Abstract: A controlled power up sequence for an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is disclosed. A disclosed example controlled power up sequence for a UAV includes a remote user terminal, and a power sequence control interface including a transceiver communicatively coupled to the remote user terminal, a user-operated switch of the UAV, and a power controller to electrically couple a power source of the UAV to a propulsion system of the UAV in response to the user-operated switch being toggled on and the power sequence control interface receiving, via the transceiver, a power on signal from the remote user terminal.

Abstract: A contact lens is provided in which tunable nanoparticles are embedded or otherwise coated on the lens to extinguish near-infrared energy. In one preferred embodiment, the tunable nanoparticles are nanoshells consisting of a dielectric core and a metal shell, wherein the plasmon resonance frequency is determined by the relative size of the core and the metal shell. With the capability to alter the relative size of the core and the metal shell, nanoshells are uniquely tunable nanoparticles, allowing a range of optical extinctions. In another embodiment, the nanoshells are tuned to extinguish energy from other parts of the energy spectrum. In one desired embodiment of the invention, these plasmon resonant structures are introduced into the lens polymer prior to formation or manufacturing of a lens. In another embodiment of the invention, these nanoshells are coated on a contact lens after formation of the lens.

Abstract: A substrate for enhanced electromagnetic spectroscopy of an analyte comprises a solid support and a plurality of individual nanoparticles affixed thereto, wherein the nanoparticles are designed to have an increased electromagnetic field strength and/or plasmon resonance frequency that is between the frequency of an incident electromagnetic radiation and the frequency of the Raman response from the analyte and wherein the Raman response is enhanced by the individual nanoparticles. The nanoparticles may comprise a shell surrounding a core and the thicknesses of the core and the shell are selected to produce a plasmon resonance frequency. The wavelength of the incident radiation may be between 200 nm and 20 microns. A method for carrying out spectroscopy comprises providing a light source having a frequency different from that of the analyte, selecting a nanoshell configuration, providing a plurality of nanoshells with that configuration, and affixing the nanoparticles to a support.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sensor that includes an optical device as a support for a thin film formed by a matrix containing resonant nanoparticles. The nanoparticles may be optically coupled to the optical device by virtue of the geometry of placement of the thin film. Further, the nanoparticles are adapted to resonantly enhance the spectral signature of analytes located near the surfaces of the nanoparticles. Thus, via the nanoparticles, the optical device is addressable so as to detect a measurable property of a sample in contact with the sensor. The sensors include chemical sensors and thermal sensors. The optical devices include reflective devices and waveguide devices. Still further, the nanoparticles include solid metal particles and metal nanoshells. Yet further, the nanoparticles may be part of a nano-structure that further includes nanotubes.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sensor that includes an optical device as a support for a thin film formed by a matrix containing resonant nanoparticles. The nanoparticles may be optically coupled to the optical device by virtue of the geometry of placement of the thin film. Further, the nanoparticles are adapted to resonantly enhance the spectral signature of analytes located near the surfaces of the nanoparticles. Thus, via the nanoparticles, the optical device is addressable so as to detect a measurable property of a sample in contact with the sensor. The sensors include chemical sensors and thermal sensors. The optical devices include reflective devices and waveguide devices. Still further, the nanoparticles include solid metal particles and metal nanoshells. Yet further, the nanoparticles may be part of a nano-structure that further includes nanotubes.

Abstract: A method of coating a complete metal layer onto a functionalized substrate particle to form a nanoshell is provided. The nanoshell preferably has a plasmon resonance with a maximum at a wavelength between about 400 nanometers and about 2 microns. The method includes providing a functionalized substrate particle and rapidity mixing a solution containing the substrate particle, ions of the metal, and a reducing agent with a base effective to coat the metal onto the functionalized substrate particle. The metal is preferably selected from among silver, nickel, and copper. The functionalized substrate particle preferably includes a silica surface and a precursor coating of tin. Alternatively, the functionalized substrate particle may include a silica surface, silane molecules bound to the core particle and gold colloids bound to the silane molecules.

Abstract: A method of coating a complete metal layer onto a functionalized substrate particle to form a nanoshell is provided. The nanoshell preferably has a plasmon resonance with a maximum at a wavelenth between about 400 nanometers and about 2 microns. The method preferably includes functionalizing the substrate particle by reducing a precursor metal selected from among tin and titanium onto the subsrate particle. A metal, preferably selected from among gold, silver, nickel, iron, platinum, palladium, and copper, is then reduced onto the functionalized substrate particle. The method of reduction may include rapidly mixing a solution containing the substrate particle, ions of the metal, and a reducing agent. For some metals, a base may be rapidly mixed with the solution effective to coat the metal onto the functionalized substrate particle.