Abstract: An asynchronous medium access control layer scheduler increases efficiency for directional mesh networks by removing extra overhead in the time slots. The efficiency is increased by dividing time slots into sub-slots to allow for a receiving node to be offset by at least one sub-slot from the transmitting node. This enables the scheduler to more efficiently schedule operations for the nodes so that nodes can be performing other functions rather than waiting to receive a transmission or waiting after transmitting a transmission. The sub-slots may be sized to approximate the transmission propagation time or time of flight delay.

Abstract: A method for initializing an engine control system of an aircraft may include authenticating a boot loader, authenticating a manifest in response to authentication of the boot loader wherein the manifest contains hashes of one or more software components, and in response to authentication of the manifest, loading a first set of software components from among the one or more software components onto a non-transitory computer-readable medium, calculating a hash of each software component of the first set of software components, authenticating the first set of software components by comparing the calculated hash of each software component of the first set of software components to the hash of a corresponding software component in the manifest, and executing the first set of software components in response to authentication of the one or more software components. Devices and systems are also provided for initializing an engine control system of an aircraft.

Abstract: A distributed control system includes an electronic control unit to establish secure communication with a distributed control module. Upon determination that a previously negotiated session key is stored on the electronic control unit, the electronic control unit transmits encrypted communications with the distributed control module using the previously negotiated session key, negotiates a new session key with the distributed control module, and stores the new session key. Upon determination that the previously negotiated session key is not stored on the electronic control unit, the electronic control unit negotiates the new session key with the distributed control module. After negotiating the new session key with the distributed control module, the electronic control unit ceases transmission of unencrypted communications with the distributed control module, transmits encrypted communications with the distributed control module using the new session key, and stores the new session key.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an arrangement for feeding ammunition to a weapon (20). The weapon (20) is mounted to an elevation device (30) arranged to allow elevation movement of the weapon (20) about an elevation axis (Z1). The arrangement comprises a feeding chute (40; 140) connected at one end to the weapon (20). The feeding chute (40) comprises a set of elements (42; 142) assembled together in a stacked configuration. The set of elements (42; 142) is arranged about a shaft (44; 144) configured to be concentrically arranged relative to the elevation axis (Z1) so as to allow movement of individual elements of the set of elements (42; 142)) about said shaft (44; 144) in connection to elevation movement of the weapon (20) about the elevation axis (Z1). The invention also relates to a vehicle with an arrangement according to the present invention.

Abstract: The system and method for clock synchronization, or calibration, for use in high speed asynchronous serial interfaces. The system and method is automatic, on-line, and occurs in real-time. The process of synchronization may also be started by a user. The calibration scheme is a form of adaptive filtering using 8B10B encoding. Once idle traffic is 8B10B encoded it becomes a stream of K28.5 characters. These characters are used to tune a clock frequency. The process stops, and two devices are synchronized, when the number of idle K28.5 traffic samples are uniformly approximately identical for any of two successive sample intervals.

Abstract: An antenna element suited for direction finding (DF) with omni-directional radiation patterns utilizing a pair of chevron slots fed using a ridged waveguide magic tee (magic-t) and connected microstrip probes. The provided antenna element provides improved performance, power handling, and improved bandwidth compared to current monocone and/or slot antenna elements. The antenna element may be further realized utilizing additive manufacturing processes in combination with standard metal and polymer production techniques.

Abstract: An electromagnetic coupler including: a substrate; and a first conductor mounted to the substrate for receiving a first electromagnetic signal, the first conductor having a first multiple arcuate edge; a second conductor mounted to the substrate, the second conductor being spaced apart from the first conductor and having a second multiple arcuate edge that is opposed to the first edge for generating in the second conductor a second electromagnetic signal that is derived from the first electromagnetic signal.

Abstract: A thin film-retaining washer with custom geometry that may further provide for a simple press-on installation while maintaining retention of fasteners during assembly, shipping, handling, and/or use of associated systems. The present retaining hardware is easily manufactured from sheet or film materials with minimal post-processing and may be scaled and optimized for use with multiple size and style of fasteners. Further, the thickness profile of the thin film retaining hardware facilitates lobe spring deflection to further provide secure retention of the associated fasteners.

Abstract: A lens assembly for a weapon sight includes a first lens having an optical axis and a focal plane array (FPA) coaxial with the optical axis of the first lens. A first parameter of the first lens is selected that minimizes an error in image shift when the weapon sight lens assembly is adjusted for focus. The first parameter of the first lens can be at least one of a lateral position, axial displacement, thickness, effective focal length, material, effective focal length, radius of curvature, conic constants, and higher order aspheric coefficients of the first lens. A sensor can detect a position of the lens and a processor can compare the measured position to an ideal position and use a lookup table to display a corrected reticle position or corrected scene. An actuator may move the lens to the ideal position from the measured position.

