Abstract: Techniques are provided for batch processing signal acquisition. A batch processing signal acquisition system implementing the techniques according to an embodiment includes a recording controller configured to store samples of an input signal to a memory. The input signal is received at a first sampling rate. The system also includes a playback controller configured to read samples from the memory for playback of the input signal at a second sampling rate. The system further includes an acquisition processor configured to detect and locate, in time and frequency, a signal of interest in the playback of the input signal. The system further includes a signal processor configured to process the signal of interest in the playback of the input signal based on the detection and location provided by the acquisition processor.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer readable medium for performing a generalized angle-based tracker for a target determines angle-based information from a target signal, and initializes a Stationary Surface Filter (SSF), a Moving Surface Filter (MSF), and a Pseudorange Kalman Filter (PKF) with the angle-based information. Next, the SSF and MSF are scored by the PKF. If the information is associated, then the SSF, MSF, and PKF are updated. It is determined if at least one plausible Constituent Kalman Filter (CKF) exists for the SSF and MSF. If at least one CKF exists for the SSF and no CKF exists for the MSF, then the target is stationary surface; if at least one CKF exists for the MSF and no CKF exists for the SSF, then the target is moving surface; if no CKF exists for both the SSF and the MSF, then the target is moving airborne.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an antenna assembly includes additively manufacturing an element that is a monolithic structure and that includes (i) a ground plane including one or more aperture slots, (ii) a patch antenna above the ground plane, and (iii) a sacrificial support feature to support the patch antenna above the ground plane. The method further includes applying a dielectric material between the ground plane and the patch antenna. In an example, applying the dielectric material between the ground plane and the patch antenna includes providing a dielectric foam between the ground plane and the patch antenna, where the dielectric foam at least in part supports the patch antenna above the ground plane. The method further includes removing at least a section of the sacrificial support feature, such that any remnant of the support feature does not physically couple the ground plane to the patch antenna.

Abstract: An anomaly detection system is disclosed. In an embodiment, the anomaly detection system includes an anomaly detection module and a warning indicator module. The anomaly detection module includes one or more auto-encoders that receive sensor data from a plurality of sensors. Each of the one or more auto-encoders receives sensor data from at least three different sensors of the plurality of sensors. By receiving data output from at least three of the sensors, the auto-encoder can recognize expected inter-related patterns from the sensor output. The warning indicator module compares an output of a given auto-encoder of the plurality of auto-encoders to an input of the given auto-encoder to obtain an error value, and then compares that error value against an error threshold. In response to the error value exceeding the error threshold, the warning indicator module issues a warning signal associated with the sensor data received by the given auto-encoder.

Abstract: An encapsulation block for a digital signal processing (DSP) block. The encapsulation block includes DSP block having an input terminal, an output terminal, and an input clock. The encapsulation block also includes pacing control network operatively connected with the input terminal, the output terminal, and the input clock of the DSP block. The input terminal of the DSP block is configured to receive a samples-in data stream inputted at a predefined clock period defined by the input clock. The output terminal of the DSP block is configured to receive a samples-out data stream outputted at a predefined paced parameter. The pacing control network is configured to control data flow at the samples-in data stream and the samples-out data stream independently of the DSP block.

Abstract: A transducer system comprising a housing, an electromechanical transducer within the housing, a wicking material adjacent to a portion of the electromechanical transducer, and a multi-phase coolant solution within the housing. The multi-phase coolant solution transitions from a first phase to a second phase in response to a temperature of the electromechanical transducer exceeding a threshold temperature. In some example cases, the multi-phase coolant solution has a boiling point of less than about 60° C., which effectively defines the threshold temperature. The multi-phase coolant solution may be chosen such that it remains a liquid during a first phase (cooling via conduction), and then evaporates during a second phase (cooling via conduction and convection) as the electromechanical transducer heats up.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a chaff dispensing system that is provided on an aircraft. The chaff dispensing system includes a container, a dispensing assembly, a controller, and a volume of chaff material. The container has a first end, a second end, and a chamber that extends between the first and second ends, and the second end defines an ejection port. The dispensing assembly is provided on the aircraft, and the dispensing assembly is operably engaged to the container. The controller is electrically connected to the dispensing assembly. The volume of chaff material is disposed inside the chamber of the container. The volume of chaff material is dispensed by the dispensing assembly operably through the controller in metered volumes of chaff material. In addition, a first volume of chaff material may be metered at a first time and a second volume chaff material may be metered at a second time in which the second volume of chaff material is different than the first volume of chaff material.

