US Government as Represented by the Secretary of the Army

Other

The United States of America Army Corps of Engineers as Represented by

James A Evans

Falih H Ahmad

George L Mason

Leandro E Miranda

James P Kirk

Barry D Fehl

John M Nestler

Charles R Welch

Richard W Haskins

John W Witzig

Barry W McCleave

Joseph B Dunbar

Lewis B Smithhart

Thomas James Carlson

Lonnie L Smith

Cary B Cox

Anthony A Bombich

A fishing rod with a flotation device including a housing in a handle of a fishing rod body or in a tube attached to the fishing rod body. A flotation mechanism in the housing includes a water dissolvable plug within a front end thereof, a flotation body adjacent the plug, a discharge element, which is a spring or an amount of baking soda, adjacent a rear side of the flotation body, and a nylon cord anchored to the rear end and having a forward end attached to the flotation body rear side. Upon dissolution of the plug, the discharge element transforms from a contracted condition into an expanded condition and releases the flotation body from the housing. As the flotation body rises to and floats upon a surface of a body of water, the housing is elevated to make the fishing rod body accessible for retrieval.

Fishing rod with a flotation device

An 'implant and forget' device for interacting with biota after a pre-established time period. Preferably, the biota are fauna and more particularly fish. In select embodiments, the device comprises packaging enclosing an apparatus for timing interaction via opening the packaging. In select embodiments of the present invention, the device is a sealed capsule inserted in fish. Embodiments of the present invention are implanted in triploid grass carp () to facilitate control of aquatic weeds in bodies of water. When the carp have been in the water for a pre-established approximate period of time, toxins in the device are dispensed via long term bioerosion of the sealed opening in the packaging. Otherwise, the carp may destroy all vegetation and harm the aquatic environment for other aquatic life. Several alternative bioerodible seal configurations are provided as embodiments.

'Implant and forget' mechanism to interact with biota, in particular fauna that may outgrow available habitat and method of use thereof

A system and associated method permit remote monitoring of subsurface structure for purposes of early detection and location of hidden anomalies, e.g., water seepage in levees. Anomalies may be due to sand boils or displacement of underlying soil. Representative systems provide continuous monitoring via two complementary means: parallel pairs of ported (leaky) coaxial cables and a fiber optic cable, each pair of coaxial cables associated with a fiber optic cable. A fiber optic system, with associated light source, processor and display, together with an RF system, provides data to a remote location via telemetry or cellular phone, or both. The fiber optic cable(s) allow monitoring of displacement and vibrations within the structure. The ported coaxial cables, with associated RF source, using the same processor, display and telemetry used with the fiber optic sub-system, provide data for monitoring moisture change correlated to changes in the dielectric constant of surrounding material.

Remote sensor system for monitoring the condition of earthen structure and method of its use

An 'implant and forget' device for interacting with biota after a pre-established time period. Preferably, the biota are fauna and more particularly fish. In select embodiments, the device comprises packaging enclosing apparatus for timing interaction via opening the packaging. In select embodiments of the present invention, the device is a sealed capsule inserted in fish. Embodiments of the present invention are implanted in triploid grass carp () to facilitate control of aquatic weeds in bodies of water. When the carp have been in the water for a pre-established approximate period of time, toxins in the device are dispensed via long term bioerosion of the sealed opening in the packaging. Otherwise, the carp may destroy all vegetation and harm the aquatic environment for other aquatic life. Several alternative bioerodible seal configurations are provided as embodiments.

System and method for controlling growth of aquatic plants utilizing bio-eroding means implanted in triploid grass carp

A device for interacting with biota either on a pre-specified schedule or via actuation by remote signal. Preferably, the biota are fauna and more particularly fish. In selected embodiments, it comprises frangible packaging enclosing means for timing interaction, at least part of the means for programming the device and means for opening the packaging. In select embodiments of the present invention, the apparatus is inserted in fish. Specific examples of the present invention are implanted in triploid grass carp () to facilitate control of aquatic weeds in bodies of water. When the carp have been in the water for a pre-specified period or, alternatively, long enough to effectively control the target aquatic plants, toxins in the device are dispensed to kill them. Otherwise, the carp may destroy all vegetation and harm the aquatic environment for other aquatic life.

Release mechanism to interact with biota, in particular fauna that may outgrow available habitat

An application of phase profilometry to determine the 3-D configuration of normally obscured structure. In one application, the undercarriage of a vehicle is captured in a 3-D profile while the vehicle is operating normally. The system may use a digital camera; a computer for control, communications, processing, comparing configurations and database storage; a broadband light source; and a device positioned between the light and structure that enables an alternating strip or strips of light and shadows to impinge the obscured surface. A preferred embodiment uses a single straight edge as the device. In addition to profiling the undercarriage of a vehicle and comparing it to an expected configuration of a like vehicle, the system may be used for such diverse applications as determination of correct toll at toll booths, quality inspection in an assembly line, safety and security inspections, and access control.

