Abstract: A system and apparatus is provided for a modular radar system. The modular radar system can include a plurality of radar system modules that can be detachably coupled and can include a configurable number of radio-frequency (RF) transmit and receive assemblies. The RF transmit and receive assemblies can include radiating element(s) that emit electromagnetic radiation. The plurality of radar system modules can also include at least one processor coupled to control power of the electromagnetic radiation and/or at least one controller to control the RF transmit and receive assembly, the power unit and the digital receiver and exciter module, at least one digital receiver and exciter to convert RF to digital in receive mode, and digital to RF in transmit mode, and/or at least one RF beamformer to generate one or more RF beams.

Abstract: A system including: a container that is arranged to enclose, at least in part, an object; a monitoring device that is disposed inside or on an exterior surface of the container and configured to monitor the object; a notification device that is coupled to the container, the notification device including: (1) an output unit that is arranged to provide a first indicator and a second indicator, (2) a memory that is configured to store a first threshold, and (3) a processing circuitry that is configured to: establish a connection with the monitoring device; receive a first parameter value from the monitoring device, the first parameter value corresponding to a parameter of the object that is monitored by the monitoring device; detect, based on the first parameter value, whether the parameter has crossed the first threshold; and turn on the first indicator when the first threshold is crossed.

Abstract: A mitigation control system, for performing an active hazard mitigation method, is arranged in an environment containing an energetic material and includes an abnormal temperature sensor for detecting an abnormal temperature of the environment, a power source that is mechanically actuated by the abnormal temperature sensor when the abnormal temperature exceeds a predetermined abnormal temperature threshold, a mitigation controller that is actuated by the power source, and a plurality of local temperature sensors that are communicatively coupled to the mitigation controller and are arranged for detecting critical temperatures in specific regions of the environment. The mitigation controller executes a mitigation action when one of the critical temperatures exceeds a predetermined critical temperature threshold for the corresponding specific region.

Abstract: A waveguide-to-waveguide power combiner/divider including a waveguide including a first opening at a first end of a first section of the waveguide in a first plane and n openings of n sections at n other ends of the waveguide, wherein n is a positive integer. At least one of the n sections is bent in at least one plane different from the plane of first section, and the first section and n sections each have at least two sides that are broader than at least two other sides; and n?1 walls within waveguide configured to divide a height of first section into n heights. Each of n sections has a height equal to one of the n heights, wherein the n?1 walls are located at a junction of the first section and the n sections and extend toward the first opening of the first section.

Abstract: An apparatus for and a method of a coaxial-to-waveguide power combiner/divider. The apparatus includes a single-fin coaxial-to-waveguide power combiner/divider, including a waveguide having one open end, one closed end, and two sides that are broader than two other sides; two fins in a plane within the waveguide, wherein the plane is configured to be parallel to the broader sides of the waveguide; and at least one coaxial input joined to each of the two fins. Signals may be applied to the at least one coaxial input joined to each of the two fins are in phase with each other, and a number of the at least one coaxial input joined to each of the two fins may include one of a same number and a different number.

Abstract: A method of forming a heat spreader on a printed circuit board (PCB), having a power dissipating component operably coupled thereto, includes attaching a thermally and electrically conductive structure, to a first side of the PCB to define a first PCB region that includes the component and a second PCB region without. The underside of the component is underfilled to electrically insulate its solder contacts. A first protective layer is applied to the second region of the PCB. A conductive plating membrane is deposited to the first region, the second region, and to the structure. A second protective layer is applied over a portion of the conductive plating membrane that overlays the second region, leaving exposed the rest of the conductive plating membrane. An electrically and thermally conductive layer is electroplated over the exposed areas of the conductive plating membrane, to form a heat exchanger within the first region.

Abstract: A radar array assembly is provided, comprising a first chassis and a first vertical stiffener. The first chassis is configured to house a first set of array electronics and a second set of array electronics. The first vertical stiffener is disposed within and operably coupled to the first chassis to enable the first chassis to be resistant to buckling and to define a first cavity in which the first set of array electronics is disposed and a second cavity in which the second set of array electronics is disposed, wherein the first vertical stiffener is configured to be embedded within the first set of array electronics and the second set of array electronics, wherein the first vertical stiffener comprises a first integrated cooling manifold configured to cool both the first set of array electronics and the second set of array electronics.

Abstract: Described herein is a traveling wave tube (TWT), comprising an electron gun configured to generate an electron beam (E-beam); a signal injector configured to generate a radio frequency (RF) signal; a slow wave structure (SWS) having an aperture configured to combine the E-beam and the RF signal; an outer wall enclosing the SWS; and at least one electromagnetically-active material on one of (1) at least one projection on at least one of a periphery of the SWS and on a side of the outer wall facing the SWS and (2) the periphery of the SWS configured to receive at least one electromagnetic signal to control, on-the-fly, amplification of the RF signal by maximizing dampening of spurious modes while minimizing dampening of operating modes.

Abstract: A simulated payload apparatus (SPA) for testing in a flight motion system (FMS), which has a body for mounting in the FMS, and which simulates an actual payload during the FMS test. The SPA may include a plurality of adjustable weights that are mountable on and/or removable from the body to vary the mass and/or center of gravity of the SPA. The SPA may include an adjustable bracket for interfacing with a motion drive of the FMS, in which the bracket is positionable along the body to vary the moment of inertia of the SPA. The SPA may include an onboard electronic measurement device that is configured to measure a motion characteristic of the SPA and/or communicate information about the measured motion characteristic in real-time during the FMS test. The SPA may include a laser alignment for aligning the SPA relative to test equipment of the FMS.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a diffractive grating configured to receive multiple output beams from an array of laser sources. The apparatus also includes one or more optical elements configured to receive, direct, and focus multiple zeroth-order light beams, where the zeroth-order light beams include portions of the output beams reflected off the diffractive grating. The apparatus further includes a detector configured to receive the zeroth-order light beams from at least one of the one or more optical elements and process the zeroth-order light beams to generate diagnostic information.

