Abstract: Methods, Systems, and Apparatus for coordinating drones to communicate with reduced signal to noise, harvest energy, or provide camouflage.

Abstract: An air duct system for an aircraft provides passengers with light, data, electrical power, and sanitized air. The air duct system includes an air duct having a main body and a visible light source configured to generate visible light, where the visible light is modulated by one or more controllers based on a visible light communication protocol. The air duct system simultaneously achieves four functions for improving passengers' flying experience. First, a portion of the visible light transmitted by the air duct illuminates the interior cabin of the aircraft. Second, by modulating the visible light, the air duct system transmits and distributes data that is received by the passengers' electronic devices. Third, a portion of the visible light is converted into electrical power at each passenger seat to power passengers' electronic devices. Fourth, in embodiments, the visible light is emitted at a germicidal wavelength spectrum to create sanitized air.

Abstract: A system includes a detector attachment member and a communication system. The detector attachment member includes a first end configured to be coupled to an unmanned aerial vehicle; a second end configured to be coupled to a detector; and a body extending between the first end and the second end, the body of a length selected such that an interference of the unmanned aerial vehicle at the detector is less than an interference threshold. The detector attachment member also includes a lift system coupled to the body. The communication system is coupled to the detector attachment member and is configured to provide communication between the unmanned aerial vehicle and the detector.

Abstract: Methods, Systems, and Apparatus for coordinating drones to communicate with reduced signal to noise, harvest energy, or provide camouflage.

Abstract: An additive manufacturing system for extraction of impurities in additive manufacturing material, the system including an additive manufacturing machine for manufacturing a part using additive manufacturing material. The system may additionally include a conductive plate adjacent to the additive manufacturing material. The system can further include an energy source for distributing an electric charge through the conductive plate adjacent to the additive manufacturing material. Distributing the electric charge through the conductive plate can attract impurities from the additive manufacturing material to the conductive plate.

Abstract: An air duct system for an aircraft provides passengers with light, data, electrical power, and sanitized air. The air duct system includes an air duct having a main body and a visible light source configured to generate visible light, where the visible light is modulated by one or more controllers based on a visible light communication protocol. The air duct system simultaneously achieves four functions for improving passengers' flying experience. First, a portion of the visible light transmitted by the air duct illuminates the interior cabin of the aircraft. Second, by modulating the visible light, the air duct system transmits and distributes data that is received by the passengers' electronic devices. Third, a portion of the visible light is converted into electrical power at each passenger seat to power passengers' electronic devices. Fourth, in embodiments, the visible light is emitted at a germicidal wavelength spectrum to create sanitized air.

Abstract: A nanosatellite or drone, including an antenna; a dielectric waveguide coupled to the antenna, the waveguide comprising at least one of a slot or a taper and the waveguide (1) focusing electromagnetic radiation incident from free space into the waveguide and (2) waveguiding the electromagnetic radiation to the antenna. Also disclosed is a system for deploying a support structure, or device having electromagnetic functionality, including one or more bags each having a wall comprising a membrane; one or more conduits each having an outlet transferring fluid into the one or more of the bags in fluidic communication with the conduits, wherein the fluid pressurizes each of the one or more bags and expands the membrane so as to deploy and form each of the one or more bags into a support or the device having electromagnetic functionality.

Abstract: An in-flight aircraft tracking system may include a power transmission line suspended in the air and a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader configured to identify an aircraft in proximity to the power transmission line. A traffic control system may be configured to coordinate movement of multiple aircrafts in proximity to the power transmission line. An in-flight aircraft tracking method may include transmitting a reader signal from a RFID reader to an aircraft while the aircraft is in proximity to a power transmission line and receiving an identification signal in response to the reader signal from an RFID transmitter coupled to the aircraft.

Abstract: A power recharging system may include an electrical conductor connected to a first aircraft and configured to connect to a second aircraft while the aircrafts are in flight. An AC signal may be induced in the electrical conductor it is in proximity to a changing magnetic field. The system may include a first rectifier circuit at the first aircraft that converts the AC signal into a DC signal for charging the first aircraft and a second rectifier circuit at the second aircraft that converts the AC signal into a second DC signal for charging the second aircraft. The electrical conductor may be part of a communication line. A communication system at the first aircraft may send and receive data communications via the communication line.

Abstract: An air duct system is disclosed, and includes an air duct having a main body, where the main body of the air duct defines a passageway having a reflective inner surface. The air duct system also includes an ultraviolet light source configured to generate ultraviolet light. The ultraviolet light source directs the ultraviolet light along the reflective inner surface of the air duct.

