Abstract: A satellite Automatic Identification System (AIS) is for tracking a plurality of maritime vessels and may include a ground AIS server and a constellation of Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites in communication with the ground AIS server. Each LEO satellite may include an AIS payload configured to receive AIS messages from the plurality of maritime vessels and determine therefrom reported vessel position data, determine actual signal arrival measurements for the AIS messages, and determine a potential spoofing maritime vessel based upon the reported vessel position data and actual signal arrival measurements. The ground AIS server may be configured to determine an actual spoofing maritime vessel and associated geographic spoof size based upon the reported vessel position data and actual signal arrival measurements for the potential spoofing maritime vessel.

Abstract: A spaceborne antenna for a satellite may include antenna sections for the satellite, and at least one rolling flex hinge rotatably coupling first and second antenna sections together and permitting rotation between a stored position and a deployed position. The first and second antenna sections may be stacked in the stored position and extended in end-to-end relation in the deployed position. The at least one rolling flex hinge may include a first hinge body coupled to an end of the first antenna section, a second hinge body coupled to an end of the second antenna section, and a flexible strap arrangement coupling the first hinge body and second hinge body together to permit rolling contact therebetween. At least one locking linkage may be coupled between the first and second hinge bodies to lock the first and second hinge bodies when the first and second antenna sections are in the deployed position.

Abstract: A sensor receiver may include a Rydberg cell configured to be exposed to a radio frequency (RF) signal having an RF data rate, and a probe source configured to generate a plurality of spaced apart pulsed probe beams within the Rydberg cell. Each pulse may have a temporal pulse width so that the RF data rate is greater than the reciprocal of the temporal pulse width. At least one excitation source may be coupled to the Rydberg cell. A detector may be positioned downstream from the Rydberg cell. The sensor receiver may be used in a RADAR system.

Abstract: A communications system may include a first communications device having a first memory storing a crypto-variable (CV) array having N number of crypto-variables (CVs). A first processor cooperates with the first memory and selects M number of CVs from the CV array, the M number having identifiers associated therewith, generates a key using a cryptographic operation and based upon the selected M number of CVs, generates an encrypted message using the key, and transmits the identifiers of the selected M number of CVs and the encrypted message. A second communications device includes a second memory and the CV array stored therein. A second processor cooperates with the second memory and receives the identifiers for the selected M number of CVs and the encrypted message, generates the key using the cryptographic operation based upon the M number of CVs, and decrypts the encrypted message based upon the key.

Abstract: An electronic device may include a first electrode, a first magnetostrictive layer electrically coupled to the first electrode, a first ferroelectric layer above the first magnetostrictive layer, and a ferromagnetic layer above the first ferroelectric layer. The electronic device may further include a second electrode electrically coupled to the ferromagnetic layer, a second ferroelectric layer above the ferromagnetic layer, a second magnetostrictive layer above the second ferroelectric layer, and a third electrode electrically coupled to the second magnetostrictive layer. The first ferroelectric layer may be switchable between different polarization states responsive to a first voltage applied across the first and second electrodes, and the second ferroelectric layer may be switchable between different polarization states responsive to a second voltage applied across the second and third electrodes.

Abstract: An optical device may include a substrate and vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) on the substrate. The optical device may also include a coupling layer over the substrate and that includes optical guides aligned with the VCSELs to guide outputs thereof from a vertical path direction to a lateral path direction. The optical device also includes controllable delay elements, each controllable delay element associated with a respective optical guide, and a controller coupled to the controllable delay elements.

Abstract: A communications device may include an RF device, and an antenna coupled to the RF device. The RF device may have a conductive ground plane, a conductive support rod carried by the conductive ground plane and extending outwardly therefrom, and a conductive body coupled to and surrounding the conductive support rod. The conductive body may have a helical slot to define a helical slot radiating antenna.

Abstract: An electronic device may include a first electrode, a first piezoelectric layer electrically coupled to the first electrode, a first magnetostrictive layer above the first piezoelectric layer, a first tunnel barrier layer above the first magnetostrictive layer, and a ferromagnetic layer above the first ferroelectric layer. The electronic device may further include a second electrode electrically coupled to the ferromagnetic layer a second tunnel barrier layer above the ferromagnetic layer, a second magnetostrictive layer above the second tunnel barrier layer, a second piezoelectric layer above the second magnetostrictive layer, and a third electrode electrically coupled to the second piezoelectric layer. The first piezoelectric layer may be strained responsive to voltage applied across the first and second electrodes, and the second piezoelectric layer may be strained responsive to voltage applied across the second and third electrodes.

Abstract: A satellite communication system includes satellite nodes moving in respective known orbits, and a controller configured to determine routing neighborhoods for each satellite node based upon the known orbits, each routing neighborhood comprising a group of adjacent satellite nodes; and assign a respective primary neighborhood egress node (NEN) from among the plurality of satellite nodes for each routing neighborhood. A given satellite node of a given satellite node routing neighborhood may be configured to reroute a failed path from a source satellite node to a destination satellite node through the given satellite neighborhood using a secondary NEN instead of a respective primary NEN.

