Other

R & D Associates

Demos T Kyrazis

Predictively adjusting the pitch of blades and/or sections of a blade based on fluid velocity measurements. In one embodiment, the measurements are obtained of an upstream portion of a fluid flow using a laser Doppler velocimeter. The pitch of the blade(s) and/or blade section(s) are then adjusted to achieve a desired amount of lift or to create a stall-configuration as can be useful for conditions in which an excessive fluid velocity is detected.

Predictive blade adjustment

A method and apparatus for laser Doppler velocity measurements with a fixed difference, dual beam receiver and using a non-laser, stable frequency reference.

Fixed difference, dual beam laser Doppler velocimetry

A high bandwidth, dynamically rigid metrology system for providing real time control of an optical steering element includes a pair of stabilized laser beam directors (SLBD), a reference subsystem, a tool sensor subsystem, and at least one processor. Each SLBD includes a base, a beam pointing and stabilization apparatus mechanically coupled to the base, three reference beam lasers and a stabilized beam laser attached to the base, and a metric structure which is mechanically coupled to the SLBD providing a locally rigid SLBD coordinate system. Each beam pointing and stabilization apparatus includes an optical steering element and an axis tilt detector. The optical steering element is optically coupled to the stabilized beam laser and steers the stabilized beam laser in response to an input signal. The optical steering element provides error signals associated with a position and an orientation of the optical steering element relative to the locally rigid SLBD coordinate system. The optical steering element further includes a rotational axis. The axis tilt detector provides signals indicating an angle of tilt and a direction of the rotational axis relative to an initial position of the rotational axis. The reference subsystem includes three reference detectors fixedly positioned relative to a workpiece providing a locally rigid workpiece coordinate system. The three referenced detectors are respectively in optical communication with the three reference beam lasers of each of the SLBDs. The reference detectors generate reference detector output signals in response to the reference beam lasers. The tool sensor subsystem includes at least one tool sensor detector positioned on a tool and in optical communication with the stabilized beam laser. The at least one tool sensor detector generates tool sensor detector output signals in response to the stabilized beam laser. The at least one processor receives and performs coordinate transforms on the referenced detector output signals and the tool sensor detector output signals to track a position of the tool relative to the locally rigid workpiece coordinate system. The at least one processor additionally receives and processes the angle of tilt and direction signals from the axis tilt detector and the error signals from the optical steering element to generate the input signal thereby providing real time control of the optical steering elements.

High bandwidth, dynamically rigid metrology system for the measurement

A magnetic process and apparatus for separating out small electrically conductive particles dispersed in a finely ground, relatively non-conductive medium by means of magnetic fields. More specifically, a steady or relatively slowly varying field is provided, and a higher frequency magnetic field induces magnetic dipoles into the conducting particles, which are displaced by the steady magnetic field to thereby effect separation. The magnetic separation process selectively applies a force on a conductive particle so as to either remove it from the bulk of the non-conductive material or increase the concentration of conductive particles in a given volume of space. The effectiveness of the separation process improves with increasing size of the particle; however, the process can be used for particle sizes that would be classed as 'very fine'.

Magnetic separation of electrically conducting particles from

An aircraft is provided with wind velocity measuring equipment which measures the wind velocity both (1) close to the aircraft and (2) at a considerable distance such as one-half mile or a mile away from the aircraft; and a large difference in these two measured velocities indicates dangerous windshear conditions. Either a warning signal is given to the pilot, or automatic control apparatus is actuated, to avoid crash conditions. A single pulsed carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2) laser velocimeter may be mounted in the aircraft for measuring both the close-in and the distant wind speeds. The laser optic focus is shifted between the near and far measurements, and the return signal is time gated to increase signal-to-noise ratio.

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Albuquerque, NM, United States of America

Demos T Kyrazis