Abstract: An actuator position sensing system for sensing a position of an actuator. The actuator position sensing system includes a first sensor for detecting a position of a first moveable portion of the actuator; a plurality of second sensors each being configured for detecting a position of a second moveable portion of the actuator; and a controller connected to the first sensor and the plurality of second sensors. The controller is configured to calculate a difference between (i) a position of the second movable portion as calculated based upon the data transmitted from the first sensor, and (ii) a position of the second movable portion as calculated based upon the data transmitted from one or more of the plurality of second sensors. A motor is connected to the first movable portion and the controller, and the motor is configured to move the first moveable portion based upon the calculated difference.

Abstract: A thermal protection system (TPM) for protecting a surface subject to high thermal load comprising a fiber substrate where the substrate is composed of woven or non-woven layers of fibers laminated together, or the substrate is formed by a process of three-dimensional weaving, wherein the fiber substrate has a variable density of fibers, with said density of fibers increasing across the thickness of the TPM, and further wherein the substrate is needled and coupled to an insulation backing.

Abstract: A thermal protection system (TPM) for protecting a surface subject to high thermal load comprising a fiber substrate where the substrate is composed of woven or non-woven layers of fibers laminated together, or the substrate is formed by a process of three-dimensional weaving, wherein the fiber substrate has a variable density of fibers, with said density of fibers increasing across the thickness of the TPM, and further wherein the substrate is needled and coupled to an insulation backing.

Abstract: A thermal protection system (TPM) for protecting a surface subject to high thermal load comprising a fiber substrate where the substrate is composed of woven or non-woven layers of fibers laminated together, or the substrate is formed by a process of three-dimensional weaving, wherein the fiber substrate has a variable density of fibers, with said density of fibers increasing across the thickness of the TPM, and further wherein the substrate is needled and coupled to an insulation backing.

Abstract: A thermal protection system (TPM) for protecting a surface subject to high thermal load comprising a fiber substrate where the substrate is composed of woven or non-woven layers of fibers laminated together, or the substrate is formed by a process of three-dimensional weaving, wherein the fiber substrate has a variable density of fibers, with said density of fibers increasing across the thickness of the TPM, and further wherein the substrate is needled and coupled to an insulation backing.

Abstract: A sensor for non-intrusively measuring the volumetric flow rate of materials, such as cotton, in a confined air stream is disclosed. The sensor is mounted on a conduit through which an air entrained material such as cotton flows. The sensor has an emitter unit having a number of light sources such as an LED which emit light beams normal to the longitudinal axis of the conduit. The sensor also has a detector unit which detects the light beams from the light sources. The light beams are detected by light-to-frequency circuits which generate a signal indicative of the sensed light. The light beams are attenuated depending on the amount of material passing through the conduit. The generated signal is sent to a counter circuit. The counter outputs are coupled to a processor circuit which calculates the quantity of material flowing through the light beam as a function of the frequency signal and a baseline frequency signal indicative of the level of light detected when no material is flowing through the light beam.