Abstract: A satellite Automatic Identification System (AIS) is for tracking a plurality of maritime vessels. The AIS may include a ground AIS server and a constellation of Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites in communication with the ground AIS server. Each LEO satellite may include an AIS payload configured to receive AIS messages from the plurality of maritime vessels and determine therefrom reported vessel position data, determine actual signal arrival measurements for the AIS messages, and determine a potential spoofing maritime vessel based upon the reported vessel position data and actual signal arrival measurements and send a potential spoof alert to the ground AIS server. The ground AIS server may be configured to perform time sequenced pairwise differential calculations of the actual signal arrival measurements from at least one of the AIS payloads and for the potential spoofing maritime vessel to estimate a position of the potential spoofing maritime vessel.

Abstract: A space antenna may include an extendible boom movable between stored and deployed positions. An extendible hoop may surround the extendible boom and is movable between the stored and deployed positions. A front cord arrangement may be coupled to the extendible hoop and defines a curved shape in the deployed position, and a reflective layer may be carried thereby. A rear cord arrangement may be behind the front cord arrangement and coupled between the extendible hoop and the extendible boom. The rear cord arrangement may include a rear plurality of interconnected cords defining rear polygons. Tie cords may extend between the front cord arrangement and the rear cord arrangement. A top cord arrangement may be above the reflective layer and coupled between the hoop and the extendible boom.

Abstract: A communications device may include an RF device, and an antenna coupled to the RF device. The antenna may have a conductive ground plane, a conductive support rod carried by the conductive ground plane and extending outwardly therefrom, and a conductive body coupled to and surrounding the conductive support rod. The conductive body has vertically spaced rhombus shaped slots therein to define a radiating antenna.

Abstract: An electronic assembly includes a chassis having electronic module mounting positions, each having an electronic module received therein. A module recess is adjacent a first end of the electronic module and a module roller is adjacent a second end. A sealing retainer is coupled between the chassis and each electronic module, and includes a cooling gas passageway aligned with a chassis cooling gas passageway and a module cooling gas passageway. The sealing retainer includes a rigid retainer body having a retainer recess adjacent a first end to receive the module roller when the electronic module is in an inserted position. A retainer roller is received in a module recess and a compressible retainer body is between the rigid retainer body and the chassis.

Abstract: A quantum communications system may include a transmitter node, a receiver node, and a quantum communications channel coupling the transmitter node and receiver node. The transmitter node may include a pulse transmitter and pulse divider downstream therefrom. The receiver node may include a pulse recombiner and a pulse receiver downstream therefrom.

Abstract: An electronic device may include a first electrode, a first magnetostrictive layer coupled to the first electrode, a plurality of alternating ferromagnetic and insulating layers stacked above the first magnetostrictive layer, a second electrode electrically coupled to an intermediate ferromagnetic layer in the stack of ferromagnetic and insulating layers, a second magnetostrictive layer above the stack of ferromagnetic and insulating layers, and a third electrode electrically coupled to the second magnetostrictive layer. At least one ferromagnetic layer below the intermediate ferromagnetic layer may be switchable between different polarization states responsive to a first voltage applied across the first and second electrodes, and at least one ferromagnetic layer above the intermediate ferromagnetic layer may be switchable between different polarization states responsive to a second voltage applied across the second and third electrodes.

Abstract: An electronic device may include an IC, a grid array substrate, and a multi-level interposer coupled between the IC and the grid array substrate. The multi-level interposer may have dielectric layers, and a sequence of metal levels carried by respective dielectric layers, and an RF sloped via including a sloped metal signal layer extending from a first metal level, through a second metal level, and to a third metal level, and a respective sloped lateral metal ground layer adjacent each side of the sloped metal signal layer.

Abstract: An electronic assembly may include a chassis having electronic module mounting positions. Each mounting position may have associated therewith a chassis liquid dual-flow connector. A respective electronic module may be received in each electronic module mounting position and include a circuit board, a liquid cooling path associated with the circuit board, and a module liquid dual-flow connector coupled to the liquid cooling path and configured to be mateable with the chassis liquid dual-flow connector.

Abstract: A cognitive radio device may include a radio frequency (RF) detector, an RF transmitter having a selectable hopping frequency window, and a controller. The controller may be configured to cooperate with the RF detector and RF transmitter to detect a jammer signal, determine a jammer type associated with the jammer signal from among a plurality of different jammer types based upon a game theoretic model, and operate the RF transmitter to change the selectable hopping frequency window responsive to the determined jammer type of the jammer signal.

Abstract: An optical fiber distributed sensing system may include an optical fiber for distributed sensing. The optical fiber may include a core including glass and diamond particles with nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers distributed within the glass. The optical fiber may also include at least one glass layer surrounding the core. An optical source may be coupled to the optical fiber and operable from an end thereof. An optical detector may be coupled to the optical fiber to detect fluorescence therefrom.

Abstract: Systems and methods for operating a deployable reflector system. The methods comprising: causing a proximal end of a first link element (LE) located at a first end of a scissoring rib assembly (SRA) to slidingly engage a hub; allowing a proximal end of a second LE of SRA to pivot relative to the hub so as to cause scissor motion of SRA while the first LE is slidingly engaging the hub; causing a distal end of a third LE located at a second end of SRA to pivot relative to the edge member during the scissor motion of SA; allowing the edge member to slidingly engage a fourth LE located at the second end of SRA during pivotal motion of the third LE; and using the edge member to cause vertical movement of a peripheral edge of a reflector relative to the hub while the edge member slidingly engages the fourth LE.