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 method for assembling a lithium-ion reserve battery. The method including: charging an assembled lithium-ion reserve battery, the assembled lithium-ion battery including electrodes forming a battery cell, electrolyte and a membrane separating the battery cell and the electrolyte, the electrodes being charged into a charged state; disassembling the charged lithium-ion reserve battery; rinsing and drying at least the electrodes of the disassembled lithium-ion reserve battery; and reassembling the lithium-ion reserve battery with the rinsed and dried electrodes in the charged state and without the electrolyte; wherein the reassembling includes hermetically sealing a housing containing the battery cell. A method for activating such lithium-ion battery further includes, subsequent to the reassembly, introducing the electrolyte into the battery cell to activate the lithium-ion battery.

Abstract: An inertial igniter for igniting a thermal battery upon a predetermined acceleration event. The inertial igniter including: a base having a first projection; a striker mass rotatably connected to the base through a rotatable connection, the base having a second projection aligned with the first projection such that when the striker mass is rotated towards the base, the first projection impacts the second projection; a rotation prevention mechanism for preventing impact of the first and second projections unless the predetermined acceleration event is experienced; and a spring for biasing the striker mass in a biasing direction away from the base, the spring being disposed between a portion of the striker mass and a portion of the rotation prevention mechanism.

Abstract: A device responsive to an acceleration pulse event, the device including: a piezoelectric device configured to generate a voltage over a duration responsive to one or more acceleration pulse events; an electrical storage device configured to receive a portion of the generated voltage to accumulate a charge; an energy dissipating device coupled to the electrical storage device and configured to dissipate the accumulated charge following the one or more acceleration pulse events and not to substantially dissipate the accumulated charge during the one or more acceleration pulse events; and a voltage limiting device coupled to the electrical storage device and configured to limit the portion of the generated voltage applied to the electrical storage device to a predetermined limit.

Abstract: A liquid reserve battery including: a collapsible storage unit having a liquid electrolyte stored therein; a battery cell having an inlet in communication with an outlet of the collapsible storage unit, the battery cell having gaps dispersed therein; a first pyrotechnic material disposed adjacent the collapsible storage unit such that initiation of the first pyrotechnic material provides pressure to collapse the collapsible storage unit to heat and force the liquid electrolyte through the outlet and into the gaps; and one or more heat exchangers disposed between the outlet of the collapsible storage unit and the inlet of the battery cell.

Abstract: A rotary shock testing machine including: a base; a shaft rotatable relative to the base; a test disc for holding one or more specimens to be tested, the test disc being rotatable with the shaft; an actuator for applying a rotation to the shaft and test disc; and a brake for applying a braking force to the test disc to subject the one or more specimens to a rotary shock.

Abstract: An apparatus actuatable under a rotary acceleration having a predetermined duration and magnitude. The apparatus including: a body having a first channel and a second channel, the second channel being disposed radially offset from the first channel; a mass disposed in the first channel, the mass having an arm disposed at a first end of the mass and the arm being rotatable from a first position in which the arm cannot move within the second channel to a second position in which the arm can move inside the second channel; a first biasing spring member having a first end connected to the body and a second end connected to the arm such that when the arm is subjected to the rotary acceleration greater than the predetermined duration and magnitude, the arm is biased to rotate from the first position to the second position; wherein the mass is connected to the arm such that the mass moves in the first channel and the arm moves in the second channel when the arm is biased into the second position.

Abstract: A flare including: a casing; and a grain assembly, at least a portion of the grain assembly being slidably disposed in the casing, the grain assembly including: a shell structure; and a grain component at least partially disposed in the shell structure, the grain component including at least one combustible material and at least one reactive material positioned relative to the combustible material and configured to ignite combustion of the at least one combustible material; wherein the shell structure includes one or more nozzles at an aft end of the shell structure for generating a thrust resulting from ignition of the at least one combustible material.

Abstract: A shock testing machine including: a test platform for holding one or more objects to be shock tested, the test platform having an impact surface; a fixed member having a surface disposed a predetermined distance from a corresponding surface of the test platform, the test platform being movable such that the surface of the test platform can contact the corresponding surface of the fixed member upon an impact to the impact surface; and a flywheel having one or more cams for contacting the impact surface upon rotation of the flywheel such that the impact of each of the one or more cams on the impact surface causes the surface of the test platform to impact the corresponding surface of the fixed member to produce a shock in the one or more objects to be tested.

Abstract: A passive device for controlling rain water runoff. The device including: an inlet for directing the rain water runoff; and a mechanism for directing a predetermined initial amount of the rain water runoff to a first outlet and passively directing a subsequent amount of the rain water runoff to a second outlet.

