Abstract: A system for the separation of rare earth elements, the system including a separation vessel, the separation vessel including an inlet configured to receive the aqueous solution, an interior configured to house the aqueous solution, where the interior is configured to receive a supply of air; the aqueous solution including one or more rare earth elements, a surfactant, and a complexing agent; a compressed air source, where the compressed air source is operatively coupled to the separation vessel, and configured to propel the supply of air through the aqueous solution; and the supply of air, where the supply of air is operable to induce a plurality of bubbles to form in the aqueous solution, and create a foam layer to form at and above the interface of the aqueous solution, wherein the foam layer comprises the one or more rare earth elements from the aqueous solution.

Abstract: A system for integrated monitoring of a subsurface gas storage site including a power supply; the sensor platform including a plurality of sensors configured to collect monitoring data, where at least one sensor in the plurality of sensors includes a first sensor configured to collect first monitoring data on a first physical characteristic of the subsurface gas storage site; at least one sensor in the plurality of sensors includes a second sensor configured to collect second monitoring data on a second physical characteristic of the subsurface gas storage site; the first physical characteristic is a different physical characteristic than the second physical characteristic; and the sensor platform is configured to transmit the monitoring data to a processing computer; the processing computer configured to process the monitoring data, and transmit the monitoring data to a cloud computing platform; and the cloud computing platform.

Abstract: A non-lethal animal shepherding active denial system of directed electromagnetic energy having at least one emitter to provide low-energy radiation to deter and shepherd birds and other species away from dangerous areas such as airports or wind turbines. The directed electromagnetic energy may be emitted in a conical shape to target a precise area and to define at least one denial zone and at least one shepherding zone. The shepherding zone may create a pathway to shepherd animals away from the denial zone to allow the birds to safely escape from the denial zone. Objects within a shepherding zone are subjected to dielectric heating, such that the radiation penetration is very shallow, only heating the surface of the skin or fur. By employing a large spatial swath, lower energies (<1 kW), and time-varying intensity, birds and other species can be shepherded away from regions of interest.

Abstract: In a novel hovering aircraft, an airfoil blade structure rotatable about a vertical axis comprises a set of upper blades and a set of lower blades, all having variable lift, the upper blades converging toward the lower blades from root to tip. Struts, located inboard of the blade tips, keep the tips of the upper and lower blades separate from each other to reduce interference effects, and also support motors and propellers.