Abstract: Systems and methods for communication in 4G and 5G broadband satellite networks are provided. The disclosed methods include Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS)-independent methods, and GNSS assisted methods that do not require transmission of satellite ephemeris information from a base station to user equipment.

Abstract: A heat pipe has an evaporator portion, a condenser portion, and at least one flexible portion that is sealingly coupled between the evaporator portion and the condenser portion. The flexible portion has a flexible tube and a flexible separator plate held in place within the flexible tube so as to divide the flexible tube into a gas-phase passage and a liquid-phase artery. The separator plate and flexible tube are configured such that the flexible portion is flexible in a plane that is perpendicular to the separator plate.

Abstract: Provided herein are various examples of separable waveguide couplers. In one example, a collar element is provided to surround a member comprising a faying surface, a waveguide conduit, and alignment protrusions arranged radially about a perimeter of the faying surface, where the collar element is configured to accept insertion of a mating member comprising a mating faying surface and a mating waveguide conduit. A ball detent assembly is provided having a spring element that retains ball elements in holes formed through the collar element. The waveguide conduit and the mating waveguide conduit are configured to be aligned radially by at least engagement of the alignment protrusions with alignment channels in the mating member and restrained axially by at least engagement of the ball elements with mating divots in the mating member.

Abstract: A boresighting mechanism for adjusting an armament of an aircraft. The mechanism includes a housing comprising a proximal end, a distal end, and an inner cavity. The mechanism further includes a jackscrew with a threaded portion disposed in the inner cavity and an unthreaded portion extending from the proximal end of the housing. The mechanism further includes a follower threadedly coupled to the jackscrew at a first end within the inner cavity and extending from the distal end of the housing. The follower is configured to be coupled to an adjustment feature of the armament at a second end. The mechanism further includes an adjustment knob coupled to the unthreaded portion of the jackscrew and configured to rotate the jackscrew to thereby cause linear motion of the follower. The linear motion allows for adjustment of the armament via the adjustment feature.

Abstract: A rotor system including a rotor hub, a plurality of rotor blades supported by the rotor hub, and a fairing mounted to the rotor hub. The fairing includes an external surface exposed to an external airflow and an internal surface defining an interior portion. A component system is mounted to the rotor hub in the interior portion. The component system includes a first heat generating component and a second heat generating component spaced from the first heat generating component. A cooling duct is arranged between the first heat generating component and the second heat generating component.

Abstract: A feed network is provided that includes a transmit section, a body section coupled to the transmit section, and a receive section coupled to the body section. The transmit section and the body section form a transmitter unit coupled to a first section of a core waveguide, wherein the first section of the core waveguide is a square waveguide. The body section and the receive section form a receiver unit coupled to a second section of the core waveguide, wherein the second section of the core waveguide is a circular waveguide.

Abstract: A rotor blade retention assembly is configured to connect a rotor blade to a central hub comprising a hub arm coupled to and extending radially outward from a hub bowl. The hub arm includes a hub arm lug. The rotor blade retention assembly includes a tension-torsion strap with an inboard end and an outboard end, the inboard end including an inboard pin hole and the outboard end including an outboard pin hole. The rotor blade retention assembly further includes an inboard blade pin and an outboard blade pin. The inboard blade pin is configured to extend through the hub arm lug and the inboard pin hole and to couple the inboard end of the tension-torsion strap to the hub arm. The outboard blade pin is configured to extend through a blade lug of a rotor blade and the outboard pin hole and to couple the outboard end of the tension-torsion strap to the rotor blade.

Abstract: According to an aspect, a method of assembling a mandrel includes assembling a plurality of members via interlocking features arranged at opposing edges of each member of the plurality of members to form a compartment, the assembled members having a collective outer surface that conforms to an inner surface of the spar. A support member is inserted into the compartment formed radially inward from the assembled members, the support member making contact with a portion of each member of the plurality of members.

Abstract: A satellite communication system includes a satellite, satellite base station (eNodeB or gNodeB) and a user equipment (UE). The satellite provides a number of satellite beams, and each satellite beam includes multiple cells. The base station communicates with the UE via a satellite using a narrowband internet of things (NB-IoT) waveform and an enhanced protocol. In particular, the base station and UE perform carrier aggregation by adding and/or deleting carriers in a cell, and the base station and UE perform a higher-order modulation and coding scheme (MCS) processing to support high data rates for user data transport.

Abstract: In one embodiment, systems and methods include using an ultrasonic cutter in a ground detection system to prevent damage to a substrate. The method of detecting a substrate comprises attaching a workpiece clamp to the substrate. The method further comprises cutting a layer of coating disposed on the substrate with an ultrasonic cutter, wherein the ultrasonic cutter operates at a frequency of about 20 kHz to about 40 kHz, wherein the layer of coating is non-conductive. The method further comprises contacting the substrate with the ultrasonic cutter.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling an aerial vehicle to avoid obstacles are disclosed. A system can detect, based on a world model generated from sensor data captured by one or more sensors positioned on the aerial vehicle during flight, an obstacle for the aerial vehicle, and trigger an augmented manual control mode responsive to a speed of the aerial vehicle being less than a predetermined threshold and detecting the obstacle. The system can set, responsive to triggering the augmented manual control mode, a speed constraint for the aerial vehicle in a direction of the obstacle based on a distance between the aerial vehicle and the obstacle. The system can receive an instruction to navigate the aerial vehicle in the direction at a second speed, and adjust the instruction to replace the second speed with the speed constraint, causing the aerial vehicle to navigate at the speed constraint.

