Abstract: A munition including: a control surface actuation device including: an actuator having two or more pistons, each of the pistons being movable between an extended and retracted position, the retracted position resulting from an activation of each of the two or more pistons; and a movable rack having a pocket corresponding to each of the two or more pistons, each pocket being engageable with a corresponding portion of each of the two or more pistons, a distance between the pockets being different than a distance between the portions of the two or more pistons, such that activation of the portion into the corresponding pocket sequentially translates the rack; and a control surface operatively connected to the rack such that translation of the rack rotates the control surface.

Abstract: A method for determining angular orientation of an object in two or more directions. The method includes: generating a scanning polarized RF source signal; receiving the scanning polarized RF source signal at one or more cavities of a sensor disposed on the object; measuring the scanning polarized RF source signal at a first portion of the sensor; reflecting the scanning polarized RF source signal toward a second portion of the sensor; measuring the scanning polarized RF source signal at the second portion of the sensor; and determining the angular orientation of the object in the two or more directions based on the measured signal at the first and second portions of the sensor.

Abstract: A mortar shell including: a metallic inner layer; a polymer outer layer having reinforcing fibers dispersed therein; and at least one layer of metallic fragments disposed between the inner and outer layers, the layer of metallic fragments including a plurality of individual metallic fragments unconnected to each other. In a variation, the mortar shell including: a metallic inner layer, the metallic inner layer having a grid formed on an outer surface to define a plurality of metallic fragments separated by grooves; a polymer having first reinforcing fibers disposed within the grooves; and a polymer outer layer having second reinforcing fibers dispersed therein. In another variation, the mortar shell including a polymer outer layer having reinforcing fibers dispersed therein; and a metallic inner layer having a plurality of metallic fragments with a shape to interlock to each of the other and assembled together into the metallic inner layer.

Abstract: A heating circuit for an energy storage device having a core with an electrolyte, the energy storage device having inputs, characteristics of a capacitance across the electrolyte and the core, and internal surface capacitance between the inputs which can store electric field energy between internal electrodes of the energy storage device that are coupled to the inputs, the battery heating circuit including: a controller configured to switch between a positive input voltage and a negative input voltage provided to one of the inputs at a frequency sufficient to effectively short the internal surface capacitance of the energy storage device to generate heat and raise a temperature of the electrolyte, the controller being further configured to discontinue the switching when the temperature of the electrolyte and/or the energy storage device is above a predetermined temperature that is considered sufficient to increase a charging efficiency of the energy storage device.

Abstract: A method for heating an energy storage device having a core with an electrolyte, the method including: providing the energy storage device having inputs and characteristics of a capacitance across the electrolyte and the core and internal surface capacitance between the inputs which can store electric field energy between internal electrodes of the energy storage device that are coupled to the inputs; switching between a positive input voltage and a negative input voltage provided to one of the inputs at a frequency sufficient to effectively short the internal surface capacitance of the energy storage device to generate heat and raise a temperature of the electrolyte; and discontinuing the switching when the temperature of the electrolyte is above a predetermined temperature that is considered sufficient to increase a charging efficiency of the energy storage device.

Abstract: A walkway for use between a shoreline of a body of water and at least a portion of a building exposed to the body of water, the walkway including: a base adjacent to the building; a plank having a surface for use by pedestrians to walk upon when the plank is in a first position at least indirectly disposed on the base, the plank having a first end rotatably connected to the base and having a second end extending from the first end away from the building along a length of the plank, the surface being exposed for use by the pedestrians to walk upon when the plank is in the first position; and a lifting mechanism operatively connected to the plank to rotate the plank from the first position to a second position where the length of the plank is oriented adjacent to a wall of the building to impede a rising height of the body of water.

Abstract: A method for actuating a device, the method including: biasing a first movable member in a first direction; biasing a second movable member in a second direction; blocking a movement of the second movable member at a position along a second path when the first and second movable members experience a first acceleration having a first magnitude and a first duration; and allowing the second movable member to move along the second path past the position when the first and second movable members experience a second acceleration having a second magnitude and a second duration, the second magnitude being less than the first magnitude and the second duration being greater than the first duration.

Abstract: A method for setting up a reference coordinate system including: providing an object with sensors having a geometrical cavity with a pick up terminal configured to provide an output that varies with orientation of the sensors with respect to a direction of an incoming polarized RF plane of polarization; using polarized RF reference sources each having two polarization planes offset from each other and different from polarization fields of other references sources; amplitude modulating the two polarization planes for each of the reference sources to define a time varying linear polarization vector for each of the reference sources; and determining, for each of the reference sources, the position and orientation of the object relative to the reference coordinate system based on a measured amplitude of the time varying linear polarization vector at the sensors, a predetermined mapping function and a predetermined scanning pattern of the time varying linear polarization vector.

Abstract: A thermoelectric generator system including: a first surface having a first material configured to undergo a phase change at a first temperature; an actuator configured to retract the first material from contacting a heat source upon the heat source reaching a predetermined temperature higher than the first temperature; and a thermoelectric generator having a hot side and a cold side, the first material being on the hot side. The thermoelectric generator system can further include a second material configured to undergo a phase change at a second temperature, the second temperature being lower than the first temperature, the second material being on the cold side of the thermoelectric generator.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a Lithium-Ion reserve battery, the method including: assembling an operational Lithium-ion battery having an anode, cathode, separator membrane between the anode and cathode and an electrolyte; charging the assembled Lithium-ion battery; disassembling the Lithium-ion battery by separating the anode, cathode and separator membrane and removing the electrolyte; rinsing and drying the disassembled cathode and anode; reassembling the rinsed and dried cathode and anode with a new separator membrane between the anode and cathode and without the electrolyte to provide the Lithium-Ion reserve battery; and discharging the Lithium-Ion reserve battery.

