Abstract: A method for determining an operational condition of a vibratory system, comprising receiving vibration signals from one or more sensors associated with the vibratory system preprocessing the vibration signals to remove known noise to create a preprocessed signal, processing the preprocessed signal in both a time domain and a frequency domain to create time domain data and frequency domain data, respectively, and fusing the time domain data and the frequency domain data to determine the existence of abnormal operations.

Abstract: A control system for a flight vehicle includes first and second pivot pins each having a hollow cylindrical shape with an opening therein, first and second deployable wings configured to pivot about the first and second pivot pins between a stowed position and a deployed position with the first and second deployable wings each having first and second wing tip shafts extending between the first and second pivot pins and first and second ailerons at a tip of the deployable wings, first and second lever pins within the opening in the pivot pins with the first and second lever pins each having a first end that extends out from a top of the pivot pin and a second end connected to the wing tip shaft and with the first and second lever pins configured to rotate the wing tip shafts to control the ailerons.

Abstract: Apparatus and associated methods relate to selectively bypassing a daisy-chained network device based on a timing of a series of reset signals. The daisy-chained network device is bypassed if an elapsed time from a last of the reset signals of the series is longer than a predetermined time period. While no interval between adjacent reset signals of the series exceeds the predetermined time period, the daisy-chained network device is not bypassed. In some embodiments, the daisy-chained network device generates the series of reset signals. If the daisy-chained network device fails to generate a next reset signal within the predetermined time period as measured from a previous reset signal, the daisy-chained network device is bypassed. If the daisy-chained network device loses power, it will be bypassed as the reset signals will not be generated, but if the daisy-chained network device regains power, it can be reinserted into the network daisy-chain.

Abstract: Apparatus and associated methods relate to determining the wavelength of a narrow-band light beam. Two portions of the narrow-band light beam are projected onto two dissimilar photodetectors, respectively. The two dissimilar photodetectors have dissimilar spectral responses over a domain of wavelengths that includes the wavelength of the narrow-band light beam. Each of the two dissimilar photodetectors generates an output signal indicative of a photocurrent induced by the projection of the portion of the narrow-band light beam thereon. A ratio of the differences between the photocurrents to the sum of the photocurrents of the two dissimilar photodetectors is determined. The determined ratio is a monotonic function of wavelength over the domain wavelengths including the wavelength of the narrow-band light beam. The determined ratio is thereby indicative of the wavelength of the narrow-band light beam.

Abstract: Apparatus and associated methods relate to continuously providing power to a load throughout an interruption of a power source. While the power source is providing power, a converter is exciting a primary winding of a transformer. A load winding of the transformer delivers power to a load connected thereto, and a holdup winding provides power to a holdup circuit, which stores energy for use when the power source is interrupted. A turns ratio of the holdup winding to the primary winding is greater than one so that the energy stored by the holdup circuit is at a voltage that is greater than or equal to the voltage used for exciting the primary windings. If the voltage used for exciting the primary windings falls below a predetermined threshold, a one-shot controls the transfer of energy stored in the holdup circuit to a storage capacitor supplying current to the primary windings.

Abstract: A smart sensor system can include one or more configurable input and output channels, each configurable channel including one or more switches configured to activate the input and/or output and/or to select a type of input and/or output signal, at least one analog-to-digital converter and at least one digital-to-analog converter operatively connected to the one or more switches for the one or more configurable channels, and at least one controller configured to control the configurable channels.

Abstract: A sensor system and method includes first and second sensing elements, digital sensors, a host computer and a digital bus. The first sensing element is configured to collect first sensor data and the second sensing element is configured to collect second sensor data. The digital sensor includes a controller that is configured to receive the first and second sensor data and process the first sensor data together with the second sensor data to generate processed data. The host computer is configured to receive the processed data from the digital sensor over the digital bus.

Abstract: A first air data value is generated based on a first set of parameters. A second set of parameters that does not include any of the first set of parameters is processed through an artificial intelligence network to generate a second air data value. The second set of parameters is processed through a plurality of diagnostic artificial intelligence networks to generate a plurality of diagnostic air data values. Each of the plurality of diagnostic artificial intelligence networks excludes a different one of the second set of parameters. One of the second set of parameters is identified, based on the first air data value and the plurality of diagnostic air data values, as a fault source parameter that is associated with a fault condition.

Abstract: A power and data communication system includes an inboard computer, an outboard computer, and first and second wires. The first and second wires connect a first isolation transformer of the inboard computer to a second isolation transformer of the outboard computer. The inboard computer drives a driven voltage through the first isolation transformer. The outboard computer is configured to receive the driven voltage through the second isolation transformer to power the outboard computer. The outboard computer incudes a load that is selectively connected across the second isolation transformer to transmit data to the inboard computer. The inboard computer receives the data through the first isolation transformer.

Abstract: A computer implemented method includes transmitting a transmit command to a first data concentrator to send out a predetermined signal of predetermined characteristics according to a transmission setting, receiving a received signal from at least one second data concentrator, and determining if there are any signal transmission effects between the first data concentrator and the second data concentrator based on a comparison of the predetermined signal and the received signal.

