Abstract: Herein are described an instrument and a method for using the same. The instrument comprises a fluid channel fluidly connected to at least a first fluid reservoir and a second fluid reservoir; a counter electrode (CE), a reference electrode (RE), and a working electrode (WE); and a potentiostat. The CE, RE, and WE are all disposed within the fluid channel; the potentiostat is isolated from earth ground by at least one isolator and is powered by a floating power supply; and the CE, RE, and WE are each electrically connected to the potentiostat.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus automatically determine a location, such as of an aircraft or spacecraft, by matching images of terrain below the craft, as captured by a camera, radar, etc. in the craft, with known or predicted terrain landmark data stored in an electronic data store. A star tracker measures attitude of the camera. An additional navigation aiding sensor provides additional navigational data. Optionally, a rangefinder measures altitude of the camera above the terrain. A navigation filter uses the attitude, the additional navigational data, and optionally the altitude, to resolve attitude, and optionally altitude, ambiguities and thereby avoid location solution errors common in prior art terrain matching navigation systems.

Abstract: A digital camera optically couples a monocentric lens to image sensor arrays, without optical fibers, yet shields the image sensor arrays from stray light. In some digital cameras, baffles are disposed between an outer surface of a monocentric lens and each image sensor array to shield the image sensor arrays from stray light. In other such digital cameras, an opaque mask defines a set of apertures, one aperture per image sensor array, to limit the amount of stray light. Some digital cameras include both masks and baffles.

Abstract: A visual navigation system includes a compass configured to orient a user in a heading direction, an image sensor configured to capture a series of successive navigation images in the heading direction, one or more of the navigation images having at least two reference markers, data storage memory configured to store the series of successive navigation images, a navigation processor configured to identify at least one principal marker and at least one ancillary marker from the at least two reference markers, the principal marker positioned within a principal angle and the ancillary marker positioned within an ancillary angle, which is greater than the principal angle, and to determine heading direction information based on a position of the at least one principal marker and/or the at least one ancillary marker in the successive navigation images, and a user interface configured to provide the heading direction information to the user.

Abstract: A device for detecting bacteria in a sample, comprising: a substrate having a surface; and a plurality of Fe(III)-bound or Fe(III)-binding siderophores specific to the bacteria and covalently attached to the surface; wherein the siderophores are selected from the group consisting of one or more natural siderophores, siderophores having one or more of the formulas described herein, or combination thereof. Methods of detection are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and kit for detecting bacteria in a sample. Substrate having a surface comprising an interdigitated Au electrode array and a plurality of siderophores specific to the bacteria and covalently attached to the surface. In one embodiment, the siderophore may contain a free OH (alcohol), amine, or carboxylic acid to which linker may be attached via ester (on the OH), amide (on the amine) or reverse the ester or amide using the siderophore carboxyl. The linker chain can then be short or long with and without heteroatom substitution to improve solubility as needed. The linker can terminate with a thiol which will react with a gold surface. Alternatively, the linker can terminate with another alcohol, amine or acid which can then be attached to corresponding functionality on the surface of choice.

Abstract: Systems and methods for determining the shape and/or position of an object are described. A fiber optic shape sensor (FOSS) may be used in combination with one or more inertial measurement units (IMUs) to mutually cross-correct for errors in the sensors' measurements of position and/or orientation. The IMU(s) may be attached to the FOSS's optical fiber, such that each IMU measures the orientation of a corresponding portion of the optical fiber. The position and shape of the optical fiber can then be determined based on the measurements obtained from the IMU(s) and the measurements obtained from the FOSS. For example, the FOSS measurements and the IMU measurements can be provided to a state estimation unit (e.g., a Kalman filter), which can estimate the position and/or shape of the optical fiber based on those measurements. In some embodiments, the estimates of position are used for navigation of tethered mobile devices.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus automatically determine a location, such as of an aircraft or spacecraft, by matching images of terrain below the craft, as captured by a camera, radar, etc. in the craft, with known or predicted terrain landmark data stored in an electronic data store. A star tracker measures attitude of the camera. An additional navigation aiding sensor provides additional navigational data. Optionally, a rangefinder measures altitude of the camera above the terrain. A navigation filter uses the attitude, the additional navigational data, and optionally the altitude, to resolve attitude, and optionally altitude, ambiguities and thereby avoid location solution errors common in prior art terrain matching navigation systems.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus automatically determine a location, such as of an aircraft or spacecraft, by matching images of terrain below the craft, as captured by a camera, radar, etc. in the craft, with known or predicted terrain landmark data stored in an electronic data store. A star tracker measures attitude of the camera. Optionally, a rangefinder measures altitude of the camera above the terrain. A navigation filter uses the attitude, and optionally the altitude, to resolve attitude, and optionally altitude, ambiguities and thereby avoid location solution errors common in prior art terrain matching navigation systems.

Abstract: An optical device is described for a wide field of view optical system. A device housing has an optical opening into an enclosed interior volume. A multi-element lens is molded across the optical opening and defined by: a. a field of view representing a volume of space from which light is collected, b. a plurality of optical paths through the lens defining one or more focal planes within the interior volume, and c. a boresight axis perpendicular to each of the one or more focal planes. Optical sensors are arranged on the one or more focal planes and configured for sensing light collected through the lens from the field of view. The device forms a single environmentally hardened package configured to absorb impulse shocks without disturbing the boresight axis or the plurality of optical paths.

