Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling an electric aircraft. An apparatus comprises a motor, a power source, and a four-quadrant controller. The motor operates in four quadrants of operational space and operates in one of an accelerating state and a regenerative braking state. A total current flows through the motor. The power source is connected to the motor, and when the motor operates in the regenerative braking state, the total current flows through the power source. The power source has a maximum allowable current. The four-quadrant controller is programmed to identify a recharging parameter, brake the motor to initiate the regenerative braking state when the recharging parameter is present, recharge the power source with the total current during the regenerative braking state, and control a duty cycle of the motor such that the total current does not exceed the maximum allowable current during the regenerative braking state.

Abstract: A system for assisting a user in determining a cause of a manufacturing non-conformance situation in a manufacturing application. The system may include an associative memory subsystem that is populated with a plurality of entity types, with each entity type including at least one entity, to form an associative memory. A user input device enables a user to input manufacturing non-conformance information into the associative memory subsystem that causes the associative memory subsystem to perform an initial search. The initial search generates a plurality of the entities that has a primary relevance useful for investigating the manufacturing non-conformance situation. An output device is responsive to the associative memory subsystem presents the plurality of entities found during the initial search to the user.

Abstract: A non-conformance analysis system may have an associative memory subsystem populated with information involving a plurality of entities defining different attributes of a component, with each entity being categorized under a user defined entity type, the entities and entity types forming an associative memory. A user input device may be used for enabling a user to input a query concerning the component, and to obtain information useful for managing a lifecycle of said component. An associative memory entity analytics engine in communication with the associative memory subsystem, and responsive to said user input device, searches the associative memory using the information provided in the query to retrieve entities helpful to the user in assessing the lifecycle of the component.

Abstract: Systems and methods provide for a guided lift system utilized for maneuvering payloads. According to aspects of the disclosure, a guided lift system may include a lift unit attached to a payload, at least two control tethers attached to the lift unit, and at least two control units fixed in positions and capable of adjusting the lengths of the control tethers. Coordinated length adjustments of the control tethers pulls the lift unit and payload in a desired direction to a desired delivery location.

Abstract: A non-conformance analysis system may have an associative memory subsystem populated with information involving a plurality of entities defining different attributes of a component, with each entity being categorized under a user defined entity type, the entities and entity types forming an associative memory. A user input device may be used for enabling a user to input a query concerning the component, and to obtain information useful for managing a lifecycle of said component. An associative memory entity analytics engine in communication with the associative memory subsystem, and responsive to said user input device, searches the associative memory using the information provided in the query to retrieve entities helpful to the user in assessing the lifecycle of the component.

Abstract: A non-conformance analysis system may have an associative memory subsystem populated with information involving a plurality of entities defining different attributes of a component, with each entity being categorized under a user defined entity type, the entities and entity types forming an associative memory. A user input device may be used for enabling a user to input a query concerning the component, and to obtain information useful for managing a lifecycle of said component. An associative memory entity analytics engine in communication with the associative memory subsystem, and responsive to said user input device, searches the associative memory using the information provided in the query to retrieve entities helpful to the user in assessing the lifecycle of the component.

Abstract: Systems and methods provide for a guided lift system utilized for maneuvering payloads. According to aspects of the disclosure, a guided lift system may include a lift unit attached to a payload, at least two control tethers attached to the lift unit, and at least two control units fixed in positions and capable of adjusting the lengths of the control tethers. Coordinated length adjustments of the control tethers pulls the lift unit and payload in a desired direction to a desired delivery location.

Abstract: A rack system is provided that includes a plurality of trays configured to hold a respective plurality of battery-powered UAVs, and a frame configured to support the plurality of trays in a vertical arrangement. Each tray of the plurality of trays includes a platform, bumper and first plurality of electrical contacts. The platform may be configured to carry a UAV of the plurality of battery-powered UAVs. The bumper may be sized and positioned on the platform to guide the UAV to a resting position on the platform. And the first plurality of electrical contacts may be connected to a battery-charging apparatus, and configured to physically and electrically contact a respective second plurality of electrical contacts connected to a respective plurality of batteries on the UAV at the resting position on the platform. A related battery-charging apparatus including a charge switching system for charging battery-powered UAVs is also provided.

Abstract: A rack system is provided that includes a plurality of trays configured to hold a respective plurality of battery-powered UAVs, and a frame configured to support the plurality of trays in a vertical arrangement. Each tray of the plurality of trays includes a platform, bumper and first plurality of electrical contacts. The platform may be configured to carry a UAV of the plurality of battery-powered UAVs. The bumper may be sized and positioned on the platform to guide the UAV to a resting position on the platform. And the first plurality of electrical contacts may be connected to a battery-charging apparatus, and configured to physically and electrically contact a respective second plurality of electrical contacts connected to a respective plurality of batteries on the UAV at the resting position on the platform. A related battery-charging apparatus including a charge switching system for charging battery-powered UAVs is also provided.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, a non-conformance analysis system may include at least one information storage tool that stores previously generated non-conformance information; a data mining tool that retrieves specific attributes of the previously generated non-conformance information stored in the at least one information storage tool; an associative memory subsystem that is populated with information involving a plurality of entity types, with each entity type including at least one entity, to form an associative memory; and a user input device that enables a user to input a non-conformance query into the associative memory subsystem, that causes the associative memory subsystem to generate all of the entity types and entities that include information useful for investigating the non-conformance query.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling an electric aircraft is presented. An apparatus comprises a controller. The controller is configured to identify a state for an electric aircraft. The controller is further configured to identify a group of recharging parameters for a group of electric motors in an electric propulsion system. The electric propulsion system is configured to move the electric aircraft based on the state for the group of electric motors for the electric aircraft. The controller is still further configured to recharge a power source for the electric aircraft using the group of recharging parameters to control recharging of the power source with the group of electric motors when a recharge state is present for the electric aircraft.