Abstract: Apparatus and associated methods relate to generating a frequency spectrum weighting function for use in estimating a rotational frequency of the rotating member. The estimation of the rotational frequency is based on vibrations sensed by an accelerometer remotely located from a rotating member. The frequency spectrum weighting function is generated by a supervised learning method. The method includes receiving a set of test vectors. The test vectors include a rotational frequency value of the rotating member and a vibrational frequency spectrum corresponding to vibrations propagated to the accelerometer. The vibrations include vibrations caused by the rotating member rotating at the rotational frequency. The method includes calculating a test weighting function, and then weighting the vibrational frequency spectra by the test weighting function.

Abstract: A method for finding missing wireless nodes includes creating a repeating schedule of communication between a data concentrator and one or more nodes such that the data concentrator attempts to communicate with each of the one or more nodes at a discrete time slot for each node. The schedule of communication further includes at least one dead time slot such that the data concentrator does not attempt to communicate with any of the one or more nodes. The method also includes determining if each node has communicated with the data concentrator during a predetermined amount of discrete time slots, identifying each node that does not communicate with the data concentrator during the predetermined amount of discrete time slot as a missing node, and attempting to communicate with each missing node during the at least one dead time slot.

Abstract: A remote data concentrator includes an enclosure with an interior divided into first and second compartments, a first transceiver, and a second transceiver. The first transceiver is seated within the first compartment and the second transceiver is seated within the second compartment. The first and second compartments are radio-frequency isolated such that the transceivers can independently communicate with external wireless devices and communicate with one another for testing readiness of the RDC for communication with external wireless devices.

Abstract: Apparatus and associated methods relate to suppressing electrical arcing within a fuel tank in which a fuel density sensor is located by isolating electronic components of the fuel density sensor within a cavity surrounded by a dielectric housing. The dielectric housing physically isolates the sensor electronics from fuel in the fuel tank via a fuel barrier. The dielectric housing electrically isolating the sensor electronics within the cavity from potential high voltage hazards outside the cavity. Light energy optically from a first environment outside the cavity is transmitted through the dielectric housing to a second environment within the cavity to provide operating power for the sensor electronics. The light energy is converted into DC electrical energy within the cavity. A light signal indicative of fuel density is optically transmitted from the second environment within the cavity through the dielectric housing to the first environment outside the cavity.

Abstract: A system for data transfer in a rotorcraft includes a power bus extending from a power source in a main fuselage of the rotorcraft to provide electrical power to electrical loads located in a tail boom section of the rotorcraft, a first power line communication node on the power bus in the tail boom section of the rotorcraft, a second power line communication node on the power bus in the main fuselage of the rotorcraft, and a digital sensor bus connected to the first power line communication node. Information from the digital sensor bus is transmitted to the first power line communication node and across the power bus to the second power line communication node.

Abstract: A wire release mechanism includes two components with adjacent longitudinal fingers and a wire that is wound about the fingers. The wire restrains one of the components in one position and includes a higher resistance fuse that causes the wire to be loosened about the fingers to allow that component to move to another position due to the flow of electrical current through the fuse.

Abstract: A method can include generating image data of an interior of a fuel tank disposed within a wing of an aircraft, and determining, by a processing device, an amount of wing bending of the wing of the aircraft based on the generated image data of the interior of the fuel tank. The method can further include producing, by the processing device, a fuel measurement value representing an amount of fuel contained in the fuel tank based on the amount of wing bending of the wing of the aircraft, and outputting, by the processing device, an indication of the fuel measurement value.

Abstract: An actuator includes a drum defining a longitudinal axis and having axially opposed first and second end portions that are rotatable relative to one another about the longitudinal axis. A shape memory element is wrapped around the drum and extends from the first end portion of the drum to the second end portion of the drum to actuate relative rotation of the first and second end portions of the drum about the longitudinal axis by activation of the shape memory element.

Abstract: A proximity sensor includes an active sensor, a passive target, and a measurement circuit. The active sensor includes an active resonant tank circuit that includes an excitation source, a first capacitor, and a first inductor. The passive target includes a passive resonant tank circuit that includes a second capacitor and a second inductor, where magnetic coupling between the first inductor and the second inductor varies as a function of physical displacement of the first inductor and the second inductor with respect to one another. The measurement circuit is configured to measure a coupled resonant frequency response in the active resonant tank circuit and provide a measured distance output based on the coupled resonant frequency response.

Abstract: A ring coupling includes a first cylindrical body defining an outward facing coupling surface extending in a circumferential direction. A second cylindrical body defines an inward facing coupling surface extending in the circumferential direction. A retainer ring is engaged to the coupling surfaces of the first and second cylindrical bodies to prevent axial disengagement of the first and second cylindrical bodies. The cylindrical bodies can be coupled without relative circumferential rotation of the first and second cylindrical bodies.