Abstract: A visual navigation system includes a compass configured to orient a user in a heading direction, an image sensor configured to capture a series of successive navigation images in the heading direction, one or more of the navigation images having at least two reference markers, data storage memory configured to store the series of successive navigation images, a navigation processor configured to identify at least one principal marker and at least one ancillary marker from the at least two reference markers, the principal marker positioned within a principal angle and the ancillary marker positioned within an ancillary angle, which is greater than the principal angle, and to determine heading direction information based on a position of the at least one principal marker and/or the at least one ancillary marker in the successive navigation images, and a user interface configured to provide the heading direction information to the user.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus automatically determine a location, such as of an aircraft or spacecraft, by matching images of terrain below the craft, as captured by a camera, radar, etc. in the craft, with known or predicted terrain landmark data stored in an electronic data store. A star tracker measures attitude of the camera. Optionally, a rangefinder measures altitude of the camera above the terrain. A navigation filter uses the attitude, and optionally the altitude, to resolve attitude, and optionally altitude, ambiguities and thereby avoid location solution errors common in prior art terrain matching navigation systems.

Abstract: A pair of rows of laterally projecting teeth mounted on respective one ends from respective stringers to be moved from opposite sides of a locking plane to be engaged in the locking plane. The teeth include catches constructed to, when the teeth are in the locking plane, engage each other to lock the rows of teeth together.

Abstract: Herein are described an instrument and a method for using the same. The instrument comprises a fluid channel fluidly connected to at least a first fluid reservoir and a second fluid reservoir; a counter electrode (CE), a reference electrode (RE), and a working electrode (WE); and a potentiostat. The CE, RE, and WE are all disposed within the fluid channel; the potentiostat is isolated from earth ground by at least one isolator and is powered by a floating power supply; and the CE, RE, and WE are each electrically connected to the potentiostat.

Abstract: A star camera system that includes an optical system configured to focus radiation from a star to be imaged onto a collector. Specifically, the collector is in the form of an electron bombarded active pixel sensor (EBAPS) configured to provide high gain. The EBAPS comprising a photocathode disposed in a vacuum is configured to release electron into a vacuum when exposed to radiation focused thereon by the optical system. In addition, the EBAPS includes an active pixel sensor anode disposed distant from the photocathode in the vacuum. An electric field is generated by a voltage source to direct electrons from the photocathode to the active pixel sensor anode to thereby generate an image of the star.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus ascertain a geographic position based on topographic contours of ocean surfaces. Observed ocean topographic contours are matched to predicted ocean topography and/or ocean topographic information stored in a database. Such systems and methods do not necessarily require INS, GPS, RF beacons, optical beacons or celestial sightings. These systems and methods may be used as references to correct INS. These systems and methods may be used to ascertain a geographic location of an aircraft, spacecraft, watercraft, landcraft (vehicle), person or the like. Similarly, these systems and methods may be used as part of a guidance system for guiding a craft to a destination. These systems and methods may be used in tandem with, or as backups for, other types of navigation or guidance systems or as one input to a navigation filter.

Abstract: A star camera system that includes an optical system configured to focus radiation from a star to be imaged onto a collector that is in the form of an electron bombarded active pixel sensor (EBAPS) configured to provide high gain. The EBAPS comprising a photocathode disposed in a vacuum is configured to release electrons into the vacuum when exposed to radiation focused thereon by the optical system. The EBAPS includes an active pixel sensor anode disposed distant from the photocathode in the vacuum. An electric field is generated by a voltage source to direct the electrons from the photocathode to the active pixel sensor anode. Furthermore, the collector is mounted on a translation device configured to move the collector relative to the optical system by a predetermined amount of less than pixel size in the focal plane of the optical system to increase image resolution of a plurality of images.

Abstract: A digital camera optically couples a monocentric lens to image sensor arrays, without optical fibers, yet shields the image sensor arrays from stray light. In some digital cameras, baffles are disposed between an outer surface of a monocentric lens and each image sensor array to shield the image sensor arrays from stray light. In other such digital cameras, an opaque mask defines a set of apertures, one aperture per image sensor array, to limit the amount of stray light. Some digital cameras include both masks and baffles.

Abstract: Systems and methods for determining the shape and/or position of an object are described. A fiber optic shape sensor (FOSS) may be used in combination with one or more inertial measurement units (IMUs) to mutually cross-correct for errors in the sensors' measurements of position and/or orientation. The IMU(s) may be attached to the FOSS's optical fiber, such that each IMU measures the orientation of a corresponding portion of the optical fiber. The position and shape of the optical fiber can then be determined based on the measurements obtained from the IMU(s) and the measurements obtained from the FOSS. For example, the FOSS measurements and the IMU measurements can be provided to a state estimation unit (e.g., a Kalman filter), which can estimate the position and/or shape of the optical fiber based on those measurements. In some embodiments, the estimates of position are used for navigation of tethered mobile devices.

Abstract: A device for detecting bacteria in a sample, comprising: a substrate having a surface; and a plurality of Fe(III)-bound or Fe(III)-binding siderophores specific to the bacteria and covalently attached to the surface; wherein the siderophores are selected from the group consisting of one or more natural siderophores, siderophores having one or more of the formulas described herein, or combination thereof. Methods of detection are also provided.