Abstract: A method comprising: forming a polyimide layer; forming a thin film resistor on the polyimide layer; forming, on the thin film resistor and the polyimide layer, a metallization layer that includes metal contacts on opposing ends of the thin film resistor but leaves an exposed surface of the polyimide layer; baking the polyimide layer, the thin film resistor, and the metallization layer to remove water from the polyimide layer; forming, on the exposed surface of the polyimide layer, a hydrophobic moisture barrier layer that prevents absorption of water into the polyimide layer to avoid blistering of the thin film resistor during subsequent laser trimming of the thin film resistor; and laser trimming a resistance of the thin film resistor between the metal contacts.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a payload assembly is independent of a corresponding mobile platform (e.g. small unmanned aerial vehicle (sUAV), etc.). The payload assembly includes a flight controller (FC), a global positioning system (GPS) unit, a radio frequency (RF) telemetry unit, an RF antenna, a companion computer, and a power distribution system, thereby enabling both mobile platform and payload agnostic capabilities.

Abstract: A perturbation radio frequency (RF) signal generator is provided which generates a perturbed RF output signal to cause a signal classification change by an RF signal classifier. The perturbation RF signal generator may include a quantum computing circuit configured to perform quantum subset summing; and a processor. The processor may be configured to generate a game theory reward matrix for a plurality of different deep learning signal perturbation models, cooperate with the quantum computing circuit to perform quantum subset summing of the game theory reward matrix, select a deep learning signal perturbation model from the plurality thereof based upon the quantum subset summing of the game theory reward matrix, and generate the perturbed RF output signal based upon the selected deep learning signal perturbation model to cause the signal classification change in the RF signal classifier.

Abstract: The techniques described herein relate to an apparatus including: a primary reflector including an orifice and a first reflective surface, the first reflective surface including a first region and a second region; and a secondary reflector including a second reflective surface facing the first reflective surface; wherein the first region, the second regions and the second reflective surface are configured such that the apparatus provides a two-bounce beam path through the apparatus and an independent four-bounce beam path through the apparatus.

Abstract: A method is performed using a transparent display alignment system in a vehicle. The transparent display alignment system includes a transparent display through which a user's eyes behind the transparent display view an external scene in front of the transparent display. The method comprises: receiving an eye position of the eyes, a vehicle position for the vehicle, and an external object position of an external object in the external scene; computing a parallax-free position on the transparent display that intersects with a line-of-sight from the eye position to the external object position through the transparent display, at least based on the eye position, the vehicle position, and the external object position; and positioning a graphic object on the transparent display at the parallax-free position to align the eye position, the graphic object, and the external object to avoid parallax when the eyes view the external object through the transparent display.

Abstract: A method is for making a circuit board to be coupled to a connector including a connector body and outwardly extending conductive pins. The method may include forming passageways in a dielectric layer, forming a first conductive layer within the passageways, and forming a core within the passageways to define conductive tubular vias. The method may also include removing an uppermost portion of the conductive tubular vias to define corresponding enlarged passageways, and forming a second conductive layer within the enlarged passageways to provide female contacts with each including a conductive cup having a continuous bottom abutting a respective conductive tubular via, and an upper end defining a recess to receive a corresponding conductive pin of the connector.

Abstract: A Rydberg sensor may include a plurality of Rydberg sensing regions and a probe laser source. An optical path may extend from the probe laser source to feed the Rydberg sensing regions in a series configuration. The sensor may also include at least one optical amplifier for the probe laser source coupled within the optical path between at least one adjacent pair of Rydberg sensing regions.

Abstract: An outer space-based vehicle may include a spacecraft bus, a payload having a payload center of mass, and a gimbal coupled between the spacecraft bus and the payload. The gimbal may have a gimbal axis aligned with the payload center of mass, and is configured to selectively rotate the payload about the gimbal axis. At least one payload momentum wheel may be coupled to the gimbal at the gimbal axis, and configured to counteract angular torque which would otherwise be imparted to the spacecraft bus.

Abstract: A phased array antenna may include an antenna substrate, an array of antenna elements carried by the antenna substrate, and time delay units (TDUs) coupled to the array of antenna element. Each time delay unit may include a circuit substrate, and delay circuits carried by the circuit substrate and coupled in series. Each delay circuit may have a respective signal delay value. At least one external bypass connection is carried by the circuit substrate and is coupled to the delay circuits to configure an overall time delay of the time delay unit.

Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) signal classification device may include an RF receiver configured to receive RF signals, a quantum computing circuit configured to perform quantum subset summing, and a processor. The processor may be configured to generate a game theory reward matrix for a plurality of different deep learning models, cooperate with the quantum computing circuit to perform quantum subset summing of the game theory reward matrix, select a deep learning model from the plurality thereof based upon the quantum subset summing of the game theory reward matrix, and process the RF signals using the selected deep learning model for RF signal classification.

