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Articles 1 - 17 of 17
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Aerospace Vehicle Navigation And Control System Comprising Terrestrial Illumination Matching Module For Determining Aerospace Vehicle Position And Attitude, Liberty M. Shockley, Robert A. Bettinger
Aerospace Vehicle Navigation And Control System Comprising Terrestrial Illumination Matching Module For Determining Aerospace Vehicle Position And Attitude, Liberty M. Shockley, Robert A. Bettinger
AFIT Patents
The present invention relates to an aerospace vehicle navigation and control system comprising a terrestrial illumination matching module for determining spacecraft position and attitude. The method permits aerospace vehicle position and attitude determinations using terrestrial lights using an Earth-pointing camera without the need of a dedicated sensor to track stars, the sun, or the horizon. Thus, a module for making such determinations can easily and inexpensively be made onboard an aerospace vehicle if an Earth-pointing sensor, such as a camera, is present.
Vacuum Lift Apparatus, Ruben Adorno, Anthony N. Palazotto
Vacuum Lift Apparatus, Ruben Adorno, Anthony N. Palazotto
AFIT Patents
An apparatus for lifting a load to a desired altitude using an evacuated hollow lift body is disclosed. Once evacuated, the apparatus is lighter than the surrounding atmosphere. The lift body can be formed as a hollow fluid tight structure with a tube wound and sealed in a helical pattern or a dual membrane structure with a pressurized intermediate volume sandwiched between inner and outer membranes. A load can be attached to the apparatus and lifted to an altitude where the effective density of the apparatus and load is equivalent to the density of the surrounding atmosphere.
Filter-Based Air Sampler Capable Of Integration Into Small Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, Robert M. Eninger, Stepanie A. Ohms, Jeremy M. Slagley
Filter-Based Air Sampler Capable Of Integration Into Small Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, Robert M. Eninger, Stepanie A. Ohms, Jeremy M. Slagley
AFIT Patents
A filter-based air sampler, more specifically a filter-based air sampler capable of integration into small unmanned aerial systems is disclosed. The filter-based air sampler may include a filter assembly which has as its component parts: an open faced air intake component, a filter, and a filter support that has a central supporting grid. The filter assembly may joined to the housing of a fan, such as a centrifugal fan, with the supporting grid of the filter support being disposed over the air inlet of the fan.
Spacecraft Orbit Determination System, Daniel M. Dombrowski, Robert A. Bettinger
Spacecraft Orbit Determination System, Daniel M. Dombrowski, Robert A. Bettinger
AFIT Patents
The present invention relates to a resident space object orbit determination system comprising a high efficiency module for determining a resident space object's orbit and a highly efficient method for determining same. Applicants developed a method and system to determine the orbits of residence space objects including resident space objects that do not reflect energy that is directed at them and/or may be coated to minimize the ability to accurately see such resident space objects. Thus, a method, a module and a system for making such determinations that can easily and inexpensively be added to an early warning reentry system …
Seal For A Wave Rotor Disk Engine, Christopher Tait, Pejman Akbari, Brian Sell, Marc Polanka
Seal For A Wave Rotor Disk Engine, Christopher Tait, Pejman Akbari, Brian Sell, Marc Polanka
AFIT Patents
A unique seal for a wave rotor disk engine is disclosed herein. The seal is operable for sealing a region between a rotor and a rotor casing. The seal is spring loaded and will engage with the tip of the rotor to reduce pressure loss within the wave rotor disk engine.
Turbine Cooling System With Energy Separation, James L. Rutledge, Matthew Fuqua, Carol M. Bryant
Turbine Cooling System With Energy Separation, James L. Rutledge, Matthew Fuqua, Carol M. Bryant
AFIT Patents
A method and system for cooling an engine and/or vehicle using energy separation is disclosed herein. An energy separation device is operable for separating a compressed gaseous coolant stream into a first relatively cooler coolant flow stream and a second relatively hotter coolant flow stream. The relative cooler coolant flow stream is directed to a first region requiring increased cooling and the relative hotter coolant flow stream is directed to a second region requiring lower cooling than the first region in the engine or vehicle.
