A system includes a robotic arm, a rotisserie control linkage, and a computer system. The robotic arm includes a touch probe and laser head. The rotisserie control linkage is configured to couple to a transport cart. The computer system is communicatively coupled to the robotic arm and the rotisserie control linkage and is configured to control the system to probe, using the touch probe of the robotic arm, a transparent outer layer of an aircraft canopy located on the transport cart in order to determine surface measurements of the aircraft canopy. The computer system also controls the system to ablate, using a plurality of predetermined parameters and the laser head of the robotic arm, an interface layer located between the transparent outer layer and the aircraft canopy, wherein movements of the robotic arm during the ablation are based on the surface measurements.

An ice protection system includes an aircraft surface and a gutter defined in the aircraft surface between raised rails. The gutter includes a mouth that narrows into a trailing portion of the gutter. The mouth is configured to channel water runback rivulets into the trailing portion of the gutter. The gutter can be a first gutter of a plurality of side by side gutters, each including a respective mouth narrowing into a respective trailing portion, wherein the gutters are separated from one another by respective rails.

A device for releasing a panel of an aircraft, the device being configured to be secured to a support, the support having an opening and the device being attached to cover a periphery of the opening, the device comprising a panel configured to be arranged at least opposite the opening. Such a device comprises: at least two ejector members, each of the at least two ejector members comprising at least one link; and at least one control member for applying a pulling force to the at least one link.

An aircraft windshield wiper system includes a wiper arm, a wiper blade coupled to a distal end of the wiper arm, and a drive shaft coupled to a proximal end of the wiper arm. The wiper blade is configured to clean water, dirt, and other debris from the windshield of the aircraft. The drive shaft is configured to rotate and cause the wiper arm with the coupled wiper blade to sweep across the windshield. The wiper arm includes both composite and metal components to reduce the weight of the windshield wiper system while also providing lightning strike protection.

A system for monitoring performance of an aircraft windshield includes a sensor comprising a sensory contact and an evaluation unit. The sensory contact is in physical contact with one or more components of the windshield, and generates a signal representative of the performance of the component(s) of the windshield. An electrical connector is secured to the surface of the windshield facing the interior of the aircraft. The signal from the sensory contact passes through the connector to the evaluation unit. The evaluation unit acts on the signal to determine the performance of the component(s) of the windshield, wherein the evaluation unit is spaced from and out of physical contact with the windshield and the electrical connector, and is in electrical contact with the electrical connector.

The present invention relates to a hybrid VTOL jet car comprising a light weight floatable chassis adapted for carrying a payload, a retractable tail section attached to a light weight floatable chassis at rear end adapted for stabilizing the hybrid VTOL jet car, a plurality of wheels at the bottom of the hybrid VTOL jet car, a plurality of retractable wings on the sides of light weight floatable chassis, adapted for manoeuvring the hybrid VTOL jet car. Disclosed embodiments further comprising a plurality of thrust-producing engines adapted for generating the thrust required for driving the hybrid VTOL jet car on a surface as well as in the air and a plurality of parachutes attached to the hybrid VTOL jet car to safely land the hybrid VTOL jet car under emergency.

Systems and methods for printed multifunctional skins are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, an aerodynamic apparatus includes an aerodynamic structure having a first surface exposed to an outside environment, and a second surface exposed to an inside environment. A printed sensor is carried by the first surface of the aerodynamic structure, electronic components are carried by the second surface of the aerodynamic structure, and at least one printed conductive trace is carried by the first surface and the second surface. The printed conductive trace electrically connects the printed sensor with the electronics.

Disclosed is an aircraft having motors operable to actuate an aircraft windshield wiper and an aircraft control surface. The aircraft includes a distributed control system having digital storage and integrated with redundant processors. The aircraft includes controller instructions stored on the digital storage operable upon execution to operate a control surface motor of the motors to actuate the control surface to impact an orientation of the aircraft and operate a windshield wiper motor of the motors to actuate the windshield wipers.

Disclosed are polyurethane-polysiloxane hybrid coating compositions (PUPSHCC) and their uses, processes for their preparation, and substrates incorporating the coating compositions.

A network system for monitoring and storing data of aircraft intelligent windows or windshields to provide useable life of, provide real life performance of, and/or measure characteristics and/or properties of, the windshields forwards the data from sensors mounting the windshield to a window sensing hub having a microprocessor programed to receive and process the data to determine the performance of the windshield and formatting the data in accordance to a preset program, wherein the program includes providing data from the sensors that measures characteristics and properties of the windshield that are active during the period in which the data is taken. An aircraft central maintenance system connected to the window sensing hub receives the formatted information from the window sensing hub and unfiltered or unformatted information, wherein the unfiltered information from the windshield is acted on by the central maintenance system to provide an estimated useable life of the windshield.