Abstract: Apparatuses and techniques for reducing backlash between components in a transmission system are provided. The apparatuses and techniques provide a controllable torque over a target range of motion of a component in the transmission system. This eliminates the play at the interfaces between components and forces the components to maintain a controlled contact between the interfacing surfaces.

Abstract: A method of additive manufacturing an article from a feed material in a chamber includes evacuating at least some of a first gas from the chamber, thereby reducing a pressure therein from a first pressure to a second pressure and reducing the first gas from a first concentration to a second concentration. At least some of the first gas is then gettered from the chamber using a getter, thereby lowering the first gas concentration to a third concentration. The article is then additive manufactured from the feed material in the chamber using the getter as a substrate. The gettering comprises heating the getter at least in part using a fusion source, and the additive manufacturing comprises heating the feed material at least in part using the fusion source.

Abstract: There is provided an arming apparatus for a store, the apparatus comprising: a first attachment system and a second attachment system; a linking connector coupled with the first attachment system and the second attachment system; and an arming clip; wherein each of the first attachment system and the second attachment system comprises: a first frangible connector coupled with the arming unit and the linking connector; and a second frangible connector comprising a first end coupled with the linking connector and a second end comprising a clip, the second end being configured to pass through a lug of said store and then couple to the second frangible connector.

Abstract: There is provided an arming apparatus for a store, the apparatus comprising: a first attachment system and a second attachment system; a linking connector coupled with the first attachment system and the second attachment system; and an arming clip; wherein each of the first attachment system and the second attachment system comprises: a first frangible connector coupled with the arming unit and the linking connector; and a second frangible connector coupled with the linking connector and the store. The linking connector is coupled to the first attachment system via a first coupling arrangement and is coupled to the second attachment system via a second coupling arrangement, wherein the first coupling arrangement and the second coupling arrangement are different. Each of the first coupling arrangement and the second coupling arrangement are manually secure.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for x-ray sensing for intraoral tomography. A methodology implementing the techniques according to an embodiment includes detecting an x-ray pulse based on energy received at one or more pixels of a pixel array. The method also includes integrating the energy received at each of the pixels of the array of pixels, in response to the detection, wherein the energy received at each of the pixels is associated with the x-ray pulse. The method further includes multiplexing readouts of analog signals from the array of pixels into two or more parallel channels. The method further includes simultaneously converting (or otherwise in parallel) the analog signals of each of the channels into digital signals and storing the digital signals in memory as frames of data. The method may further include, for example, transmitting the frames of data from the memory, over a Universal Serial Bus, to an imaging system.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for testing a device, comprising: a switch (100) arranged to replace a circuit breaker (30) associated with an individual system in the device under test, wherein the switch (100) is operable to be controlled remotely from the device under test such that the switch (100) either activates or deactivates the individual system.

Abstract: There is provided a user-vehicle interface, comprising a gesture control system that is arranged to: sense a direction of a gesture of a user of the vehicle; and process the sensed gesture to control a location of an indicator on a display in accordance with that sensed direction, such that a location of the indicator is arranged to move in accordance with changes in the sensed direction, the indicator being used to show a current position for user interaction with content on the display, and being in a plane in which that content resides.

Abstract: A sequencer for use with a countermeasure defense system includes an input signal indicative of firing an expendable, a circuit card that receives the input signal indicative of firing the expendable and an output analog signal from the circuit card that fires the expendable. The parameters of the output analog signal correspond to parameters of a digital waveform.

Abstract: There is disclosed an aircraft for intercepting an airborne target, the aircraft comprising: a frame; a plurality of lines of a first type, each attached to the frame at a first end, and free at the other end; and a plurality of lines of a second, different, type, each attached to the frame at a first end, and free at the other end.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for a delay compensated analog beam forming network. A transceiver implementing the techniques according to an embodiment includes an array of circuit elements. Each of the circuit elements includes an analog frequency converter to up-convert an analog signal to radio frequency (RF) for transmission and to down-convert an RF signal to an analog signal for reception. The circuit element also includes an analog beam weighting circuit configured to apply a beam weight to both of the analog signals to form a beam for transmission and reception. The circuit element further includes an analog delay element configured to impart a time delay to the analog signals. The time delay is based on the position of the circuit element in the array and is selected to compensate for propagation delay of the analog signals along the electrical path that couples the circuit elements of the array, reducing beam squint.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for x-ray onset detection for an intraoral dental sensor. A methodology implementing the techniques according to an embodiment includes calculating a plurality of superpixel values for each of a plurality of rows of detector pixels of a sensor. Each of the superpixel values is based on a sum of pixel values of a set of pixels associated with the superpixel value, the set of pixels selected from the detection row of a current frame of the sensor. The method also includes calculating a difference between each of the superpixel values and a corresponding stored superpixel value generated from a previous sensor frame and determining if the differences exceed a superpixel threshold value. The method further includes incrementing a hit counter in response to the determination and generating a detection signal if the hit counter exceeds a hit count threshold, otherwise proceeding to process the next detection row.