The Boeing Company

Donald Frank Wilkins

Thomas L Weaver

Daniel Nelson Harres

Joshua Lee Downs

Ronald H Berzins

Described herein is a mobile apparatus for capturing images that includes a body, a propulsion device coupled to the body and actuatable to propel the body in response to a motion control command. The mobile apparatus also includes a low-resolution camera coupled to the body and configured to capture a plurality of low-resolution images. Further, the mobile apparatus includes a transceiver coupled to the body. The transceiver is configured to wirelessly receive the motion control command and wirelessly transmit the plurality of low-resolution images.

Mobile apparatus for pest detection and engagement

Example implementations relate to providing head and neck support. An example system includes a helmet, a load bearing harness, and a flexible extension coupled between the helmet and the load bearing harness. An activation of a magnetic field proximate the flexible extension causes a ferromagnetic infused medium to transition from a fluid state to a substantially rigid state causing the flexible extension to transition from a flexible state to a rigid state. When the flexible extension is in the rigid state, force applied to the helmet transfers through the flexible extension to the load bearing harness. The system further includes a sensor configured to detect an event. Particularly, the sensor causes the activation of the magnetic field proximate the flexible extension in response to detecting the event.

Head and neck support

Systems and methods for aircraft refueling with sun glare prevention. One embodiment is a method that includes calculating a future time to position a receiver aircraft via an optical sensor with respect to a supply aircraft for an aerial fuel transfer, and calculating a sun position relative to the position of the receiver aircraft for the future time. The method also includes determining that the optical sensor of the receiver aircraft is susceptible to solar interference for the future time based on the sun position relative to the position of the receiver aircraft. The method further includes generating a request for the supply aircraft to move to an alternate position for the future time, and positioning the receiver aircraft via the optical sensor at the future time with respect to the alternate position of the supply aircraft for the aerial fuel transfer.

Aircraft refueling with sun glare prevention

A system for use in inducing rainfall is provided. The system includes an aircraft configured to travel through an ambient environment at a first temperature, and a precipitation system coupled to the aircraft. The precipitation system is configured to form a particle from a substance in the ambient environment, and is configured to discharge the particle at a second temperature lower than the first temperature such that moisture in the air condenses on the particle.

Systems and methods of inducing rainfall

Embodiments described herein provide for electrically reconfigurable deposition masks. One embodiment is a deposition mask that includes a plurality of electrical elements. Each of the electrical elements has an opening between a top surface and a bottom surface that constricts based on an electrical signal. A plurality of top surfaces of the electrical elements defines a top surface of the mask, and a plurality of bottom surface of the electrical elements defines a bottom surface of the mask.

Electrically reconfigurable deposition masks

Jet engine gas lasers are disclosed. A disclosed example apparatus includes a jet engine, and first and second opposing mirrors exposed to an exhaust gas flow path of the jet engine, where at least one mirror of the first and second opposing mirrors is adjustable to generate laser light energy using exhaust gas of the jet engine.

Jet engine gas lasers

Defined herein is a system for communicating data includes a first data source that transmits data through the air, and a second data source that is remote from the first data source. The second data source at least one of receives and transmits data through the air. The system further includes at least one aircraft that receives data through the air from the first and second data sources, and transmits data through the air to at least one of the first and second data sources.

Aircraft-noded data communication network

A method for fabrication of a circuit board using the disclosed embodiments relies on a CAD model of a multilayer circuit board with conductive elements defined by layer. A first granular conductive material layer is introduced into a mold. A fusion process element traverses across the mold to fuse selected portions of the first granular conductive material layer forming first layer conductive elements. An additional granular conductive material layer is introduced into the mold over the fused selected portions of the first layer and unfused portions of the first layer. The fusion process element is then traversed across the mold to fuse selected portions of the additional granular conductive material layer forming an additional layer of conductive elements. Unfused granular conductive material is then purged from the fused first conductive elements and additional conductive layer elements. A dielectric material is then infused into a structure formed by the fused first conductive elements and additional conductive layer elements.

Ecological method for constructing circuit boards

A filtration system is provided. The filtration system includes a filter media including a plurality of apertures defined therein, and an array of micropillars. Each micropillar is substantially aligned with one of the plurality of apertures and is configured to be repelled by particles of a predetermined substance entrained in a flow channeled through the filtration system.

Filtration systems and methods for filtering particles of a predetermined substance

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.

Locomotion system and method of controlling a robotic device

In one aspect, a display device includes a light source for supplying light energy and a light modulation layer including a plurality of micropillars that each have a fixed end and a free end. An activation layer is configured to activate the micropillars to modulate light energy from the light source passing through the micropillars.

Display device using micropillars and method therefor

A chassis system includes a body, a lid, a cavity, a backplane, and an electrically conductive connector. The lid is removably attached to the body such that when the lid is attached to the body a cavity within the body is completely enclosed by the body and the attached lid. The lid and the body are made of at least one material that does not allow electromagnetic waves to enter the cavity. The backplane is attached to the body or the lid. The electrically conductive connector is attached to the body or lid. The connector is in wired or wireless communication with the backplane for allowing electricity or data to flow between the electrically conductive connector and the backplane. The chassis system may be used to environmentally protect one or more electronic modules inserted into the cavity of the chassis system.

Chassis system and method for holding and protecting electronic modules

An optical fluid flow sensor and methods are presented. An optical fiber bends in response to a fluid flow, and a light source coupled to the optical fiber transmits light to the optical fiber. Optical sensors surrounding a portion of the optical fiber receive a received light from the optical fiber, and a signal processor module estimates a fluid flow velocity of the fluid flow based on the received light.

Optical airflow sensor

A frequency reconfigurable antenna may include at least two antenna segments and a photonic crystal positioned between the at least two antenna segments. The photonic crystal may selectably electrically connect or isolate the at least two antenna segments with respect to each other based on a conductive state of the photonic crystal.

Apparatus and associated method for providing a frequency configurable antenna employing a photonic crystal

A photonic crystal apparatus and method are provided. The photonic crystal apparatus includes an electromagnetic signal source configured to provide electromagnetic signals. The photonic crystal apparatus also includes a photonic crystal configured to receive the electromagnetic signals from the electromagnetic signal source and to direct the electromagnetic signals along a predefined path through the photonic crystal when the photonic crystal is undistorted. The photonic crystal apparatus may also include a driver configured to selectively cause a portion of the photonic crystal to alternate between a distorted state and an undistorted state. In instances in which the photonic crystal is in the distorted state, the photonic crystal is configured to redirect the electromagnetic signals in a different direction than the predefined path.

Growing community of inventors

O'Fallon, MO, United States of America

Donald Frank Wilkins