Abstract: A system includes a probe and a transducer. The probe is detachable and includes a mount having an outlet of a first gas path extending through the probe and a protrusion extending away from the mount. The transducer is configured to mate with the mount and includes a sealing feature adjacent an inlet of the second gas path in fluid communication with the first gas path. When the mount of the probe is adjacent the transducer, the protrusion interacts with the sealing feature such that the sealing feature is in an open position to allow air to flow from the first gas path into the second gas path. When the mount of the probe is distant from the transducer, the sealing feature is in a closed position to prevent contaminants from entering the second gas path.

Abstract: An angle of attack sensor includes a housing, a heated chassis positioned at least partially within the housing and defining a pocket, a mounting plate positioned adjacent the heated chassis and having a circular opening, an external surface facing away from the housing, and an internal surface facing toward the housing, and a vane assembly extending through the circular opening of the mounting plate. The vane assembly includes a vane extending from a root to a tip and a vane base connected to the root of the vane and positioned within the pocket of the heated chassis such that the vane base is offset inwardly from the external surface toward the housing.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling power includes a power source, a plurality of primary control circuits, a load, at least one secondary control circuit, a switch circuit, and a control channel. The plurality of primary control circuits are connected to control load power from the power source to respective ones of a plurality of load power inputs. The load is configured to receive power from the plurality of load power inputs. The at least one secondary control circuit is connected to the power source, and the switch circuit is connected between the at least one secondary control circuit and the plurality of load power inputs. The control channel is configured to control the switch circuit to connect the at least one secondary control circuit to a selected one of the plurality of load power inputs.

Abstract: An aircraft ice detection system is configured to determine a condition of a cloud and includes a radar system, a lidar system, optics and a dichroic filter. The radar system is configured to project quasi-optical radiation to the cloud and receive reflected quasi-optical radiation from the cloud. The lidar system is configured to project optical radiation to the cloud and receive reflected optical radiation from the cloud. The optics are configured to direct the quasi-optical radiation and the optical radiation to the cloud and receive the reflected quasi-optical radiation and the reflected optical radiation from the cloud. The dichroic filter is configured to direct the quasi-optical radiation from the radar system to the optics, direct the optical radiation from the lidar system to the optics, direct the reflected quasi-optical radiation from the optics to the radar system and direct the reflected optical radiation from the optics to the lidar system.

Abstract: In one example, a method includes receiving, over an aircraft data communications bus, a plurality of non-pneumatic inputs corresponding to aircraft operational parameters. The method further includes processing the plurality of non-pneumatic inputs through an artificial intelligence network to generate an air data output value, and outputting the air data output value to a consuming system for use when a pneumatic-based air data output value is determined to be unreliable.

Abstract: An image processing system configured to process perceived images of an environment includes a central processing unit (CPU) including a memory storage device having stored thereon a computer model of the environment, at least one sensor configured and disposed to capture a perceived environment including at least one of visual images of the environment and range data to objects in the environment, and a rendering unit (RU) configured and disposed to render the computer model of the environment forming a rendered model of the environment. The image processing system compares the rendered model of the environment to the perceived environment to update the computer model of the environment.

Abstract: An angle of attack sensor includes a vane that is freely rotatable to align with a direction of an oncoming airflow over the vane. The airfoil includes a root proximate a vane hub that connects to a rotatable shaft, a tip opposite the root, a leading edge, a trailing edge opposite the leading edge, a first lateral face, a second lateral face, and a heating element disposed within the airfoil between the first and second lateral faces proximate the leading edge. The first lateral face extends from the leading edge to the trailing edge. The second lateral face is opposite the first lateral face and extends from the leading edge to the trailing edge. The first and second lateral faces are symmetric about a chord of the airfoil and each have an outer surface profile that is nonlinear and geometrically convex from the leading edge to the trailing edge.

Abstract: Apparatus and associated methods relate to an array of independently-controllable laser diode bars configured to scan a linearly-structured beam of light upon a scene. Each of the independently-controllable laser diode bars is distributed along a common axis. Each of the independently-controllable laser diode bars is configured to emit a beam of light in an emission direction orthogonal to the common axis. Each of the independently-controllable laser diode bars can be energized in a sequence, thereby scanning the scene in the direction of the common axis.

Abstract: A system for an aircraft includes a pneumatic sensor, an optical sensor, and a computer system. The pneumatic sensor is configured to sense a value external to the aircraft. The optical sensor is configured to emit an optical signal external to the aircraft and receive an optical response. The computer system is configured to receive the value and the optical response. The pneumatic sensor and the optical sensor do not extend beyond a boundary layer of the aircraft.

Abstract: Apparatus and associated methods relate to ranging object(s) nearby an aircraft using triangulation of pulses of linearly-patterned light projected upon and reflected by the object(s). A light projector projects the pulses of linearly-patterned light in a controllable direction onto the scene external to the aircraft. A reflected portion of the projected pulses is focused onto a selected row or column of light-sensitive pixels of a two-dimensional array, thereby forming a row or column of image data. The direction of projected light and the row or column of pixels selected are coordinated so that the portion of the projected pulses reflected by the scene is received by the camera and focused on the selected one of the rows or columns of light-sensitive pixels. Location(s) and/or range(s) of object(s) in the scene are calculated, based on a projector location, a camera location, and the row or column of image data.

