Abstract: A method is disclosed for recycling broad goods material into a flaked feed material. The broad goods material includes reinforcement fibers and thermoplastic material. The recycling method includes applying heat and pressure to impregnate the reinforcement fibers at a filament level with the thermoplastic material to form an impregnated fiber material. The method also includes cooling the impregnated fiber material, and cutting the cooled impregnated fiber material into flakes to produce the flaked feed material.

Abstract: A refueling system may include a refueling hose and a refueling drone coupled to the hose aft end. The refueling drone may be rearwardly deployable from the tanker aircraft such that the refueling drone is towed by the refueling hose behind the tanker aircraft. The refueling drone may be engaged to a receiver aircraft for transferring fuel from the tanker aircraft to the receiver aircraft.

Abstract: In one aspect, a system for generating a navigation chart is provided. The system includes a display device and a computing device coupled to the display device. The computing device is configured to receive at least one of current geographic position data from a navigation instrument and a desired geographic position input by a user and to generate a navigation chart having a geographic area that corresponds to one of the current geographic location and the desired geographic position and that includes at least one navigation aid, the navigation chart includes at least one navigation aid symbol corresponding to a position of the navigation aid within the geographic area. The computing device is further configured to determine whether each navigation aid is visible at a predetermined position within the geographic area and to display the navigation chart on the display device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for analyzing nonconformances. A volume in an aircraft is identified. The nonconformances within the volume of the aircraft are identified. Graphical indicators are displayed indicating the nonconformances within the volume in a graphical user interface on a display device.

Abstract: An adhesive bonding film comprises at least one layer of thermally curable resin. The thermally curable resin includes embedded metal particles adapted to be excited to produce heat for curing the resin.

Abstract: A method and apparatus comprising a cure of a curable material. A cure of a curable material is initiated by using cure parameters. The cure parameters are based on material data related to curing the curable material. Temperature values are obtained based on temperatures measured periodically during the cure by a plurality of sensors. A cure setting is adjusted during the cure based on at least one cure parameter of the cure parameters and at least one temperature value of the temperature values to substantially maintain a desired effect. The cure parameters comprise a hot threshold, a cold threshold, a hot alarm, and cold alarm.

Abstract: Aircraft nacelles include a frame, a cowl operatively and rotatably coupled to the frame, and a biasing member operatively coupled between the frame and the cowl. The biasing member is configured to assist in the manual opening of the cowl and the manually closing of the cowl.

Abstract: Systems, tools, and methods for forming composite tubular stringers and stiffened composite structures having composite tubular stringers are disclosed. Systems include a tool, a supply of pliable blanks for forming composite tubular stringers with the tool, a supply of skin segments for forming a skin, and a layup mandrel for receiving the composite tubular stringers and the skin to form a stiffened composite structure. Tools include a wrapping mandrel for forming from a pliable blank a tubular structure with a first circumferential profile, and a transition mandrel for conforming the tubular structure to a second circumferential profile. Methods include wrapping a pliable blank around a wrapping mandrel to define a tubular structure having a first circumferential profile, and transitioning the tubular structure from having the first circumferential profile to having a second circumferential profile.

Abstract: A computer receives a set of spatial coordinates from a motion-sensing input device, the spatial coordinates describing a position of at least one joint of a limb of a human model. The computer sends the set of spatial coordinates to a computer-aided design application, the computer-aided design application representing movements of the ergonomic manikin based on changes in limb angles described by a plurality of instances of angle data. The computer receives angle specifications from a computer-aided design application, the angle specifications corresponding to an angle of the limb in at least one three-dimensional plane. The computer converts the set of spatial coordinates to angle data in accordance with the received angle specifications, the angle data describing positioning of the limb.

Abstract: Composite parts may be bonded together at room temperature using an adhesive resin film that is chemically activated to cure when placed in contact with a scrim containing a catalyst.