Abstract: A method for deploying a control surface from an exterior surface of a spinning projectile during flight is provided. The method including: at least partially retracting the control surface into an interior of the projectile for a portion of a full revolution of the spinning projectile and extending the control surface from the interior of the projectile for another portion of the full revolution of the spinning projectile; and maintaining the control surface in a same plane during the full revolution of the spinning projectile.

Abstract: An accelerometer including: a housing having an internal cavity; a piezoelectric material disposed in the internal cavity; a mass movable disposed in the internal cavity; and a spring disposed between the piezoelectric material and a portion of the housing, the spring being compressively preloaded against the piezoelectric material; wherein the mass is movable when the housing experiences an acceleration such that the mass acts upon the spring and the spring acts against the piezoelectric material, the piezoelectric material outputting a signal corresponding to a magnitude of the acceleration.

Abstract: A method for assembling a lithium-ion reserve battery. The method including: charging an assembled lithium-ion reserve battery, the assembled lithium-ion battery including electrodes forming a battery cell, electrolyte and a membrane separating the battery cell and the electrolyte, the electrodes being charged into a charged state; disassembling the charged lithium-ion reserve battery; rinsing and drying at least the electrodes of the disassembled lithium-ion reserve battery; and reassembling the lithium-ion reserve battery with the rinsed and dried electrodes in the charged state and without the electrolyte; wherein the reassembling includes hermetically sealing a housing containing the battery cell. A method for activating such lithium-ion battery further includes, subsequent to the reassembly, introducing the electrolyte into the battery cell to activate the lithium-ion battery.

Abstract: A device including: an image sensor for imaging an object field reflected from an object to be imaged; a first objective lens for focusing a background field from the object into a concentrated energy field on a spatial frequency plane of the first objective lens; and a programmable spatial light modulator positioned in an optical path at the spatial frequency plane, the programmable spatial light modulator being programmed to display an opaque region and a substantially transparent region outside of the opaque region, the opaque region corresponding to a position of the concentrated energy field.

Abstract: A device including: an impact mass movably restrained relative to a base; and a release mechanism configured to be movable between a restrained position for preventing movement of the impact mass and a released position for permitting movement of the impact mass when the release mechanism is subjected to an acceleration greater than a predetermined magnitude and duration; wherein the release mechanism having a release mass movable when subjected to the acceleration, the movement of the release mass not being influenced by movement of the impact mass.

Abstract: A device responsive to an acceleration pulse event, the device including: a piezoelectric device configured to generate a voltage over a duration responsive to one or more acceleration pulse events; an electrical storage device configured to receive a portion of the generated voltage to accumulate a charge; an energy dissipating device coupled to the electrical storage device and configured to dissipate the accumulated charge following the one or more acceleration pulse events and not to substantially dissipate the accumulated charge during the one or more acceleration pulse events; and a voltage limiting device coupled to the electrical storage device and configured to limit the portion of the generated voltage applied to the electrical storage device to a predetermined limit.

Abstract: A system for protecting an automobile from a collision. The system including: a bumper having one or more bumper segments disposed on the automobile for absorbing at least some energy of the collision; and one or more actuators for deploying the bumper when conditions indicative of an impending collision is detected; wherein the one or more actuators comprise: one or more hydraulic actuators; one or more pneumatic actuators; one or more actuators actuated by one or more detonation charges; one or more fluid-filled bellows; one or more compressively pre-loaded springs; and one or more actuators connected to rotatable joints of links in a linkage.

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 method for turning off fluid flow through a valve. The method includes: movably disposing a member in an interior of a housing between a first position in which an inlet and an outlet are in fluid communication with each other and a second position blocking the fluid flow; restraining the member in the first position when a fluid temperature in the interior or an ambient temperature outside the housing is below a threshold temperature; and releasing the restraint such that the member is capable of moving to the second position when the fluid temperature or the ambient temperature is above the threshold temperature; wherein the releasing comprises changing the shape of an actuator from a first shape restraining the member to a second shape releasing the restraint upon a change in the fluid temperature or the ambient temperature from below the threshold temperature to above the threshold temperature.

Abstract: A shock testing machine including: a test platform upon which one or more objects to be tested are mounted; one or more rails upon which the test platform is movable in a longitudinal direction; and a braking station for retarding a relative motion between the test platform and the braking station, wherein the test platform and the braking station include at least one portion interfering with the relative motion of the test platform and the braking station such that relative movement of the test platform and the braking station past the at least one portion produces a shock lateral to the longitudinal direction.