Abstract: An electronic device may include a circuit board, a heat generating component carried by the circuit board, a heat sink body, and a heat transfer assembly between the heat generating component and the heat sink body. The heat transfer assembly may include a flexible, heat conductive layer having a first portion in thermal contact with the heat generating component and a second portion in thermal contact with the heat sink body. The first and second portions are thermally coupled, and a compressible layer is between the first and second portions of the flexible, heat conductive layer.

Abstract: An acousto-optic system may include a laser source, and an AOM coupled to the laser source and having an acousto-optic medium and transducer electrodes carried by the medium. The acousto-optic system may also include an interface board with a dielectric layer and signal contacts carried by the dielectric layer, and connections coupling respective signal contacts with respective transducer electrodes. Each connection may include a dielectric protrusion extending from the AOM, and an electrically conductive layer on the dielectric protrusion for coupling a respective transducer electrode to a respective signal contact.

Abstract: Systems (100) and methods (900) for controlling movement of an articulating arm having a plurality of joints. The methods comprise: receiving, by the controller, a command to perform a task by the articulating arm; ranking movements of the joints based on how much each said joint needs to move at a first time in order to follow the command; selecting a first subset of joints with top-ranked movements from the plurality of joints, where the subset of joints comprises less than a total number of joints contained in the plurality of joints; and causing only the joints of the first subset to move during a first timeslot of a plurality of timeslots.

Abstract: A geospatial modeling system may include a memory and a processor cooperating therewith to generate a three-dimensional (3D) geospatial model including geospatial voxels based upon a plurality of geospatial images, obtain a newly collected geospatial image, and determine a reference geospatial image from the 3D geospatial model using Artificial Intelligence (AI) and based upon the newly collected geospatial image. The processor may further align the newly collected geospatial image and the reference geospatial image to generate a predictively registered image, and update the 3D geospatial model based upon the predictively registered image.

Abstract: Systems and methods for operating an antenna assembly. The methods comprise: receiving a first command for tuning the antenna assembly to a first frequency selected from a plurality of different frequencies to which a strip antenna of the antenna assembly is tunable; selectively connecting ground to the strip antenna at a first location along an elongated length of the strip antenna; and connecting a transceiver to the strip antenna at a second location along the elongated length of the strip antenna using a first tank circuit of a plurality of tank circuits provided with the antenna assembly. The tank circuits are respectively associated with the different frequencies to which the strip antenna is tunable. The first tank circuit is associated with the first frequency to which the strip antenna is to be tuned.

Abstract: An electronic assembly may include a chassis, and electronic modules mounted within the chassis. Each electronic module may include a printed circuit substrate, heat-generating electronic components mounted on the printed circuit substrate, and a heat sink body mounted to the printed circuit substrate and having a plurality of heat pipe receiving passageways extending between opposing side edges and overlying corresponding heat-generating components. A respective elongate, passive, heat pipe may extend within each heat pipe receiving passageway and be removably fastened to at least one end to the heat sink body for enhanced conductive heat transport.

Abstract: Deployable reflector system includes a support structure and a reflector surface secured to the support structure. The support structure transition from a compact stowed configuration to a larger deployed configuration to deploy the reflector surface. The reflector surface is comprised of a carbon nanotube (CNT) sheet. The sheet is intricately folded in accordance with a predetermined folding pattern to define a compact folded state. This predetermined folding pattern is configured to permit automatic extension of the CNT sheet from a compact folded state to a fully unfolded state. The unfolding operation occurs when a tension force is applied to at least a portion of the peripheral edge of the CNT sheet. In some scenarios, the support structure can comprise a circumferential hoop.

Abstract: An eLORAN receiver may include an antenna and eLORAN receiver circuitry coupled to the antenna. The antenna may include a ferromagnetic core and an H-field signal winding coupled to the ferromagnetic core. The eLORAN receiver may have an antenna tuning device including a tuning winding surrounding the ferromagnetic core, and a tuning circuit coupled to the tuning winding.

Abstract: An RF PNT system may include LORAN stations. Each LORAN station may include a LORAN antenna, and a LORAN transmitter coupled to the LORAN antenna and configured to transmit a series of LORAN PNT RF pulses having a time spacing between adjacent LORAN PNT RF pulses. One or more of the LORAN stations may include a message embedding generator coupled to the LORAN transmitter and configured to generate message RF bursts based upon an input message, and with each message RF burst being in the time spacing between respective adjacent LORAN PNT RF pulses.

Abstract: Systems and methods for operating a communication device. The methods comprise: immersing an antenna in an electric field of an incident radio wave; producing a net change in electrical charge on a surface of an electrodeformative element that acoustically vibrates when the antenna is immersed in the electric field of the incident radio wave; harvesting the electrical charge produced on the surface of the electrodeformative element to provide an antenna receive function; and providing the harvested electrical charge from the antenna to a receiver circuit of the communication device.

