Abstract: The present invention is directed to a ground moving target (GMTI) radar that can detect targets, including dismounts, with very small minimum detectable velocities by combining signals from antennas on different spatially separated platforms in a main beam clutter-suppressing spatially adaptive process without requiring that the relative positions of the antenna phase centers be accurately tracked. The clutter nulling is in addition to that provided by the Doppler filters. The spatial displacement provides a narrow mainbeam clutter null reducing undesired target suppression. The clutter-suppressing spatially adaptive structure is used in both the sum and delta channels of the monopulse processor so that the beam distortion caused by the spatial nulling is compensated for, and the monopulse look-up process is preserved to maintain angle accuracy. Noncoherent integration is employed to recover signal to noise loss resulting from the uncertain relative locations of the platforms.

Abstract: A real-time portable and rapid detection assay to identify the presence of biologically active toxins such as botulinum toxins. The proteolytic activity of BoNT/A is measured using a peptide cleavage assay, where a fluorescent substrate is cleaved by BoNT/A, resulting in increased fluorescence. This fluorescence can be monitored in real-time using a fluorescence detection instrument, such as a real-time PCR system that has been modified to implement a detection algorithm specific to the identification of the target toxin.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and system for identifying and eliminating second time-around ambiguous targets and, more particularly, to a method and system for identifying and eliminating second time-around ambiguous targets using waveform phase modulation.

Abstract: A method for processing synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data. The method includes the step of receiving SAR data that has been collected to provide a representation of a target scene, and dividing the data into a plurality of sub-blocks each having a plurality of pixels, each of the plurality of pixels having a coordinate and an amplitude. A transformation performed on each of the sub-blocks includes the steps of: (i) computing a mean coordinate; (ii) subtracting the mean coordinate from the pixel's actual coordinate to arrive at a modified coordinate; (iii) multiplying the modified coordinate by the amplitude to arrive at an amplitude-modified coordinate; (iv) creating a covariance matrix using the amplitude-modified coordinates; (v) performing a singular value decomposition on the covariance matrix to arrive at a vector; and (vi) associating an angle with the calculated vector.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system and method for extrapolating antenna radiation patterns from a small number of measurements. The present invention is configured to derive an initial estimate based on design information and compare the initial estimate to far-field measurements. The controller is configured to recursively obtain a final estimate wherein a difference between the far-field measurements and the final estimate is less than a predetermined amount. The final estimate represents an extrapolated mapping of the antenna pattern.

Abstract: Methods for authenticating and/or detecting tampering of an item of interest using a nucleic acid tag. A nucleic acid tag comprising a nucleotide-support platform attached to a nucleic acid molecule is created or obtained and then sealed within or on the item of interest. The surface of the item of interest is sampled for the presence of the seeded tag after the item of interest has been moved from one location to another or has been stored for a period of time, during which tampering can occur and/or authentication may necessary. The presence of the tag can indicate that tampering has occurred, or that the item of interest is authentic.

Abstract: An antenna architecture for hemispherically-scanning active electronically scanned arrays (AESA). The antenna architecture utilizes variable diameter disks of antenna elements configured in a conical implementation. The antenna elements are oriented such that the element boresight is normal to the surface of the conical structure. Beamforming takes place on each disk first, and them separately in combining the signals from each disk, thereby reducing complexity. The antenna optionally utilizes disks of antenna elements of the same diameter to form a cylindrical antenna, which when combined with a conical configuration create enhanced sectors while maintaining a hemispherical coverage capability. Further, use of two conical configurations can produce a fully spherical coverage capability.

Abstract: A method for detecting and identifying nucleic acid tags. A nucleic acid tag comprising a nucleotide-support platform attached to a nucleic acid molecule is created or selected and then immobilized on or in an item, or seeded within an area of interest. Samples are obtained from the surface of an item that has potentially been labeled, and an initial screen is conducted using universal primers to determine which samples contain nucleic acid tag. A multiplex screen is conducted on samples testing positive for nucleic acid tag in order to identify which of a plurality of nucleic acid tags are present on or in the item of interest.

Abstract: A radar system includes a transmit antenna array having subarrays disposed at predetermined positions. An orthogonal waveform signal is directed to a corresponding one of the subarrays. On receive, an adaptive processor derives a plurality of adaptive weight factors from a plurality of receive signals and applies them to the receive signals to obtain a jammer cancelled signal. That signal is separated into its orthogonal waveform components by passing it through a bank of correlators. The correlator system provides a plurality of unique receive signals substantially corresponding one-to-one to the unique transmit subarrays. The receive beamformer derives an angular estimate of at least one target relative to boresight from the unique receive signals.

