Abstract: A method of forming an object from a material includes directing a first beam of light toward a first target location of the material to define a first portion of the object. The method also includes, after directing the first beam of light toward the first target location, determining an optical correction to be applied by an optical system. The optical correction is based on an atmospheric change in an atmospheric distortion region proximate the first target location due, at least in part, to interaction of the first beam of light and the material. The method further includes directing a second beam of light toward a second target location of the material to define a second portion of the object. The second beam of light is directed through at least a portion of the atmospheric distortion region while the optical correction is applied.

Abstract: A method for aerial vehicle component networking comprises, for a network-accessible avionics component onboard an aerial vehicle, instantiating a data stream object that specifies a network socket for communication between the network-accessible avionics component and a plurality of other network-accessible aerial vehicle components. A set of outgoing data is defined for transmission over the network socket to one or more onboard unicast aerial vehicle component subscribers of the plurality of other network-accessible aerial vehicle components and two or more onboard or offboard multicast aerial vehicle component subscribers of the plurality of other network-accessible aerial vehicle components. The outgoing data is published to the one or more onboard unicast aerial vehicle component subscribers over the network socket via unicast communication.

Abstract: Surface sensing methods for imaging a scanned surface of a sample via sum-frequency vibrational spectroscopy are disclosed herein. The methods include exposing a sampled location of the scanned surface to a visible light beam and exposing the sampled location to a tunable infrared beam such that the tunable infrared beam is at least partially coincident with the visible light beam. The methods also include varying a frequency of the tunable infrared beam an inducing optical resonance within an imaged structure that extends at least partially within the sampled location. The methods further include receiving at least a portion of an emitted light beam from the sampled location and scanning the visible light beam and the runnable infrared beam across the scanned portion of the scanned surface. The methods also include generating an image of the scanned portion of the scanned surface based upon the receiving and the scanning.

Abstract: A printing bed for a three-dimensional (3D) printer includes an upper surface configured to have a plurality of droplets land thereon to form a first layer of a 3D object. The printing bed also includes a support structure. In response to the 3D object having an overhang with an angle that exceeds a predetermined threshold, the support structure is configured to actuate from a first position into a second position to support the overhang.

Abstract: Surface sensing methods for imaging a scanned surface of a sample via sum-frequency vibrational spectroscopy are disclosed herein. The methods include exposing a sampled location of the scanned surface to a visible light beam and exposing the sampled location to a tunable infrared beam such that the tunable infrared beam is at least partially coincident with the visible light beam. The methods also include varying a frequency of the tunable infrared beam an inducing optical resonance within an imaged structure that extends at least partially within the sampled location. The methods further include receiving at least a portion of an emitted light beam from the sampled location and scanning the visible light beam and the runnable infrared beam across the scanned portion of the scanned surface. The methods also include generating an image of the scanned portion of the scanned surface based upon the receiving and the scanning.

Abstract: An adaptive receiver comprising a current buffer, an inverter that receives input from the current buffer, an average current control loop that feeds back from the inverter to the current buffer, a variable gain circuit that receives input from the inverter, a differential voltage amplifier that receives input from the variable gain circuit, an automatic gain control loop that feeds back from the differential voltage amplifier to the inverter and variable gain circuit, and a differential buffer that receives input from the differential amplifier.

Abstract: A method communicates data with a platform. A platform receives modulated coherent optical signals modulated using radio frequency signals encoding sensor data and generates an input current in response to receiving the modulated coherent optical signals at a receiver system in the platform. The platform recovers the radio frequency signals from the input current in a manner that adjusts for changes in the modulated coherent optical signals caused by variations in received optical intensity occurring during propagation of the modulated coherent optical signals. The platform outputs the radio frequency signals encoding the data.

Abstract: An adaptive receiver comprising a current buffer, an inverter-based transimpedance that receives input from the current buffer, an average current control loop that feeds back from the inverter-based transimpedance to the current buffer, a variable gain circuit that receives input from the inverter-based transimpedance, a differential voltage amplifier that receives input from the variable gain circuit, an automatic gain control loop that feeds back from the differential voltage amplifier to the inverter-based transimpedance and variable gain circuit, and a differential buffer that receives input from the differential voltage amplifier.

Abstract: Systems for, and methods of, detecting an attack on an optical communication channel are presented. The techniques can include sending, from a sender to a receiver, and over the optical communication channel, an optical signal, where the optical signal includes a classical optical signal representing first information and a quantum optical signal representing second information. The techniques can include detecting, by the receiver, third information from at least a portion of the quantum optical signal and sending, by the receiver to the sender, the third information. The techniques can include determining, by the sender, an indication of an attack on the optical communication channel based on at least a portion of the second information and the third information. The techniques can include triggering an alarm based on the determining.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, system, and computer program product for monitoring a platform. Images are received by a computer system from a sensor system positioned to monitor movement of human beings relative to the platform. A set of the human beings is identified by the computer system in the images. The movement of the set of the human beings relative to the platform is determined by the computer system using the images. A count of the human beings on the platform is determined by the computer system based on the movement determined for the set of the human beings. A set of actions is performed by the computer system based on the count of the human beings on the platform.

