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 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 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.

Abstract: A system including a radar receiver, a computer readable medium, and a processor. A data structure containing historical information pertaining to weather conditions for multiple locations may reside in the medium. The processor may be configured to: obtain aircraft data including information of an aircraft position; obtain external data; obtain a portion of the historical information pertaining to a location corresponding to the aircraft position; obtain weather radar data; analyze the weather radar data to determine if windshear exceeds a windshear alert threshold; upon an occurrence of the windshear exceeding the windshear alert threshold, determine whether to issue or suppress a windshear alert based on the aircraft data, the external data, and/or the portion of the historical information; and one of a) output the windshear alert for presentation to a user or b) adjust the windshear alert threshold causing the windshear alert to be suppressed and/or suppress the windshear alert.

Abstract: A system and for determining precision navigation solutions decorrelates GPS carrier-phase ambiguities derived from multiple-source GPS information via Least-squares AMBiguity Decorrelation Adjustment (LAMBDA) algorithms. The set of decorrelated floating-point ambiguities is used to compute protection levels and the probability of almost fix (PAF), or the probability that the partial almost-fix solution corresponding to the decorrelated ambiguities is within the region of correctly-fixed or low-error almost-fixed ambiguities. While the PAF remains below threshold and the protection levels remain below alert levels, the optimal navigation solution (floating-point, partial almost-fix, or fully fixed) is generated by fixing the decorrelated ambiguities are one at a time in the LAMBDA domain and replacing the appropriate carrier-phase ambiguities with the corresponding fixed ambiguities, reverting to the last solution if PAF reaches the threshold or if protection levels reach the alert levels.

Abstract: A method for testing platforms (e.g., live, virtual, and/or constructive platforms associated with autonomous aircraft systems and their component subsystems) in a live/virtual/constructive (LVC) environment. In embodiments, the method includes determining, via a testbed engine, the development state of a platform component under test. The method includes retrieving a test to be executed, the test including test conditions to be applied to the component. The method includes determining whether the component is enabled to respond to the test conditions. The method includes, if the component is enabled to respond to the test conditions, executing the test while monitoring the component to detect a first output response and a second output response. The method includes identifying, via the testbed engine, at least one change in the development state of the component by comparing the first and second output responses.

Abstract: A participating unit (PU; e.g., radio system, communications node) for a fourth generation (4G) automatic link establishment (ALE) network is disclosed. The PU initiates a link quality analysis (LQA) exchange with a callee PU of the network by transmitting a link request. The caller PU receives in response to the link request a link confirmation including callee-side LQA data for the reception of the link request, performing LQA measurements based on the reception. In response to the link request, the caller PU terminates the LQA exchange by transmitting to the callee PU a link termination including encoded caller-side LQA data, so data from both sides of the exchange is stored by both PUs.

Abstract: A system and method for hybrid any-cast (unicast, multicast and anycast) routing in a mobile ad hoc communication network (MANET) is disclosed. In embodiments, each communication node of the MANET may implement on-demand routing functions whereby the node does not establish or maintain routes to destination nodes unless there is active communication, discovering routes via flooding of data packets in transit. Each communication node may select, or may transition from on-demand to, proactive routing functions. Proactive nodes first establish routes to clusters of other proactive nodes by flooding, and receiving acknowledgments from, the other proactive nodes. Each cluster of proactive nodes maintains routes within the cluster and establishes communication routes outside the cluster by flooding and relaying of routing status messages via clusterhead and gateway nodes.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed. The system includes a computer readable medium having non-transitory computer readable program code embodied therein for risk-aware contingency flight re-planning. The computer readable instructions include instructions, which when executed by a computer device or processors, perform and direct the step of receiving a preplanned route, receiving a risk tolerance level from a decision maker, receiving input from a database, receiving an indication of an en route risk to the vehicle, determining an association of an exposure cost with at least one of a plurality of 4-D paths, ranking the plurality of 4-D paths based on the association of the exposure cost, and displaying a portion of the plurality of 4-D paths to the decision maker.

Abstract: A system and method for deploying software is disclosed. The system includes an architecture for deploying simulation software as a service. The architecture includes a client layer. The client layer includes an edge device, a resource manager, an update framework, a firewall, and a key management system. The architecture further includes a control layer communicatively coupled to the client layer, wherein a portion of the control layer is configured within a server. The control layer includes an application programming interface, one or more containers, wherein at least one of the one or more containers is a simulation processing container. The control layer further includes an orchestration node, a continuous integration tool, one or more processors, and a content delivery network module. The architecture further includes a data layer communicatively coupled to the one or more containers.

Abstract: A system is disclosed that includes an electronic package. The electronic package includes a package base couplable to a host substrate, and a package lid mechanically coupled to the package base that includes one or more transparent lid areas, configured to permit transmission of light. The electronic package further includes a thermal spreader bonded on a first side to a first side of the package lid. The thermal spreader includes one or more transparent spreader areas that are configured to allow transmission of light through the thermal spreader. The electronic package further includes one or more integrated circuits bonded to a second side of the thermal spreader that communicatively coupled to the host substrate. The electronic package further includes one or more optical paths that include at least one of the one or more transparent spreader areas configured adjacent to at least one of the transparent lid areas.

Abstract: A circuit board is disclosed that has a pre-warming function. The circuit board includes a substrate and one or more conductive paths embedded in the substrate. The one or more electrically conductive paths include a logic control circuit containing a heating element and a temperature-sensitive element configured to control the heating element and deliver an input when the temperature-sensitive element has reached a threshold temperature. The one or more electrically conductive paths further includes a heater power circuit configured to deliver power to the logic control circuit. The one or more electrically conductive paths further includes an operational power circuit configured to switch off power to the heater power circuit and switch on power to the operational power circuit upon a delivery of the input from the logic control circuit.

Abstract: A system and method for cooperative aerial vehicle collision avoidance provides an ESA-based sensor network capable of high-resolution threat proximity measurements and cooperative and non-cooperative collision avoidance in the full spherical volume surrounding an aerial vehicle. The system incorporates a plurality of ESA panels onto the airframe where the conical scan volumes overlap leaving no gaps in spherical proximity coverage. The resulting received data is stitched together between the neighboring ESA panels and used to determine a position and vector for each threat aerial vehicle within range. The data is transmitted through a cooperative collision avoidance network to nearby aerial vehicles, and presented to the autopilot and flight crew to increase situational awareness. The system determines a maneuver for the aerial vehicle and a maneuver for the threat aerial vehicle based on relative maneuvering capabilities to maintain desired separation.