Abstract: A nanostructure and method for assembly thereof are disclosed. An exemplary nanostructure includes a photocatalytic nanoparticle; a first tier of metal nanoparticles, each metal nanoparticle of the first tier being linked about the photocatalytic nanoparticle; and a second tier of metal nanoparticles, each metal nanoparticle of the second tier being linked to one of the metal nanoparticles of the first tier and located a distance from the photocatalytic nanoparticle greater than a distance between a metal nanoparticle of the first tier and the photocatalytic nanoparticle.

Abstract: A system and method for mounting a device to a piece of equipment is presented, and may include a handheld inertial measurement unit (IMU), a computer logic and a mounting interface. The piece of equipment may have a line replaceable unit (LRU) mount that allows a new LRU to be mounted thereon. The mounting interface may be mounted to a LRU mount. The handheld IMU may determine position data with respect to the LRU mount and the piece of equipment. The computer logic may be configured to calculate a positional error value based on the position data to indicate to a user whether corrections need to be made regarding how the new LRU is mounted to the LRU mount before the new LRU is mounted to the LRU mount or whether the new LRU can be mounted to the LRU mount without any corrections.

Abstract: An optical lens system for focusing light on a focal plane for detection by a detector device. The optical lens system comprises a series of optical materials including first and last optical materials with a plurality of other optical materials located therebetween. A housing accommodates the series of optical materials, and each of the optical materials is spaced a desired distance from one another. An external entrance pupil supplies infrared light to the series of optical materials of the optical lens system, and the entrance pupil is located in front of the first optical material. A Dewar window and a filter are located between the last optical material and the focal plane. The optical materials are selected and arranged to focus simultaneously both mid-wave infrared light and long-wave infrared light on the focal plane over a wide temperature range.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system for determination of attitude for a projectile in flight. The system includes at least one antenna mounted on the projectile. Each antenna is configured to receive Global Positioning System (GPS) signals. Further, the system includes a signal receiving unit communicably coupled to the each antenna to receive the GPS signals and to ascertain the earth referenced velocity vector. The system also includes a plurality of magnetometers for ascertaining a projectile referenced earth's magnetic field vector. Moreover, the system includes a processing unit. The processing unit is configured to utilize a known projectile referenced velocity vector and a stored prediction of the earth referenced earth's magnetic field vector along with the measured earth referenced velocity vector and the measured projectile referenced earth's magnetic field vector to determine the attitude of the projectile. Further disclosed is a method for determination of attitude for a projectile in flight.

Abstract: An apparatus for deploying stowed control surfaces of a projectile is disclosed. The apparatus for deploying stowed control surfaces of a projectile includes a first and second hot gas generators, a first and second gas chambers, a piston wedge, a piston and a barrel. Initially, the first hot gas generator discharges a surge of hot gas into the first gas chamber. In response to the surge of hot gas being discharged into the first gas generator, the piston wedge displaces at least one of the control surfaces to break an environmental seal covering the projectile. After a predetermined amount of time has lapsed, the second hot gas generator discharges a surge of hot gas into the second gas chamber. The surge of hot gas displaces the piston and barrel for deploying the control surfaces completely.

Abstract: A system and method for transmitting encoded data in a network is presented. The method begins with a source node of a network encoding a first generation of data using linearly-independent encoding vectors to produce an encoded first generation. Next, packets containing the encoded first generation are created. The packets are then transmitted over a subgraph of nodes with multiple paths to a destination node. A determination is made at a receiving node that an insufficient amount of packets of the encoded first generation have been received in order to decode the encoded first generation. A repair request is sent from the receiving node to nodes upstream to indicate a need for more packets of the encoded first generation without specifying a particular packet. In response to the repair request, at least one node upstream from the receiving node sends a packet with encoded first generation data.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a photodetector including growing a quantity of germanium within an optical pathway of a waveguide. The detection of a current caused by an interaction between the optical signal and the germanium is used to indicate the presence of an optical signal passing through the waveguide.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed that provide a multi-mode sensor having the capability to support both passive and active operation. One embodiment provides a sensor readout device for operation with a sensor array having rows and columns of detectors. The device includes a column cell for receiving a detector output signal from a first row of a column of the sensor array, and an additional column cell. The device further includes a multiplexer configured to steer a detector output signal from a second row of the column of the sensor array to the additional column cell, thereby allowing multiple rows of the sensor array to be readout simultaneously. In some cases, the sensor array includes an active/passive dual mode central windowed area, and the multiplexer allows columns of the windowed area to be readout at two or more speeds.

Abstract: A system and method of assisting a radio in finding a network is presented. A method first detects existing nodes. A message is received on a slow communication link in a slow network from a new node. One or more existing nodes are found that may connect to new node with a fast communication link in a fast network. The fast network has a data rate that is faster than the slow network. A message is transmitted over the slow network to the new node to provide the new node possible existing nodes that are near it that it may connect to. Based on that message the new node establishes a fast communications link on the fast network between the new node and an existing node. The fast communications link can be a directional link.

Abstract: A system and method for an automated way of running spice on a small portion of a design is presented. The system includes a sub-circuit netlist generation processor and an analog simulation processor. The sub-circuit netlist generation processor generates a sub-circuit netlist based, at least in part, on a HDL netlist, a parasitic capacitance database and trace rules. The sub-circuit netlist contains significantly fewer paths than the HDL netlist of an entire design so that its simulation time is much quicker. The analog simulation processor generates analog simulation results of the sub-circuit netlist based, at least in part, on dynamic inputs.