Abstract: A Mid-Wave Infrared (MWIR) objective and relay lens system has an F# of 3.33 and angular field of view of 15.28°. It is deployed, with a focal plane and scanning system, on airborne platforms for wide area motion imagery. It is corrected for monochromatic and chromatic aberrations over of 3.3 to 5.1 micrometers. Effective focal length is 20 inches, and the overall length is 40.70 inches. The lens has, from object to image, two groups of optical elements with a cold shield/aperture stop 6 inches from the image plane. Group 1 acts as an objective lens with a positive power and three elements, Group 2 acts as a relay lens has a positive power and four elements. The lens is made of Germanium and Silicon. It used in a scanning system in a pre-objective configuration where the fast scan mirror is located in front of the lens system.

Abstract: Various countermeasure dispensing systems (or CMDSs) and method of use are described herein. CMDS may include a dispenser assembly operably engaged with a platform where at least one electrical connection provides electrical communication between the dispenser assembly and a sequencer. CMDS may also include a magazine assembly operably engaged with the dispenser assembly, wherein the magazine assembly comprises a magazine configured to hold at least two countermeasure expendables. CMDS may also include a breechplate assembly operably engaged with the magazine assembly and adapted to dispense the at least two countermeasure expendables. CMDS may also include at least one magazine identification switch (MIS) operably engaged with the magazine assembly and the breechplate assembly. CMDS may also include that the at least one MIS is configured to enable the sequencer and the breechplate assembly to selectively dispense at least one countermeasure expendable from the at least two countermeasure expendables.

Abstract: A system and methods of an active protection system (or “APS”) for a platform. The APS has a threat cueing sensor provided at a first position on the platform where the threat cueing sensor detects a threat launched from a threat guidance system at a distance away from the platform. The APS also has a logic system operably connected to the threat cueing sensor where the logic system is adapted to determine an estimated location of the threat guidance system via a distance away from the platform. The APS also has a laser source operably connected to the logic system where the laser source emits a countermeasure beam directed at the estimated location of the threat guidance system to deter the threat away from the platform.

Abstract: An asynchronous medium access control layer scheduler increases efficiency for directional mesh networks by removing extra overhead in the time slots. The efficiency is increased by dividing time slots into sub-slots to allow for a receiving node to be offset by at least one sub-slot from the transmitting node. This enables the scheduler to more efficiently schedule operations for the nodes so that nodes can be performing other functions rather than waiting to receive a transmission or waiting after transmitting a transmission. The sub-slots may be sized to approximate the transmission propagation time or time of flight delay.

Abstract: A method for a system for security evaluation includes working one state at a time; identifying primitives of interest and systematically applying relevant attacks for the system; starting at chip level, working through states, and then expanding a system boundary and repeating; following a sequence of: chip>circuit card>subsystem>system>platform for a product solution under analysis; determining if a system definition has sufficient detail, or is too abstract; for a chip with a native secure boot protocol, determining if all players are represented; representing attacks as vectors made up of measurements of the following attributes: Dollars, days, Probability of success, Probability of destruction, technology node, and number of samples; and representing countermeasures as vectors made up of scaling factors for each of attack attributes.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for employing an embedded software defined radio (SDR) in a navigation system. A navigation system implementing the techniques according to an embodiment includes a global positioning system (GPS) receiver configured to acquire and track received GPS signals. The system also includes an SDR configured to process received communication signals. The communication signals include timing data. The SDR is further configured to calculate position and navigation data based on a combination of the processed communication signals and the tracked GPS signals provided by the GPS receiver. The system further includes a system timer configured to provide a common time base for use by the GPS receiver and the SDR. The navigation system is implemented in an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC).

