FORCED MIXERS
Forced mixers are convoluted trailing edge splitter contours which generate large scale axial vortices to rapidly mix two fluid streams. Properly designed forced mixers greatly reduce mixing lengths with very low flow energy losses. FloDesign was instrumental in developing working forced mixers, owns valuable intellectual property related to mixers and has developed design guidelines for numerous forced mixer applications.

MIXER/EJECTORS
Forced mixers can be used in ejectors to provide compact and lightweight systems which mix hot jet engine streams with cool ambient air before exhausting the flow. Such mixer/ejector systems are used extensively in aircraft noise and IR suppressors. FloDesign has authored and/or owns numerous mixer/ejector application patents.

MULTI STAGE EJECTORS
Ejectors and/or mixer/ejectors can be staged to obtain higher pumping, mixing and thrust generating efficiencies. FloDesign was a pioneer in designing, and implementing multistage mixer/ejectors and holds the patents on numerous such applications.

RAP
The RAP nozzle is a novel, new device that transmits a fluid force, gas or fine particles over a distance with minimal losses. It is comprised of three major components: a device to convert a continuous jet stream into jet pulses, multistage ejectors (with or without forced mixers) to amplify the pulses, and an orifice used to convert the pulses into torroidal vortices. RAP is an acronym for repetitive alternating pulse nozzles. FloDesign invented and owns the patent for the RAP nozzle concept.

FORCE AMPLIFICATION
Force amplification is a term used to describe how FloDesign’s RAP nozzle uses unsteady flow with storage plenums and/or multistage ejectors to increase the impact force of a fluid jet.

SCALE AMPLIFICATION
Scale amplification is a term used to describe how FloDesign’s RAP nozzle uses unsteady flow with storage plenums and/or multistage ejectors to increase the size of a fluid jet pulse.

IR SUPRESSION 
IR is an acronym for infra red radiation. Infra red radiation is emitted by any body or material that has a temperature above zero absolute, and the intensity is proportional to the temperature to the fourth power. IR suppression is used to describe any device, active or passive, which is used to reduce IR radiation. FloDesign has authored and/or owns numerous IR suppressor patents.

SELF PROPELLING VORTICES
Ringed, or torroidal vortices are self propelling. When a torroidal vortex is formed in a fluid, the dynamics of the vortex flowfield interaction results in motion of the vortex ring. Thus, a torroidal vortex propels, or moves by itself. A smoke ring is a torroidal vortex.

ACOUSTICS 
Acoustics refers to a field of science which includes the study of sound. Sound is transmitted by unsteady pressure waves in a fluid, most notably air. The unsteady pressure waves in air cause vibration in the human ear which the brain interprets as sound.

NOISE SUPPRESSION
Noise suppression is used to describe any device, active or passive, which is used to reduce noise. Active noise control encompasses devices which measure the existing sound characteristics, and generates new noise to cancel the existing noise. Passive noise control uses devices to absorb, dissipate or eliminate some sources of the existing noise. Mixer/ejectors can be used in jet engine exhaust systems to provide thrust gains while reducing jet noise. FloDesign owns valuable intellectual property related to mixer/ejectors and has developed design guidelines for numerous noise suppression applications.

INFRASOUND 
Infrasound is sound with a frequency too low to be detected by the human ear. The study of such sound waves is sometimes referred to as infrasonics, covering sounds from the lower limit of human hearing (about 16 or 17 Hertz) down to 0.001 hertz. Infrasound is characterized by an ability to cover long distances and get around obstacles with little dissipation.

ACOUSTIC WEAPONS 
Acoustic weapons use sound waves to cause spatial disorientation or even severe ear pain with rupture of the ear drum. High-intensity low-frequency sound may cause other organs to resonate, causing a number of physiological results, possibly including death.

