Small unmanned aerial vehicles UAVs (SUAVs), micro air vehicles (MAVs), Automated Target Recognition (ATR), and munitions guidance, require extreme operational agility and robustness which can be partially offset by efficient bioinspired imaging sensor designs capable to provide enhanced guidance, navigation and control capabilities (GNC). Bioinspired-based imaging technology can be proved useful either for long-distance surveillance of targets in a cluttered environment, or at close distances limited by space surroundings and obstructions.The purpose of this study is to explore the phenomenology of image formation by different insect eye architectures, which would directly benefit the areas of defense and security, on the following four distinct areas: a) fabrication of the bioinspired sensor b) optical architecture, c) topology, and d) artificial intelligence.The outcome of this study indicates that bioinspired imaging can impact the areas of defense and security significantly by dedicated designs fitting into different combat scenarios and applications.

The goal of this study is to discover, analyze, compare, and interpret diffused reflectance polarimetric signatures from lung cancer cells through time series analysis techniques, by using recently invented efficient polarimetric backscattering detection techniques. Specifically, different time series analyses, relying on linear and generalized linear modeling, have been investigated, with special emphasis on the Granger test for the time series. The experimental results indicate that statistically enhanced discrimination between normal and different types of lung cancer cells and stages can be achieved based on the pairwise comparisons of the time series diffused reflectance signal intensities and depolarization properties of the cells.

An optical system for efficient fluorescence imaging of cancer margins aiming at enhanced discrimination of the tumor area from the surrounding normal tissue, is presented. Fluorescence imaging was used to acquire grayscale images of brain tumor samples of 10 μm slice thickness. The tumor cells are characterized as Gli36Δ5 cells expressing Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP). An image processing technique involving the clustering-based concept of Otsu segmentation was applied to enhance the contrast and difference between the tumor and the rest of the tissue for improved visualization of tumor margins. Edge detection was performed on these processed images to mark the boundaries of the tumor area. The fluorescence imaging results depict clear demarcation of tumor boundary and a substantial improvement of the contrast, post processing.

The unique functional characteristics of nanostructured material are stemming mainly from a large surface-to-volume-ratio and on quantum effects; can yield numerous potential space defense applications.The objective of this study is to explore the polarimetric characterization of polymer nanomaterials, using Mueller matrix and Stokes parameters analysis. Specifically, gold nanoparticles were dispersed within a matrix of two-different polymer domains and their polarimetric response to infrared light was studied.

The objective of this study is to explore the polarimetric phenomenology of near infrared light interaction with healthy and lung cancer monolayer cells by using efficient polarimetric transmission detection techniques. Preliminary results indicate that enhanced discrimination between normal and different types of lung cancer cell stages can be achieved based on their transmitted intensities and depolarization properties of the cells. Specifically, the sizes of the nuclei of the cancer cells and the nucleus-to-cytoplasmic ratios appear to have potential impact on the detected polarimetric signatures leading to enhanced discrimination of lung cancer cells.

The objective of this study is to explore the phenomenology of near infrared (NIR) light interaction with healthy and early-lung cancer by combining efficient polarimetric backscattering detection techniques with Polarimetric Exploratory Data Analysis (pEDA). Preliminary results indicate that enhanced discrimination signatures can be obtained for certain types of lung cancers.

Environmental and safety issues are becoming increasingly critical for the selection of materials and their processing techniques. While the choice of “green” materials is important from the perspective of disposal of spent or used products, the choice of environmentally sound processes is important to cut down manufacturing waste and limit the use of toxic solvents and solids. Some examples from the electronics and the aerospace industry are described.

We examine the issue of scaling magnetic tape-recording to higher areal densities, focusing on the challenges of achieving 100 Gb/in2 in the linear tape format. The current highest achieved areal density demonstrations of 6.7 Gb/in2 in the linear tape and 23.0 Gb/in2 in the helical scan format provide a reference for this assessment. We argue that controlling the head-tape interaction is key to achieving high linear density, whereas track-following and reel-to-reel servomechanisms as well as transverse dimensional stability are key for achieving high track density. We envision that advancements in media, data-detection techniques, reel-to-reel control, and lateral motion control will enable much higher areal densities. An achievable goal is a linear density of 800 Kb/in and a track pitch of 0.2 µm, resulting in an areal density of 100 Gb/in2.

The bonding interfaces between metals and ceramics can be classified into four groups based upon the nature of chemical interactions that lead to interface mixing. Model systems which illustrate the adhesion mechanism in each class were investigated. The equilibrium thermochemistry required for processing such interfaces is discussed for each example. Microstructural and microchemical analyses of the interface regions were carried out by cross-sectional AEM (Analytical Electron Microscopy) and HREM (High Resolution Electron Microscopy), and the results were found to confirm the thermodynamically predicted chemical interactions.