Abstract: An image generation device includes: a spatial light modulator; a source of light; a beam deflector; an illumination waveguide and an image transport waveguide, each waveguide containing at least one switchable grating; and a coupler for directing scanned light into a first set of TIR paths in said illumination waveguide. A switchable grating in the illumination waveguide diffracts light onto said SLM, a switchable grating in said image transport waveguide diffracting image-modulated from the SLM into a waveguide path.

Abstract: A collinear latching and locking system is disclosed. In embodiments, the system includes a strike with a lock bolt disposed at or defined by an end of the strike. The system further includes a latch pawl configured to surround at least a portion of the strike. The strike and the latch pawl are configured to actuate linearly along the same axis. In this regard, the strike and the latch pawl have a collinear configuration and actuation path. The system further includes a latch cam configured to actuate the latch pawl from a latched position to an unlatched position when the latch cam is turned.

Abstract: A system including an aircraft. A phased array may be configured to transmit electromagnetic (EM) energy toward rotor blades and receive EM energy in a direction from the rotor blades. A processor may be configured to: determine or obtain rotor blade information; determine or obtain aircraft information; based on the rotor blade information and the aircraft information, determine (a) a time to transmit EM energy or receive EM energy and (b) an angle to transmit EM energy or receive EM energy; and based on the rotor blade information and the aircraft information, control the phased array to adjust a beam pointing angle and to transmit EM energy for a duration at the beam pointing angle. The phased array may be configured to transmit EM energy for the duration at the beam pointing angle, wherein the transmitted EM energy is configured to reflect off a rotor blade toward a target.

Abstract: An article of manufacture may include a tangible, non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having instructions stored thereon that, in response to execution by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising: receiving, via the processor, an ejection command for ejecting an ejection seat from an aircraft; determining, via the processor, an aircraft or ejection seat altitude and an aircraft or ejection seat speed; and commanding, via the processor, a simultaneous or staged deployment of a drogue parachute and a main parachute upon or just prior to separation of the ejection seat from the aircraft, the simultaneous or staged deployment being described herein.

Abstract: An optical waveguide comprises at least two TIR surface and contains a grating. Input TIR light with a first angular range along a first propagation direction undergoes at least two diffractions at the grating. Each diffraction directs light into a unique TIR angular range along a second propagation direction.

Abstract: A system and method for real-time in-situ calibration of an Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) utilizes an S-parameter matrix-based EM transfer function between an end fire, unobtrusive, near field probe radiating element to minimize AESA look angle blockage. A sniffer probe is integrated in the AESA aperture of mechanical mounting frame or embedded with the AESA aperture structure. Hadamard orthogonal coding is utilized to simultaneously energize AESA elements.

Abstract: A system and method for optimizing mission fulfillment via unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) within a mission space generates or receives atmospheric models forecasting weather and wind through the mission space, the atmospheric models having an uncertainty factor. Until the projected flight time, the controller may iterate through one or more simulations of a projected flight plan through the mission space, determining the probability of successful fulfillment of mission objectives based on the most current atmospheric models (including the ability of the UAS to navigate the flight plan within authorized airspace constraints). Based on conditions and behaviors observed during a simulated flight plan, the controller may revise flight plans, flight times, or atmospheric models for subsequent simulations. Based on multiple probabilities of fulfillment across multiple simulations, the controller selects an optimal flight plan and/or flight time for fulfillment of the assigned set of mission objectives.

Abstract: A system and method for an ownship aircraft auto transition from an assigned spacing application to a visual separation application provides the ability to intuitively pre-configure for and execute an automatic transition from an assigned spacing traffic application managing an assigned interval spacing to a traffic application managing visual separation from an assigned target aircraft. This feature enables integration between separate traffic applications, creating new capabilities while reducing the workload on the pilot during a particularly busy phase of flight.

Abstract: A simulation environment is disclosed. In embodiments, the simulation environment includes deep learning neural networks trained to generate photorealistic geotypical image content while preserving spatial coherence. The deep learning networks are trained to correlate geo-specific datasets with input images of increasing detail and resolution to iteratively generate output images until the desired level of detail is reached. The correlation of image input with geo-specific data (e.g., labeled data elements, land use data, biome data, elevational data, near-IR imagery) preserves spatial coherence of objects and image elements between output images, e.g., between adjacent levels of detail and/or between adjacent image tiles sharing a common level of detail.

Abstract: A log periodic antenna system with conformal radiating elements includes a feed layer with phase shifters and filters associated with each radiating element. The filters may be low-pass or band-pass filters. The log periodic conformal radiating elements produce superior gain and bandwidth, and reduce directionality of the antenna at least along a radial axis of the antenna. Sets of conformal radiating elements are disposed on opposing sides of the antenna, or periodically around the surface of the antenna, to further reduce directionality.

