The Boeing Company

Other

Leland Stanford Junior University

Carralero, Michael

Quiambao, Jimmy

Michael A Carralero

Ty Aaby Larsen

Jimmy Manansala Quiambao

Paul Truzzi

Kawthar Kasim

Priya Maratukulam

Olav Solgaard

Eric Y Chan

Dennis Gary Koshinz

Dale Kenneth Pounds

John Lyle Vian

Arvin Shmilovich

Leora Peltz

Charles Eugene Morris

James Leo Peck, Jr

Kirby Joe Keller

Paul Robert Davies

John Ferencz Takacs

Jeffrey Scott Willcox

Bruce E Riggins

Frederick L Davis

Kumar G Bhatia

Peter Bystrom

Wayne Allen Viloria

Robert M Dowgwillo

Sang H Nguyen

Christopher Stephan Van Harmelen

Xuan Wu

Bryan Sun Park

Joseph M Tostenrude

Keith E Cok

Matthew G Rendos

Elizabeth D Briones

Albert T Stephens

Tanner Scott Clark

Andrew J Hawkins

Jeffrey Scott Wilcox

Allen Muroi

Steven Warren Stakley

Klaasjan Hendrik Van Gelder

Michael A Beoletto

Eric Allen Moore

Todd Patten

Alexander Carter Vaughn

Paul Scott Truzzi

Dale K Pounds

Priya D Maratukulam

A power system for an unmanned surface vehicle includes a fuel cell including a fuel cell stack, where the fuel cell stack includes a fuel inlet. The power system also includes a fuel storage including at least one fuel-storage module fluidly connected to the fuel inlet of the fuel cell stack. The fuel-storage module is a source of energy for the fuel cell. The power system also includes a fuel and thermal management system fluidly connected to the fuel inlet of the fuel cell stack. The fuel and thermal management system includes a heat exchanger in thermal communication with the fuel cell stack for removing waste heat produced by the fuel cell stack during operation. The fuel and thermal management system also includes a flow valve, a pressure regulator, and a conduit.

Fuel cell power system for an unmanned surface vehicle

A method of collecting measurements for estimating one or more air data parameters of an aerospace vehicle is disclosed. The method includes converting, by an array of optical sensors, incident light into an optical signal indicating a measurement for estimating the one or more air data parameters. The array of optical sensors is disposed along a skin of the aerospace vehicle. The method includes measuring, by an interrogator, a wavelength of a combined optical signal, wherein the combined optical signal is a combination of the optical signals generated by each of the optical sensors that are part of the array. The method further includes converting, by the interrogator, the wavelength of the optical signal into an electronic signal indicating either the measurement for estimating the one or more air data parameters. Finally, the method includes sending the electronic signal indicating the measurement to a platform network.

Method of collecting measurements for estimating air data parameters of an aerospace vehicle

An example method for installing optical sensors for a fuel level measurement system includes mounting a plurality of fittings through a wall of a fuel tank, positioning a plurality of optical sensors within the plurality of fittings and a respective optical sensor includes a first pressure sensing end inserted through the fitting and internally into the fuel tank and a second end extending externally from the fuel tank, and mounting an optical fiber bundle external to the fuel tank. The optical fiber bundle has an optical fiber connected to each of the plurality of optical sensors for guiding light to each of the plurality of optical sensors.

Methods for installation of sensors and determining a fuel level measurement of fuel using a fuel level measurement system

Systems, methods, and apparatus for photonic crystals logic devices are disclosed. In one or more embodiments, a disclosed method for an optical logic device comprises radiating, by at least one source, at least one signal. The method further comprises reflecting at least one signal off of at least one photonic crystal, when at least one photonic crystal senses a physical phenomena of a threshold strength. Also, the method comprises not reflecting at least one signal off of at least one photonic crystal, when at least one photonic crystal does not sense the physical phenomena of the threshold strength. Further, the method comprises detecting or not detecting, by at least one detector, at least one signal.

Photonic crystals logic devices

A power system for an unmanned surface vehicle is disclosed. In one embodiment, the power system includes a fuel cell, a fuel storage, and an air management system. The fuel cell includes a fuel cell stack. The fuel cell stack includes a fuel inlet, an air inlet, and an exhaust outlet. The fuel storage includes at least one fuel-storage module fluidly connected to the fuel inlet of the fuel cell stack. The fuel-storage module is a source of energy for the fuel cell. The air management system is fluidly connected to the air inlet and the exhaust outlet of the fuel cell. An air snorkel is part of the air management system and provides air to operate the fuel cell while the unmanned surface vehicle is deployed on a surface of a body of water. The air snorkel includes an intake and an exhaust.