Abstract: A piezoelectric generator for generating power upon an acceleration and upon a deceleration of a body. The piezoelectric generator including: first and second masses; first and second springs, the first spring being connected to the body at one end and to the first mass at an other end, the second spring being connected to the body at one end and to the second spring at an other end; and a piezoelectric material connected to the first and second masses such that the piezoelectric material generates power when the body is accelerated or decelerated.

Abstract: A heating circuit for an energy storage device having a core with an electrolyte, inputs, a capacitance across the electrolyte and the core, and internal surface capacitance between inputs which can store electric field energy between internal electrodes of the energy storage device that are coupled to the inputs, including: a power source coupled to one of the inputs, wherein the power source provides positive and negative input currents to the input, the positive input current flows in to one of the inputs and the negative input current flows out another of the inputs; and a controller for controlling the power source to provide alternating between the positive and negative input currents to the input at a frequency sufficient to effectively short the internal surface capacitance of the energy storage device to generate heat and raise a temperature of the electrolyte.

Abstract: A heating circuit for an energy storage device having a core with an electrolyte, inputs, a capacitance across the electrolyte and the core, and internal surface capacitance between inputs which can store electric field energy between internal electrodes of the energy storage device that are coupled to the inputs, including: a power supply coupled to an input, the power supply provides positive and negative input currents to one input, the positive input current flows in to the input and the negative input current flows out of another input; and a controller that switches between the positive and negative input currents to provide the positive input current and the negative input current to the one of the inputs at a frequency sufficient to effectively short the internal surface capacitance of the energy storage device to generate heat and raise a temperature of the electrolyte.

Abstract: An energy storage device including: a first movable member configured to be movable in one direction relative to a base; a first biasing member configured to bias the first movable member in a second direction opposed to the first direction; a plurality of second movable members, each movable towards an engagement surface of the first movable member when subjected to a predetermined acceleration event in a direction offset from the first direction; and wherein the engagement surface having a portion which when pressed causes a movement of the first movable member in the one direction against a biasing force of the first biasing member; and the plurality of second movable members are configured to sequentially engage the engagement surface upon an increasing acceleration of the base such that energy is stored in the first biasing member.

Abstract: A device including: a casing; an actuation mass rotatable between a first second positions relative to the casing; a first spring for biasing the actuation mass towards the second position; and a blocking mass rotatable between third fourth positions relative to the casing, a first portion of the blocking mass, while in the third position, is configured to engage with a second portion of the actuation mass to maintain the actuation mass in the first position and to prevent the actuation mass, against the biasing by the spring, from rotating to the second position; wherein upon an acceleration event having an acceleration and duration greater than a predetermined threshold, the blocking mass rotates to the fourth position to release engagement of the first portion of the blocking mass with the second portion of the actuation mass to allow the spring to move the actuation mass to the second position.

Abstract: A mortar shell including: a polymer outer layer, the polymer outer layer having reinforcing fibers dispersed therein; and a metallic inner layer defining an interior of the mortar, the metallic inner layer having a plurality of metallic fragments, each of the plurality of metallic fragments having a shape to interlock to each of the other of the plurality of metallic fragments, the plurality of metallic fragments being assembled together into the metallic inner layer; wherein a first metallic fragment of the plurality of metallic fragments having a characteristic different than second metallic fragments surrounding and contacting the first metallic fragment.

Abstract: A munition including: a control surface actuation device including: an actuator having two or more pistons, each of the pistons being movable between an extended and retracted position, the retracted position resulting from an activation of each of the two or more pistons; and a movable rack having a pocket corresponding to each of the two or more pistons, each pocket being engageable with a corresponding portion of each of the two or more pistons, a distance between the pockets being different than a distance between the portions of the two or more pistons, such that activation of the portion into the corresponding pocket sequentially translates the rack; and a control surface operatively connected to the rack such that translation of the rack rotates the control surface.

Abstract: A method for producing power from a thermal battery having a piezoelectric generator. The method including: initiating the thermal battery when the thermal battery experiences a predetermined acceleration event; generating power from the piezoelectric generator when the thermal battery experiences the predetermined acceleration event for at least an initial period after the predetermined acceleration event; and generating power from the thermal battery after the initial period.

Abstract: A thermal battery including: a battery core; and a load-bearing structure at least partially surrounding the battery core. The load-bearing structure including: a plurality of tubes arranged adjacent to one another and connected to at least one adjacent tube of the plurality of tubes; and an exothermic material disposed in the plurality of tubes. The load-bearing structure can include one or more initiation devices for initiating the exothermic material. The plurality of tubes can be compressed in a cross-section to compact the exothermic material disposed on the plurality of tubes. A thermal isolation material can also be disposed at one or more ends of the plurality of tubes.

Abstract: A method for assembling a thermal battery. The method including: arranging a plurality of tubes into a cylindrical shape; connecting the plurality of tubes to each other; attaching a first plate to a first end of the connected plurality of tubes into corresponding holes in the first plate; providing an initiation device to the first end of each of the plurality of tubes; filling each of the plurality of tubes from a second end with an exothermic material; assembling thermal battery components inside the connected plurality of tubes; connecting terminal wires to the thermal battery components; and connecting the second end of the connected plurality to a second plate.