The Boeing Company

James A Grossnickle

Dejan Nikic

Mark Joseph Clemen, Jr

Kevin Earl McCrary

James E Pillers

Mark D Severson

Michelle Galgana

Gary E Georgeson

John Ralph Hull

Branko Sarh

Anthony Wayne Baker

Karl Marius Nelson

Kevin Bowcutt

Robert B Greegor

Donald V Drouin, Jr

Chris A Cantrell

Kenneth Paul Bowers, Iii

Craig Allen Cramer

Tyler Christensen

Anish Poudel

Tsuchin Chu

Liam Antonio Wingert

Gregory R Mosen

Kevin Earl Mccrary

Mark Joseph Clemen Jr

Kevin G Bowcutt

Kenneth Paul Iii Bowers

Systems and methods for enabling charged (ionized) air mass measurement for reliable air data computation onboard an aircraft. Ionic charge sensing may be used to derive air data having improved reliability. The systems and methods for ionic charge sensing employ an emitter electrode and two or more collector electrodes, which electrodes are disposed in proximity to the exterior skin of the aircraft and exposed to ambient air. The emitter electrode is positioned forward of the collector electrodes. The system further includes a solid-state ionic air data module that converts currents from the collector electrodes into air data parameter values. More specifically, the ionic air data module is configured to sense currents induced in the collector electrodes in response to corona discharge produced by the high-voltage emitter electrode.

Charged air mass measurement for air data computation

A system using Faraday's law to rapidly direct convert the kinetic energy of a magnetized and/or conducting projectile into usable electrical energy. The system includes a barrel comprising a bore; a circuit including a plurality of electrically conductive components distributed along a length of the bore; and a projectile comprising at least one of a conductive material or a magnetic material magnetically coupled to the electrically conductive components when the projectile is moving along the length of the bore. The circuit stores energy generated from an electric current induced in the electrically conductive components when the projectile moving along the length of the bore causes a magnetic interaction between the electrically conductive components and the magnetic material or the conductive material. The magnetic interaction also causes braking of the projectile.

Method of rapid conversion of chemical energy into usable electrical energy

A method and apparatus for digital image correlation. A camera system is used to obtain larger scale images of a larger scale dot pattern on a surface of a workpiece and smaller scale images of a smaller scale dot pattern on the surface of the same workpiece. The smaller scale dot pattern forms a larger dot in the larger scale dot pattern in the larger scale images. The larger scale images and the smaller scale images may be used to determine a measurement of the workpiece.

Multiple-scale digital image correlation pattern and measurement

A neutron generator includes a fuel source configured to provide a neutron-producing fuel. The neutron generator includes a plasma confinement device coupled to the fuel source and configured to generate a z-pinch of the neutron-producing fuel.

Plasma pinch neutron generators and methods of generating neutrons

A single-use neutron generator includes a power supply. The single-use neutron generator includes a fuel source configured to provide neutron-producing fuel. The single-use neutron generator includes a plasma confinement device coupled to the power supply and the fuel source and configured to generate a plasma pinch of the neutron-producing fuel. At least one component of the single-use neutron generator is configured for single use.

Single-use plasma pinch neutron generators

A scramjet includes a converging inlet, a combustor configured to introduce a fuel stream into an air stream in a combustion chamber and to combust the fuel air mixture stream to create an exhaust stream, and a diverging exit nozzle configured to accelerate the exhaust stream. The combustor includes a fuel injection system including at least one arcjet. A method of creating thrust for an aircraft includes compressing a supersonic incoming air stream in a converging inlet, injecting a fuel stream into the air stream in a combustion chamber to create a fuel air mixture stream, igniting the fuel air mixture stream to create an exhaust stream, and exhausting the exhaust stream from a diverging exit nozzle. The injecting the fuel stream into the air stream includes injecting the fuel stream at a fuel speed sufficient to create shear between the fuel stream and the air stream.

Scramjets and associated aircraft and methods

A method for live metrology of an object includes performing a scanning operation by a plurality of sensors to collect electronic images of an object. The electronic images include 3-D point cloud data for live metrology of the object and the point cloud data from each sensor define a point cloud that represents the object. The method also includes stitching the point clouds from the plurality of sensors to generate a reconstructed model of an as-manufactured object. The method further includes comparing the reconstructed model of the as-manufactured object to an as-designed model of the object to determine that the object is manufactured within an allowable tolerance to the as-designed model of the object.

Live metrology of an object during manufacturing or other operations

Laser amplification utilizing plasma confinement of a gas laser gain media is described. The gas laser gain media is compressed into plasma utilizing a self-reinforcing magnetic field referred to a plasma pinch (e.g., a flow stabilized z-pinch). In the plasma pinch, the gas laser gain media is compressed to a high density, which improves the gain of the media. An optical resonator partially surrounds the plasma pinch and utilizes the laser gain media compressed within the plasma pinch to generate an output of coherent light.

Optical resonators that utilize plasma confinement of a laser gain media

A method and apparatus for countering an attack on a platform. Images are received from cameras associated with the platform, and the images are identified from a group of the cameras that have a desired level of information when a group of light sources is directed at a camera system. A fused image is generated from a combination of the images from the group of the cameras and displayed on a display system for the platform. The fused image enables performing an operation using the platform.

Image management system for reducing effects of laser beams

A method and system for a light source detection system, comprising an aircraft carrying at least one camera. The system includes a database for storing information about the aircraft's motion, direction, and position and ground location information, such as the onboard navigation system database or an remotely accessible database. The system also includes a processor that accesses the database and is connected to the camera. The processor uses image analysis and processing techniques to determine the ground location corresponding to the light source from an image of that light captured by the camera. It determines the path traveled by that light and estimates its location as being a pre-selected distance vertically above the ground along the path traveled by the light to the aircraft when the image of the light was captured.

Detecting and locating bright light sources from moving aircraft

Laser amplification utilizing plasma confinement of a gas laser gain media is described. The gas laser gain media is compressed into plasma utilizing a self-reinforcing magnetic field referred to a plasma pinch (e.g., a flow stabilized z-pinch). In the pinch, the gas laser gain media is compressed to a high density, which improves the gain of the media. Coherent light is transmitted through the plasma pinch, which is amplified by the plasma pinch.

Plasma confinement of a laser gain media for gain-amplified lasers

Systems and methods for electromagnetically controlling the muzzle velocity of a conventional gun using a coil gun on a barrel extension. This method can also provide an electromagnetically induced increase to muzzle velocity beyond that capable by conventional explosives. With higher muzzle velocity, the weapons will have longer range, higher penetrating power and stand-off distances. A section of coil gun can also be used to center the projectile in the barrel to control the exit trajectory. Using a coil gun to control muzzle velocity and center the projectile can be a retrofit to existing weapons that would greatly increase their down-range accuracy.

Electromagnetic muzzle velocity controller and booster for guns

The disclosed systems and methods relate to inspecting uncured fiber-reinforced composite components by non-contact 3D measurements of the component using 3D digital image correlation with patterned illumination. Systems comprise a light projector configured to project a light pattern onto a form, a digital camera configured to image the light pattern, and may comprise and/or be associated with an AFP machine that is configured to lay uncured composite on the form. Methods comprise projecting a light pattern onto a form, acquiring a baseline 3D profile of the form by imaging the light pattern on the form, laying an uncured fiber piece onto the form, projecting the light pattern onto the uncured fiber piece, acquiring a test 3D profile of the fiber piece by imaging the light pattern on the uncured fiber piece, and computing a thickness difference between the test 3D profile and the baseline 3D profile.

Growing community of inventors

Bellevue, WA, United States of America

James A Grossnickle