Abstract: An intumescent coating composition consisting of a binder system and a two-component intumescent package is described. Tannic acid (TA) and ammonium polyphosphate (APP) have exhibited sufficient characteristics to serve as char formers (via TA), blowing agents (via TA), and an acid source (via APP). Such compositions may be incorporated in epoxy and other resin-based coatings. The resulting composition should provide comparable intumescent performance in comparison to existing/available products.

Abstract: An intumescent composition based upon modifications to tannic acid (TA), including certain additives, is contemplated. Such compositions may be incorporated in epoxy and other resin-based coatings. The resulting composition produces a novel, lightweight, and extremely effective intumescent char having a density of 1.5 to 4.0 mg/cm3.

Abstract: An attitude estimator provides non-causal attitude estimates for real-time motion compensation of sensed images on a moving platform. A non-causal filter processes uncompensated attitude samples received with a latency from an IMU at a high rate clock to provide an attitude estimate that is strictly non-causal but satisfies a just-in-time (JIT) criteria for real-time motion compensation of images captured at a low rate clock. On-average the error of the non-causal attitude estimate is less than the error of a causal attitude estimate. If the lag added by the non-causal filter is greater than the latency, the effective transfer function of the non-causal filter has a negative gain slope that attenuates high frequency noise of the uncompensated attitude samples. The attitude estimator may also include a causal filter to generate a causal attitude estimate for real-time active stabilization of the image sensor at the high rate clock.

Abstract: An attitude estimator provides non-causal attitude estimates for real-time motion compensation of sensed images on a moving platform. A non-causal filter processes uncompensated attitude samples received with a latency from an IMU at a high rate clock to provide an attitude estimate that is strictly non-causal but satisfies a just-in-time (JIT) criteria for real-time motion compensation of images captured at a low rate clock. On-average the error of the non-causal attitude estimate is less than the error of a causal attitude estimate. If the lag added by the non-causal filter is greater than the latency, the effective transfer function of the non-causal filter has a negative gain slope that attenuates high frequency noise of the uncompensated attitude samples. The attitude estimator may also include a causal filter to generate a causal attitude estimate for real-time active stabilization of the image sensor at the high rate clock.

Abstract: A process to preserve the kinematic state of a target includes determining an initial kinematic state estimate of the target using an observer with an active sensor. The initial kinematic state estimate includes a range from the observer to the target, a velocity of the target, and an acceleration of the target. The process further includes constructing an Extended Kalman Filter using the initial kinematic state estimate. The Extended Kalman filter is constructed by updating the initial kinematic state estimate as a function of time, receiving an angles-only measurement into the observer, calculating a new kinematic state as a function of the angles-only measurement, comparing the initial kinematic state estimate with the new kinematic state, constraining a rate of the target, and correcting the initial kinematic state estimate as a function of the comparison of the initial kinematic state estimate with the new kinematic state. The target is permitted to maneuver, and the observer is not required to maneuver.

Abstract: An articulated platform mechanism includes a base, a mounting frame including a platform, the frame having multiple attach portions; a mounting attached to each of the attach portions; a series of cams each having at least one cam surface; a series of cam followers; a series of drive motors; one of each of the cams or one of each of the followers being attached to each one of the mountings, the other of the cams and the followers being in rolling association with respective ones of each cam or cam follower; and wherein each motor drives a respective cam or follower not attached to the mountings, to actuate the platform in vertical lift, tilt front-to-back and tilt left-to-right.