Abstract: A method for aerial vehicle component networking comprises, for a network-accessible avionics component onboard an aerial vehicle, instantiating a data stream object that specifies a network socket for communication between the network-accessible avionics component and a plurality of other network-accessible aerial vehicle components. A set of outgoing data is defined for transmission over the network socket to one or more onboard unicast aerial vehicle component subscribers of the plurality of other network-accessible aerial vehicle components and two or more onboard or offboard multicast aerial vehicle component subscribers of the plurality of other network-accessible aerial vehicle components. The outgoing data is published to the one or more onboard unicast aerial vehicle component subscribers over the network socket via unicast communication.

Abstract: An apparatus for concentrating light from a light source includes a plurality of lenses that are substantially aligned with one another. Each lens includes a light-receiving end configured to receive the light from the light source and a light-transmitting end configured to transmit the light from the lens to a target. The light-receiving ends are aspherical.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling a supply chain including a production system. Sensor data is received from a sensor in the production system or elsewhere in the supply chain. The sensor data identifies an event in the production system or elsewhere in the supply chain. Event information for the event is stored in an events blockchain. The event information from the events blockchain is used in a process model simulation of the production system or the supply chain to identify an undesirable condition in the production system or elsewhere in the supply chain. System theoretic process analysis is used to identify a change in the production system or elsewhere in the supply chain to prevent occurrence of the undesirable condition.

Abstract: An apparatus for concentrating light from a light source includes a plurality of fibers that are substantially parallel with one another. Each fiber includes a light-receiving end and a light-transmitting end. The light-receiving end is configured to receive the light from the light source. The light-transmitting end is configured to transmit the light from the fiber. The light-receiving ends the fibers extend different distances from a plane that is perpendicular with respect the fibers.

Abstract: Surface sensing methods for imaging a scanned surface of a sample via sum-frequency vibrational spectroscopy are disclosed herein. The methods include exposing a sampled location of the scanned surface to a visible light beam and exposing the sampled location to a tunable infrared beam such that the tunable infrared beam is at least partially coincident with the visible light beam. The methods also include varying a frequency of the tunable infrared beam an inducing optical resonance within an imaged structure that extends at least partially within the sampled location. The methods further include receiving at least a portion of an emitted light beam from the sampled location and scanning the visible light beam and the runnable infrared beam across the scanned portion of the scanned surface. The methods also include generating an image of the scanned portion of the scanned surface based upon the receiving and the scanning.

Abstract: Surface sensing methods for imaging a scanned surface of a sample via sum-frequency vibrational spectroscopy are disclosed herein. The methods include exposing a sampled location of the scanned surface to a visible light beam and exposing the sampled location to a tunable infrared beam such that the tunable infrared beam is at least partially coincident with the visible light beam. The methods also include varying a frequency of the tunable infrared beam an inducing optical resonance within an imaged structure that extends at least partially within the sampled location. The methods further include receiving at least a portion of an emitted light beam from the sampled location and scanning the visible light beam and the runnable infrared beam across the scanned portion of the scanned surface. The methods also include generating an image of the scanned portion of the scanned surface based upon the receiving and the scanning.

Abstract: A computer vision method performed by a computing system includes: receiving an image; identifying a light intensity value for each pixel of a set of pixels of the image; defining a light intensity band formed by an upper light intensity threshold and a lower light intensity threshold based on a light intensity distribution of the light intensity values of the set of pixels; for each pixel of the set of pixels, identifying whether that pixel has a light intensity value that is within the light intensity band or outside of the intensity band; and generating a modified image by increasing a light intensity contrast between a first subset of pixels identified as having light intensity values within the light intensity band and a second subset of pixels identified as having light intensity values outside of the light intensity band.

Abstract: A computer vision method and computer vision system can be used to process a time-based series of images. For a subject image of the time-based series, a light intensity value is identified for each pixel of a set of pixels of the subject image. A light intensity threshold is defined for the subject image based on a size of a bounding region for an object detected within a previous image of the time-based series captured before the subject image. A modified image is generated for the subject image by one or both of: reducing the light intensity value of each pixel of a lower intensity subset of pixels of the subject image that is less than the light intensity threshold, and increasing the light intensity value of each pixel of a higher intensity subset of pixels of the subject image that is greater than the light intensity threshold.

Abstract: Methods of detecting material in an object are provided. The method includes emitting an entangled photon pair having a sensing photon and a local photon, directing the sensing photon to the object including a predetermined material, directing the local photon to a detector, and detecting a change in the local photon when the sensing photon encounters the predetermined material in the object.

Abstract: A method of forming an object from a material includes directing a first beam of light toward a first target location of the material to define a first portion of the object. The method also includes, after directing the first beam of light toward the first target location, determining an optical correction to be applied by an optical system. The optical correction is based on an atmospheric change in an atmospheric distortion region proximate the first target location due, at least in part, to interaction of the first beam of light and the material. The method further includes directing a second beam of light toward a second target location of the material to define a second portion of the object. The second beam of light is directed through at least a portion of the atmospheric distortion region while the optical correction is applied.