System for determining the configuration of obscured structure by employing phase profilometry and method of use therefor

A flexible piezoelectric-based transducer, mounted on a circumference of a rotating object senses acoustical energy traversing portions of the object. In a preferred embodiment, the transducer is affixed, using a suitable adhesive, within the enclosed portion of a wheel/tire assembly. The transducer senses acoustical energy, e.g., ultrasonic transmissions, generated by the tire contacting the road surface at its contact patch and, without need of external power, translates it to an electrical current and communicates it for further processing. Because the acoustical impedance of the tire casing changes with temperature, hot spots within the tire, as well as other characteristics of the tire's operation, can be detected. Further, any Doppler shift which occurs due to the rotating medium may be compensated for since the rate of tire rotation may be made known via a speed sensor. A position sensor may also be employed to indicate the position of the hot spot.

System and method for determining the status of an object by insonification

Apparatus for studying the variations in hydrodynamic pressure for correlation with fish movement towards and away from zones of danger comprises a hollow winged section having mounted on the surface thereof, piezoelectric sensors, and an accelerometer mounted within the apparatus, for generating electrical signals that are processed and interpreted by remote electronic means.

Multiple pressure gradient sensor

Strain in concrete is sensed by a helical optical fiber embedded in the concrete and connected at one end to an external light source, and at the other end to a light detector, providing a signal output to an information processor, which provides a display of the strain in the concrete.

Helical optical fiber strain sensor

A system for monitoring strain in concrete structures comprises a frame for mbedding in the structure with first and second ends of the frame proximate an edge of the structure, a fiber-optic cable mounted on the frame and extending substantially from the frame first end to the frame second end, a light source in communication with a first end of the cable, a light detector in communication with a second end of the cable, and an information processor in communication with the light detector. The cable is adapted to propagate light from the source to the detector, and the processor is adapted to identify strain in the structure from data generated by the detector.

System for monitoring strain in concrete structures

The invention pertains to a hand-held or vehicle mountable portable procer based high resolution radar system for detecting and identifying an object by using high resolution radar. In particular, the invention concerns using radio waves for identifying a depth and material of an object within a media. This system can perform target and media identification in real-time. This process is achieved by the system's processor where the media identification results can be visually displayed on an output unit. The generated carrier signal used in the radar system is an exponentially decaying superimposed direct and alternating signal. The frequency of the carrier signal can be in the microwave region. The system performs analog to digital (A/D) conversion using integrated circuitry whose sampling rate is in the same as the carrier signal transmission rate. In addition, Fourier and Hilbert transforms of the observed signal is generated for frequency domain analysis of the observed object to be identified and a profile inversion methodology for real time analysis. To achieve high resolution results, digital codes such as Barker, Welti, or Frank codes are used in the processor. The carrier signal is coded using a digitally controlled phase shifter. Power usage by the instant invention's radar system is low. The profile inversion methodology is a real time based analysis.

Portable geophysical system using an inverse collocation-type

A ground condition monitor includes a housing for disposal underground, a power source disposed in the housing, and a controller disposed in the housing and in communication with the power source and with a plurality of sensors. The sensors are adapted to receive signals from the controller and in response thereto to send electromagnetic excitation signals into surrounding earth, receive reflective electromagnetic signals from the surrounding earth, and feed the reflective signals to the controller, which is adapted to convert the reflective signals to data indicative of electromagnetic properties of the surrounding earth, and to transmit the data. The monitor further includes a telemeter in communication with the power source and disposed in the housing for receiving the data from the controller and transmitting the data to a remote station, and an antenna extending from the housing for disposition in part above the surface of the earth, and adapted to transmit the data from the telemeter to the remote station, to receive signals from the remote station, and to transmit the signals received from the remote station to the controller.

Ground condition monitor

A segmented labial bow with lip pads for use in the correction of Class III malocclusions and malocclusions with underdeveloped maxillas. The segmented labial bow with lip pads is attached to a conventional orthopedic/orthodontic appliance. As the orthopedic/orthodontic appliance is activated, the lip pads on the segmented bow hold the upper lip away from the roots of the maxillary anterior teeth and alveolar process allowing skeletal development of the premaxillary area with resultant forward movement of the roots and alveolar bone of the premaxillary teeth.

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Tallulah, LA, United States of America

James A Evans