Abstract: A vehicle includes a body defining a front, a rear, lateral sides extending between the front and the rear. The vehicle further includes a fluid delivery system supported by the body. The fluid delivery system includes an intake manifold disposed at the rear, the intake manifold being constructed and arranged to receive fluid from at least one external fluid source, an outlet disposed at the front, the outlet being constructed and arranged to distribute fluid from the at least one fluid source to an external target, and a fluid conduit coupled with the intake manifold and the outlet to convey the fluid from the intake manifold to the outlet through the body. The vehicle further includes track assemblies coupled with the body, the body being disposed between the track assemblies to enable the track assemblies to provide stability to the vehicle during high speed fluid discharge from the outlet.

Abstract: A technique for a modular tracked vehicle that can be reconfigured as needed to address different requirements and use cases. The modular tracked vehicle includes a chassis hull that allows interchangeable components to be connected thereto. The interchangeable components include interchangeable final drives which drive the vehicle's tracks. The chassis hull stores an energy reservoir, such as a battery or fuel tank, and the final drives include at least a gear box and drive axle. Different final drives may be provided for different torque levels, speed levels, energy sources, and or other specifications, and the final drives may be swapped based on mission requirements. Other components of the modular tracked vehicle may be interchangeable, as well. The technique may be provided, for example, as a modular tracked vehicle, a platform for a modular tracked vehicle, and/or as a method for use with a modular tracked vehicle.

Abstract: A thermoelectric converter including a thermoelectric generator and a radiation source. The thermoelectric generator includes a hot source, a cold source, n-type material, and p-type material. The radiation source emits ionizing radiation that increases electrical conductivity. Also detailed is a method of using radiation to reach high efficiency with a thermoelectric converter that includes providing a thermoelectric generator and a radiation source, with the thermoelectric generator including a hot source, a cold source, n-type material, and p-type material, and emitting ionizing radiation with the radiation source to increase the electrical conductivity which strips electrons in the n-type material, the p-type material, or both the n-type material and p-type material from their nuclei with the electrons then free to move within the material.

Abstract: A HotSwap system includes a HotSwap bus and HotSwap cartridges containing payloads and subsystems. The HotSwap cartridges can be installed into or removed from the HotSwap bus, with the installation or removal involving the use of a HotSwap End Effector. Subsystems can be attached to the HotSwap cartridges and can interface with the HotSwap bus. The cartridges can accommodate current spacecraft standard subsystems or standard payloads, and are intended to be removed, replaced, or exchanged in orbit, including by a service vehicle or robot to allow for rapid replacement of old, used, or damaged spacecraft systems. The cartridges are secured in place in the HotSwap bus, which can allow power and communication between subsystems.

Abstract: ThermaSat™ propulsion system uses water as a safe and non-explosive propellant, and which is unpressurized at liftoff. Utilizing solar thermal propulsion, the compact and efficient capacitor heats water to steam to produce high thrust and total impulse. The advanced optical system allows for the thermal capacitor to charge through solar power alone with no protruding concentrators or power draw from the main bus. Additional solar panels, body mounted to the ThermaSat, provide auxiliary heating of the thermal capacitor when not directly incident to sunlight to promote non-sun pointing operations. Additionally, a conductive insulative system or method can include a phase change material and an insulated thermal capacitor wrapped in an insulative material including an inner layer of a high temperature multi-layer insulation and an outer layer of low temperature multi-layer insulation and the outside of the outer layer is covered with a reflective material.

Abstract: A technique provides an amphibious, submersible vehicle, which includes an electric drive and is capable of operating both on land and in water. The vehicle includes a water-tight compartment that houses batteries and a set of electric motors for propelling the vehicle using tracks on land and on a subsea floor. The vehicle is further capable of propelling itself through water, using the tracks and/or a set of thrusters powered by the batteries.

Abstract: A universal mounting structure for changing attachments on a construction machine includes first and second ear plates mounted disposed in spaced relation. The ear plates include a first and second pair portions of elongated cutout patterns. First and second collar/pin assembly each includes a pin and a pair of collars. Each collar has an eccentric bore configured to removably receive each end of a pin and each collar has surfaces engaging complementary surfaces of one of the first or second pair portions of the elongated cutout patterns. The first and second collar/pin assemblies are configured such that a center distance between the pins can be adjusted 1) in large increments by moving either one or both of the first and second collar/pin assemblies within the respective pair portion of the elongated cutout patterns, and 2) in small increments by axial rotation of a pair of collars about a respective pin of one or both of the collar/pin assemblies.

Abstract: A detector including a resistance measuring device connected to a first conductive wire and a second conductive wire. The detector can be formed of a material that experiences Radiation Induced Conductivity (MC) when exposed to radiation and can be placed in a radiation field to measure electrical resistivity of the detector and the radiation field to gauge a strength of the radiation field. As the radiation field increases, the electrical resistivity of the detector decreases. Additionally, a combination detector can include a first detector with a first wire and a first material, and a second detector with a second wire coated with a coating comprising a fast or thermal neutron absorber. When placed in the thermal neutron field, the coating on the second detector removes a portion of thermal neutrons and leaves RIC effects on the second wire below the coating due to a remaining portion of thermal neutrons.

