Abstract: An optical system recycles heat from a cooler coupled with an image sensor across a heat transfer element in order to warm and de-ice a window. The optical system may be implemented in high altitude or space vehicles/platforms, regardless of whether manned or unmanned, and the window may be outwardly facing relative to the vehicle/platform so at to allow electromagnetic radiation to pass therethrough onto the image sensor. The optical system enables the reduction of size, weight, and power by recycling heat exhausted from the cooler to warm the window, thus eliminating the need for a separate de-icing system or device for the window.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and apparatus for selectively sintering particulate material, the method comprising: providing a layer (6) of particulate material; providing an amount of a radiation absorbent material over a selected surface portion of the layer (6) of particulate material; providing an amount of a material that comprises a plurality of electrically conductive elements (20) over at least part of the selected surface portion of the layer (6) of particulate material; and providing radiation (8) across the selected surface portion of the layer of particulate material so as to sinter a portion of the material of the layer (6) including causing the plurality of electrically conductive elements (20) to become embedded in the sintered portion of material.

Abstract: A method of determining the point source quality of a set of pixels associated with a detected energy signature is discussed that pre-records ideal test point source signatures at various sub-pixel locations and radiant intensities throughout the overall sensor field of view in a focal plane array, determines the sub-pixel location of an observed source, and compares the signature at a pixel of the observed source to the pre-recorded “ideal source” signatures at the determined sub-pixel location. to determine point source correlation.

Abstract: Methods and systems for producing data describing target measurements using a processor (102) in a system (100) having at least one on-board sensor (106) on a vehicle. The method includes obtaining data from an on-board sensor (106), obtaining data from a sensor (108) off-board the vehicle, approximating (312) a target alignment error between the on-board and off-board sensor data, receiving target alignment error data in respect of at least one other sensor set comprising at least two sensors, estimating (316) a bias using the received target alignment error data and correcting the approximated target alignment error using the bias, and performing (320) a data fusion process on the obtained off-board sensor data and the obtained on-board sensor data using the approximated target alignment error to produce target measurement data.

Abstract: Systems and methods for facilitating transportation of an observer in a vehicle include providing video images of an environment of the vehicle from a plurality of cameras having partly overlapping field of views, detecting an orientation of the observer's head, combining the video images to provide a first video image of a first section of the environment of the vehicle, and presenting a second video image of a second section of the environment of the vehicle. The second section is a subset of the first section and corresponds to the detected orientation of the observer's head. The first section is a proper subset of the environment seen by the plurality of cameras. The detecting and presenting are repeated after a predetermined time-period that is short enough not to cause nausea for the observer.

Abstract: A system and method for stimulating light sensors (e.g., UV) using a hand-held stimulator. The hand-held stimulator is portable and configurable to store a plurality of routines comprising various light signatures. In some cases, the signature is a threat signature (e.g., missile, RPG, and/or gunfire) and the stimulator is used as part of system integration, field and flight line, and/or lab testing for systems utilizing light sensors.

Abstract: A method and system configured to evaluate near range communications quality in an environment. Data describing an environment is obtained from at least one data source (202). The data describing the environment is processed (204) to generate a ground-plane data set (206) describing a ground-plane of the environment, and a 3D object data set (206) describing 3D objects in the environment. These data are used to compute (208) a propagation path between a first location and a second location in the environment, and a near range communications quality characteristic of the propagation path is computed (210).

Abstract: A scanning sensor system disclosed. The scanning sensor system induces a sensing element array and multiple analog-to-digital converters (ADCs). The sensing element array includes a group of pixels organized in a row and column configuration. During each read cycle, each pixel in an odd column of a row x is selectively connected to a corresponding one of the ADCs that is associated with the odd column pixels, while each pixel in an even column of a row x+(N/2)+1 is selectively connected to a corresponding one of ADCs that is associated with the even column pixels, wherein x is an integer and N is the total number of rows in the sensing element array.

Abstract: A parachute device is provided for a divisible shell that includes an active body and a shell base. The parachute device includes two parachutes, a first, main parachute connected to the active body by parachute lines and a second parachute connected to the shell base.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for determining a route for a vehicle (2). The method comprises generating, by a processor (12), a grid (16) by specifying a start node (18), specifying one or more movement operations performable by the vehicle (2), and iteratively adding edges and further nodes (20-24) to the grid (16), each edge corresponding to a respective movement operation and each further node corresponding to a location for the vehicle (2). The one or more processors (12) then select a path through the grid (16) from a first node of the grid to a second node of the grid. The first node corresponds to a first location (A) for the vehicle (2) and the second node corresponds to a second location (B) for the vehicle (2). Thus, a route for the vehicle (2) from the first location (A) to the second location (B) is determined.

Abstract: A vehicle (100) comprising: an engine (102); a system for starting the engine (102); a fault detection module (120); an electrical power source (110); and a controller (116, 122). The controller (116, 122) is configured to, responsive to the fault detection module (120) detecting a fault occurring with the engine (102): determine a window in which to attempt to start the engine (102); control the electrical power source (110) to provide electrical power to the system for starting the engine (102); and control the system for starting the engine (102) to attempt to start the engine (102) using the supplied electrical power only during the determined window.

