USA As Represented by Secretary of the Navy

Other

Gerhard Willms Thielman

Benjamin-Fausto S Thielman

Michael C Vogt

Warren Kendrick Jaul

Jack M Pakulak

Deborah-Susanne Sayon Thielman

Rodney M Harris

A concatenated annular swing-wing tandem lift enhancer (CASTLE) is provided for augmenting aeronautical lift to a canister-launched missile. The CASTLE includes fore and aft housing sections and pluralities of mainstays, airfoils, wing grapples and tension supports. The fore and aft housing sections are disposed circumferentially around the missile along a longitudinal axis of symmetry. The front and rear mainstays are disposed angularly along each housing section. The airfoils stowed circumferentially around each the housing section. Each airfoil has an outer camber surface and an inner arc surface that provides leading and trailing edges ending at port and starboard tips. The wing grapples disposed on the inner arc surface. The supports connect the mainstays with corresponding the grapples such that the airfoils deploy radially outward and swing such that each leading edge faces forward in relation to the longitudinal axis. The supports can be flexible lanyards or else rigid struts.

Concatenated annular swing-wing tandem lift enhancer

A spherical modular autonomous robotic traveler (SMART) is provided for rolling along a surface from a first position to a second position. The SMART includes an outer spherical shell; an inner spherical chamber disposed within the outer shell; a plurality of weight-shifters arranged within the inner chamber; and a controller therein. The chamber maintains its orientation relative to the surface by a gyroscopically homing stabilizer. Each weight-shifter includes a mass disposed in a default position, and movable to an active position in response to activation. The controller selectively activates a weight-shifter among the plurality to shift the mass from the default position to the active position. The outer shell rolls in a direction that corresponds to the weight-shifter activated by the controller. For the spherical electromagnetically initiated traveling excursor (SEMITE), each weight-shifter includes a channel containing an armature and an electromagnet activated by the controller. For the symmetrical configuration, the channel is oriented from bottom periphery to lateral radial periphery of the inner chamber. The electromagnet is disposed proximal to the channel at the lateral radial periphery. The armature travels from the bottom periphery within the channel to the lateral radial periphery upon activation of the electromagnet.

Spherical electro-magnetically initiated traveling excursor

A spherical weight-shifting integral free-rolling tumbler (SWIFT) is provided for rolling along a surface in a command direction. The SWIFT includes a spherical shell, a cubic box within the shell held by spars, and a controller. The box has six panels, and each panel connects to a weight-shifter. Each weight-shifter includes an actuator and a movable mass. The controller for selectively activates the weight-shifter among the panels to translate the mass from the default position to the active position. The controller operates a first switch that corresponds to panels facing away from the surface, and in combination operates a second switch that corresponds to a weight-shifter approximately facing the command direction to roll the shell accordingly.

Spherica weight-shifting integral free-rolling tumbler

A spherical modular autonomous robotic traveler (SMART) is provided for rolling along a surface from a first position to a second position. The SMART includes an outer spherical shell; an inner spherical chamber disposed within the outer shell; a plurality of weight-shifters arranged within the inner chamber; and a controller therein. The chamber maintains its orientation relative to the surface by a gyroscopically homing stabilizer. Each weight-shifter includes a mass disposed in a default position, and movable to an active position in response to activation. The controller selectively activates a weight-shifter among the plurality to shift the mass from the default position to the active position. The outer shell rolls in a direction that corresponds to the weight-shifter activated by the controller. The weight-shifters for the SMART employ pneumatic actuation as a spherical pneumatic actuated robotic commuter (SPARC). Each weight-shifter in the SPARC includes a conduit containing a liquid armature and a pressure source with valves activated by the controller, with the conduits arranged in a cruciform configuration.

Spherical pneumatic actuated robotic commuter

A spherical tractor operating mobile platform (STOMP) is provided for internally propelling and steering along an external surface. The STOMP includes a spherical shell having interior and exterior surfaces, an internal chassis containing an electrical power supply and a propulsion controller; a tractor drive system and an overhead wheel assembly. The tractor drive system provides propulsion and steering of the shell along the surface. The drive system includes a frame that connects to the chassis from below and contains a motor unit. The frame includes port and starboard sides that support respective wheel sets surrounded by corresponding continuous tracks. These tracks engage the shell's interior surface. Each wheel set includes a drive wheel, an idler wheel and a tension wheel for engaging a corresponding track. The overhead wheel assembly connects to the chassis from above to maintain the chassis and the drive system in compression with the shell. To propel the shell, the propulsion controller commands the motor unit to provide torque to both the port and starboard drive wheels. For steering the shell towards starboard, the motor provides torque to the port drive wheel. For steering the shell towards port, the motor provides torque to the starboard drive wheel.

