Abstract: Hybrid MB/ML techniques for automated printed circuit board (PCB) defect detection. In one example, a PCB inspection system implements a hybrid solution using model based (MB) and machine learning (ML) technologies to detect possible defects in a PCB via an automated image capture device and processing methodology. The processing methodology fuses features from MB and ML at the latent representation. An autoencoder can be used to learn the fused data by training a neural network to produce a reconstructed image that can be compared to an original image to generate a reconstruction error value. The system produces an output indicating detection of a defect in one or more features of interest based on the reconstruction error value transgressing a threshold value.

Abstract: A multiple functional instrument is provided. The instrument includes an optical autocovariance function interferometer that can feature multiple fields of view to detect winds in the atmosphere. The instrument can include an infrared camera to detect atmospheric temperatures and the presence of clouds, and a detector assembly that detects the polarization of light returned to the interferometer. Data collected by the instrument can be provided to a deep and reinforcement learning algorithm for real-time prediction of clear air turbulence and other wind-based aviation safety phenomena. Moreover, predicted and actual conditions can be correlated and used to train a deep learning algorithm to enable more accurate predictions. The instrument can be carried by an aircraft or other platform and operated to detect clear air turbulence or other atmospheric phenomena, and to provide instructions regarding flight parameters including wind-aided navigation in order to minimize the effect of predicted turbulence.

Abstract: A multi-wire choke filter is implemented in an inverter module of a modular power control system for a vehicle. Such an inverter module includes gate driver circuits to control switching power transistors used to power loads in a vehicle. The switching power transistors and gate drivers are configurable to support both a three-phase and a single phase current drive driver circuit topology in which switching power transistors are connected in parallel to share driving currents and dynamic switching losses. In any configured topology, the multi-wire choke is connected in series between gate driver circuit components and switching power transistors to mitigate any EMI threat to the gate driver circuitry by presenting an impedance to reduce circuit susceptibility to any differential and common mode noise currents that can flow through the gate driver circuit that can overwhelm gate driver circuitry and negatively effect power transistor switching performance at any time.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing an electrically small antenna are provided. The antenna can include an arm or a pair of arms disposed on a surface of a substrate. The substrate and the arm or arms are generally disposed in an aperture or volume formed in a housing. A capacitive gap is provided between the arm and the housing, or between the arms. Where the antenna includes a pair of arms, each arm generally includes a main portion disposed on the first surface of the substrate and a perpendicular portion that extends from the first surface of a substrate towards a ground plane on a second surface of the substrate. The perpendicular portions of the arms face one another. In addition, the main portions of the arms can be tapered in plan view. A ground plane can be provided on the second surface side of the substrate.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an article is described. At S102, the method comprises obtaining a first layer having a first face and a reverse second face, wherein the first layer comprises and/or is a first metal and wherein the first metal is a heat treatable first aluminium alloy. At S104, the method comprises providing a second layer on the first face of the first layer by cold spraying particles comprising a second metal thereupon, wherein the second metal is a second aluminium alloy. At S106, the method comprises depositing a third layer on the second layer by additive friction stir deposition using a third metal, wherein the third metal is a third aluminium alloy.

Abstract: Techniques to dynamically adjust the corner frequency of a high-pass filter in response to a time-domain amplitude value of an output signal, thereby preserving accuracy while promptly recovering the signal's baseline value. A system can be configured to filter frequency-domain values of an input signal based on a filtering characteristic. The filtering characteristic can be set dynamically in response to a time-domain value of an amplitude of an output signal. The filtering characteristic can comprise a corner frequency, and the system can include a high-pass filter configured to filter out frequency components at frequencies lower than the corner frequency. The system is configured to dynamically change the corner frequency from a first value to a second value, in response to the time-domain value of the amplitude crossing a threshold value. The system may dynamically change the corner frequency within a time interval after the crossing.

