Abstract: An apparatus and method for combined radio frequency identification (RFID)-based asset management and component authentication are provided. The apparatus comprises a plurality of components to be authenticated, a memory configured to store inventory data, a plurality of root-of-trust (RoT) integrated circuits (ICs), a wired communication bus, and a radio frequency identification (RFID) relay tag. Each RoT IC is mechanically coupled to a corresponding one of the plurality of components and configured to generate authentication data based on a unique key generated for authenticating the corresponding component. The RFID relay tag is connected to each of the RoT ICs via the wired communication bus and is configured to communicate with each of the RoT ICs via the wired communication bus and pass the authentication data and the inventory data to an RFID reader via a radio frequency signal to facilitate authentication of components and inventory management.

Abstract: A multi-tier machine learning engine receives signal data characterizing a monitored signal of the computing platform. The machine learning engine can include a plurality of tiers that employ frequency domain analysis on the signal data to identify an application executing on the computing platform and a module and/or loop of the identified application and employ time domain analysis on the signal data to identify timing of events within the identified module and/or loop of the identified application.

Abstract: An integrated circuit is provided that comprises a first thermal sink layer, a first ground plane associated with a first set of circuits that have a first operational temperature requirement, a first thermally conductive via that couples the first ground plane to the first thermal sink layer, a second thermal sink layer, a second ground plane associated with a second set of circuits that have a second operational temperature requirement that is higher than the first operational temperature requirement, and a second thermally conductive via that couples the second ground plane to the second thermal sink layer. The first thermal sink layer is cooled at a first temperature to maintain the first set of circuits at the first operational temperature requirement and the second thermal sink layer is cooled at a second temperature to maintain the second set of circuits at the second operational temperature requirement.

Abstract: A superconductor thermal filter is disclosed that includes a normal metal layer having a first side, an insulating layer overlying the first side of the normal metal layer, and a multilayer superconductor structure having a first side overlying a side of the insulating layer opposite the side that overlies the normal metal layer. The multilayer superconductor structure is comprised of a plurality of superconductor layers with each superconductor layer having a smaller superconducting energy band gap than the preceding superconductor as the superconductor layers extend away from the normal metal layer. The thermal filter further includes a normal metal layer quasiparticle trap having a first side and a second side with the first side being disposed on a second side of the multilayer superconductor. A bias voltage is applied between the normal metal layer and the normal metal layer quasiparticle trap to remove hot electrons from the normal metal layer.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for evaluating a maintenance report. A maintenance report is received for an item of modular industrial equipment. The maintenance report includes a maintenance-related code, selected from a defined library of maintenance-related codes, and a free text field describing either or both of an observation of the item of modular equipment that is inconsistent with a defined specification and an action taken to repair or maintain the item of modular industrial equipment. A plurality of features representing the semantic content of a free-text field are extracted, with at least a portion of the plurality of features being extracted via a document embedding approach. At an expert system, a new maintenance-related code is determined from the defined library of maintenance-related codes for the item of modular industrial equipment, from the plurality of features.

Abstract: Ring packet built-in self-test (PBIST) circuitry configured to detect errors in wires connecting a ring of superconducting chips includes circuitry configured to make the PBIST immune to interchip latency and still allow the PBIST to test a stop-to-stop connection. By making a PBIST independent of latency, an entire ring can be characterized for latency and for its bit-error rate prior to running any functional test. Such systems and associated methods can be scaled to larger platforms having any number of ring stops. The PBIST circuitry can function as either transmitter or receiver, or both, to test an entire ring. The PBIST can also be used to tune clocks in the ring to achieve the lowest overall bit error rate (BER) in the ring.

Abstract: A capacitively-driven tunable coupler includes a coupling capacitor connecting an open end of a quantum object (i.e., an end of the object that cannot have a DC path to a low-voltage rail, such as a ground node, without breaking the functionality of the object) to an RF SQUID having a Josephson element capable of providing variable inductance and therefore variable coupling to another quantum object.

Abstract: A data telemetry system and method digitizes acoustic sensor data. Acoustic sensor data is digitized and used to apply strain to a series of Fiber Bragg Gratings (FBGs) in a fiber. Each FBG is assigned a nominal wavelength. A wavelength interrogator launches wavelengths into the fiber and scans the reflected wavelengths from the FBGs. A data telemetry rate of at least 5 kHz may be achieved. Acoustic sensors may be part of undersea acoustic sensing arrays with large element counts having reduced system cabling and improved Size, Weight and Power (SWaP). The system and method realizes low power loss per array element and efficient multiplexing of many data streams in a small form factor.

Abstract: A high-performance optical absorber includes: a texturized base layer, the base layer comprising one or more of a polymer film and a polymer coating; and a surface layer located above and immediately adjacent to the base layer, the surface layer joined to the base layer, the surface layer comprising a plasma-functionalized, non-woven carbon nanotube (CNT) sheet. A method using capillary force lamination (CFL) for manufacturing a high-performance optical absorber, includes: texturizing a base layer of the high-performance optical absorber, the base layer comprising one or more of a polymer film and a polymer coating; joining a surface layer of the high-performance optical absorber to the base layer, the surface layer comprising a non-woven carbon nanotube (CNT) sheet; wetting the joined surface layer and base layer with a solvent; drying the joined surface layer and base layer; and treating the resulting base layer with plasma, creating the high-performance optical absorber.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a composite part using a 3D printing machine. The method includes forming the part by depositing an alternating sequence of first part layers including rows of filaments made of a first part material and depositing second part layers including rows of filaments made of a second part material, where the second part material is different than the first part material and provides adhesion between the first part layers.

