Abstract: The disclosure provides a microwave system developed to measure properties of fluidic materials incident upon a surface using a phase response of multiple microstrip transmission lines, generally over an ultra-wideband excitation. The system can include a series of parallel planar transmission lines as waveguides that are coupled to an insulator layer and a conductor as a formed-to-fit or flexible insulator layer, an ultra-wideband RF transceiver measuring phase angle, and a processing computer. The system can directly measure electrical permittivity in the microwave frequency band. This measurement can be processed to determine the presence of a homogeneous or heterogeneous fluidic material on a surface to which the transmission lines are coupled, the presence of a phase change in the fluidic material, and potentially the presence of other fluidic materials, depending on differences in permittivity between the fluid materials. In some embodiments, a thickness of the material can be also be provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method of detecting the presence of a foreign substance, such as ice, in an air-flow path within an operating jet engine by providing one or more electromagnetic sensors that are tuned to receive electromagnetic waves at one or more frequencies generated by the operating jet engine that change upon the presence of the foreign substance. In at least one embodiment, the waves can be transmitted to the electromagnetic sensor through an electromagnetically transparent window in a wall of the jet engine. In at least another embodiment, the electromagnetic sensor can be coupled with a connector that penetrates an operating chamber in the jet engine to measure the electromagnetic parameters of one or more components from within the chamber of the jet engine. In some embodiments, the amount of ice or other foreign substances can be measured or estimated.

Abstract: Implementations of the present disclosure provide a ladder pad assembly for use with a ladder having at least one rail and at least one pair of rungs are provided. In some implementations, the ladder pad assembly includes a body having a volume of padding material provided therein, and a fastening arrangement that is attached to body. The body is configured to wrap around the rail to be at least partially disposed between rungs of the at least one pair of rungs, and the fastening arrangement is arranged to releasably secure the body to the rail.