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: Systems and methods for operating a quantum processor. The methods comprise: receiving a reward matrix at the quantum processor, the reward matrix comprising a plurality of values that are in a given format and arranged in a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns; converting, by the quantum processor, the given format of the plurality of values to a qubit format; performing, by the quantum processor, subset summing operations to make a plurality of row selections based on different combinations of the values in the qubit format; using, by the quantum processor, the plurality of row selections to determine a normalized quantum probability for a selection of each row of the plurality of rows; making, by the quantum processor, a decision based on the normalized quantum probabilities; and causing, by the quantum processor, operations of an electronic device to be controlled or changed based on the decision.

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: Systems and methods for detecting or predicting a seismic event. The methods comprise, by a system: receiving at least one communication signal using a carrier recovery component with a fixed location remote from a source of the at least one communication signal; determining at least one of (i) phase deviations of the at least one communication signal over time and (ii) differential propagation delays over two paths which the at least one communication signal traveled; performing operations to detect patterns in at least one of the phase deviations and differential propagation delays that indicate an occurrence of seismic activity with level(s) of confidence; and using the level(s) of confidence to detect or predict the seismic event.

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: Systems and methods for operating a communication device. The methods comprise: receiving a signal at the communication device; performing, by the communication device, one or more machine learning algorithms using at least one feature of the signal as an input to generate a plurality of scores (each score representing a likelihood that the signal was modulated using a given modulation type of a plurality of different modulation types); assigning a modulation class to the signal based on the plurality of scores; determining whether a given wireless channel is available based at least on the modulation class assigned to the signal; and selectively using the given wireless channel for communicating signals based on results of the determining.

Abstract: Methods of producing an optical surface atop an exterior of a substrate that includes smoothing the exterior using an ALD process to sequentially deposit ALD layers to produce one or more ALD films that fill spaces between spaced-apart asperities existing on the exterior, and thereafter depositing a reflective material on the smoothed exterior of the substrate to produce the optical surface. The smoothing resulting from depositing the ALD film on the exterior of the substrate causes the grain size of the reflective material to be reduced in comparison to the grain size that would exists without having deposited the ALD film on the exterior of the substrate. The smoothing is sufficient to cause a reduction in grain size that results in a reduction in plasmon absorption in the optical surface in comparison to the plasmon absorption that would otherwise exist without having reduced the grain size of the reflective material.

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: Systems and methods for improving network element security. The methods comprise: obtaining a transport frame by the network element; analyzing, by the network element, the transport frame to determine whether or not any vulnerable overhead field values in at least one of a header of a mapping layer frame and a header of a transport layer frame have values other than expected values; modifying, by the network element, at least one reserved target field value in the transport frame when a determination is made that the at least one vulnerable overhead field value has a value other than the expected value; and communicating, by the network element, the transport frame with the modified at least one reserved target value over a network.

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: Metering structure includes a rigid strut configured to support an optical element. A rigid shield mounted on the strut has a shield length which is substantially coextensive with the elongated length of the rigid strut such that rigid shield substantially encloses the strut along the entire shield length. The rigid shield has a surface finish which is highly absorptive of electromagnetic radiation in the optical spectrum. One or more thermal insulating material layers comprise a multi-layer insulation (MLI) system disposed between the rigid strut and the rigid shield. Rigid and flexure brackets secure the rigid shield to the strut.

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.