Abstract: According to an embodiment a current return network assembly, for an aircraft having a predetermined potential lightning strike zone, is mounted within the predetermined potential lightning strike zone. The current return network assembly includes an electrically conductive honeycomb central core that conducts electrical current both through the assembly and through the predetermined potential lightning strike zone. The electrical current is caused by a lightning strike on the aircraft at the predetermined potential lightning strike zone. According to an embodiment, an aircraft has a predetermined potential lightning strike zone. A current return network assembly is within the zone. An electrically conductive honeycomb central core is provided for conducting electrical current through the assembly and through the zone wherein the electrical current has been caused by a lightning strike on the aircraft at the zone.

Abstract: Monitoring of high-lift systems for aircraft. In one configuration, a method for monitoring a high-lift system includes monitoring a first current draw of a first drive station of the high-lift system, and monitoring a second current draw of a second drive station of the high-lift system. The method further includes comparing the first current draw and the second current draw to determine if a differential between the first current draw and the second current draw exceeds a threshold, and generating a failure signal if the differential between the first current draw and the second current draw exceeds the threshold.

Abstract: Systems and methods for measuring a surface of an object. The system, in one embodiment, includes a laser projector device mounted at a fixed location relative to an object being formed by a fabrication process, and a videogrammetry device mounted at another fixed location relative to the object. The laser projector device includes a laser element mounted on a two-axis gimbal assembly, and the gimbal assembly directs laser beams from the laser element onto target points on a surface of the object. The laser projector device measures angles of the laser beams to the target points, while the videogrammetry device simultaneously performs measurements of the target points by capturing video images of the laser beams reflecting off of the target points. A controller processes the measurements from the laser projector device and the videogrammetry device to calculate x, y, z coordinates of the target points in a 3D coordinate system.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising an elongated structure, a first plate, and a second plate. The elongated structure has a channel. The elongated structure is configured to be associated with a primary structure on a first side of the primary structure. The first plate is configured to be connected to the primary structure at a joint and cover a portion of the elongated structure. The first plate is connected to the primary structure on the first side of the primary structure. The second plate is configured to be connected to the primary structure on a second side of the primary structure.

Abstract: Ply wrinkling during hot drape forming of a composite laminate is reduced at corner radii. A tensioning material placed over an uncured composite laminate charge maintains a compressive force on the laminate charge as the charge is formed over a tool.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for fastening structures. A first end of a body is placed into a hole on a first side of the structures. The body has an outer surface with a noncircular cross-section. A nut element is positioned on a flange at a second end of the body. A bolt is moved into a channel at the first end of the body towards the nut element on the flange on the second end of the body on the first side the structures. The bolt and the nut element are fastened to each other.

Abstract: An apparatus for reorientation of an airborne vehicle during decent employs a handle rotatably attached to the airborne vehicle and connected to a parachute. Once the parachute is deployed, rotation of the handle reorients a deck angle of the airborne vehicle with respect to the parachute.

Abstract: A locomotion system for use with a robotic device is provided. The locomotion system includes a first micropillar array including at least a first micropillar, a second micropillar array including at least a second micropillar, a control circuit associated with each micropillar of the first and second micropillar arrays, and a controller operatively coupled to each control circuit. The controller is configured to selectively activate the first and second micropillars in a sequence that causes the robotic device to move in a predetermined direction.

Abstract: A sensor assembly includes a light source, a modulation layer, and at least one detector. The modulation layer includes a plurality of micropillars each having a fixed end and a free end. The fixed ends are each adjacent to the light source. The at least one detector is adjacent to the free ends of the plurality of micropillars. The detector is configured to detect light emitted from the light source.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing communications. In one illustrative embodiment, an apparatus comprises a communications interface, an avionics interface, and a communications manager. The communications interface is configured to be connected to a group of wireless communications units. The avionics interface is configured to be connected to an avionics system. The communications manager is configured to identify the group of wireless communications units connected to the communications interface, receive input for a communications operation from a user interface in the avionics system, identify a number of wireless communications units in the group of wireless communications units for the communications operation from the input, and control operation of the number of wireless communications units to perform the communications operation.