The Aerospace Corporation

United States of America As Represented by the Administrator of Nasa

Henry Helvajian

William W Hansen

Siegfried W Janson

Frank Edward Livingston

Randy M Villahermosa

Anthony J Manzo

Lee F Steffeney

Edward J Simburger

Eric Joseph Nemanick

Michael D Pocha

Glenn A Meyer

Margaret L Tuma

Charles F McConaghy

Joseph S Collura

Barry L Olsen

Margaret H Abraham

Adon Delgado, Jr

Peter D Fuqua

Glenn Earl Peterson

David Cardoza

Lael F Woods

Brian Shen

Horatiu C Dragnea

Kushal Patel

Joseph Gangestad

Marlon Sorge

Shawn Perdue

Allison B Taylor

John McVey

Kristine L Ferrone

Cell-based systems may interlock in a reconfigurable configuration to support a mission. Space systems, for example, of a relatively large size may be assembled using an ensemble of individual 'cells', which are individual space vehicles. The cells may be held together via magnets, electromagnets, mechanical interlocks, etc. The topology or shape of the joined cells may be altered by cells hopping, rotating, or “rolling” along the joint ensemble. The cells may be multifunctional, mass producible units. Rotation of cell faces, or of components within cells, may change the functionality of the cell. The cell maybe collapsible for stowage or during launch.

Interlocking, reconfigurable, reconstitutable, reformable cell-based space system

Scalable radioisotope power tiles that can provide heat, electrical power, or both, are disclosed. Unlike conventional radioisotope thermoelectric generator (RTG) designs, the scalable radioisotope power tiles do not necessarily seek to minimize the RTG surface area. Rather, a planar design may be used to maximize the radiative surface to increase the temperature difference (ΔT) and increase system heat to electricity conversion efficiency where electrical power generation is desired. In addition, such a planar design can be one-sided or two-sided, allowing for flexibility in design. For instance, such power tiles may be deployed in a material like a solar sail, on the surface of a vehicle, in terrestrial systems, etc.

Scalable radioisotope power tiles

Systems, apparatuses, and methods for identifying and tracking objects (e.g., debris, particles, space vehicles, etc.) using one or more light detection and ranging (LIDAR)-based sensors are disclosed. Such systems, apparatuses, and methods may be particularly beneficial for detecting millimeter scale and/or sub-millimeter scale objects. Such systems, apparatuses, and methods may be used for detection of objects in space, in the atmosphere, or in the ocean, for example.

Object detection and characterization using a LIDAR-based sensor

Cell-based systems may interlock in a reconfigurable configuration to support a mission. Space systems, for example, of a relatively large size may be assembled using an ensemble of individual 'cells', which are individual space vehicles. The cells may be held together via magnets, electromagnets, mechanical interlocks, etc. The topology or shape of the joined cells may be altered by cells hopping, rotating, or 'rolling' along the joint ensemble. The cells may be multifunctional, mass producible units. Rotation of cell faces, or of components within cells, may change the functionality of the cell. The cell maybe collapsible for stowage or during launch.

A vehicle comprising a structure, a plurality of heating sources, and a transport mechanism. The structure is comprised of multiple materials, a composite such that some of the material constituents can be extracted leaving behind others via application of energy (such as de-alloying). The extracted material or materials are configured to be re-purposed into a propellant. The plurality of heating elements surrounds or is embedded within the structure configured to convert the material into the propellant. The transport mechanism is configured to transport the propellant from the structure to a reservoir or to the propulsion system.

Onboard structure convertible into a propellant for electric propulsion

Describe herein is an energy storage system that includes a battery and a heat source. The battery harvests waste heat from the heat source to keep itself warm while storing electrical energy generated from a heat to energy transforming source. If the heat source is radioactive (e.g. radioisotope decay) a radiation hard battery is intimately connected to a waste heat source. The radiation hard battery harvests waste heat from the heat source to warm itself and to shield the radiation.