Abstract: Systems and methods for applying solder to a pin. The methods comprising: disposing a given amount of solder on a non-wetable surface of a planar substrate; aligning the pin with the solder disposed on the non-wetable surface of the planar substrate; inserting the pin in the solder; and performing a reflow process to cause the solder to transfer from the planar substrate to the pin.

Abstract: An eLORAN receiver may include an antenna and eLORAN receiver circuitry coupled to the antenna. The antenna may have a ferromagnetic core including a ferromagnetic medial portion and ferromagnetic arms extending outwardly from the ferromagnetic medial portion, a respective electrically conductive winding surrounding each of the ferromagnetic arms, and an electrically conductive patch element adjacent the ferromagnetic core.

Abstract: A sensor receiver includes a Rydberg cell configured to be exposed to a radio frequency (RF) signal, and a probe source configured to generate a plurality of spaced apart pulsed probe beams within the Rydberg cell. The pulsed probe beams are offset in time from one another. A detector is positioned downstream from the Rydberg cell.

Abstract: Disclosed is a sonobuoy that houses at least one unmanned vehicle that may be launched from the sonobuoy. The sonobuoy may include a canister, a parachute, an unmanned vehicle, and a launch mechanism. The parachute may be disposed within an interior cavity of the canister proximate to a first end of the canister. The unmanned vehicle may be disposed within the interior cavity of the canister proximate to a second end of the canister. The launch mechanism may be disposed within the interior cavity of the canister and operatively coupled to the unmanned vehicle. The launch mechanism may be configured to launch the unmanned vehicle from the canister. The sonobuoy may further include a launch deployment mechanism that may be configured to orient the canister with respect to a surface after the sonobuoy impacts the surface in order to facilitate the launch of the unmanned vehicle.

Abstract: Systems and methods for operating a quantum network system. The methods comprise, by a network node: generating optical clock pulses and photons using the optical clock pulses; generating a combined signal by combining the optical clock pulses with at least some of the photons such that a consistent temporal offset exits between the optical clock pulses and the first photons and/or a wave function of each photon at least partially overlaps an envelope of a respective one of the optical clock pulses; and transmitting the combined signal over a first quantum channel in which the optical clock pulses co-propagate with the photons.

Abstract: An artificial intelligence (AI) system for geospatial height estimation may include a memory and a processor cooperating therewith to store a plurality of labeled predicted electro-optic (EO) image classified objects having respective elevation values associated therewith in a semantic label database, and train a model using trained EO imagery and the semantic label database. The processor may further estimate height values within new EO imagery for a geographic area based upon the trained model, and generate an estimated height map for the geographic area from the estimated height values and output the estimated height map on a display.

Abstract: A carriage system on an aircraft determines the type of each store attached to the carriage system. The carriage system detects stores attached to the carriage system and determines whether a first interlock signal formatted according to a first interface format is present for each store. If the first interlock signal is present, then the dual mode carriage system determines that a store interface for the store is the first interface format. If the first interlock signal is not present for the store, the carriage system determines whether a second interlock signal formatted according to a second interface format is present on a predetermined set of connection pins of the first interface format. If the second interlock signal is present, then the carriage system determines that the store interface for the store is the second interface format. The carriage system reports the store interface of each store to the aircraft.

Abstract: An underwater communications system may include a first device and a second device being movable relative to one another. The first device may include a first laser transmitter configured to generate a first laser beam having a selectable spatiotemporal beam shape from among a plurality thereof, and a first controller coupled to the first laser transmitter and configured to select a spatiotemporal beam shape for the first laser beam from among the spatiotemporal beam shapes. The second device may include a second laser receiver configured to receive the first laser beam, and a second controller coupled to the second laser receiver.

Abstract: An acousto-optic device may include an acousto-optic component carried by a chassis, and a fastener assembly for removably securing a cover to the chassis. The fastener assembly may include a base sleeve having an enlarged head, and a tubular body and extending through a cover passageway. The fastener assembly may include a retainer sleeve having a threaded interior secured to the threaded exterior of the base sleeve to define an anchor member, the anchor member having a threaded interior. The fastener assembly may further include a fastener, a shaft having a threaded exterior opposite the enlarged head and to be threaded through the threaded interior of the anchor member to capture the fastener to the cover and movable through the chassis passageway for removably securing the cover to the chassis.

Abstract: An optical system may include a target, a laser source, and an optical lens assembly. The optical lens assembly may include a mounting flange mounted adjacent the laser source, an objective lens aligned between the laser source and the target, and at least one adjustment stage coupled between the mounting flange and the objective lens. The adjustment stage may include a ball joint having a ball joint body, a ball receiver tube, and adjustable fasteners coupling the ball joint body to the ball receiver tube. The adjustment stage may include a translation tube having ramps thereon, and adjustable fasteners coupled between the mounting flange and the translation tube. In addition, the adjustment stage may include the mounting flange having a threaded surface thereon, and a focus ring rotatably coupled to the threaded surface of the mounting flange.