Abstract: A high-power microwave (HPM) vacuum tube source and method of precise coaxial alignment of the field emission (FE) cathode, cylindrical RF generating tube and magnet field includes positioning a low-power thermionic emission (TE) cathode inside the FE cathode in a “cathode-in-cathode” arrangement. With the HPM source under vacuum and the FE cathode deactivated, the TE cathode emits a surrogate electron beam through the generating tube. Measurement circuits measure the surrogate electron beam's position with respect to a longitudinal axis fore and aft of the generating tube. The measurements circuits may, for example, be a repositionable fluorescent target or electric field sensors embedded in the cylindrical RF generating tube. The coaxial alignment of the primary cathode, cylindrical RE generating tube and magnet is adjusted until the position of the surrogate electron beam satisfies a coaxial alignment tolerance.

Abstract: A calibration disc for providing uniform irradiance to an optical sensor system includes a first major surface, a second major surface opposite the first major surface, and an edge surface extending around a circumference of the calibration disc. The first major surface is fully reflective and partially diffuse, the second major surface is partially reflective and partially diffuse, and the edge surface is fully reflective and partially diffuse and has an entrance aperture positioned at the edge surface and configured to receive light into the calibration disc. The first major surface, the second major surface and the edge surface are configured to scatter the light received by the entrance aperture within the calibration disc. The second major surface is configured to emit at least some of the light with uniform irradiance.

Abstract: An effector having an extendible range and a method for extending the range of an effector includes using an axially translatable center body that is movable from a stowed position, in which the center body is stowed in an outer body of the effector, to a deployed position in which the center body extends out of the outer body to extend the axial length of the effector. The effector includes a ramjet assembly and the subsystems of the effector are contained in the center body. The movement of the center body exposes radially positioned ramjet fuel in the outer body, such that the air entering the ramjet inlet may be heated by combusting the air with the fuel for additional fuel and propulsion of the effector.

Abstract: Photonic devices including a distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) having a stack of Group III-Nitride layers and Aluminum Scandium Nitride layers.

Abstract: A laser sensor system including a common optical bench that is configured to receive and process different beams of a high energy laser (HEL). The common optical bench is configured to handle the different beams using a modular set of optical components. Optical components of the common optical bench include a filtering device configured to reduce the power of the beams, a common collecting optical element that is configured to set an imaging position and focal length for the beams, a position sensitive detector (PSD) arrangement that is configured to measure angular and positional errors in the beams, and various compaction optical elements, such as mirrors, that are configured to enable compaction of the laser sensor system by increasing the focal length of the beams.

Abstract: A Marman band clamp has multiple parts, such as two halves, that together make up a ring. The halves are joined by diametrically opposed mechanical connections, one of which is a mechanical release separably mechanically coupled ends of the parts (halves). The mechanical release may include an explosive bolt that is used to release the ends of the halves. The mechanical release may capture portions of the release at the ends of the ring halves after severing of the explosive bolt. A nut may be retained by an end of one of the halves by use of a retainer fastener, such as a pin, to prevent the nut from separating from the ring half end when the bolt is severed. This helps retain the pressurized gases between the severed part of the bolt longer, better using the energy from the pressurized gases to reliably separate the ends of the halves.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for measuring and optionally adjusting the temperature profile of an optical window. In one example, an optical window with integrated temperature sensing functionality includes a first window layer of an optically transparent material, a second window layer of the optically transparent material, an electromagnetic interference shielding grid disposed between the first and second window layers and including a first electrically conductive structure and a second electrically conductive structure, and a thermally sensitive material disposed between the first and second electrically conductive structures, the thermally sensitive material having an electrical property that varies as a function of temperature.

Abstract: A method is provided to fabricate a wafer including a bonding layer interposed between a device wafer and a handle wafer. The method includes performing a first deposition process to deposit an ultraviolet (UV) shield layer on a backside surface of the handle wafer. A second deposition process is performed to deposit a stress compensation layer on an exposed surface of the UV shield layer. The UV shield layer blocks UV energy generated while performing the second deposition process from reaching the bonding layer.

Abstract: An optical signal receiver includes a multimode waveguide for receiving a complex modulated optical signal, an optical resonator that receives the complex modulated optical signal from the multimode waveguide and converts the complex modulated optical signal to an intensity modulated signal, and a detector that is configured to convert the intensity modulated signal into an electrical signal, the electrical signal having an amplitude indicative of an intensity of the intensity modulated signal from the optical resonator, and that provides a detected signal.

Abstract: A system and method for capturing an unmanned aerial vehicle includes a net configured to receive the unmanned aerial vehicle, an infrared emitter arrangement including a plurality of infrared emitters arranged around the net, an infrared sensor mounted to the unmanned aerial vehicle and configured to detect the infrared emitter arrangement, and a processor that is in communication with the infrared sensor and configured to adjust an azimuth and elevation of the unmanned aerial vehicle based on the detected infrared emitter arrangement in a field-of-view of the infrared sensor.