Radioisotope thermoelectric battery (RTB) system

Cell-based space systems with nested-ring structures that interlock and can change configuration to support a mission are provided. The cells may self-assemble into a larger structure to carry out a mission. Multiple rotatable rings may be included in a cell, with a payload/control section in the center. The rings may provide power and/or data to trams that move about the rails. Trams may interlock with other cells, carry sensors or other devices, etc. Cells may be stowed in a cell stack that is deployable. Such cell-based systems may have various applications in space, on Earth, other celestial bodies, and underwater.

Interlocking, reconfigurable, reconstitutable, reformable cell-based system with nested ring structures

A method for constructing an inflatable environment on top of or beneath a surface of an extraterrestrial object includes spraying Regishell onto an airform or piping the Regishell into a sandwich membrane layer of the airform. When performing the spraying of the Regishell, the method further includes combining basalt material with the Regishell and applying the combination of the basalt material and Regishell to a reinforcement layer, the reinforcement layer being internal to the airform to strengthen the inflatable environment. When performing the piping of the Regishell into the sandwich membrane, the method further includes using the sandwich membrane layer as a permeable membrane or drilling one or more holes in the sandwich membrane layer forming vents to create the permeable membrane, and releasing the gas from the sandwich membrane layer from the vents to cure and conform the Regishell as a rigid shape and structurally sound layer.

Method for producing Regishell inflatable environment

A method of encoding information on a material substrate and a device including the modified material substrate are provided. The method includes providing a material substrate having at least one exposed surface or interior (bulk) location with an initial material state, treating the exposed surface or interior location with an energy source, wherein the energy source encodes encryption information on the exposed surface or interior location to provide a modified material substrate having an exposed surface or interior location with an intermediate material state, and then treating the exposed surface or interior location with an intermediate material state with the energy source to encode decipher information on the exposed surface or interior location to provide a remodified material substrate having an exposed surface or interior location with a final material state.

Laser scripted encoding and decoding

A system for reducing accidents caused by distracted drivers. The system may form an invisible track using material-impregnated grooves and a radar beam, preventing a vehicle from veering away from a road lane. The material-impregnated grooves (MIGs) within one or more road lanes may include scrap metal. The radar beam may be emitted from a transceiver mounted underneath the vehicle such that backscatter from the MIGs is returned to the transceiver.

Automobile accident mitigation technique

Under one aspect, a method of processing a material includes heating a region of the material with a first energy source; exciting an acoustic wave in the material; and transmitting the acoustic wave through the heated region, the heated region changing at least one property of the acoustic wave. The method also can include detecting the change in at least one property of the acoustic wave; characterizing a temperature of the material in the heated region based on the detected change in at least one property of the acoustic wave; and comparing the characterized temperature of the material in the heated region to a threshold. The method further can include, based on the characterized temperature of the material in the heated region being less than the threshold or being above the threshold for an insufficient amount of time, modifying a property of the heated region with a second energy source.

Systems and methods for monitoring temperature using acoustic waves during processing of a material

A photostructurable ceramic is processed using photostructuring process steps for embedding devices within a photostructurable ceramic volume, the devices including chemical, mechanical, electronic, electromagnetic, optical, and acoustic devices, all made in part by creating device material within the ceramic or by disposing a device material through surface ports of the ceramic volume, with the devices being interconnected using internal connections and surface interfaces.

Photostructured optical devices and methods for making same

An acoustic wave is modified by initiating excitation of an acoustic wave from a first location on a substrate to a second location on the substrate and selectively heating the second location of the substrate so as to alter a property of the second location. With such arrangements, the altered property of the second location modifies the acoustic wave to result in a modified acoustic wave that is propagated from the second location to a third location on the substrate. Related apparatus, systems, and methods are also described.

Systems and methods for modifying acoustic waves based on selective heating

A photostructurable ceramic is processed using photostructuring process steps for embedding devices within a photostructurable ceramic volume, the devices may include one or more of chemical, mechanical, electronic, electromagnetic, optical, and acoustic devices, all made in part by creating device material within the ceramic or by disposing a device material through surface ports of the ceramic volume, with the devices being interconnected using internal connections and surface interfaces.

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Pasadena, CA, United States of America

Henry Helvajian