Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to motion compensation, and in particular to an autofocus-based compensation (ABC) systems and methods for a ground moving target indication platform. According to one embodiment, a method for autofocus based compensation of range data acquired from an object in motion is provided. The method may include: receiving range data; steering at least one receive beam of the range data in a desired direction; transforming the range data into the range domain; determining the width of a main clutter lobe; excluding data that is not part of the main lobe clutter response; transforming the main-lobe clutter response into the range domain; calculating a phase correction term; and applying the phase correction to the original range data.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting an icing condition. The apparatus comprises a piezoelectric material and a vibration detector. The piezoelectric material has a surface proximate to a surface of a vehicle. The piezoelectric material is configured to vibrate. The vibration detector is configured to detect a change in vibrations in the piezoelectric material that indicates a presence of an icing condition on the surface of the piezoelectric material.

Abstract: This invention maps possibly noisy digital input from any of a number of different hardware or software sources such as keyboards, automatic speech recognition systems, cell phones, smart phones or the web onto an interpretation consisting of an action and one or more physical objects, such as robots, machinery, vehicles, etc. or digital objects such as data files, tables and databases. Tables and lists of (i) homonyms and misrecognitions, (ii) thematic relation patterns, and (iii) lexicons are used to generate alternative forms of the input which are scored to determine the best interpretation of the noisy input. The actions may be executed internally or output to any device which contains a digital component such as, but not limited to, a computer, a robot, a cell phone, a smart phone or the web. This invention may be implemented on sequential and parallel compute engines and systems.

Abstract: A system for determining ionization susceptibility including a sample, an x-ray generator configured to generate a pulsed x-ray beam, and focusing optics disposed between the sample and the x-ray generator, the focusing optics being configured to focus the pulsed x-ray beam into a spot on the sample.

Abstract: A system and method for selectively charging and discharging a steering accumulator are provided. One vehicle steering system includes a hydraulic pump configured provide a source of pressurized hydraulic fluid for use in steering the vehicle. The steering system also includes an accumulator configured to hold pressurized hydraulic fluid from the pump for use in steering the vehicle in case of need. The steering system includes a charging circuit configured to selectively allow the hydraulic fluid to flow from the hydraulic pump to the accumulator based on a fluid pressure applied by a first pilot and a second pilot. The steering system includes a charging bypass circuit configured to allow the hydraulic fluid to flow to a steering control unit and to bypass the charging circuit. The hydraulic pump supplies fluid to the charging circuit and the bypass circuit.

Abstract: This invention maps possibly noisy digital input from any of a number of different hardware or software sources such as keyboards, automatic speech recognition systems, cell phones, smart phones or the web onto an interpretation consisting of an action and one or more physical objects, such as robots, machinery, vehicles, etc. or digital objects such as data files, tables and databases. Tables and lists of (i) homonyms and misrecognitions, (ii) thematic relation patterns, and (iii) lexicons are used to generate alternative forms of the input which are scored to determine the best interpretation of the noisy input. The actions may be executed internally or output to any device which contains a digital component such as, but not limited to, a computer, a robot, a cell phone, a smart phone or the web. This invention may be implemented on sequential and parallel compute engines and systems.

Abstract: A method of actively controlling pattern factor in a gas turbine engine includes the steps of issuing fuel into a combustion chamber of a gas turbine engine through one or more circumferentially disposed fuel injectors, determining an initial circumferential pattern factor in the combustion chamber, and adjusting fuel flow through one or more selected fuel injectors based on the initial circumferential pattern factor, to yield a modified circumferential pattern factor in the combustion chamber. The step of determining the circumferential pattern factor can include the steps of detecting a chemiluminescent signature within the combustor, correlating the chemiluminescent signature to an equivalence ratio, and computing the initial circumferential pattern factor based on the equivalence ratio.

Abstract: Aircraft attitude systems are provided, in which a representative system includes: an instrument face having a bank angle scale, a bank status indicator, a pitch angle scale and a pitch status indicator; the bank angle scale being fixed in position relative to the instrument face and being operative to present increments of bank angle of an aircraft; the bank status indicator being operative to move relative to the bank angle scale such that a current aircraft bank angle is indicated; the pitch angle scale being fixed in a vertical orientation relative to the instrument face and being operative to present increments of pitch angle of an aircraft; the pitch status indicator being operative to move relative to the pitch angle scale such that a current aircraft pitch angle is indicated.

Abstract: A method of actively controlling pattern factor in a gas turbine engine includes the steps of issuing fuel into a combustion chamber of a gas turbine engine through one or more circumferentially disposed fuel injectors, determining an initial circumferential pattern factor in the combustion chamber, and adjusting fuel flow through one or more selected fuel injectors based on the initial circumferential pattern factor, to yield a modified circumferential pattern factor in the combustion chamber. The step of determining the circumferential pattern factor can include the steps of detecting a chemiluminescent signature within the combustor, correlating the chemiluminescent signature to an equivalence ratio, and computing the initial circumferential pattern factor based on the equivalence ratio.

Abstract: A method, computer program product, and computing system for record sorting is described. The method may comprise splitting an incoming record into a separate key block and payload block. The method may further comprise storing the key block in a first memory. The method may also comprise assigning the payload block an address in a second memory at the beginning of a sort. Moreover, the method may store, with the key block in the first memory, the address of the payload block in the second memory. Additionally, the method may store the payload block at the address in the second memory.

