Abstract: A dual aerial-drop penetrometer system includes a high-velocity (>30 m/s) penetrometer aerial unit combined with a low-velocity (<10 m/s) penetrometer aerial unit. The primary penetrometer is formed as an outer shell having the secondary penetrometer received in telescoping fashion within, which is ejected by a spring ejection mechanism upon impact of the outer shell. Both penetrometers provide deceleration information as they penetrate the soil of interest. The data from the two penetrometers, after analysis, can be used to assess soil strength as well as trafficability for the deployment of remotely-controlled vehicles, for example.

Abstract: A percussive digging tool attachment for a small robotic platform employs a percussor module for applying percussive impulses of relatively low impact at relatively high frequency to an attached digging tool to dig into or break up soil and rocks. By using low-impact, high-frequency percussive forces, it reduces the reaction loads on the small robotic platform while providing increased capability.

Abstract: System and method for automatically and regularly predicting water level and currents in coastal areas, without operator intervention. The system and method can enable, automated operational forecasts at regular time intervals without operator intervention by using a grid and a computer forecast model that allows accurate prediction of tidal heights and currents in complex shoreline and bathymetry regions, single or parallel processing capability, optimal available processor assignment based on the size of computing domain, standard and other tidal database forcing in the open boundary, missing data gap-filling, and wind, bathymetry, and model-derived boundary condition model integration.

Abstract: A substrate has embossed thereon a plurality of shaped recesses of a predetermined precise geometric profile, each recess having a flat bottom surface having a major dimension of about 1000 ?m or less, the substrate being capable of undergoing a thermal cycle of about one hour at about 150° C. while maintaining about ±10 ?m or less dimensional stability of the embossed shaped indentations, and wherein the substrate comprises an amorphous thermoplastic material. During the thermal cycle the substrate has an elastic modulus greater than about 1010 dynes/cm2 and a viscoelastic index of less than about 0.1.

Abstract: A method of making a microneedle array structure (20) comprising a plurality of simultaneously formed microneedles (24), each microneedle (24) having a protrusion (32) and a passageway (34) extending therethrough. The method comprises the steps of pressing an embossable sheet material between a complimentary tools and radiantly heating the sheet material using radiant energy from a radiant energy source. One tool is relatively-radiantly-transparent, and another tool and/or the sheet material is relatively-radiantly-absorptive.

Abstract: A method of embossing a sheet material includes: heating at least a portion of the sheet directly or indirectly with radiant energy from a radiant energy source; pressing a tool against the heated portion of the sheet, thereby patterning a surface of the sheet; and separating the sheet and the tool. The radiant energy may travel through a solid material that is relatively transparent to radiation, on its way to being absorbed by a relatively-absorptive material. The relatively-transparent material may be an unheated portion of the sheet, and the relatively-absorptive material may be either the tool or the heated portion of the sheet. Alternatively, the relatively-transparent material may be the tool, and the relatively-absorptive material may be all or part of the sheet. The method may be performed as one or more roll-to-roll operations.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for generating comfort noise in a communication device. The method includes receiving a signal, scaling the signal to a preselected value, indicating whether an error occurred during transmission of the signal, and providing the scaled signal as an output signal in response to receiving the indication that the error occurred during transmission. The apparatus includes a scaler for receiving a signal and being capable of scaling the signal to a preselected value. The apparatus includes an indicator capable of indicating that an error occurred during transmission of the signal, wherein the scaled signal is provided as an output signal in response to an indication that the error occurred during transmission.

Abstract: A signal modulator includes a digital signal processor, an address buffer, a counter, and a first memory device. The digital signal processor is adapted to receive digital data at a receive sampling rate and define a code word based on a subset of the digital data. The address buffer is coupled to the digital signal processor and adapted to receive the code word and store a base address. The counter is adapted to increment an address offset at a transmit sampling rate. The transmit sampling rate is a multiple of the receive sampling rate. The first memory device has a plurality of memory locations and is adapted to receive the base address and the address offset and provide a first waveform data sample from the memory location addressed by the base address and the address offset. A method for modulating a signal includes receiving digital data at a receive sampling rate. The time interval between digital data samples defines a bit interval. A code word is determined based on a subset of the digital data.