Abstract: The system and method for clock synchronization, or calibration, for use in high speed asynchronous serial interfaces. The system and method is automatic, on-line, and occurs in real-time. The process of synchronization may also be started by a user. The calibration scheme is a form of adaptive filtering using 8B10B encoding. Once idle traffic is 8B10B encoded it becomes a stream of K28.5 characters. These characters are used to tune a clock frequency. The process stops, and two devices are synchronized, when the number of idle K28.5 traffic samples are uniformly approximately identical for any of two successive sample intervals.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for dynamic performance enhancement of radio frequency (RF) based systems. A system implementing the techniques according to an embodiment includes a waveform decoder configured to perform message decoding operations on a received RF signal waveform and to provide a decoding validation result for the message decoding operations. The system also includes a waveform attribute analyzer configured to analyze physical characteristics of the received RF signal waveform and to provide an attribute validation result for the physical characteristics. The system further includes a statistics analyzer configured to generate a statistic based on the decoding validation results and the attribute validation results and a thresholding system configured to generate anomaly detection based on a comparison of the generated statistic to a threshold value. In some embodiments, the RF signal waveform is an Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) transponder waveform or an IFF interrogator waveform.

Abstract: An antenna element suited for direction finding (DF) with omni-directional radiation patterns utilizing a pair of chevron slots fed using a ridged waveguide magic tee (magic-t) and connected microstrip probes. The provided antenna element provides improved performance, power handling, and improved bandwidth compared to current monocone and/or slot antenna elements. The antenna element may be further realized utilizing additive manufacturing processes in combination with standard metal and polymer production techniques.

Abstract: A thin film-retaining washer with custom geometry that may further provide for a simple press-on installation while maintaining retention of fasteners during assembly, shipping, handling, and/or use of associated systems. The present retaining hardware is easily manufactured from sheet or film materials with minimal post-processing and may be scaled and optimized for use with multiple size and style of fasteners. Further, the thickness profile of the thin film retaining hardware facilitates lobe spring deflection to further provide secure retention of the associated fasteners.

Abstract: A lens assembly for a weapon sight includes a first lens having an optical axis and a focal plane array (FPA) coaxial with the optical axis of the first lens. A first parameter of the first lens is selected that minimizes an error in image shift when the weapon sight lens assembly is adjusted for focus. The first parameter of the first lens can be at least one of a lateral position, axial displacement, thickness, effective focal length, material, effective focal length, radius of curvature, conic constants, and higher order aspheric coefficients of the first lens. A sensor can detect a position of the lens and a processor can compare the measured position to an ideal position and use a lookup table to display a corrected reticle position or corrected scene. An actuator may move the lens to the ideal position from the measured position.

Abstract: A sequencer for use with a countermeasure defense system includes an input signal indicative of firing an expendable, a circuit card that receives the input signal indicative of firing the expendable and an output analog signal from the circuit card that fires the expendable. The parameters of the output analog signal correspond to parameters of a digital waveform.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for a delay compensated analog beam forming network. A transceiver implementing the techniques according to an embodiment includes an array of circuit elements. Each of the circuit elements includes an analog frequency converter to up-convert an analog signal to radio frequency (RF) for transmission and to down-convert an RF signal to an analog signal for reception. The circuit element also includes an analog beam weighting circuit configured to apply a beam weight to both of the analog signals to form a beam for transmission and reception. The circuit element further includes an analog delay element configured to impart a time delay to the analog signals. The time delay is based on the position of the circuit element in the array and is selected to compensate for propagation delay of the analog signals along the electrical path that couples the circuit elements of the array, reducing beam squint.