Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a camera cleaning apparatus. According to one embodiment, a first disc coupled to a first rod, a camera mounted to a portion of the first disc; a second disc coupled to a second rod, wherein a first portion of the first rod is situated inside the second rod and the first rod rotates independently of the second rod; a first and a second directional sensor operatively coupled to the first disc; a first motor mechanically connected to a first rod; a protective cover mounted between the first and the second disc; and a cleaning mechanism mechanically coupled to the second disc and an attachment point disposed on a portion of the protective cover is provided. Embodiments of the present invention can be utilized to clean a protective cover that encapsulates the camera without obscuring the camera's field of view.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a camera cleaning apparatus. According to one embodiment, a first disc coupled to a first rod, a camera mounted to a portion of the first disc; a second disc coupled to a second rod, wherein a first portion of the first rod is situated inside the second rod and the first rod rotates independently of the second rod; a first and a second directional sensor operatively coupled to the first disc; a first motor mechanically connected to a first rod; a protective cover mounted between the first and the second disc; and a cleaning mechanism mechanically coupled to the second disc and an attachment point disposed on a portion of the protective cover is provided. Embodiments of the present invention can be utilized to clean a protective cover that encapsulates the camera without obscuring the camera's field of view.

Abstract: A key for operating a mechanical lock, which key includes a head portion for holding by a user, a lock-engaging portion for inserting into the lock for operating the lock by the application of a turning force, and a joining portion between the head portion and the lock-engaging portion and fixing the head portion to the lock-engaging portion. The joining portion includes a shape memory material, which reversibly deforms without breakage when a first turning force on the key is exceeded, where the first turning force is lower than a second turning force. The second turning force being a turning force which if exceeded causes breakage of the lock-engaging portion or the head portion. The shape memory material may exhibit a superelastic effect in which the shape is restored when the turning force ceases, or shape memory effect in which the shape is restored on heating above a state-transition temperature.

Abstract: A key for operating a mechanical lock, which key includes a head portion for holding by a user, a lock-engaging portion for inserting into the lock for operating the lock by the application of a turning force, and a joining portion between the head portion and the lock-engaging portion and fixing the head portion to the lock-engaging portion. The joining portion includes a shape memory material, which reversibly deforms without breakage when a first turning force on the key is exceeded, where the first turning force is lower than a second turning force. The second turning force being a turning force which if exceeded causes breakage of the lock-engaging portion or the head portion. The shape memory material may exhibit a superelastic effect in which the shape is restored when the turning force ceases, or shape memory effect in which the shape is restored on heating above a state-transition temperature.

Abstract: A key for operating a mechanical lock, which key includes a head portion for holding by a user, a lock-engaging portion for inserting into the lock for operating the lock by the application of a turning force, and a joining portion between the head portion and the lock-engaging portion and fixing the head portion to the lock-engaging portion. The joining portion includes a shape memory material, which reversibly deforms without breakage when a first turning force on the key is exceeded, where the first turning force is lower than a second turning force. The second turning force being a turning force which if exceeded causes breakage of the lock-engaging portion or the head portion. The shape memory material may exhibit a superelastic effect in which the shape is restored when the turning force ceases, or shape memory effect in which the shape is restored on heating above a state-transition temperature.

Abstract: A key for operating a mechanical lock, which key includes a head portion for holding by a user, a lock-engaging portion for inserting into the lock for operating the lock by the application of a turning force, and a joining portion between the head portion and the lock-engaging portion and fixing the head portion to the lock-engaging portion. The joining portion includes a shape memory material, which reversibly deforms without breakage when a first turning force on the key is exceeded, where the first turning force is lower than a second turning force. The second turning force being a turning force which if exceeded causes breakage of the lock-engaging portion or the head portion. The shape memory material may exhibit a superelastic effect in which the shape is restored when the turning force ceases, or shape memory effect in which the shape is restored on heating above a state-transition temperature.

Abstract: In one or more embodiments, an apparatus and method for operating an unmanned and autonomous vehicle includes a sensor management module configured to direct sensors as to what function they are to provide; a mission management module configured to provide execute function capabilities; an effects management module configured to provide launching and directing weapons to their target capabilities; a vehicle management module; a situation awareness management module configured to provide correlate sensor data of objects, threats, targets, geographic points of interest that the pilot requires in the immediate environment; a communications management module; an information management module configured to provide a database of intelligence-related data; a middleware module configured to interface with the sensor management module, the mission management module, the effects management module, the vehicle management module, the situation awareness management module, the communications management module, and the inf

Abstract: In one or more embodiments, an apparatus and method for operating an unmanned and autonomous vehicle includes a sensor management module configured to direct sensors as to what function they are to provide; a mission management module configured to provide execute function capabilities; an effects management module configured to provide launching and directing weapons to their target capabilities; a vehicle management module; a situation awareness management module configured to provide correlate sensor data of objects, threats, targets, geographic points of interest that the pilot requires in the immediate environment; a communications management module; an information management module configured to provide a database of intelligence-related data; a middleware module configured to interface with the sensor management module, the mission management module, the effects management module, the vehicle management module, the situation awareness management module, the communications management module, and the inf

Abstract: In one or more embodiments, an apparatus and method for operating an unmanned and autonomous vehicle includes a sensor management module configured to direct sensors as to what function they are to provide; a mission management module configured to provide execute function capabilities; an effects management module configured to provide launching and directing weapons to their target capabilities; a vehicle management module; a situation awareness management module configured to provide correlate sensor data of objects, threats, targets, geographic points of interest that the pilot requires in the immediate environment; a communications management module; an information management module configured to provide a database of intelligence-related data; a middleware module configured to interface with the sensor management module, the mission management module, the effects management module, the vehicle management module, the situation awareness management module, the communications management module, and the inf

Abstract: An aerospace-ground integration testbed may include a truth data scheme, a common sensor adaptor, a common sensor framework, a visualization scheme and a communications scheme. The truth data scheme may generate truth data configured to provide data of at least one of threats, terrain, targets and offensive and defensive systems. The common sensor adaptor may provide sensed data generated from at least the truth data. The common sensor framework may provide modeled sensed data generated from at least the truth data utilizing sensor models. The visualization scheme may generate visual data to be displayed from the sensed data and the modeled sensed data. The communications scheme may provide communication and testbed messaging infrastructure between the truth data scheme, the common sensor adaptor, the common sensor framework, and the visualization scheme.

Abstract: An aerospace-ground integration testbed may include a truth data scheme, a common sensor adaptor, a common sensor framework, a visualization scheme and a communications scheme. The truth data scheme may generate truth data configured to provide data of at least one of threats, terrain, targets and offensive and defensive systems. The common sensor adaptor may provide sensed data generated from at least the truth data. The common sensor framework may provide modeled sensed data generated from at least the truth data utilizing sensor models. The visualization scheme may generate visual data to be displayed from the sensed data and the modeled sensed data. The communications scheme may provide communication and testbed messaging infrastructure between the truth data scheme, the common sensor adaptor, the common sensor framework, and the visualization scheme.

Abstract: In one or more embodiments, an apparatus and method for operating an unmanned and autonomous vehicle includes a sensor management module configured to direct sensors as to what function they are to provide; a mission management module configured to provide execute function capabilities; an effects management module configured to provide launching and directing weapons to their target capabilities; a vehicle management module; a situation awareness management module configured to provide correlate sensor data of objects, threats, targets, geographic points of interest that the pilot requires in the immediate environment; a communications management module; an information management module configured to provide a database of intelligence-related data; a middleware module configured to interface with the sensor management module, the mission management module, the effects management module, the vehicle management module, the situation awareness management module, the communications management module, and the inf