Abstract: A method of processing a radar hit from an object using, for each of a plurality of cells, a signal strength threshold, a hit rate threshold, a time of last detection; and receiving, for one of the plurality of cells corresponding to the object, a measured signal strength, a measured hit rate and a time of measurement. The object is identified as clutter if the measured hit rate is greater than the hit rate threshold, and the measured signal strength is less than signal strength threshold. The signal strength threshold is above a conventional CFAR signal threshold. Measured Doppler strength may also be used to identify clutter. Identification can be determined using Doppler-polarity-specific data values. The hit rate and the mean Doppler speed of the one of the plurality of cells can be updated using a running average.

Abstract: Method and system for detecting and/or quantifying recent human presence in an environment using a calculated rate of decay of carbon dioxide concentration levels within that environment. A sensor measures the change in carbon dioxide levels over time to calculate the rate of decay to equilibrium and extrapolate recent human presence. Also provided is a method and system for quantifying recent human activity in an environment using the calculated rate of decay to equilibrium.

Abstract: Methods and systems for detecting chemical and biological agents using oligonucleotide aptamers. A sensor includes a detection aptamer that has a binding domain for the chemical or biological agent, and is bound to fibers of a textile such as a patch or article of clothing. The detection aptamer can be stabilized and enhanced through a stabilization agent such as trehalose or through binding to a nanoparticle which is then bound to the fiber. Binding of the chemical and biological agent of interest to the detection aptamer can be reported to the user or wearer of the textile in a variety of ways, including visually and electrically.

Abstract: A radar system and method is provided for increasing the search volume, detection range, and/or update rate of a search radar without requiring an increase of the radar transmit power or antenna aperture size. This is accomplished by using a target response calculation that uses signal energy that is thrown away by conventional systems. A probability of target presence and target behavior (Ppb) is calculated based on the retained signal energy to thus improve the radar's ability to detect the presence of a target. The invention processes multiple CPIs either coherently or incoherently via the Ppb methodology to further improve the radar's detection abilities.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system and method for providing an estimated design specification as a function of a number of spatially separated far-field measurements and a predetermined design specification. The predetermined design specification corresponds to an antenna being in a properly configured and a properly excited state. The system maps the spatially separated far-field measurements into an estimated far-field antenna pattern of the antenna based on the estimated design specification. The system provides difference data based on a comparison of the predetermined design specification and the estimated design specification and can adjust the electrical excitation signals of the antenna in accordance with the difference data or the estimated far-field antenna pattern.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an antenna system and a method that is configured to compute calibration element voltage gain patterns as functions of a digital antenna model and a plurality of complex beamformer voltages, determine calibration through path transfer functions from the plurality of complex voltages, and remove the calibration element voltage gain patterns from the calibration through path transfer functions to determine a beamforming network transfer function. The beamforming network transfer function and the far-field element voltage gain patterns are combined to obtain a system transfer function used to revise a calibration table.

Abstract: A radar system and method is provided for increasing the search volume, detection range, and/or update rate of a search radar without requiring an increase of the radar transmit power or antenna aperture size. This is accomplished by using a target response calculation that uses signal energy that is thrown away by conventional systems. A probability of target presence and target behavior (Ppb) is calculated based on the retained signal energy to thus improve the radar's ability to detect the presence of a target. The invention processes multiple CPIs either coherently or incoherently via the Ppb methodology to further improve the radar's detection abilities.

Abstract: Methods and systems for detecting chemical and biological agents using oligonucleotide aptamers. A sensor includes a detection aptamer that has a binding domain for the chemical or biological agent, and is bound to fibers of a textile such as a patch or article of clothing. The detection aptamer can be stabilized and enhanced through a stabilization agent such as trehalose or through binding to a nanoparticle which is then bound to the fiber. Binding of the chemical and biological agent of interest to the detection aptamer can be reported to the user or wearer of the textile in a variety of ways, including visually and electrically.

Abstract: Methods and systems for identifying an aerosolized agent. A method for identifying an aerosolized agent includes the steps of providing a sample potentially containing an aerosolized agent, concentrating the sample with an aerosol collector, analyzing the concentrated sample on a collection substrate using spectroscopy to produce an aerosolized agent analysis output, comparing the analysis output to a database of known agent analysis outputs; identifying the aerosolized agent based on the comparison; and alerting a user to the presence of an aerosolized agent in the sample.

Abstract: A method for assessing a cyber security risk, the method comprising the steps of: obtaining cyber security precursor information from a plurality of sources, wherein the cyber security precursor information can be obtained from one or more online or offline sources; normalizing the obtained cyber security precursor information to a common information model; generating, from the normalized cyber security precursor information, one or more events; producing, from the one or more generated events, one or more facts; calculating a plurality of risk indicators from the one or more facts; normalizing the plurality of risk indicators to a common model; calculating, using the normalized plurality of risk indicators, one or more cyber risk index component scores; and calculating, using the one or more cyber risk index component scores, a cyber risk indicator index.