Abstract: A low-profile, ultra-wideband, conformal antenna is actively driven by a four-port quadrature feed circuit for both cardioid and monopole radiation patterns. The quadrature four-port and differential two-port driven radiating elements are organized into a log periodic array that is driven without frequency dispersion. The log periodic array may produce circularly polarized beams. For radiating elements that do not operate via a ground plane, stepped artificial magnetic conductors isolate the drive circuitry.

Abstract: A method for establishing a situational awareness of a surface of a body of water is disclosed. In various embodiments, the method includes deploying a plurality of autonomous buoys under or on the surface of the body of water; and scattering the plurality of autonomous buoys to form a mesh communication network.

Abstract: A circuit and method for timing-tolerant optical pulse energy electrical conversion receives a current pulse stream converted from an input optical pulse stream (which may be periodic or nonperiodic), converts the current pulse stream to an electrical waveform of voltage pulses and detects each voltage pulse, e.g., by its leading edge. The conversion circuit may include a divider circuit for receiving the electrical waveform, dividing the waveform into a multi-channel output of divided electrical waveforms, and sequential logic circuits for adjusting a width window of each voltage pulse according to an adjustable delay.

Abstract: A platform is provided which removes the need for the pilot to select between high angle and low angle antenna elements. By the automatic selection, the platform may improve BLOS connectivity during various phases of flight, such as during banking operations. The platform includes a SATCOM antenna including first and second elements. The platform also includes one or more SDRs which provide receive and transmit functions for the BLOS waveform. The platform may also include either a UHF diversity combiner or an LNA diplexer assembly. Thus, two methods are described for reducing out-of-service events for CDMA and legacy Narrowband UHF SATCOM.

Abstract: A system and method for collision avoidance within nodes of an Automatic Link Exchange (ALE) network establishes a handshake between transmitting and receiving nodes for a linked call over an assigned frequency band. The transmitting and receiving nodes mutually determine transmission and reception sub-channel vectors within the assigned frequency band, e.g., for calling and response. Before the linked call commences, and when other scanning stations of the ALE network dwell on the assigned frequency band, the transmitting and receiving nodes transmit collision avoidance protocol data units (PDU) identifying the nodes, the transmission and reception sub-channel vectors, and the duration of the linked call such that scanning nodes may prevent interference with the linked call by avoiding transmission over the identified sub-channels.

Abstract: A filter apparatus is disclosed. The filter apparatus may include a plurality of dielectric layers. The plurality of dielectric layers may include one or more first dielectric layers formed of a first dielectric material and one or more second dielectric layers formed of a second dielectric material. The second dielectric material of the one or more second dielectric layers being different than the first dielectric material of the one or more first dielectric layers. The filter apparatus may further include one or more thin-film metal layers arranged between at least one dielectric layer of the plurality of dielectric layers and an additional dielectric layer of the plurality of dielectric layers.

Abstract: A receiver device to receive an incoming radio frequency (RF) satellite signal from a satellite vehicle includes a processor and computer-readable storage media. The computer-readable storage media is communicably connected to the processor and has instructions stored thereon that, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to track the incoming RF satellite signal in code phase and carrier frequency, the incoming RF satellite signal having a primary pseudorandom (PRN) code and a secondary PRN code modulated thereon, generate an encoded sequence of dot product values of adjacent integrated in-phase (I) and quadrature-phase (Q) components of the incoming RF satellite signal, compare the encoded sequence with expected secondary code chip transitions, determine a secondary code phase for the secondary PRN code based on the comparison, and coherently integrate the secondary code phase with the incoming RF satellite signal to increase an integration interval.

Abstract: A system may include a transmitter node and a receiver node. Each node may include a communications interface including at least one antenna element and a controller operatively coupled to the communications interface, the controller including one or more processors. Each node may be time synchronized to apply Doppler corrections to said node's own motions relative to a stationary common inertial reference frame. The stationary common inertial reference frame may be known to the transmitter node and the receiver node prior to the transmitter node transmitting signals to the receiver node and prior to the receiver node receiving the signals from the transmitter node.

Abstract: A system includes a communication interface configured to receive squitter messages from other aircraft in the vicinity of an ownship aircraft. The system also includes a processor aboard the ownship configured to receive the squitter messages, determine the altitude and position of the other aircraft from the squitter messages, and compare the altitude of the other aircraft to terrain data at the determined position to determine whether any of the other aircraft are operating abnormally. The system also includes a display providing an indication that a first aircraft of the other aircraft is operating abnormally.

Abstract: Cellular communications, such as 5G cellular, may be a primary link between cell phones and a base station. Such cellular communications may be desirable, due to a high link rate. When the cellular communications are denied, a tactical waveform may be used to bridge communications between the cell phones and the base station. The tactical waveform may be transmitted between tactical radios coupled with the cell phones. The waveform may include a line-of-sight waveform. The tactical waveform may also include a beyond-line-of-sight waveform.