Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a soldered interface between a circuit board and a connector pin. The methods comprise: using a jet paste dispenser to apply first solder into a plated contact cavity formed in the circuit board; using a stencil screen printer to apply second solder (a) over the plated contact cavity which was at least partially filled with the first solder by the jet paste dispenser and (b) over at least a portion of a pad surrounding the plated contact cavity; inserting the connector pin in the plated contact cavity such that the connector pin passes through the second solder and extends at least partially through the first solder; and performing a reflow process to heat the first and second solder so as to create a solder joint between the circuit board and the connector pin.

Abstract: A radar antenna for a flight vehicle that follows a flight path comprises a radio frequency (RF) reflector, and separated first arrays of first RF feed elements to form, with the reflector, respective first fixed radar beams that are directed at the Earth and positionally offset with respect to each other, such that when the radar antenna follows the flight path, the respective first fixed radar beams trace respective first subswaths on the Earth that are separated from each other by respective subswath gaps.

Abstract: An electronic device may include a backplane and an electrical connector carried by a front side of the backplane, and a circuit board assembly removably coupled to the electrical connector. Each circuit board assembly may include a circuit board and electronic components carried by the circuit board and generating waste heat, and a cooling fluid arrangement thermally coupled to the electronic components. The electronic device may include a cooling fluid manifold, and a pair of multi-functional tubes that provide alignment, keying, structural rigidity and fluid supply and return capabilities extending between the cooling fluid manifold and the cooling fluid arrangement.

Abstract: An outer space deployable antenna may include a waveguide antenna feed section. A first plurality of wires and a first plurality of biased hinges may couple the first plurality of wires together to be self-biased to move between a collapsed stored configuration and an extended deployed configuration. A horn antenna section may be coupled to the waveguide antenna feed section and may include a second plurality of wires and a second plurality of biased hinges coupling the second plurality of wires together to be self-biased to move between the collapsed stored configuration and the extended deployed configuration. A flexible electrically conductive layer may cover the waveguide antenna feed section and the horn antenna section in at least the extended deployed configuration.

Abstract: A LORAN device may include a LORAN antenna, a LORAN receiver, an RF signal path extending between the LORAN antenna and the LORAN receiver and being subject to ambient RF interference, and an ambient RF interference canceller coupled in the RF signal path. The ambient RF interference canceller may include an ambient RF interference sensor configured to generate an estimated ambient RF interference signal based on the sensed ambient RF interference, and cancellation circuitry configured to cooperate with the ambient RF interference sensor to generate an ambient RF interference cancellation signal based upon the sensed ambient RF interference signal, and add the ambient RF interference cancellation signal to the RF signal path.

Abstract: Systems and methods for extending a boom. The methods comprise: placing a drive train assembly in a start configuration in which an engagement member of the drive train assembly is coupled to an inner telescoping segment of the boom; rotating a spool in a first direction so as to unwind a slit-tube that is coupled to the engagement member; causing the inner telescoping segment to move in a direction away from a proximal end of the boom as the slit-tube is being unwound from the spool; and coupling the inner telescoping segment to an adjacent telescoping segment when the inner telescoping segment reaches an extended position. The slit-tube extends a distance inside the boom that is equal to or less than a length of the adjacent telescoping segment when the inner telescoping segment is in the extended position.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling operations of a Computer System (“CS”). The methods comprise: collecting information about events occurring in CS; performing automated ontogenesis operations using the collected information to determine a context of a given situation associated with CS using stored ontogenetic knowledge, define parameters for different sets of actions that could occur in the context of the given situation, simulate the sets of actions to generate a set of simulation results defining predicted consequences resulting from the performance of certain behaviors by nodes of CS, select a best simulation result from the set of simulation results, and determine whether a system action specified by the best simulation result might cause an undesirable unintended consequence; and using the parameters associated with the best simulation result to optimize control and performance of CS, when a determination is made that the system action will not cause the undesirable unintended consequence.

Abstract: Extensible mast is comprised of multiple mast sections which are aligned along a mast axis. Each mast section is formed of an elongated tubular member disposed in a nested configuration when the mast is in a stowed condition. Each mast section is configured to slide along a direction aligned with the mast axis to facilitate a transition of the mast from the stowed condition to a deployed condition. In the deployed condition, adjacent mast sections are disposed substantially end to end so as to form a mast having an elongated length extending from a mast base to a mast tip. Mast sections includes one or more latches formed from a portion of the sidewall and resiliently engage a portion of an adjacent mast section.

Abstract: A LORAN device may include a housing, and an electrically short LORAN antenna carried by the housing. The LORAN device may have a LORAN receiver carried by the housing and coupled to the electrically short LORAN antenna, and an RF crystal resonator coupled to the electrically short LORAN antenna so that the electrically short LORAN antenna is forced to a resonant condition for a LORAN receive signal.

Abstract: A system may include a laser source, an acousto-optic modulator (AOM) coupled to the laser source, an atom trap, and an optical body coupled between the AOM and the atom trap and having a plurality of spaced apart optical signal channels etched therein. At least one piezoelectric transducer may be coupled to each of the optical signal channels, and a beam polarization controller may be coupled to the piezoelectric transducers.