Spherical tractor operating mobile platform

A spherical modular autonomous robotic traveler (SMART) is provided for delivering a payload along a surface from a first position to a second position. The SMART includes an outer spherical shell for rolling along the surface, an inner spherical chamber within the outer shell to carry the payload, a plurality of weight-shifters arranged in the inner chamber, and a controller to activate a select weight-shifter among the plurality. The weight-shifters can be arranged symmetrically or asymmetrically. The outer shell rolls in a direction that corresponds to the activated weight-shifter by torque induced thereby. The inner chamber maintains its orientation relative to the surface, even while the outer shell rolls along the surface. Each weight-shifter includes a channel containing an armature and an electromagnet activated by the controller. For the symmetrical arrangement, the channel is oriented from bottom periphery to lateral radial periphery of the inner chamber. The electromagnet is disposed proximal to the channel at the lateral radial periphery. The armature travels from the bottom periphery within the channel to the lateral radial periphery upon activation of the electromagnet.

Spherical modular autonomous robotic traveler

A spherical integrated remote-control locomotive excursor (SIRCLE) is provided for remote reconnaissance. The SIRCLE includes a spherical shell, a chassis within the shell and a set of wheels between the shell and chassis. The spherical shell has inner and outer surfaces. The chassis contains a platform, an electric motor and a power supply. The set of wheels are driven by the motor and supported by the chassis. The wheels engage the inner surface and turn in response to the motor. The shell rolls by turning the wheels to propel the SIRCLE.

Spherical integrated remote-control locomotive excursor

An arm bracelet is provided for containing a retrievable blade around a forearm between wrist and elbow. The bracelet includes first and second bands, a network, bridges and a housing. The bands wrap around and attach to the forearm. The first band is disposed adjacent the wrist. The second band is disposed adjacent the elbow. The network connects the first and second bands together along the forearm. The bridges detachably extend from the first and second band. Each bridge includes a plurality of shapes. Each shape is able to form a grip. The housing for contains a sheath that holds a knife with a handle and the blade. The handle superficially resembles the shape to aid concealment of the knife.

Self-defense ornamental bracelet

A spherical infrared robotic vehicle (SIRV) is provided for remote reconnaissance. The SIRV includes a spherical shell, a chassis within the shell, an infrared sensor within the chassis and a set of wheels between the shell and chassis. The spherical shell has inner and outer surfaces. The chassis contains a platform, an electric motor and a power supply, and includes an infrared aperture. The infrared sensor mounts to the platform and is disposed to receive an infrared signal through the aperture as infrared images. The sensor can be a plurality of infrared cameras mounted in separate directions. The wheels are driven by the motor and supported by the chassis. The wheels engage the inner surface and turn in response to the motor. The shell rolls by turning the wheels to propel the SIRV.

Spherical infrared robotic vehicle

A spherical armored mobile platform (SAMP) is provided for at least one operator to enable protected entry and egress from a militarily hostile environment. The SAMP includes a spherical shell, an armored cockpit and a set of wheels. The spherical shell has inner and outer surfaces and features a plurality of cavities that extend therethrough. The cockpit houses a seat, a guidance controller, a display console, and an electric motor connected to a power supply. The cockpit is contained within said shell. The seat is designed to receive the operator. The wheels are driven by the motor and structurally supported by the cockpit. The wheels engage the inner surface and turn in response to the motor. The cavities are disposed within three-sided boundaries of a geodesic dome. The SAMP can further include a plurality of optical sensors disposed on the cockpit, and a signal integrator to present temporally concatenated visual signals into a mosaic at the display console. The SAMP can also include a projectile-firing gun mounted to the cockpit, and a trigger control to enable actuation of the gun in response to the projectile exiting the sphere at an instance that coincides with a cavity of the plurality of cavities. The SAMP includes a steering mechanism that turns orientation direction of the fore lower and aft upper wheels. The SAMP includes a door on the cockpit that slides between first open and closed positions, and a hatch on the sphere that hinges between second open and closed positions.

Spherical armored mobile platform

A switch inhibitor provides an obstacle for the switch-toggle, the obstacle having a switch-obstacle position and a switch-release position. The obstacle may be held to the switch-obstacle position by a spring, which may be overcome by applying force to a release mechanism. The switch inhibitor may be permanently or removably attached to the cover plate for the electric-switch.

Electric-switch toggle inhibitor

A process for indicating the likelihood of cook-off for energetic materials by calculating the heat flux and chemical venting relative to known crial parameters for the energetic materials. The process further may include an alarm.

Munitions cook-off warning system

A switch cover provides an obstacle for the switch-toggle, the obstacle having a switch-obstacle position and a switch-release position. The obstacle may be held to the switch-obstacle position by a spring, which may be overcome by applying force to a release mechanism. The switch cover may be removably attached to the electric-switch.

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Fredericksburg, VA, United States of America

Gerhard Willms Thielman