Abstract: Distributed gain equalization circuits for use with radio frequency (RF) devices are provided. The distributed gain equalization circuits include a substrate layer, multiple transverse electromagnetic (TEM) line circuits disposed on the substrate layer and multiple traces disposed on the substrate layer, each trace connected to one or more of the TEM line circuits. The traces and TEM line circuits are configured to provide resistances, inductances and capacitances to eliminate the need for lumped or packaged resistors, inductors and capacitors. The distributed gain equalization circuit operates at millimeter wave frequencies and provides a compensating gain slope to counteract a negative gain slope of the RF device. Methods of manufacturing distributed gain equalization circuits are also provided.

Abstract: A super-broadband waveguide feed network includes multiple receive (RX) full reject waveguide filters and multiple RX reject clone waveguide filters disposed in a clone carousel about an aperture port and configured to reject RX frequencies, and a branch line coupler configured to couple the multiple RX full reject waveguide filters and RX reject clone waveguide filters to other components of a waveguide feed network. The super-broadband waveguide feed includes an RX polarizer configured to couple to an end of the aperture port. The super-broadband waveguide feed is configured to be fabricated in one to three pieces composed of a single split plane on the zero-current region, and the super-broadband waveguide feed is circularly polarized.

Abstract: A cockpit switch device can include a pushbutton switch, a bi-stable relay and a toggle component. The pushbutton switch can be configured to be manually actuated by a user into a command state. The bi-stable relay can be controlled by input commands from the pushbutton switch and input commands from a processor, and can be configured to control operation of one or more systems of an a aircraft. The toggle component can be connected to the pushbutton switch, the processor and the bi-stable relay. The toggle component can receive an input command signal from at least one of the pushbutton switch or the processor, and cause a state of the bi-stable relay to be flipped responsive to the input command signal from the at least one of the pushbutton switch or the processor.

Abstract: A lightweight structure for a vehicle, in particular an aircraft, comprises a longitudinal member with a base web, which has a first busbar on a contact surface, and a cross member with a central web and a cross web extending transversely to the central web, the cross web being a first connecting conductor which extends in the area of a first end section of the cross member on a first surface and a second surface of the cross web oriented opposite to this, and a second connection conductor track which extends separately from the first connection conductor track at least on the first surface of the cross web. The cross member extends transversely to the longitudinal member and the cross member is connected at the first end section to the base member in such a way that the first connection conductor track is in contact with the first busbar of the base member.

Abstract: A coaxial split torque gearbox comprises a first pinion meshed with a first gear; a second pinion attached to the first gear and meshed with a first bull gear, the first bull gear operable for transferring torque to cause a first rotor to rotate; and a third pinion attached to a second gear and meshed with a second bull gear, the second bull gear operable for transferring torque to cause a second rotor to rotate, the second gear being meshed with the first gear, and a number of teeth of the first gear being different than a number of teeth of the second gear.

Abstract: A septumless polarizer is an OMT polarizer which is formed without a traditional thin septum which bridges the gap from the first assembly half to the second assembly half when the polarizer is split in the zero-current region of the rectangular waveguides (RHCP and LHCP ports). The septumless polarizer utilizes a dual-axis-stepped feature, which is included in one half of the polarizer only, creates the illusion of a traditional thin septum and actually improves performance. A close-proximity fastener scheme is enabled along with a fully encompassing pressure lip and contact pressure risks are mitigated.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a thin film optical apparatus includes providing a substrate and applying an alignment layer over the substrate. The alignment layer ranges from about 50 to 100 nm in thickness. The method includes imprinting a hologram with a desired optic pattern onto the alignment layer and applying at least one layer of mesogen material over the alignment layer.

Abstract: An apparatus for securing a panel to a structure is provided. In one embodiment, the fastener includes a fastener having a fastener head and a threaded tail, and the fastener may be disposed through a structure and an external panel. The apparatus also includes a retainer housing positioned on the fastener head, where the retainer housing is detached from the fastener. A spring engaging the fastener and the retainer housing is also included within the retainer housing.

Abstract: In one embodiment, systems and methods include using a pressure relief shipping adapter to reduce the internal pressure of a container. A pressure relief shipping adapter comprises a body comprising a first portion and a second portion. The first portion comprises a first bore and a set of protrusions. The second portion comprises a second bore, wherein the second bore comprises a radial gap, wherein the radial gap comprises a uniform arc length along the length of the radial gap. A first end and a second end of the radial gap comprise a greater arc length than the radial gap. A pressure relief shipping adapter further comprises a pressure relief valve disposed at a first end of the first bore and an interlocking component comprising a first tab and a second tab, wherein the interlocking component is at least partially contained within the second bore.