Abstract: A printing machine for fabricating high performance 3D integrated composite structures. The machine includes a robot having a base portion, a robot arm and an end joint secured to the arm opposite to the base portion, at least one source of an extrudable material, and an end-effector mounted to the end joint. The end-effector includes at least one extruder module for extruding the extrudable material and a rotary assembly, where the extruder module includes a nozzle assembly for extruding heated material out of the end-effector. The extruder module is mounted to the rotary assembly and the rotary assembly is rotatable so as to rotate the nozzle assembly relative to the part without rotating the end-effector.

Abstract: A 3D printing machine for fabricating high performance 3D integrated composite structures, where the machine includes a robot having a base portion, a robot arm and a rotatable connector secured to the arm opposite to the base portion, at least one source of an extrudable material, and an end-effector mounted to the rotatable connector and including at least one extruder module for extruding the extrudable material. The extruder module includes a nozzle assembly for extruding heated material out of the end-effector, and the end-effector is rotatable relative to the structure by the rotatable connector so that the nozzle assembly can be oriented normal to the part in different orientations without significantly changing a pose of the robot.

Abstract: A ground-based computing system receives data of performance parameters for like components disposed on like aircraft, and determines corresponding levels of degradation and rates of change of degradation for the respective like components. A fleet-level of degradation for groups of like components is generated based on analysis of the combined degradations of the like components in the respective group and models of components revised. A predicted time for maintenance for each like component is determined based on the corresponding at least one of the RUL and SOH of the like component, thereby enabling cost effective maintenance determinations for components based on a fleet-level information. The ground-based computing system transmits a modified component model to the like aircraft to replace a prior version of the component model which is used to generate on-board degradation analysis, thereby enhancing the accuracy of on-board degradation analysis based on fleet level data.

Abstract: A ground fault detection circuit can include a band-pass filter that can have a first node and a second node that can be coupled to an earth ground. The first node can be coupled to a local ground of an automatic test equipment (ATE) system for an electrical device that can be coupled via at least one wire to the ATE. The band-pass filter can be configured to pass and amplify a test current signal established at the first node in response to a coupling of one of a conductor of the at least one wire carrying the test current signal to the local ground, and a conductive element of the electrical device carrying the test current signal to the local ground. A fault alert signal can be provided to provide an indication of ground fault based on a comparison of the amplified test current signal.

Abstract: An integrated circuit is provided that comprises a first substrate having a plurality of conductive contact pads spaced apart from one another on a surface of the first substrate, a dielectric layer overlying the first substrate and the plurality of conductive contact pads, and a second substrate overlying the dielectric layer. A plurality of superconducting contacts extend through the second substrate and the dielectric layer to the first substrate, wherein each superconducting contact of the plurality of superconducting contacts is aligned with and in contact with a respective conductive contact pad of the plurality of conductive contact pads.

Abstract: One example includes a superconducting latch system. The system includes a first input stage configured to receive a first input pulse and a second input stage configured to receive a second input pulse. The system also includes a storage loop configured to switch from a first state to a second state in response to receiving the first input pulse, and to switch from the second state to the first state in response to the second input pulse. The first state corresponds to no flux in the storage loop and the second state corresponds to a flux in the storage loop. The system further includes an output stage configured to generate an output pulse in the second state of the storage loop.

Abstract: A software framework for an autonomous system can include a sortie controller that receives a sortie spawn request from at least one of a station controller, a vehicle controller and a mission controller that are each in communication with at least one of a plurality external systems. The sortie controller can instantiate a given sortie spawn with a reference to a given station model in a set of station models, a given vehicle model in a set of vehicle models and a given mission model in the set of the mission models. The software framework can also include a plurality of functions defined by the station controller, the vehicle controller and the mission controller. Each function can be configured to operate on the sortie spawn. The software frame work can further include a plurality of capabilities. Each capability can includes a plurality of properties.

Abstract: A system for establishing and maintaining a bi-directional chain of trust includes a root of trust (RoT) executing a root trusted server that can establish a trusted relationship between the RoT and a given node, and monitor the given node to ensure that the given node executes trusted operations and to ensure that authenticated code and static data for the given node are unchanged. The given node can include a trusted server that can monitor another node to ensure that the other node executes trusted operations and to ensure that authenticated code and static data for the other node are unchanged. The other node can include a trusted server that can monitor the given node to ensure that the given node executes trusted operations and to ensure that the authenticated code and static data for the given node are unchanged based on maintenance information received for the given node.

Abstract: Non-destructive read out (NDRO) circuits are provided for use in reciprocal quantum logic (RQL) superconducting systems. Each NDRO circuit includes a “body” circuit that provides a single or multi-state sub-critical bias current to one or many independent “tail” circuitries. Each “tail” has minimal effect on the “body” thereby preventing any interference or destruction to the state of the “body” circuitry. The circuits reduce device count and thereby increase circuit density, simplify and reduce the cost of fabrication, and provide functionality not available in existing designs, such as the ability to write a state and read it in the same operation cycle. The NDRO circuits provide more compact unit cells useful in memory or logic arrays, demanding fewer resources with increased functionality. The circuits also provide compact cells for AND, AND-OR, A-NOT-B, inverter, multiplexer, and demultiplexer gates.

Abstract: A superconducting neuromorphic pipelined processor core can be used to build neural networks in hardware by providing the functionality of somas, axons, dendrites and synaptic connections. Each instance of the superconducting neuromorphic pipelined processor core can implement a programmable and scalable model of one or more biological neurons in superconducting hardware that is more efficient and biologically suggestive than existing designs. This core can be used to build a wide variety of large-scale neural networks in hardware. The biologically suggestive operation of the neuron core provides additional capabilities to the network that are difficult to implement in software-based neural networks and would be impractical using room-temperature semiconductor electronics. The superconductive electronics that make up the core enable it to perform more operations per second per watt than is possible in comparable state-of-the-art semiconductor-based designs.