Abstract: A high voltage measurement port and a circuit contact wire assembly for vehicle high-voltage power decommissioning. The high voltage measurement port includes four externally accessible pins for obtaining an electrical characteristic measurement of a connected circuit. For redundancy, the assembly includes a resistor between a first measurement port pin and a first positive DC busbar at a first location, a resistor between a second pin and the first DC busbar at a second location different from the first location, a resistor between a third pin and a second negative DC busbar at a first location, and a resistor between a fourth pin and the second DC busbar at a second location different from the first location. Via the high voltage measurement port, a multi-meter can verify each resistance connection between the positive pins and then again between negative pins before a differential voltage measurement is made between positive and negative.

Abstract: A liquid-cooled printed circuit board chassis, such as a Eurocard chassis, is manufactured without brazing by 3D printing a plurality of components, smoothing and completing the components by subtractive manufacture, and then aligning and assembling the final chassis, all without application of heat. Horizontal cooling channels 3D printed within the chassis components are in thermal contact with board slots, and are divided into subchannels by closely spaced internal walls that function as thermal baffles. The baffles are tilted at oblique angles to increase their cooling efficiency, and to enable AM manufacture without temporary support structures. Elastomer seals between components can connect the cooling channels to vertical connecting channels. EMI seals can be formed between the components by EMI gaskets. The components can be aligned by alignment pins, and joined together by bolts, screws, and/or adhesives.

Abstract: A robot cell, having a cell floor defining an array of nodes corresponding with a predetermined two-dimensional coordinate system and defining a volume for receiving a workpiece W therein, is described. The robot cell comprises: a set of robots, including a first robot, having respective bases, end effectors and working envelopes and defining respective three-dimensional coordinate systems, located according to the array of nodes; a set of detectors, including a first detector, configured to detect respective locations and/or bearings of the set of robots; a set of sensors, including a first sensor, configured to sense respective poses of the set of robots; and a controller, communicatively coupled to the set of robots and to the set of detectors, configured to control movement of the set of robots using the detected respective locations and/or bearings of the set of robots.

Abstract: A panoramic Mid-Wavelength Infrared (MWIR) lens has a plurality of optical elements, wherein each optical element from the plurality of elements is formed from a material that transmits in at least the MWIR band from 3 ?m to 5 ?m. The plurality of optical element are arranged in a manner that provides a 360 degree azimuth angle and an elevation angle that is within +/?20° from a 90° horizon. The panoramic MWIR lens is configured to be connected to a cooled Dewar, wherein the Dewar includes a cold shield and an image plane to detect light in the MWIR band transmitted through the plurality of optical elements.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an article is described. At S102, the method comprises obtaining a first layer having a first face and a reverse second face, wherein the first layer comprises and/or is a first metal and wherein the first metal is a heat treatable first aluminium alloy. At S104, the method comprises providing a second layer on the first face of the first layer by cold spraying particles comprising a second metal thereupon, wherein the second metal is a second aluminium alloy. At S106, the method comprises depositing a third layer on the second layer by additive friction stir deposition using a third metal, wherein the third metal is a third aluminium alloy.

Abstract: The present invention relates to arrangement for releasably securing a weapon. Said arrangement comprises a fixed support member and a locking member spring loadedly and movably connected to the fixed support member such that when the weapon is pressed towards the locking member, the locking member is moved relative to the support member from a closed position to an open position so that said weapon is allowed to be introduced through an opening of the locking member into a holding position of the locking member, and such that, when the weapon is positioned in said holding position, the spring loaded locking member is returned to said closed position by means of a spring force. Said arrangement may further comprise an actuator arranged for moving the locking member against a spring force into said open position for allowing said weapon to be released. The present invention also relates a vehicle.

Abstract: Techniques and architectures are disclosed for a system capable of creating large changes in buoyancy that can be incorporated into underwater vehicles, embodiments of the system utilizing edge-welded, metal bellows disposed within a pressure vessel to balance a pressure differential across the bellows while using the bellows to displace fluid and thereby alter the buoyancy of a vehicle on which the system is disposed.