Abstract: A firefighting vehicle includes a chassis that houses an electric drivetrain for driving wheels of the vehicle. A conduit extends within the chassis from back to front for conveying firefighting fluid. Within the chassis, a first motor and a first battery pack are disposed on a first side of the conduit and a second motor and a second battery pack are disposed on a second side of the conduit. The first motor is configured to drive a first wheel on a first side of the vehicle, and the second motor is configured to drive a second wheel on a second side of the vehicle. The conduit is configured to provide firefighting fluid to a monitor mounted at the front of the chassis, where the fluid can be discharged toward a target, such as a fire.

Abstract: A radioisotope generator including a laser, a volume of target isotope, and nanoparticles in a solid, liquid, or gas state is provided. In at least one aspect, the radioisotope generator accelerates the decay rate of an isotope, with the laser being used to accelerate the decay of the isotope for the production of desired product isotopes.

Abstract: A thermoelectric converter including a thermoelectric generator and a radiation source. The thermoelectric generator includes a hot source, a cold source, n-type material, and p-type material. The radiation source emits ionizing radiation that increases electrical conductivity. Also detailed is a method of using radiation to reach high efficiency with a thermoelectric converter that includes providing a thermoelectric generator and a radiation source, with the thermoelectric generator including a hot source, a cold source, n-type material, and p-type material, and emitting ionizing radiation with the radiation source to increase the electrical conductivity which strips electrons in the n-type material, the p-type material, or both the n-type material and p-type material from their nuclei with the electrons then free to move within the material.

Abstract: A thermoelectric converter including a thermoelectric generator and a radiation source. The thermoelectric generator includes a hot source, a cold source, n-type material, and p-type material. The radiation source emits ionizing radiation that increases electrical conductivity. Also detailed is a method of using radiation to reach high efficiency with a thermoelectric converter that includes providing a thermoelectric generator and a radiation source, with the thermoelectric generator including a hot source, a cold source, n-type material, and p-type material, and emitting ionizing radiation with the radiation source to increase the electrical conductivity which strips electrons in the n-type material, the p-type material, or both the n-type material and p-type material from their nuclei with the electrons then free to move within the material.

Abstract: Techniques are directed to utilizing a suspension protector to deflect debris away from a set of suspension components of a tracked vehicle. The tracked vehicle includes a vehicle body, a suspension, and a set of suspension protectors. The suspension couples with the vehicle body and is constructed and arranged to control movement of the vehicle body using tracks. Each suspension protector couples with the vehicle body and is disposed a predefined distance from a respective wheel of the suspension to deflect debris thrown from the respective wheel and a respective track away from a respective set of suspension components of the suspension.

Abstract: A non-therapeutic method for reducing or eliminating the allergic effect of an allergen. Also relates to a cucurbituril, a derivative thereof, a variant thereof or a mixture thereof for use in treating and/or preventing the allergic effect of an allergen.

Abstract: A thermoelectric converter including a thermoelectric generator and a radiation source. The thermoelectric generator includes a hot source, a cold source, n-type material, and p-type material. The radiation source emits ionizing radiation that increases electrical conductivity. Also detailed is a method of using radiation to reach high efficiency with a thermoelectric converter that includes providing a thermoelectric generator and a radiation source, with the thermoelectric generator including a hot source, a cold source, n-type material, and p-type material, and emitting ionizing radiation with the radiation source to increase the electrical conductivity which strips electrons in the n-type material, the p-type material, or both the n-type material and p-type material from their nuclei with the electrons then free to move within the material.

Abstract: A technique for steering a tracked vehicle includes controllably deforming at least a portion of a vehicle's track into a curved shape, causing the vehicle to follow a curve-shaped path as it drives. As the vehicle naturally tends to follow a curved path defined by the track's curvature, steering is accomplished with greatly reduced skidding against the ground.

Abstract: Example apparatuses and techniques are disclosed for towing tracked vehicles at high speeds without various deficiencies and for allowing a vehicle to be configured to extend supplemental wheels from a storage configuration into a ground support configuration in which the vehicle is able to make use of the supplemental wheels for additional ground support.

Abstract: A radioisotope generator including a laser, a volume of target isotope, and nanoparticles in a solid, liquid, or gas state is provided. In at least one aspect, the radioisotope generator accelerates the decay rate of an isotope, with the laser being used to accelerate the decay of the isotope for the production of desired product isotopes.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a body defining a front, a rear, lateral sides extending between the front and the rear. The vehicle further includes a fluid delivery system supported by the body. The fluid delivery system includes an intake manifold disposed at the rear, the intake manifold being constructed and arranged to receive fluid from at least one external fluid source, an outlet disposed at the front, the outlet being constructed and arranged to distribute fluid from the at least one fluid source to an external target, and a fluid conduit coupled with the intake manifold and the outlet to convey the fluid from the intake manifold to the outlet through the body. The vehicle further includes track assemblies coupled with the body, the body being disposed between the track assemblies to enable the track assemblies to provide stability to the vehicle during high speed fluid discharge from the outlet.