Disk Engine With Circumferential Swirl Radial Combustor, Brian Bohan, Marc Polanka, Bennett Staton
Disk Engine With Circumferential Swirl Radial Combustor, Brian Bohan, Marc Polanka, Bennett Staton
AFIT Patents
A disk engine and system configured to provide high power at a reduced axial length is disclosed herein. The disk engine includes a radial compressor, a compressor discharge manifold positioned circumferentially about compressor, a combustion chamber positioned within the discharge manifold and a radial turbine positioned radially inward of the combustion chamber.
Early Warning Reentry System Comprising High Efficiency Module For Determining Spacecraft Reentry Time, Robert A. Bettinger
Early Warning Reentry System Comprising High Efficiency Module For Determining Spacecraft Reentry Time, Robert A. Bettinger
AFIT Patents
The present invention relates to an early warning reentry system comprising a high efficiency module for determining spacecraft reentry time and a highly efficient method for determining spacecraft reentry time. The method permits more accurate, earlier spacecraft reentry time determinations using publicly available trajectory information without the need for accounting for the actual design configuration of the spacecraft in question. Thus, a module for making such determinations can easily and inexpensively be added to an early warning reentry system.
Hexakis Icosahedron Frame-Skin Vacuum Lighter Than Air Vehicle, Brian Cranston, Anthony N. Palazotto
Hexakis Icosahedron Frame-Skin Vacuum Lighter Than Air Vehicle, Brian Cranston, Anthony N. Palazotto
AFIT Patents
A vacuum lighter than air vehicle (VLTAV) includes a rigid frame of rods connected together to form a hexakis icosahedron. A membrane skin covers the rigid frame and defines therewith a vessel configured to hold an internal vacuum that allows the vessel to float in the air. The plurality of rods and membrane skin have weights and dimensions that result in a neutral and/or positive buoyancy for the vessel while preventing geometric instability.
Wind Tunnel Wake Generator, Carl Pickl, James L. Rutledge, Marc D. Polanka, Brian Crabtree, Christopher Harkless
Wind Tunnel Wake Generator, Carl Pickl, James L. Rutledge, Marc D. Polanka, Brian Crabtree, Christopher Harkless
AFIT Patents
A wake generator for placement in a wind tunnel between a wind source and a test object includes a first frame member having a first track formed thereon, where the first track has a shape including a first side that is substantially rounded and a second side that is substantially flat. The wake generator may include a mounting plate disposed within a perimeter of the first track, where the mounting plate is rotatable relative to the first frame member about a first axis. The wake generator may also include a plurality of bars slidably engaged to the mounting plate and …
Stereoscopic 3-D Presentation For Air Traffic Control Digital Radar Displays, Jason G. Russi, Brent T. Langhals, Michael E. Miller, Eric L. Heft
Stereoscopic 3-D Presentation For Air Traffic Control Digital Radar Displays, Jason G. Russi, Brent T. Langhals, Michael E. Miller, Eric L. Heft
AFIT Patents
An apparatus and method of presenting air traffic data to an air traffic controller are provided. Air traffic data including a two dimensional spatial location and altitude for a plurality of aircraft is received. A disparity value is determined based on the altitude for each aircraft of the plurality of aircraft. Left and right eye images are generated of the plurality of aircraft where at least one of the left and right eye images is based on the determined disparity value. The left and right eye images are simultaneously displayed to the air traffic controller on a display. The simultaneously …
Coded Aperture Aided Navigation And Geolocation Systems, Jamie R. Morrison, John F. Raquet, Michael J. Veth
Coded Aperture Aided Navigation And Geolocation Systems, Jamie R. Morrison, John F. Raquet, Michael J. Veth
AFIT Patents
A micro air vehicle having a navigation system with a single camera to determine position and attitude of the vehicle using changes the direction to the observed features. The difference between the expected directions to the observed features versus the measured direction to the observed features is used to correct a navigation solution.