Abstract: An air duct system includes an air duct having a main body. The main body of the air duct defines a passageway and an outer surface. The air duct system also includes one or more thermoelectric generators. Each thermoelectric generator includes a hot side and a cold side, and the hot side of the thermoelectric generator is positioned along the outer surface of the air duct.

Abstract: A power recharging system may include an electrical conductor connected to a first aircraft and configured to connect to a second aircraft while the aircrafts are in flight. An AC signal may be induced in the electrical conductor it is in proximity to a changing magnetic field. The system may include a first rectifier circuit at the first aircraft that converts the AC signal into a DC signal for charging the first aircraft and a second rectifier circuit at the second aircraft that converts the AC signal into a second DC signal for charging the second aircraft. The electrical conductor may be part of a communication line. A communication system at the first aircraft may send and receive data communications via the communication line.

Abstract: An air duct system comprising an air duct having a main body, a visible light source, an emitter configured to emit radio frequency waves, and one or more antennas. The main body of the air duct defines a passageway having a reflective inner surface. The visible light source is configured to generate visible light. The visible light source directs the visible light along the reflective inner surface of the air duct. The emitter directs the radio frequency waves along the reflective inner surface of the air duct. The one or more antennas are each connected to a corresponding power harvesting circuit, where the radio frequency waves are received by the one or more antennas and are converted into electrical power by the corresponding power harvesting circuit.

Abstract: A method, system and apparatus are provided for reducing or eliminating contrails formed by an aircraft as it travels through the sky, and more particularly, to disrupting formation of contrails and altering the electromagnetic properties of already-formed contrails through use of one or more lasers. Methods include: positioning at least one laser such that at least one beam from the at least one laser is directed to a position at which contrails form aft of a wing of the aircraft; detecting contrail formation in the position at which contrails form aft of the wing of the aircraft; activating the at least one laser source in response to detecting contrail formation; and reducing or eliminating the contrail in response to activating the at least one laser source.

Abstract: An energy harvesting system is provided and a corresponding method for harvesting energy from an aircraft cabin pressurization system utilizing the same. According to one aspect, an energy harvesting system includes an aircraft cabin enclosing a high-pressure environment of pressurized air. An air input receives incoming air from a low-pressure environment and an air output expels outgoing air from the high-pressure environment. A turbine receives the pressurized air expelled from the aircraft cabin and utilizes the pressurized air to produce rotational motion on a turbine shaft. An energy harvesting mechanism is coupled to the turbine shaft and utilizes the rotational motion from the turbine shaft to compress the incoming air or to create electrical energy.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and method for facilitating communications with an underwater platform. A communications system comprises an unmanned aerial vehicle, a radio frequency communications system, a laser communications system, and a controller. The unmanned aerial vehicle comprises a first section and a second section. The first section is moveably connected to the second section. The radio frequency communications system is connected to the first section of the unmanned aerial vehicle. The radio frequency communications system comprises a first parabolic antenna. The laser communications system is connected to the second section of the unmanned aerial vehicle. The laser communications system comprises a second parabolic antenna. The controller is configured to control the laser communications system to transmit incoming information in a transmit laser beam to the underwater platform submerged in a body of water.

Abstract: An energy harvesting apparatus may include a thermoelectric device, a heat exchanger coupled to the thermoelectric device, a thermal capacitor container, and a thermal capacitor generation device. The thermal capacitor generation device may be configured to generate a thermal capacitor fluid, to be contained in the thermal capacitor container. An electrical energy storage device may be electrically connected to the thermoelectric device, to store electricity generated by the thermoelectric device.

Abstract: A system for detecting a contaminant, which includes a light source directed to heat a layer of a material positioned in a location. The system further includes an infrared camera positioned aligned with the location to receive electromagnetic thermal radiation energy from the layer of the material in the location.

Abstract: A nanosatellite or drone, including an antenna; a dielectric waveguide coupled to the antenna, the waveguide comprising at least one of a slot or a taper and the waveguide (1) focusing electromagnetic radiation incident from free space into the waveguide and (2) waveguiding the electromagnetic radiation to the antenna. Also disclosed is a system for deploying a support structure, or device having electromagnetic functionality, including one or more bags each having a wall comprising a membrane; one or more conduits each having an outlet transferring fluid into the one or more of the bags in fluidic communication with the conduits, wherein the fluid pressurizes each of the one or more bags and expands the membrane so as to deploy and form each of the one or more bags into a support or the device having electromagnetic functionality.

Abstract: Methods, Systems, and Apparatus for coordinating drones to communicate with reduced signal to noise, harvest energy, or provide camouflage.