Abstract: An aircraft includes an air data sensor and a heating element. The air data sensor includes a probe and transducer coupled to the probe. The heating element is disposed within the probe and is configured to emit heat that heats the probe. The aircraft further comprises a heater control system in signal communication with the heating element and a thermal sensor system. The thermal sensor system is configured to determine the emitted heat from the heating element based on the thermal radiation of heat released from a surface of the probe. In this manner, the heater control system can actively vary the temperature of the heating element based on the emitted heat from the heating element.

Abstract: Apparatus and associated methods relate to forming images for a terminal-imaging seeker using software defined optics. An optically-neutral lens with a ballistic-ogive-shaped front surface receives light from a scene aligned along an optical axis. The optically-neutral lens transmits the light received at the ballistic-ogive-shaped front surface to a planar rear surface, which is then transmitted to a coded-aperture plate aligned with the optical axis. The coded-aperture plate includes a plurality of pinhole-like apertures, each of which is configured to perform pinhole-like lensing of the scene. The plurality of pinhole-like apertures form a multiplex of overlapping images on a focal plane array aligned with the optical axis. An image processor reconstructs, based on a configuration of the plurality of pinhole-like apertures and the multiplex of overlapping images, a single image of the scene.

Abstract: A system for securing a Wi-Fi network includes a power source that transmits an electric current along at least one power line, a power line communication (PLC) module in electrical communication with the power source via the at least one power line with the PLC module being configured to modulate the electric current to include a power line communication that contains a Wi-Fi network authentication key, and a control module in electrical communication with and downstream from the PLC module via the at least one power line with the control module being configured to extract the power line communication from the electric current and utilize the Wi-Fi network authentication key to access the Wi-Fi network.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a patterned aluminum nitride layer includes growing an amorphous patterned layer on a seed layer, which promotes growth of a first type aluminum nitride layer that has a disordered crystallographic structure. The seed layer promotes growth of a second type aluminum nitride layer with a vertically oriented columnar crystal structure. The method also includes depositing an aluminum nitride layer over the amorphous patterned layer and the seed layer to form the first type aluminum nitride layer with the disordered crystallographic structure over the amorphous patterned layer and the second type aluminum nitride layer with the vertically oriented columnar crystal structure over the seed layer. The method also includes depositing a masking layer over the second type aluminum nitride layer and etching away the first type aluminum nitride layer.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include methods and systems for architectures for wireless avionics communication networks. The embodiments further include detecting a signal strength of wireless nodes, assigning a primary data controller and standby data controller for each of the wireless nodes based at least in part on the signal strength, and generating a deployment matrix based on the assignment of the primary data controller and the standby data controller. The embodiments also include broadcasting the deployment matrix over a wired connection, allocating a buffer size based on data rates of each of the wireless nodes connected to the primary data controller and the standby data controller, and exchanging data based on the deployment matrix.

Abstract: An optical assembly comprises a mounting structure, a plurality of optical elements, and a conformal filler material. The mounting structure has a plurality of axially spaced circumferentially recessed undercuts formed into an inner surface of the mounting structure. The optical elements are axially spaced in the mounting structure. At least one of the optical elements includes an undercut in a perimeter edge surface. The undercut is aligned with one of the plurality of undercuts in the mounting structure, such that the aligned circumferential undercuts define a void. The conformal filler material is cast in place in the void to create a mechanical lock between the optical element and mounting structure.

Abstract: Apparatus and associated methods relate to coordinating guided-missile targeting among multiple guided missiles using inter-missile optical communications. An inter-missile communications channel is optically established with a first guided missile illuminating a first target within a scene aligned along a first missile axis, and a second guided missile receiving the illumination reflected by the first target. By illuminating the first target within the scene, the first guided missile designates the first target. The second guided missile can be configured to navigate to the designated first target or to select a second target not designated by the first guided missile. In some embodiments, the second guided missile can be configured to illuminate its selected second target so as to designate the selected second target and to communicate the designation to other guided missiles.

Abstract: Apparatus and associated methods relate to reliably determining both size of large water droplets and density of small water droplets in a multi-modal cloud atmosphere. A pulsed beam of light is projected into the cloud atmosphere and a receiver receives a reflected portion of the projected pulsed beam backscattered by the cloud atmosphere. The received reflected portion is split into first and second parts. First and second parts are directed to first and second detectors, each having a different gain. A ratio of the gains of the first and second detector is greater than 3:1, thereby providing a low-gain detector for producing unsaturated signals indicative of scintillation spike reflection by large water particles and a simultaneous high-gain detector for producing signals indicative of range-resolved reflections by numerous small water particles.

Abstract: A MEMS device includes a backing wafer with a support portion and central back plate connected to the support portion with spring flexures, a diaphragm wafer with a support portions and a sensing portion connected to the support portion with spring flexures, a passivation layer on the diaphragm, and a topping wafer. The device allows for stress isolation of a diaphragm in a piezoresistive device without a large MEMS die.

Abstract: A laser direct metal deposition method for a graphite substrate is provided. The laser direct metal deposition method includes creating an assembling by sliding an outer sheath over the graphite substrate. Further, laser direct metal deposition method includes performing a laser scanning of the outer sheath and performing a laser metal deposition over the graphite substrate with the outer sheath.