Abstract: A ground-based data collection, fusion, analysis and communication system and method are provided to effect collision avoidance for unmanned aerial systems. These systems and methods levy minimal demands on the very strict payload size, weight, and power constraints of many unmanned aerial system platforms by providing an off-board, rather than onboard, sensor system and data fusion capability supporting data acquisition and data fusion from a full spectrum of available sensors. These systems and methods include a capability for high-speed all-source data fusion and analysis with an objective of providing advisory information to a remotely-located pilot of an unmanned aerial system in a timely enough manner for the pilot to effect evasive maneuvers in situations to avoid collision between the unmanned aerial system and conflicting aerial traffic.

Abstract: To facilitate crew coordination and interaction using portable electronic data storage and display devices, automated and interactive capabilities allow any of several crew members to forward information regarding a page of data which the crew member has selected using the user interface of his or her portable electronic data storage and display device to the portable electronic data storage and display device of any other crew member or all other crew members particularly those who, due to task loading, may be unable to immediately employ the data manipulation and control functions resident in their own portable electronic data storage and display device. Data thus displayed is available for independent or interactive manipulation as though it had been locally rather than remotely selected.

Abstract: This invention provide systems and methods for cockpit flight crew preflight planning and subsequent, systematic recall and execution of procedures, ground/inflight navigation, and communications using portable electronic data storage and display devices. A capability is provided within a portable electronic data storage and display device to replace and replicate the typical preflight planning methodology of the individual flight crew member to facilitate execution of a procedures, navigation and communications plan from preflight to postflight. A user may create a usable subset of the potentially thousands of available pages of data or data reference pages stored in the portable electronic data storage and display device, organizing the perhaps 100 or less individual pages of data, static or interactive, desired for a specific leg of the flight in order that required information is immediately available in an expected order of need.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for generating a restricted area alert. As a vehicle nears geographic location(s) through which traffic is restricted, sensor(s) detect the geographic position of the vehicle, and compare that geographic position with information regarding known restricted areas. Upon actual or anticipated entry of the vehicle into the restricted area, an alert message will be generated, formatted and transmitted to the vehicle, and/or additional recipients.

Abstract: The invention provides a communication and control system and method including a portable control and display unit, such as a portable handheld pocket PC, an aircraft mounted integrated Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite receiver, a VHF radio modem, an Aircraft Communication and Reporting System (ACARS) transceiver, a backup battery for power, and a camera aboard the aircraft which is controlled by the portable control and display unit. The control and display unit transmits and receives data messages, voice communication and video communication, and control the operation and functions of the camera while in flight or on the ground. The control and display unit also communicates as a cell phone.

Abstract: This invention provide systems and methods for cockpit flight crew preflight planning and subsequent, systematic recall and execution of procedures, ground/inflight navigation, and communications using portable electronic data storage and display devices. A capability is provided within a portable electronic data storage and display device to replace and replicate the typical preflight planning methodology of the individual flight crew member to facilitate execution of a procedures, navigation and communications plan from preflight to postflight. A user may create a usable subset of the potentially thousands of available pages of data or data reference pages stored in the portable electronic data storage and display device, organizing the perhaps 100 or less individual pages of data, static or interactive, desired for a specific leg of the flight in order that required information is immediately available in an expected order of need.

Abstract: A lightweight autonomous device is provided that can (1) determine its own positional information, (2) detect, via sensors with which it communicates, a position of a moving or stationary target, (3) calculate a relative position of that target to the device's own known position, and (4) transmit data regarding the target to a local or remote receiving station where the data can be interpreted and displayed. The disclosed device may employ global positioning satellites for position-keeping, detect and collect information from individual sensors regarding targets, calculate position information regarding targets by comparing sensor information with the device's known position, and communicate information to a compatible receiving system at a remote location, as well as performing local processing on the information.

Abstract: Disclosed systems and methods are directed to an ability to use a portable data storage and display device to communicate via communication satellites with remote receiving nodes by incorporating, attached to, located within, or locally in data communication with, the device, a satellite communication transceiver. Direct access to virtually any communication technology from a portable data storage and display device to provide voice and data communications with receiving nodes of differing capabilities, which include autonomous direct satellite communication capability, is effected.

Abstract: Disclosed systems and methods are directed to an ability to use a portable data storage and display device to communicate via communication satellites with remote receiving nodes by incorporating, attached to, located within, or locally in data communication with, the device, a satellite communication transceiver. Direct access to virtually any communication technology from a portable data storage and display device to provide voice and data communications with receiving nodes of differing capabilities, which include autonomous direct satellite communication capability, is effected.