An example fuel quantity indicating system includes a fuel tank, optical sensors mounted inside the fuel tank that each include a sensor chip and a diaphragm that deflects when ambient pressure differs from a reference pressure of the sensor chip, an optical fiber bundle that has an optical fiber connected to each of the optical sensors for guiding light to each of the optical sensors, and a processor connected to the optical fiber bundle for receiving outputs of the optical sensors indicative of respective pressures, and for determining a fuel level measurement of the fuel tank based on the outputs of the optical sensors.

Systems and methods for determining a fuel level measurement of a fuel tank using optical sensors

A broadcasting system for an autonomous vehicle is disclosed and includes an antenna, a plurality of sensors, one or more processors, and a memory coupled to the processors. The antenna is configured to send and receive wireless communication, and the antenna receives publically available wireless signals. The sensors are configured to generate signals indicating a real-time velocity and a real-time direction of travel of the autonomous vehicle. The processors are in communication with the antenna and the plurality of sensors. The memory stores data comprising program code that, when executed by the one or more processors, causes the system to receive as input the publically available wireless signals and the signals indicating the real-time velocity and the real-time direction of travel of the autonomous vehicle. The system is further caused to determine a real-time velocity and real-time direction of travel of autonomous vehicle.

Broadcasting system for autonomous vehicles

A system includes a battery and a power management unit connected with the battery. The power management unit controls power to the battery. A spare power unit can connect with the power management unit and the battery. The power management unit stores excess charge to the spare power unit and to divert stored charge to the battery when the battery is charged less than a determined percentage.

System and method for battery management

An example system includes a fuel tank, fittings mounted through a wall of the fuel tank, and optical sensors positioned within the fittings. A respective optical sensor includes a first pressure sensing end inserted through a fitting and internally into the fuel tank and a second end extending externally from the fuel tank. The system also includes an optical fiber bundle mounted external to the fuel tank, and having an optical fiber connected to each of the plurality of optical sensors for guiding light to each of the plurality of optical sensors.

Systems and methods for installation of sensors for fuel quantity indicating systems

A method, system, and apparatus are disclosed for a ruggedized photonic crystal (PC) sensor packaging. In particular, the present disclosure teaches a ruggedized packaging for a photonic crystal sensor that includes of a hermetic-seal high-temperature jacket and a ferrule that eliminate the exposure of the optical fiber as well as the critical part of the photonic crystal sensor to harsh environments. The disclosed packaging methods enable photonic crystal based sensors to operate in challenging environments where adverse environmental conditions, such as electromagnetic interference (EMI), corrosive fluids, large temperature variations, and strong mechanical vibrations, currently exclude the use of traditional sensor technologies.

Ruggedized photonic crystal sensor packaging

A tow body apparatus, a method of making a modular tow body, and a method of using a tow body. The tow body comprises a nose module, a tail module, and a first payload module that may be made of plastic by three-dimensional printing. The nose module is configured to be connected to a tow cable for towing the tow body through water and comprises a nose module mating interface. The tail module comprises fins for stabilizing the tow body as the tow body is towed through water and a tail module mating interface. The first payload module comprises an interior configured to hold a payload, a first mating interface configured to be attached alternatively to the nose module mating interface or to a second payload module, and a second mating interface configured to be attached alternatively to the tail module mating interface or to the second payload module.

Modular maritime tow body

Increased DC-to-AC power conversion efficiency in a scalable, flexible, resilient, cascading inverter driver topology. Plural power cells, which include a rectifier and an inverter, are arranged in a series/parallel topology. Use of plural power cells increases efficiency by reducing voltage transition losses and by increasing duty cycle. Also, the power cells output AC to an electric motor using a forward-looking controller that responds to varying power demand while maintaining motor speed at a maximum efficiency level. Power output is varied by varying the width of rectifier output pulses to the inverters while maintaining pulse voltage. Transitions between power levels are smoothed by pulse density modulation. Pulse density, determined automatically in the inverter, begins high and gradually becomes less dense so voltage changes rapidly then slowing gradually. The topology and power cell components allow faulty power cells 10 to be isolated and bypassed.

Adaptable high efficiency power inverter system

Systems and methods for determining a fuel level measurement of a fuel tank using optical sensor

The present disclosure is generally directed to a strain sensor, system and method of fabrication and use that includes an optical fiber, an optical signal generator that transmits an optical signal through the optical fiber, at least two photonic crystal slabs within the optical fiber separated by a first segment of optical fiber, a photo-detector that detects a reflected optical signal from the at least two photonic crystal slabs, and a processor that computes a mechanical strain over the first segment of optical fiber based on the reflected optical signal detected by the photo-detector.

Optical fiber coupled photonic crystal slab strain sensor, system and method of fabrication and use

Growing community of inventors

Chicago, IL, United States of America

Michael A Carralero