Abstract: Methods of managing fuel temperatures in fuel injectors for gas turbine engines include cooling fuel circuits by initiating fuel flow therethrough using opened, closed, and semi-open control techniques. A fuel injector for a gas turbine engine includes a feed arm having a fuel inlet fitting for delivering fuel to at least one fuel conduit extending through the feed arm. A nozzle body depends from the feed arm and has at least one fuel circuit extending therethrough. The fuel circuit is configured and adapted to receive fuel from the feed arm and to issue fuel from an exit orifice of the nozzle body. Sensing means are provided adjacent to the at least one fuel circuit. The sensing means are configured and adapted to provide temperature feedback in order to control fuel flow in the at least one fuel circuit to maintain fuel temperature within a predetermined range.

Abstract: A method and a system are disclosed for using multiple LEDs for lighting applications using a single electrical source, while reducing thermal density to keep the LEDs at a cool operating temperature. In various embodiments, an LED multi-socket may be used to power multiple LEDs. The multi-socket may include two or more socket arms to effectively distribute light and dissipate heat. In some embodiments, the multi-socket is configurable to allow deployment of additional socket arms and corresponding LEDs to adjust maximum light output. In some embodiments, the multi-socket arms are repositionable to allow flexible positioning of LEDs to improve light distribution and to avoid thermal build-up.

Abstract: A method for chemical mechanical polishing of a substrate comprising tungsten using a nonselective chemical mechanical polishing composition.

Abstract: A system and method for selectively charging and discharging a steering accumulator are provided. One vehicle steering system includes a hydraulic pump configured provide a source of pressurized hydraulic fluid for use in steering the vehicle. The steering system also includes an accumulator configured to hold pressurized hydraulic fluid from the pump for use in steering the vehicle in case of need. The steering system includes a charging circuit configured to selectively allow the hydraulic fluid to flow from the hydraulic pump to the accumulator based on a fluid pressure applied by a first pilot and a second pilot. The steering system includes a charging bypass circuit configured to allow the hydraulic fluid to flow to a steering control unit and to bypass the charging circuit. The hydraulic pump supplies fluid to the charging circuit and the bypass circuit.

Abstract: A system and method for brake assisted turning are provided. One system includes a pedal operated braking system configured to apply hydraulic brake pressure to brakes of a vehicle when one or more brake pedals are pressed. The system also includes a steer assist braking system configured to apply hydraulic brake pressure to the brakes of the vehicle based at least partly on a steering angle. The system includes hydraulic shut-off circuitry configured to selectively enable and disable operation of the steer assist braking system.

Abstract: A refrigerated truck has a power management system for optimally distributing power between one or more energy sources, energy sinks, or energy storage components on the refrigerated truck. One such power consuming component includes a refrigeration unit that cools a refrigerated compartment of the refrigerated truck. Particularly with regard to this refrigeration unit, the power management system is operative to direct power from multiple power sources to the refrigeration unit so as to efficiently use available power. To do so, the power management system dynamically determines the availability of certain power sources and selects a preferred power source based on availability and a defined order of power source preference.

Abstract: Aircraft attitude systems are provided. A representative aircraft attitude system includes: a detection system operative to determine an attitude of an aircraft in which the detection system is mounted; a warning system operative to alert a pilot when the attitude of the aircraft corresponds to at least one predefined attitude parameter from a set of predefined attitude parameters, the predefined attitude parameters including pitch, bank and yaw; and a recovery system operative to provide progressive flight control positioning directives to the pilot for returning the aircraft to a flight attitude within the predefined attitude parameters.

Abstract: A priority control unit is provided for use with light-based and GPS-based traffic control priority systems. The priority control unit includes a light emitter subsystem that is configured to emit pulses of light. The pulses of light encode a priority request for activating preemption of a traffic signal by a light-based traffic control priority system. The priority control unit also includes a GPS-based subsystem that is configured to transmit a priority request by radio waves. The priority request from the GPS-based subsystem is for activating preemption of a traffic signal by a GPS-based traffic control priority system. A switch is coupled to the light emitter subsystem and to the GPS-based subsystem. The switch simultaneously activates both the light emitter subsystem and the GPS-based subsystem for transmitting priority requests in response to user control. In another embodiment, the priority control unit further includes a broadcast based subsystem for transmitting priority requests.

Abstract: A method of combustion stability control for a gas turbine engine is provided, and includes the steps of receiving by a stability controller, information regarding environmental and operating conditions, and comparing the environmental and operating conditions to pre-programmed information to determine if a likelihood of combustion instability exists. The method further includes the steps of determining optimal fuel modulation frequency and amplitude for the environmental condition to reduce combustion instability, if a likelihood of combustion instability exists, and actuating at least one fuel modulation valve to, at the optimal fuel modulation frequency and amplitude, reduce combustion instability, if a likelihood of combustion instability exists. Systems for modulating fuel flow are also provided.

Abstract: An indicator device for a piston and cylinder assembly has an indicator pin with a distal end indicator section for extending out of a side wall of a piston cylinder assembly when the piston and rod assembly is not at the end of its return stroke. A retracting device retracts the indicator pin when the piston and rod assembly moves to the end of its return stroke and has an optional internal lock that mechanically axially affixes the piston and rod assembly.