Abstract: An electrically powered store deployment system for an aircraft may include a housing to be carried by the aircraft, and a release arrangement carried by the housing and configured to selectively release a store from the aircraft. The store deployment system may also include an ejection arrangement carried by the housing and configured to selectively eject the store away from the aircraft upon release of the store by the release arrangement. The ejection arrangement may include at least one electric motor carried by the housing, and at least one ejector piston carried by the housing and movable between stored and ejection positions responsive to the at least one electric motor.

Abstract: A system is for monitoring marine vessels that generate automatic identification system (AIS) message data. The system may include a memory and a processor cooperating therewith to train a maritime scenario topic model using training textual data having known corresponding maritime scenarios associated therewith. The training textual data may include AIS message data. The processor operate the trained maritime scenario topic model on new textual data having unknown corresponding maritime scenarios to determine probabilistic maritime scenarios corresponding to the new textual data, where the new textual data includes new AIS message data. The processor may further generate an alert based upon the probabilistic maritime scenarios.

Abstract: An electronic device includes an RF device, and an antenna. The antenna includes an elongate support, and helically wound conductive strips carried by the elongate support and with adjacent conductive strips having an angular spacing. The electronic device includes a feed structure coupling the RF device to the helically wound conductive strips.

Abstract: The techniques described herein relate to an apparatus including: a first optical element rotatably mounted to an axis; a second optical element rotatably mounted to the axis; a drive system including: a first protrusion associated with the first optical element, a first slot associated with the first optical element, a second protrusion associated with the second optical element, and a second slot associated with the second optical element; and a motor configured to: drive the drive system through a first range of motion to engage the first protrusion with the first slot to rotate the first optical element from a first position to a second position, and drive the drive system through a second range of motion to engage the second protrusion with the second slot to rotate the second optical element from a third position to a fourth position.

Abstract: A Rydberg sensor may include Rydberg sensing regions, a coupling laser source, and an optical path extending from the coupling laser source to feed the plurality of Rydberg sensing regions in a series configuration. A probe source generates respective probe laser beams for the Rydberg sensing regions.

Abstract: A cable-driven telescopic boom with several boom segments repositionable between stowed positions and deployed positions. The boom includes multiple spaced apart and separate cables that engage pulleys connected to each boom segment. A drive system can be used to apply tension to the cables to reconfigure the boom from a stowed configuration to a deployed configuration.

Abstract: A synthetic aperture radar (SAR) for a flight vehicle may include an elongate phased array antenna oriented with a long axis in an elevation direction. The elevation direction is normal to a direction of flight of the flight vehicle. A transmitter is coupled to the elongate phased array antenna, and a receiver is coupled to the elongate phased array antenna. A controller is coupled to the transmitter and receiver and is configured to generate temporally alternating sets of receive beams for respective swaths to be used to form a SAR image across a surface below the flight vehicle. The same center frequency is used to create consistent SARs for all swaths, allowing for coherent combination between subsequent passes over the same swath.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing an electronic cooling apparatus comprising a chassis having an internal space that is sized/shaped to receive/structurally support circuit card(s). The internal space defined by sidewalls with a channel formed therein in which a coolant is disposed. The coolant is in thermal communication with the circuit card(s) via the sidewall(s) when the circuit card(s) is(are) disposed in the chassis. A refrigerant-based cooling system is disposed in the chassis and comprises an evaporator having inlet/outlet ports coupled to the channel of the chassis to define a first closed-loop channel for the coolant within the chassis. The evaporator facilitates heat transfer from the coolant to a refrigerant flowing through a second closed-loop channel of the chassis at least partially defined by the evaporator. A pump is disposed in the chassis and configured to cause the coolant to flow through the first closed-loop channel.

Abstract: A distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) system may include an optical fiber, a phase-sensitive OTDR (?-OTDR) coupled to the optical fiber, and a processor cooperating with the ?-OTDR. The processor may be configured to generate a series of covariance matrices for DAS data from the ?-OTDR, and determine an acoustic event based upon comparing the series of covariance matrices with a corresponding Toeplitz matrix.

Abstract: A method for making a nanodiamond article includes applying an adhesion promoting layer to a substrate, and electrophoretically depositing a nanodiamond film on the substrate with the adhesion promoting layer thereon in a solution to make the nanodiamond article. The nanodiamond article may include a substrate, a nanodiamond film over the substrate, and the adhesion promoting layer between the substrate and the nanodiamond film.