Abstract: To facilitate crew coordination and interaction using portable electronic data storage and display devices, automated and interactive capabilities allow any of several crew members to forward information regarding a page of data which the crew member has selected using the user interface of his or her portable electronic data storage and display device to the portable electronic data storage and display device of any other crew member or all other crew members particularly those who, due to task loading, may be unable to immediately employ the data manipulation and control functions resident in their own portable electronic data storage and display device. Data thus displayed is available for independent or interactive manipulation as though it had been locally rather than remotely selected.

Abstract: Dynamic aircraft/vehicle specific load planning and weight balancing systems and methods are used to automate the process of weighing passengers and their baggage, including carry-on baggage, to accurately and quickly determine the passenger and passenger baggage location on a specific aircraft/vehicle to generate an efficient and precise aircraft load plan and provide data to determine loaded aircraft weight and balance. Digital scale(s) and passenger ticket/boarding pass scanner(s) are used to acquire the weight and location data, which can be fed to a processor to process the data to determine appropriate weight and balance for each flight and/or transmit data to other systems to be included in their determination of vehicle weight and weight distribution/balance.

Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring and reporting a quick access recorder (QAR) data in real time. The system includes a QAR for recording fault information, a removable portable hardware component that stores, analyzes and displays the fault information, an onboard data communication network that enables the QAR and the portable hardware component to exchange information, and an air-ground data transmitting device for transmitting the fault information from the vehicle. The removable portable hardware component may be an Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) that hosts a QAR Manager application and communication technologies to manage and report all applications on the EFB.

Abstract: Dynamic aircraft/vehicle specific load planning and weight balancing systems and methods are used to automate the process of weighing passengers and their baggage, including carry-on baggage, to accurately and quickly determine the passenger and passenger baggage location on a specific aircraft/vehicle to generate an efficient and precise aircraft load plan and provide data to determine loaded aircraft weight and balance. Digital scale(s) and passenger ticket/boarding pass scanner(s) are used to acquire the weight and location data, which can be fed to a processor to process the data to determine appropriate weight and balance for each flight and/or transmit data to other systems to be included in their determination of vehicle weight and weight distribution/balance.

Abstract: The invention provides a communication and control system and method including a portable control and display unit, such as a portable handheld pocket PC, an aircraft mounted integrated Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite receiver, a VHF radio modem, an Aircraft Communication and Reporting System (ACARS) transceiver, a backup battery for power, and a camera aboard the aircraft which is controlled by the portable control and display unit. The control and display unit transmits and receives data messages, voice communication and video communication, and control the operation and functions of the camera while in flight or on the ground. The control and display unit also communicates as a cell phone.

Abstract: A differential GNSS ground station is disclosed which generates and broadcasts highly veracious GNSS satellite differential correction data suitable for use in the landing of aircraft. In this context, "veracious` includes the qualities of both accuracy and integrity wherein the broadcast differential correction data is corrupted by a lower level of errors than is customary for the current state of the art and the broadcast differential correction data includes reliable estimates of the noise errors and bias errors corrupting the differential corrections for each GNSS satellite signal. The ground station comprises at least two independent GNSS satellite signal receivers, a processing apparatus for collecting and processing information from the at least two independent GNSS receivers, and a transmitter for broadcasting the composite DGNSS correction signals over a distance.

Abstract: A portable attitude determination apparatus and method are disclosed that can be used with a ship docking system. At least two receivers on a vessel receive Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite data. GPS carrier phase measurements are used to determine attitude (i.e., roll, pitch and yaw angles) of a moving platform. The phase measurements are processed to determine a precise vector from one receiver phase center to the other. The azimuth and elevation of a baseline vector is then computed. Float ambiguities between the two receivers are determined, and are used to provide initial estimates of antenna baseline length and attitude. A search procedure is then employed to find the actual integer ambiguities. Only GPS observables are needed; no other external data input is required.

Abstract: The invention provides an efficient, broadband, antenna system for RF communications. The benefits of the invention include: a single integrated system for total band coverage; high system efficiency across the operating band; multiple instantaneous transmit and receive signal capability; and simple mechanical assemblies. The invention includes various configurations of multiple transceivers connected to a set of RF filters and associated impedance matching networks which are used to excite a plurality of trapped antenna elements. The new antenna system, offers control over the antenna's directivity and the antenna's driving point impedance by using sub-band systems as defined by a series of RF filters and traps which divide the physical antenna elements into various radiating lengths. Continuous coverage over the entire frequency band of interest is achieved by using different physical antenna elements for adjacent sub-bands.