Navigation And Position Determination With A Multicarrier Modulation Signal Of Opportunity, Richard K. Martin, Jamie S. Velotta, John F. Raquet
Navigation And Position Determination With A Multicarrier Modulation Signal Of Opportunity, Richard K. Martin, Jamie S. Velotta, John F. Raquet
AFIT Patents
A multicarrier modulation position determination method that includes deploying at least one known receiver with a known location and a second receiver with an unknown location. At least two signals of opportunity with different locations are obtained by both the receiver and the second receiver. The signals having a plurality of block data, the block data having block boundaries. The block boundaries including a beginning block boundary and an end block boundary. The block data further including a cyclic prefix at the beginning block boundary. Acquiring a plurality of data samples for at least a portion of the block data …
Variable Area Inlet For Vehicle Thermal Control, Thomas R. Layne, Milton E. Franke, Darrell B. Ridgedly
Variable Area Inlet For Vehicle Thermal Control, Thomas R. Layne, Milton E. Franke, Darrell B. Ridgedly
AFIT Patents
A variable area inlet structure for a vehicle utilizing ram air for coolant is described which comprises a variable area inlet device in the ram air inlet in the form of a butterfly valve, damper, shutter, or similar structure, a temperature sensor in thermal contact with a component within the vehicle to be cooled by ram air flow, a controller and actuator, responsive to the temperature sensor and operatively connected to the variable area device, for controlling the inlet area in response to the component temperature.
System For Boundary Layer Control Through Pulsed Heating Of A Strip Heater, Milton E. Franke, Lawrence Kudelka
System For Boundary Layer Control Through Pulsed Heating Of A Strip Heater, Milton E. Franke, Lawrence Kudelka
AFIT Patents
A system is described for controlling the transition of laminar/turbulent flow at a surface which comprises a thin narrow strip heater disposed adjacent the surface and extending substantially transversely of the flow of the air stream thereacross, the heater being resiliently held in tension on or in closely spaced relationship to the surface, and a power source operatively connected to the heater for applying pulsed voltage of preselected amplitude and frequency to the heater.
Multiple Jet Blowing Around The Blunt Trailing Edge Of A Circulation Controlled Airfoil, John K. Harvell, Milton E. Franke
Multiple Jet Blowing Around The Blunt Trailing Edge Of A Circulation Controlled Airfoil, John K. Harvell, Milton E. Franke
AFIT Patents
A circulation controlled airfoil has a body structure with leading and trailing ends and upper and lower surfaces extending therebetween, and a cylindrical member disposed along the trailing end of the body structure between the upper and lower surfaces thereof so as to form a rounded, blunt trailing edge surface on the airfoil. A first blowing jet slot is defined between the outer surface of the cylindrical member and the trailing end of the body structure adjacent its upper surface. A second blowing jet slot is defined in a tubular wall of the cylindrical member. The latter member can be …
Axisymmetric Thrust Augmenting Ejector With Discrete Primary Air Slot Nozzles, Steven G. Reznick, Milton E. Franke
Axisymmetric Thrust Augmenting Ejector With Discrete Primary Air Slot Nozzles, Steven G. Reznick, Milton E. Franke
AFIT Patents
A circular thrust augmenting ejector has an annular wall which defines a central passageway and a convergent contoured inlet section, a constant area cylindrical mixing section and a divergent conical diffuser outlet section. The inlet, mixing and outlet sections merge one into the next in axisymmetric serial relationship. The ejector also has a plurality of discrete primary nozzles arranged about the periphery of the annular wall at the entrance to the inlet section thereof for injecting a primary flow of high velocity air into the inlet section and thereby entraining a secondary flow of ambient air into the central passageway …