Abstract: A quantum communications system may include a transmitter node, a receiver node, and a quantum communications channel coupling the transmitter node and receiver node. The receiver node may be configured to arrange a received bit stream of optical pulses from the transmitter node into time bins, convert the optical pulses in the time bins into corresponding optical pulses in frequency bins, and detect respective optical pulse values from each of the frequency bins.

Abstract: Deployable reflector system includes a boom which is extended from a rigid base. A reflector support structure is secured to a carrier end of the boom opposed from the base. The reflector support structure is configured to transition from a collapsed configuration to an expanded configuration. A tension element coupled at one end to the reflector support structure extends along a length of the boom to the base. The tension element is tensioned as a result of extending the boom, whereby a tension force is provided. The reflector support structure is transitioned from the collapsed configuration to the expanded configuration responsive to the tension force, whereby the same actuator mechanism that extends the boom also expands the reflector support structure.

Abstract: A long range navigation system may include radio frequency (RF) transmitter stations at fixed geographical locations, each having an RF transmitter and an RF modulator coupled to the RF transmitter, and configured to generate a direct sequence spread spectrum (DSSS) RF signal being spectrally shaped so that 99% of power from the RF transmitter is within the frequency range of 90-110 KHz. Movable RF receiver units each include an RF receiver and a demodulator coupled to the RF receiver configured to demodulate the DSSS RF signal to determine a position of the movable RF receiver unit.

Abstract: An artificial intelligence (AI) system for generating a digital surface model (DSM) may include a memory and a processor cooperating therewith to determine an estimated height map from electro-optic (EO) imagery of a geographic area using artificial intelligence. The processor may further generate cost coefficients for a three-dimensional (3D) cost cube based upon stereo-geographic image data and height value seeding using the estimated height map, and generate a DSM for the geographic area based upon the 3D cost cube and outputting the DSM to a display.

Abstract: A reflector antenna system comprising: a hoop assembly configured to expand between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration; a mesh reflector secured to the hoop assembly such that when the hoop assembly is in the collapsed configuration the mesh reflector is collapsed within the hoop assembly and when the hoop assembly is in the expanded configuration the mesh reflector is expanded to a shape that is intended to concentrate RF energy in a desired pattern; a mast assembly including an extendible boom to which the hoop assembly is secured by cords; and an antenna feed that is located on a vehicle so as to face a concave surface of the mesh reflector that is intended to concentrate RF energy in the desired pattern.

Abstract: Systems and methods for simultaneously coupling a plurality of high speed electrical connectors to a Printed Wiring Board (“PWB”). The methods comprise: obtaining a composite electrical connector comprising the plurality of high speed electrical connectors which are serially arranged in a side-by-side manner and coupled to each other; automatedly engaging a smooth surface of the composite electrical connector; placing the composite electrical connector on the PWB so that pins of the plurality of high speed electrical connectors are concurrently inserted into vias formed in the PWB; and coupling the composite electrical connector to the PWB by soldering the pins in the vias.

Abstract: An airborne scanning instrument may include a scanning mirror configured to be carried by an airborne platform and having a major reflective surface to define a scanning path directed toward Earth. The airborne scanning instrument may include a shaft configured to rotate the scanning mirror about a shaft axis. The major reflective surface of the scanning mirror may be tilted at a first angle from the shaft axis, and the shaft axis may be tilted at a second angle relative to horizontal. The airborne scanning instrument may include a detector aligned with the scanning mirror to define a detector path therewith.

Abstract: A synthetic aperture radar (SAR) generates concurrent first radar pulses in first frequency channels. The SAR transmits, and receives returns of, the concurrent first radar pulses by first antenna feeds that form first beams in the first frequency channels and that are directed to respective first subswaths of a swath on the Earth separated by subswath gaps. The SAR generates concurrent second radar pulses in second frequency channels. The SAR transmits, and receives returns of, the concurrent second radar pulses by second antenna feeds configured to form second beams in the second frequency channels and that are directed to respective second subswaths of the swath on the Earth and that coincide with the subswath gaps. The SAR processes the returns of the first radar pulses from the first subswaths and the returns of the second radar pulses from the second subswaths to form a SAR image contiguous across the swath.

Abstract: Systems and methods for improving an efficiency and a gain of a helical antenna. The methods comprise: configuring a conductive helix element of the helical antenna to comprise a proximal segment having a helical winding that extends along an axis of the conductive helix element and has a plurality of turns with linearly progressing pitch angles; configuring the conductive helix element to comprise a distal segment having a helical winding that extends along the axis of the conductive helix element and has a constant pitch angle; and coupling the distal segment to the proximal segment in a series arrangement so that a radio wave reaches a terminal velocity at a point of the coupling.

Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) device may include an RF signal source having a selectable frequency, an RF antenna, and an RF power amplifier module coupled between the RF signal source and the RF antenna. The RF power amplifier module may include at least one input tunable cavity impedance matching device, at least one output tunable cavity impedance matching device, and a power amplifier device connected therebetween. A controller may select the selectable frequency of the RF signal source, tune the at least one input tunable cavity impedance matching device based upon the selected frequency, and tune the at least one output tunable cavity impedance matching device based upon the selected frequency.