VORTEX TRANSPORTERS 
When a torroidal vortex is formed in a fluid, the dynamics of the vortex flowfield interaction results in motion of the vortex ring through the fluid. As the vortex moves, the vortex core can be used to transport another fluid or fine particles through the fluid.

STEALTH 
Stealth covers a range of techniques used with aircraft, ships and missiles in order to make them less visible to radar, infrared and other detection methods. A 'stealth' vehicle will generally have been designed from the outset to have reduced or controlled signature.

UAV 
An UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) is an aircraft with no onboard pilot. UAVs can be remote controlled or fly autonomously based on pre-programmed flight plans or more complex dynamic automation systems. UAVs are currently used in a number of military roles, including reconnaissance and attack.

PULSE JET PROPULSION 
Pulse jet propulsion refers to a jet engine wherein the combustion occurs in pulses and the propulsive effort is a jet, this is, a reaction to the rearward flow of hot gases

PROPULSION AERODYNAMICS 
Propulsion aerodynamics refers to the study of jet engines and how they generate forces needed for aircraft to fly. Typically this area of science includes the study of compressible flow, jet momentum, nozzles, aircraft and jet engines.

FLUIDIC DEVICES
Fluidic devices use the dynamic properties of fluids to automatically switch a stream of fluid from one channel to another. The most common devices use the wall attachment associated with properly designed, bi-stable diffusers.

COMPUTATIONAL FLUID DYNAMICS
Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is one of the branches of fluid mechanics that uses numerical methods and algorithms to solve and analyze problems that involve fluid flows. Computers are used to perform the millions of calculations required to simulate the interaction of fluids and gases with the complex surfaces used in engineering. However, even with simplified equations and high-speed supercomputers, only approximate solutions
can be achieved in many cases.

WIND TUNNEL TESTING
Wind tunnel testing is used as technical support of any major development process involving aerodynamics. It is used for aircraft, helicopters, cars, trains, and laboratory research. Scale, or similar but smaller models of an aircraft, or other vehicle, are made and tested in a controlled air stream. The air stream is generated by the wind tunnel. Diagnostic flow measurements are usually taken to enhance the design process.

SCALE MODEL TESTING
Scale, or similar but smaller models of an aircraft, or other vehicle are tested in a controlled air stream usually supplied by a wind tunnel. The scale model test results allow estimates of actual full scale performance to be made using a process called similitude.

MECHATRONICS
Mechatronics is the synergistic combination of mechanical engineering ("mecha" for mechanisms, i.e., machines that 'move'), electronic engineering ("tronics" for electronics), and software engineering. The purpose of this interdisciplinary engineering field is the study of automation from an engineering perspective.

ACOUSTIC AGGLOMERATION 
Acoustic agglomeration refers to the science of using acoustic waves to move and cause small particles in fluid suspension to lump together thereby forming larger particles which are easier to filter out. A simple standing wave tube is one of the devices that can be used to demonstrate the process. The potential applications include the cleansing of various exhaust emissions and the filtration of hazardous particulate out of a fluid.

ACOUSTIC NOZZLES
Flow nozzles or duct contours which use acoustic waves and/or forces to generate better fluid flow characteristics. The medium would typically be a Non-Newtonian fluid.  Such devices can provide significant improvements of flow through small apertures such as hypodermic needles.

HOMELAND SECURITY 
A federal agency whose primary mission is to help prevent, protect against, and respond to acts of terrorism on United States soil.

THEATRICAL EFFECTS
The use of the RAP nozzle to generate vortices which carry smoke, illuminescent, flames or other particulate which can enhance a show, play concert etc.

LESS THAN LETHAL WEAPONS
Less-lethal, Less Than Lethal, non-lethal or, more recently, compliance weapons are weapons intended to be unlikely to kill or to cause great bodily injury to a living target. In the past, police (or soldiers) called to a riot were primarily limited to use of bayonet or sabre charges, or firing live ammunition at crowds. Less-lethal riot control weapons were developed to reduce the loss of life in such situations