Abstract: Method and system for detecting and/or quantifying recent human presence in an environment using a calculated rate of decay of carbon dioxide concentration levels within that environment. A sensor measures the change in carbon dioxide levels over time to calculate the rate of decay to equilibrium and extrapolate recent human presence. Also provided is a method and system for quantifying recent human activity in an environment using the calculated rate of decay to equilibrium.

Abstract: A radar architecture comprising a computing device having a DC subtraction module, programmed to average a first value of a first pixel from a first received SAR image and a second value of a second pixel from a second received SAR image, to produce an averaged value, and to subtract the averaged value from the first value, resulting in a first DC subtracted pixel value, and to subtract the averaged value from the second value, resulting in a second DC subtracted pixel value; a DFT processing module programmed to receive the first DC subtracted pixel value and the second DC subtracted pixel value and to output a first DFT output comprising a plurality Doppler bins; and a detector module programmed to determine if the output of the DFT represents the presence of a target, and to estimate range-rate via a lookup table.

Abstract: A method for identifying a dairy animal, the method comprising the steps of: providing an identification system comprising an imaging device and a database of stored vein patterns; obtaining at least one image of at least a portion of an udder of the dairy animal; extracting a vein pattern from the at least one image; comparing the extracted vein pattern to the database of stored vein patterns; and identifying, based on said comparison, the dairy animal in the database of stored vein patterns.

Abstract: A method for identifying mastitis in a dairy animal, the method including the steps of: (i) identifying a dairy animal suspected of being affected by mastitis; (ii) collecting a sample of milk from the identified dairy animal; (iii) analyzing the sample for the presence of one or more mastitic bacteria; (iv) analyzing the sample for the presence of one or more mastitic pathogens; (v) identifying, if the presence of one or more mastitic bacteria is indicated, the mastitic bacteria in the sample; and (vi) determining, based on the identified mastitic bacteria in the sample, a management decision for the dairy animal.

Abstract: A radar system includes an image forming circuit that provides a two-dimensional image of an operating environment. The image includes pixel elements representative of the operating environment. The system includes at least one filter configured to convert the two-dimensional image into a clutter classification map of clutter regions. A predetermined number of clutter regions are selected as training cells for a predetermined cell-under-test (CUT). A space-time adaptive processor (STAP) is configured to derive a weighted filter from training cell data. The STAP applies the weighted filter to a digital return signal associated with the predetermined CUT to provide a STAP-filtered digital return signal having the clutter signal components substantially eliminated therefrom.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for processing radar signals in a distributed array radar that includes a first airborne platform and at least one second airborne platform. Doppler filtered radar return samples are obtained and a weight value is calculated as a function of first clutter signals and second clutter signals. The weight value is employed in a weight vector that is computed, as well, from a steering vector that need not be matched to the target vector. The weight vector is applied to a signal vector corresponding to the Doppler filtered radar return samples. An open loop feedback is implemented and configured to create beam pattern nulls at angles corresponding to the plurality of first interference signals within each of the Doppler bins without substantially tracking a position or velocity of the first airborne platform or the at least one second airborne platform.

Abstract: Methods and systems for scalable high-performance embedded computing architectures. According to an embodiment, a scalable high-performance embedded computing system increases computational capability within the restrictive size, weight, and power constraints of systems such as the external pod payloads of unmanned aircraft systems, among many other possible systems. The core computer capability can be placed in various environments, and according to one embodiment utilizes a flight-certified aeronautics pod that is scalable in length. The scalable HPEC system can be connected to external data sources, or the nose and tail can be made of Radio Frequency transparent material, enabling the use of various RF sensing technologies within the same aeronautics enclosure. According to an embodiment, a lightweight, thermally-efficient conduction cooled chassis supports the required board and interface hardware.

Abstract: A portable radar system is disclosed including a mast, a fabric enclosure being sized and dimensioned to be extendable in a covering relation with at least part of the mast; and an antenna comprising at least one element, wherein said antenna is arranged on the fabric enclosure and is positioned to illuminate or receive reflections from a target when the fabric enclosure is in a covering relation with the mast and the mast is deployed.

Abstract: A nucleic acid tag comprising a nucleotide-support platform attached to a nucleic acid molecule, an odorant, and an encapsulant. Unique nucleic acid-containing tags containing an odorant are seeded at one or more geographic locations. Using odorant-detection systems, the person or object of interest is examined for the presence of one or more of the odorant, thereby revealing the presence of the seeded nucleic acids and eliminating the expense and time associated with unnecessary screening. The geographic location associated with each detected nucleic acid is used to backtrack the item's path or extrapolate a probable point of origin.

Abstract: Various embodiments and implementations herein are directed to an aerosol and vapor sampling device that has a nozzle capable of focusing/concentrating the sampled particles by accelerating them in a narrow jet and driving the particles into an impaction well containing a collection substrate. The aerosolized particles, aerosolized droplets, and chemical vapors are retained by using a porous collection substrate, having substantial depth and mounted on a porous backing, such as a screen. This configuration allows a minor air flow through the collection substrate. This minor flow allows a well impactor to retain intercepted aerosolized particles. It also improves the inlet's ability to collect and retain chemical vapors or liquid aerosol droplets that are partially filtered and captured in the substrate's matrix.