Abstract: A radar system includes a transmit antenna array having subarrays disposed at predetermined positions. An orthogonal waveform signal is directed to a corresponding one of the subarrays. On receive, an adaptive processor derives a plurality of adaptive weight factors from a plurality of receive signals and applies them to the receive signals to obtain a jammer cancelled signal. That signal is separated into its orthogonal waveform components by passing it through a bank of correlators. The correlator system provides a plurality of unique receive signals substantially corresponding one-to-one to the unique transmit subarrays. The receive beamformer derives an angular estimate of at least one target relative to boresight from the unique receive signals.

Abstract: A system and method for voice and speech analysis which correlates a speaker signal source and a normalized signal comprising measurements of input acoustic data to a database of language, dialect, accent, and/or speaker attributes in order to create a transcription of the input acoustic data.

Abstract: A method for correlating information across distinct domains without requiring feature co-occurrence. The disparate information collections are broken down into features, and a correlation index with correlation score is created. To determine the correlation between distinct domains, an information artifact collection is reduced to a representational set of features, these features are replaced with correlated features using the correlation index, and the new set of features is matched against the second information artifact collection using an appropriate comparison technique. The correlation method allows a single input artifact to be matched against an existing collection, resulting in a set of correlated artifacts from the disparate collection, each ranked by correlation score.

Abstract: A method and device for installing, reinstalling, upgrading, or downgrading an operating system. The method including the steps of: mounting, on a computing device having a primary memory and a secondary memory storing a first operating system, a virtual disk in the primary memory; installing, on the virtual disk an installation operating system; staging in the primary memory a desired operating system; staging in the primary memory an installation file configured to install the desired operating system in the secondary memory; and executing the installation file to install the desired operating system in the secondary memory.

Abstract: A thermal transfer component, a thermal transfer apparatus and a method for cooling a heat generating component located upon a substrate each include a thermally conductive frame having an aperture formed completely through the thermally conductive frame within which aperture is located a thermally conductive plug. The thermally conductive plug aligns with and contacts the heat generating component when the thermally conductive frame and the substrate are mutually aligned and assembled. A spring may further compress the thermally conductive plug against the heat generating component when the thermally conductive frame and the substrate are mutually aligned and assembled. The thermally conductive plug comprises an isotropic thermal transfer material and the thermally conductive frame comprises an anisotropic thermal conductive material to provide for enhanced thermal transfer from the heat generating component to a chassis.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a cognitive radio device. The device includes a spectrum sensing portion configured to identify idle subcarrier blocks corresponding to non-contiguous channels within the plurality of predetermined channels, a mapping portion configured to encode a transmission message signal into a series of transmit frequency domain samples and map each of the transmit frequency domain samples into an idle subcarrier block, the mapping portion being configured to map each of the transmit frequency domain samples into an idle subcarrier block on a symbol-by-symbol basis, a transmit Fourier transformer configured to transform the series of transmit frequency domain samples into a time domain signal corresponding to a transmit RF waveform, and a transmitter portion configured to upconvert the time domain signal and transmit the transmit RF waveform.

Abstract: A gravity gradiometer having at least three differential accelerometers with a low response to linear accelerations and at least six angular accelerometers that give it the capability of measuring angular rates by integrating the angular accelerations. Both types of accelerometers are based on a compliant mechanism with very low and adjustable stiffness that is achieved by using flexures under compressive load that contribute a negative stiffness to the total elastic response of the mechanism. Both types of accelerometers are operated in a servo-compensation feedback mode so that at no time is the mechanism far from its equilibrium position.

Abstract: A real-time portable and rapid detection assay to identify the presence of biologically active toxins such as botulinum toxins. The proteolytic activity of BoNT/A is measured using a peptide cleavage assay, where a fluorescent substrate is cleaved by BoNT/A, resulting in increased fluorescence. This fluorescence can be monitored in real-time using a fluorescence detection instrument, such as a real-time PCR system that has been modified to implement a detection algorithm specific to the identification of the target toxin.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a Polymerase Chain Reaction and High Resolution Melt genetic identification system, and, more specifically, to a tactical and portable Polymerase Chain Reaction and High Resolution Melt genetic analysis and identification system that is configured to determine and communicate analysis and identification results and a tiered confidence/alert level related to the analysis and identification results.

Abstract: Methods and systems for detecting chemical and biological agents using oligonucleotide aptamers. A sensor includes a detection complex between an aptamer that has a binding domain for the chemical or biological agent, and a first oligonucleotide with a sequence complementary to a region of the aptamer. In the absence of the agent, the aptamer and the first oligonucleotide form an intermediate combination. In the presence of the agent, the intermediate combination dissociates. The sensor further includes a second oligonucleotide with a sequence that interacts with a region of the first oligonucleotide to form a duplex structure only when the first oligonucleotide is dissociated from the aptamer. When the duplex structure is formed, it can interact with a reporter molecule which in turn initiates a signal reporting detection of the chemical or biological agent.

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.