Abstract: A multi-bit, asynchronous e-fuse macro, the macro comprising: an input output enable, a power on reset, a write address, an input write enable, a ground clamp enable, and a write clock; a plurality of e-fuse bits; a supply voltage configured to allow programming at least one of the e-fuse bits; at least one fuse output; and self-timing and control circuitry configured to perform signaling, wherein each of the inputs is in electrical communication with the e-fuse macro.

Abstract: A signal acquisition and tracking device includes an input configured to receive a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) signal, a software-based processor configured to execute software instructions to acquire the GNSS signal via the input and to generate, based on the acquired signal, one or more signal tracking parameters, and a hardware logic circuit operatively coupled to the processor. The logic circuit is configured to track the GNSS signal independently of the processor using the one or more signal tracking parameters generated by the processor. In some examples, the processor is configured to pull in and center the GNSS signal in time and frequency, and the logic circuit is further configured to track the pulled in and centered GNSS signal independently of the processor. In some examples, the processor acquires the signal and then hands-off control to the logic circuit for subsequent tracking of the signal.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for non-integer interpolation for signal sampling. A system implementing the techniques according to an embodiment includes a memory configured to store frequency values associated with an input signal sampled at a first clock rate. The system also includes a clock phase detector configured to detect phase alignment between a first clock signal associated with the first clock rate and a second clock signal associated with a second clock rate. The system further includes a read circuit configured to adjust an interpolation time interval in response to the detected phase alignment and to read the frequency values from the memory at the adjusted interpolation time interval. The system further includes a phase accumulator configured to accumulated phase as a sum of the frequency values read from the memory. The system further includes a waveform generator configured to generate an output waveform sample based on the accumulated phase.

Abstract: A navigation device includes a display, an electromagnetic radiation (EMR) receiver, and one or more processors operatively coupled to the display and the EMR receiver. The one or more processors are configured to cause the display, in a first mode of operation, to graphically render a navigation view. The navigation view includes (i) a first informational element relating to a geographic location of the navigation device and (ii) one or both of a compass rose and a geographic map. The one or more processors are further configured to cause the display, in a second mode of operation and responsive to receiving an EMR signal via the EMR receiver, to render an informational view including a second informational element, where the informational view at least partially obscures the navigation view.

Abstract: A system for controlling load sharing between multiple generators mechanically coupleable to the output shaft of a prime mover is provided. The system may comprise a first processor; and at least two inverters operably connectable to at least two generators, respectively. The generators provide AC power to the respective inverter and each inverter provides DC power to a respective DC link. Each inverter may comprise a processor configured to control a respective generator. The processor may be configured to receive a common speed command from the first processor, adjust the common speed command based on a speed of the same output shaft to create a droop, determine a torque command based on the adjusted speed command and supply the determined torque command to the corresponding generator.

Abstract: Flash peripheral device may include a kernel in logical communication with a bootloader where the kernel, when initialized, is adapted to upload in at least one hardware controller via the bootloader. Flash peripheral device may also include at least one firmware protocol in logical communication with the kernel and configured to initialize at least one hardware driver of the at least one hardware controller. Flash peripheral device may also include an operation application in logical communication with the kernel and provided with a legacy set of instructions and at least one updated set of instructions. The operation application executes and runs the at least one updated set of instructions when the at least one updated set of instructions is flashed to the operation application or executes and runs the legacy set of instructions when the at least one updated set of instructions fails to be flashed to the operation application.

Abstract: A transceiver includes a radio frequency (RF) input, an RF channelized digital receiver, an RF wideband digital receiver, an analog-to-digital converter (ADC)/digital-to-analog converter (DAC), an RF channelized digital transmitter, and an RF output. The RF channelized digital receiver is configured to split an analog RF input signal into a plurality of sub-octave contiguous frequency band channels and to convert the channels to a plurality of first digital signals. The RF wideband receiver is configured to convert the analog RF input signal into a second digital signal. The ADC/DAC is configured to process each of the first and second digital signals to produce a plurality of third digital signals. The RF channelized digital transmitter is configured to convert each of the third digital signals into a plurality of analog output signals, to combine the analog output signals into an analog RF output signal, and to transmit the analog RF output signal.