Abstract: A system and method for removing and reinstating a sight of a weapon without changing a boresight is disclosed. A reference optical device is installed on a rail of the weapon and then the sight is installed on the rail. An attitude determination unit determines a change in attitude of the sight with respect to the boresight. The aim point of the weapon in the sight is compensated accordingly based on the change in attitude without changing the boresight by utilizing a compensation module. This allows retaining the boresight even when the weapon sight is removed and reinstalled. Thus weapon sight can be mounted anywhere on a weapon without the need to boresight the weapon.

Abstract: A broadband spectral power generator in a multimode optical fiber utilizes a standard multimode fiber that is coiled. A plate is placed on the coiled fiber and a force is applied to compresses the coiled fiber and thereby increase the interactions between the compressed windings and induce modal mixing and birefringence in the fiber. In addition, the compression causes additional non-linear processes to be excited and occur in the compressed fiber coil to generate more broadband light. This allows for better “mixing” of the spatial beam in the multimode fiber coil and allows for the various modes to overlap. The multimode fiber coil is made of silica, silicate, germinate, phosphate, fluoride, chalcogenide, or telluride. The compressed coiled fiber may be driven by a laser providing more than one wavelength output and this greatly increases the amount of nonlinear mixing in the fiber for a greatly enhanced spectral coverage.

Abstract: A system and method for estimating the geographic location of an RF emitter which involves spatially filtering and receiving RF signals through use of a beamforming antenna array having multiple overlapping beams; detecting and measuring the time-of-arrival and amplitude of signals which are received in each beam through use of multiple synchronized receivers; identifying simultaneous detections of the same emitter which have occurred in adjacent beams; projecting the associated beamformed antenna gain patterns onto the underlying terrain for all instances in which there was a simultaneous detection in adjacent beams; weighting and accumulating all projections to form a Maximum Likelihood Surface (MLS); and finally, estimating the location of the emitter through analysis of the resulting MLS.

Abstract: Systems and methods provide adaptability in a mobile ad hoc network (MANET), based on an existing protocol, such as adaptive hybrid domain routing (AHDR). The systems and methods are especially suited for fast changing topologies that may change after a reactive route discovery has been completed.

Abstract: Techniques for missile countermeasures are disclosed. The techniques can be employed to rapidly detect a missile system location and aim a countermeasure set at the missile system goniometer, and capture the goniometer with a high radiant intensity countermeasure beam before the goniometer narrows its field of view (FOV). Capturing the goniometer before a narrowing of its FOV allows for wider area protection. The techniques can be embodied in an area-protection hit-avoidance system for a rapid Semi-Active Command to Line of Sight Anti-Tank Guided Missile (SACLOS ATGM) countermeasure wherein a SACLOS ATGM launch is rapidly detected and a countermeasure is aimed at the launch site so that the missile is diverted before the ATGM system FOV is narrowed. This early diversion or decoying of the missile guidance set allows the countermeasure to protect a greater area and to engage multiple threats in less time than traditional countermeasures.

Abstract: A system and method for estimating the geographic location of an RF emitter which involves spatially filtering and receiving RF signals through use of a beamforming antenna array having multiple overlapping beams; detecting and measuring the time-of-arrival and amplitude of signals which are received in each beam through use of multiple synchronized receivers; identifying simultaneous detections of the same emitter which have occurred in adjacent beams; projecting the associated beamformed antenna gain patterns onto the underlying terrain for all instances in which there was a simultaneous detection in adjacent beams; weighting and accumulating all projections to form a Maximum Likelihood Surface (MLS); and finally, estimating the location of the emitter through analysis of the resulting MLS.

Abstract: A system and method for enhanced conditioning light so a camera can capture images from it in a variety of brightness ranges is presented. A camera has an optical lens and a photochromic filter. The photochromic filter may be placed in front of the lens. The photochromic filter extends an exposure range of the camera without the need for a mechanical iris.

Abstract: A system and method for platform independent LOS visual information transmission is disclosed. A transmitter consists of a series of sequential images that are stacked together to form frames in a video transmission. Each image is modulated spatially, by color, and by intensity. The data is transmitted over an LOS visual channel. The receiver first captures each individual image from the received video, and then demodulates each image in the three areas it was modulated spatially, by color, and by intensity. LOS visual information transmission allows for secure data transfer and reduces interference from other applications.

Abstract: A system and method use an inverse square root function (ISQR) function, in part, to compand and decompand signals. A system includes a companding processor and a transmitter. The companding processor compands input signals into companded signals using a compander function, C{x(n)}. The compander function compands the input signals based, at least in part, on an inverse square root (ISQR) function over at least a portion of a signal amplitude probability density function. The transmitter then transmits the companded signals as electromagnetic wave signals.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting unknown signals is presented. A system includes a receiver, a multiplier logic, integrator logic and a peak detection logic. The receiver receives a first radio frequency (RF) input containing an unknown signal and first noise and a second RF radio input containing the same unknown signal and a second noise. The second RF input is orthogonally polarized with respect to the first RF input. The multiplier logic multiplies the first RF input with a conjugate of the second RF input to produce a multiplied signal. The integrator logic integrates the multiplied signal to product an integrated signal. The peak detection logic determines a coarse time of arrival (TOA) of a unknown signal located in the integrated signal based, at least in part, on a peak power in the integrated signal.