Abstract: The Quad Cell permits measurement of four quadrant signal powers simultaneously, metrics which are equal when the laser spot is at the desired zero location, at the center of the cell, the origin of the cells' axes. A control action acts upon the Quad Cell signals to move the laser spot toward the origin of the axes bisecting the four quadrants of the cell, moving the laser spot to the origin to achieve a null in the difference between these four signal levels.

Abstract: An illumination system for uniform illumination of a target to facilitate imaging of the target by an imaging system. The apparatus which comprises a laser source for generating a plurality of independent or quasi-independent point sources of light; a fiber optic bundle which comprises a plurality of individual optical fibers for each receiving at least one of the plurality of point sources of light, from the laser source, and directing the plurality of point sources of light toward the target for illumination thereof; and an oscillating diffuser for receiving the plurality of point sources of light and oscillating at a frequency so as to redirect each one of the plurality of point sources of light over an area of the target to be illuminated to facilitate uniform illumination and imaging thereof.

Abstract: A receiver includes: a filter circuit to generate predicted measurements for a set of tracks based on previous kinematic states of the tracks and timing and source data of next compressed measurements associated to the tracks, generate probability data of differences between the predicted measurements and next measurement data, generate the next measurement data using the predicted measurements and quantized differences between the predicted measurements and the next measurement data, and generate next kinematic states of the tracks based on the previous kinematic states, the timing and source data of the next compressed measurements, and the generated measurement data; a quantizer circuit to quantize the probability data into quantization tables and look up the quantized differences from corresponding indices in the quantization tables; and a decoder circuit to decode encoded index data of the next compressed measurements into the corresponding indices in the quantization tables using the quantized probabili

Abstract: A multiple channel control system, pressure detection system, a method and a program are provided. A pressure detection system may include first and second pressure transducers having a common pressure source as an input. The first pressure transducer is a different type than the second pressure transducer. The system also includes a storage device configured to store a look up table having a calibrated relationship between temperature and pressure for the second pressure transducer. The system also includes a processor configured to periodically update the look up table based on pressure detected by the first pressure transducer when a condition is met.

Abstract: A reduced profile panel antenna is disclosed. A panel antenna configured according to an embodiment includes two opposing antenna arms disposed over a ground plane. The antenna arms include one or more corrugated or folded sections to increase the electrical path of the antenna arms within fixed physical dimensions (e.g., length and width) of the panel antenna. The panel antenna also includes passive filters to provide current loop paths of varying lengths for selected frequency ranges. Longer loop paths are employed for signals at lower frequencies (i.e., longer wavelengths) and shorter loop paths are employed for signals at higher frequencies (i.e., shorter wavelengths). The panel antenna further includes a ferrite plane disposed between the ground plane and the antenna arms to suppress radio frequency (RF) signal reflections and allow for a reduced antenna profile or thickness.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for registering outputs from a plurality of remote positional data sources, the system having: a plurality of positional data sources disposed on a plurality of units providing a plurality of types of positional data relative to at least one commonly tracked object held as a local positional data source; a processor disposed on a unit configured to process the positional data from each positional data source and apply a filter to the positional data; and the processor configured to weigh the positional data based on a probability of that a positional datum in the positional data is accurate and using weighted positional data to identify an absolute location of the commonly tracked object.

Abstract: A disclosed apparatus and method verify whether a hot spot within a scene is a valid laser-com signal, and further identify laser-com signals of interest. An extended Kalman filter (EKF) is applied to a received signal or beacon to detect whether it is modulated according to a square wave or other expected amplitude modulation pattern. Embodiments further determine whether the modulation frequency matches a signal or beacon of interest. In embodiments, a plurality of indexed EKF's are “tuned” to different modulation frequencies, and are used to identify a beacon's modulation frequency index. Where each EKF is required to compute amplitude and phase partial derivatives of the observation vector, the amplitude partials can be calculated according to the expected modulation pattern, and the phase partials can be calculated using a truncated Fourier or step-wise approximation of the expected modulation pattern. Embodiments further assume a time-invariant covariance matrix.

Abstract: The system and method of integrated seed and high power pump source generates two wavelengths outside the effective gain bandwidth of a single gain medium without using two unique pump sources in a fiber amplifier train. The system and method uses a single pump power oscillator that passes a seed wavelength with no loss and minimal amplification to pump integrated amplifiers in both directions (forward and backward) resulting in amplification of the seed wavelength.

Abstract: An aircraft environmental control system (4) for controlling a temperature of a fluid, the control system (4) comprising: a temperature sensor (30) configured to measure a temperature of the fluid and to generate a first signal, the first signal being indicative of the measured temperature; a control signal generator (52) configured to, dependent upon the first signal, generate a control signal for controlling the temperature of the fluid; and one or more processors (64) configured to, responsive to determining that the measured temperature is less than or equal to a pre-determined threshold value (e.g. 0° C.), increase a gain of the control signal generator (52).