Abstract: A distributed control system includes an electronic control unit to establish secure communication with a distributed control module. Upon determination that a previously negotiated session key is stored on the electronic control unit, the electronic control unit transmits encrypted communications with the distributed control module using the previously negotiated session key, negotiates a new session key with the distributed control module, and stores the new session key. Upon determination that the previously negotiated session key is not stored on the electronic control unit, the electronic control unit negotiates the new session key with the distributed control module. After negotiating the new session key with the distributed control module, the electronic control unit ceases transmission of unencrypted communications with the distributed control module, transmits encrypted communications with the distributed control module using the new session key, and stores the new session key.

Abstract: A method for initializing an engine control system of an aircraft may include authenticating a boot loader, authenticating a manifest in response to authentication of the boot loader wherein the manifest contains hashes of one or more software components, and in response to authentication of the manifest, loading a first set of software components from among the one or more software components onto a non-transitory computer-readable medium, calculating a hash of each software component of the first set of software components, authenticating the first set of software components by comparing the calculated hash of each software component of the first set of software components to the hash of a corresponding software component in the manifest, and executing the first set of software components in response to authentication of the one or more software components. Devices and systems are also provided for initializing an engine control system of an aircraft.

Abstract: A guide for cutting a dowel pin of a rotor assembly is provided. The guide includes a catch basin, including a first catch basin portion and a second catch basin portion, and a shim. The first catch basin portion and the second catch basin portion form a cutting tool receiver. The shim extends from a first edge having a cross-section that is complementary to a surface of the rotor assembly. The first catch basin portion and the second catch basin portion form a receptacle that accommodates and retains portions of a dowel pin during and after removal of the dowel pin from the rotor assembly. The cutting tool receiver is defined by a receiver edge configured to guide a cutting surface of a cutting tool through a cross-section of a dowel pin.

Abstract: A method and system for measuring and quantifying inefficiencies in a medical procedure such as a radiological procedure. Inefficiencies are measured and quantified by collecting a plurality of characterization measurements, where each characterization measurement corresponds to an individual step in the procedure. Once the measurements are collected, a sum of squares analysis is performed on them to determine the effect of each step on the procedure. The process steps are further analyzed to determine the activities within them that have the highest impact on the time needed to complete the task or tasks that make up the step. These tasks or key drivers are then subjected to a regression analysis to determine their effect on the time to complete the procedure. The key drivers may then be changed to adjust the procedure as desired.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for forming cubic boron nitride from large particle ideal structure hexagonal boron nitride. Large particles provide improved packing density within the high pressure, high temperature equipment utilized, providing higher yields from conversion processes which utilize a catalyst and those which do not. This large particle ideal structure HBN can be used with conventional high pressure, high temperature processes to provide CBN particulates, composites and compacts.