units within the institution thereby providing flexibility and customization to handle a user-definable model of the institution's organization. In particular, courses and other educational experiences may include material that is aligned with various goals and objectives of different units of the institution. A curriculum mapping feature is provided that identifies a bi-directional alignment between goals and courses such that curriculum gaps may be determined as well.

Abstract: An end effector operatively coupled to an extendable tensile element extended from a first vehicle engages a primary receptacle of a second vehicle. The first and second vehicles are drawn together by retracting the extendable tensile element into the first vehicle until contact therebetween, after which roll axes of the first and second vehicles become substantially aligned responsive to a further retraction of the extendable tensile element into the first vehicle and a resulting tension in the extendable tensile element. At least one alignment post of at least one of the first and second vehicles engages with at least one surface of at least one corresponding secondary receptacle so as to at least substantially align the first and second vehicles in roll responsive to the tension in the extendable tensile element.

Abstract: An automatically aligned docking system, comprises a multi-point kinematic rigidization system that provides precise, repeatable rotational alignment at the spacecraft-docking interface without over-constraining the interface.

Abstract: A system of hardware and software provides a community of academic institution-related users with a central repository for storing, searching, and retrieving bookmarks from amongst the users. The bookmarks are tagged with user-specified labels as well as academic institution related metadata such as a course identifier and/or discipline identifier. As a result, other users can search through the bookmarks using a variety of criteria to locate relevant bookmarks and other information.

Abstract: In accordance with one aspect, an automatically aligned docking system, comprises a multi-point kinematic rigidization system that provides precise, repeatable rotational alignment at the spacecraft-docking interface without over-constraining the interface.

Abstract: A system of hardware and software provides a systematic and systemic method for performing assessment of the effectiveness of different levels within an institution. The system includes template driven definitions that span multiple tiers of hierarchically arranged operating units within the institution thereby providing flexibility and customization to handle a user-definable model of the institution's organization. In particular, one or more concurrently active assessment projects may be associated with an assessment initiative. In this way, portions of data collection and reporting may be shared within the program initiative and its various, associated assessment projects.

Abstract: A first beam of light from a laser is split by a beam splitter into a reference beam and at least one second beam of light, the latter of which is directed into an atmosphere. Light from the at least one second beam of light scattered by molecules or aerosols in the atmosphere is collected by at least one telescope as at least one light signal. The at least one light signal and the reference beam ae simultaneously processed by a common interferometer, and resulting fringe patterns are imaged onto a detector and processed by a data processor to determine at least one associated air data product.

Abstract: A system of hardware and software provides a systematic and systemic method for performing assessment the effectiveness of different levels within an institution. The system includes template driven definitions that span multiple tiers of hierarchically arranged operating units within the institution thereby providing flexibility and customization to handle a user-definable model of the institution's organization. In particular, a model is stored of a plurality of organizational levels of the institution, wherein each organizational level includes at least one respective, associated node. For any node, at least one customizable assessment project associated with that node is created and presented to a user; then, the at least one customizable assessment project is completed based, at least in part, on first input received from the user.

Abstract: A system of hardware and software provides a systematic and systemic method for performing assessment of the effectiveness of different levels within an institution. The system includes template driven definitions that span multiple tiers of hierarchically arranged operating units within the institution thereby providing flexibility and customization to handle a user-definable model of the institution's organization. In particular, instruments may deployed selectively to a variety of different recipients. The selected group of recipients may be based on, for example, demographic, course, program, institution, section, education experience, and section-related criteria.

Abstract: A system of hardware and software provides a systematic and systemic method for performing assessment of the effectiveness of different levels within an institution. The system includes template driven definitions that span multiple tiers of hierarchically arranged operating units within the institution thereby providing flexibility and customization to handle a user-definable model of the institution's organization. In particular, an assignment binder may be created based on selective filtering of artifacts. Filtering criteria may be used to select, for inclusion within the assignment binder, only those artifacts from authors having certain attributes.

Abstract: A system of hardware and software provides a systematic and systemic method for performing assessment of the effectiveness of different levels within an institution. The system includes template driven definitions that span multiple tiers of hierarchically arranged operating units within the institution thereby providing flexibility and customization to handle a user-definable model of the institution's organization. In particular, modeling of different nodes of the institution is performed in a flexible manner that may apply to various institutions regardless of their particular organizational structure.

Abstract: A system of hardware and software provides a systematic and systemic method for performing assessment of the effectiveness of different levels within an institution. The system includes template driven definitions that span multiple tiers of hierarchically arranged operating units within the institution thereby providing flexibility and customization to handle a user-definable model of the institution's organization. In particular, courses and other educational experiences may include material that is aligned with various goals and objectives of different units of the institution. A curriculum mapping feature is provided that identifies a bi-directional alignment between goals and courses such that curriculum gaps may be determined as well.

Abstract: A system of hardware and software provides a systematic and systemic method for performing assessment of the effectiveness of different levels within an institution. The system includes template driven definitions that span multiple tiers of hierarchically arranged operating units within the institution thereby providing flexibility and customization to handle a user-definable model of the institution's organization. In particular, the assessment management system may share data in a format that is importable by other management systems. Sharing of data does not necessarily mean the concurrent sharing of data but rather that the data is exported in a format that is transportable to another system. Portions of an assessment project may be shared in this way with other institutions even if the organization levels and other operating units are not the same between the two institutions.

Abstract: This invention solves problems associated with prior-art soft-dock mechanisms by placing all active components of a soft-dock system on the chaser side of the mechanism, leaving the target side of the mechanism completely passive (i.e., requiring no power expenditure or self-actuated moving parts to operate). In particular, the active components are supported on the end of a flexible cable attached to the probe, or chaser, side of the device. These components act as a sort of spring-loaded “trap.” Once the end of the probe passes into a receptacle on the target side, the mechanism is triggered, engaging it in such a way that it can no longer be pulled out of the receptacle until it is reset. The soft-docking cable may be replaced with a rigid, semi-rigid or jointed post that is used to bring a capture mechanism into engagement with its corresponding receptacle or receiving structure.

Abstract: An autonomous vehicle docking system restrains six degrees of freedom through the use of a plurality of latches having differing bearing surface geometry which each constrain a generally spherical post end, and with a soft-dock cable system to initiate the capture sequence and provide for positive disengagement by a capture vehicle.