Abstract: A method for analyzing transaction information that involves storing each one of a plurality of transactions in an associative memory with an associated cluster identification number. A given one of the transactions is selected for analysis, the given one of the transactions having a specific cluster identification number. An entity analytics engine is used to search and obtain a first subplurality of transactions from the associative memory that are similar to the given transaction by having a common attribute or entity and assigning each of the transactions a similarity score. Each one of the transactions is further analyzed to determine if it would be beneficial to form a formal transaction relationship with an organization involved with at least one of the transactions of the cluster.

Abstract: An apparatus for evaluating an audio communication comprises a data store for storing a plurality of digital units representing a plurality of characterized aspects of historical audio communications. The characterized aspects include words and sets of words. The apparatus further comprises an associative memory unit coupled with the data store to create associations between entities representing the characterized aspects, and relate the entities and the frequency of occurrence of the entities to identify relationships with call handling categories and priorities requiring intervention, and an assessing unit coupled with the associative memory unit to indicate whether the audio communication contains any associative memory associations related to a call handling category and call handling priority requiring intervention.

Abstract: A set of mission attributes is identified, and a computer is used to apply Autoassociative Memory to a plurality of patterns to predict at least one of a mission outcome and a future event that, given the set of mission attributes, might occur during execution of a mission.

Abstract: Historical data is processed to identify possible future hostile activities in high threat environments. Pieces of the historical data are collected in computer-readable memory as memory entities, where the memory entities are categorized according to types of attacks and locations of attacks. The memory entities contain attributes taken from the pieces of historical data. A computer system is used to analyze the memory entities with an Associative Memory, wherein correlations of the attributes of the different memory entities are identified. Patterns are discovered from the correlations. The patterns are made available so future hostile activities can be identified.

Abstract: A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program code for simulating human behavior. Source code for predicting human behavior is located on a storage system in a network data processing system. An interpreter executing on hardware in the network data processing system includes a language interpreter and a communications module. The language interpreter executes a simulation with the source code using artificial intelligence to generate a new definition and interpreted source code. A graphical user interface processor receives the interpreted source code from the language interpreter and generates device dependent output. Devices display the device dependent output, receive user input, and send received user input to the graphical user interface processor.

Abstract: A method for assisting with evaluating travel related information. The method may involve defining a plurality of entity types for categorizing different types of travel related information. A data mining tool may be used to search at least one database for stored travel related information, and to denote specific items of the travel related information as entities. The data mining tool may be used to populate an associative learning memory with the entities and to store the entities in the associative learning memory. An entity analytics engine may be used to assist a user in searching the associative learning memory for specific ones of the entities that are at least one of identical or similar to specific travel related information provided by the user. Retrieved ones of the entities may be displayed for evaluation by the user.

Abstract: A method for analyzing transaction information that involves storing each one of a plurality of transactions in an associative memory with an associated cluster identification number. A given one of the transactions is selected for analysis, the given one of the transactions having a specific cluster identification number. An entity analytics engine is used to search and obtain a first subplurality of transactions from the associative memory that are similar to the given transaction by having a common attribute or entity and assigning each of the transactions a similarity score. Each one of the transactions is further analyzed to determine if it would be beneficial to form a formal transaction relationship with an organization involved with at least one of the transactions of the cluster.

Abstract: A non-conformance analysis system may have an associative memory subsystem populated with information involving a plurality of entities defining different attributes of a component, with each entity being categorized under a user defined entity type, the entities and entity types forming an associative memory. A user input device may be used for enabling a user to input a query concerning the component, and to obtain information useful for managing a lifecycle of said component. An associative memory entity analytics engine in communication with the associative memory subsystem, and responsive to said user input device, searches the associative memory using the information provided in the query to retrieve entities helpful to the user in assessing the lifecycle of the component.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, a non-conformance analysis system may include at least one information storage tool that stores previously generated non-conformance information; a data mining tool that retrieves specific attributes of the previously generated non-conformance information stored in the at least one information storage tool; an associative memory subsystem that is populated with information involving a plurality of entity types, with each entity type including at least one entity, to form an associative memory; and a user input device that enables a user to input a non-conformance query into the associative memory subsystem, that causes the associative memory subsystem to generate all of the entity types and entities that include information useful for investigating the non-conformance query.