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: A method, system and computer program product for calibrating and operating a radar apparatus provides for obtaining calibration response data from, for example, a radar cylinder and a plurality of radar columns, prior to assembling the radar cylinder and plurality of radar columns into an assembled radar apparatus. The calibration response data for the exemplary radar cylinder and the plurality of radar columns is evaluated to provide a simulated response of the assembled radar apparatus. Actual measured responses from the assembled radar apparatus may then be correlated with the simulated response through use of a look-up table. The particular method, system and program product for calibrating and operating the radar apparatus provides for avoidance of field calibration of the assembled radar apparatus, which is generally neither desirable nor feasible under hostile conditions.

Abstract: A nucleic acid tag comprising a nucleotide-support platform attached to a nucleic acid molecule, a fire retardant, and an encapsulant. Unique nucleic acid-containing tags containing a fire- or heat-protective element are seeded at one or more geographic locations. Using sequence analysis techniques, the person or object of interest is examined for the presence of one or more of the seeded nucleic acids. 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: A method for determining beamformer scattering parameters for a plurality of phased array radar antenna subarrays that each include a radiating (e.g., dipole) component and a beamformer component provides for obtaining for the plurality of phased array radar antenna subarrays a plurality of electromagnetic measurements at a plurality of ports. Analogous electromagnetic measurements are obtained for a reference subarray including a radiating component but absent a beamformer component. The plurality of phased array radar antenna subarray electromagnetic measurements and the reference subarray electromagnetic measurements provide a plurality of beamformer scattering parameter values for the plurality of phased array radar antenna subarrays that may be used in modeling and calibrating a phased array radar apparatus that may be assembled from the plurality of phased array radar antenna subarrays.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system that includes a sensor having a plurality of antenna elements arranged in a three-dimensional array. None of the plurality of antenna elements is configured as a loop antenna element. Each of the plurality of antenna elements are configured to provide a sensor output signal in response to an incident electromagnetic field having predetermined characteristics. A processing circuit is coupled to the sensor, the processing circuit being configured to obtain a directional vector to a source of the incident electromagnetic field from the plurality of sensor output signals. The sensor output signals correspond to a plurality of field components of the incident electromagnetic field at a point. The plurality of field components include differential values such that the plurality of field components providing at least nine (9) degrees of freedom (DOFs).

Abstract: A device, method, and system for the detection of ribosome inactivating protein activity, including the ricin toxin, in a sample. According to one embodiment, the ribosome inactivating protein in the sample removes an adenine from a labeled DNA substrate to create an abasic site. An AP lyase can then cleave the DNA substrate at the abasic site, allowing the fluorophore located at or near one end of the DNA substrate and the quencher at or near the other end of the DNA substrate to spatially separate. Once the fluorophore and the quencher are sufficiently separated, the fluorophore will emit a fluorescence signal. Increasing fluorescence, indicating ribosome inactivating protein activity, will be monitored in real time using a detection system.

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: 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, a system and a program product for deinterleaving and classifying an incoming unknown radar pulse pattern uses a library of state machines that mesh with a library of known radar pulse patterns of a library of known radar emitter sources. A continuous sequence of radar pulse descriptor words is secured for the incoming unknown radar pulse pattern and a plurality of state machines that may mesh with the continuous sequence of radar pulse descriptor words is selected from the library of state machines. The plurality of state machines that may mesh with the incoming unknown radar pulse pattern is operated upon the incoming unknown radar pulse pattern. Radar emitter sources that correlate with state machines that actually mesh with the incoming unknown radar pulse pattern are designated as radar emitter sources that comprise the incoming unknown radar pulse pattern.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for use in a cognitive radio. A Fourier transform of a time domain signal is performed to obtain a series of frequency domain samples covering substantially the entire predetermined RF spectrum, the time domain signal corresponding to the RF waveform, each frequency domain sample being characterized by a predetermined waveform characteristic. The predetermined waveform characteristic of each frequency domain sample is evaluated in each subcarrier block to obtain a subcarrier block activity level for each subcarrier block. A subcarrier block is selected when its subcarrier block activity level is greater than a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A system and method for realistic speech synthesis which converts text into synthetic human speech with qualities appropriate to the context such as the language and dialect of the speaker, as well as expanding a speaker's phonetic inventory to produce more natural sounding speech.

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: 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: 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: An FFT algorithm that splits a large bit width waveform into two parts, making it possible to conduct the FFT with much lower logic resource consumption is disclosed. The waveform is split into its most significant bits and its least significant bits through division in the form of a bit shift. Each partial signal is then put through an FFT algorithm. The MSB FFT output is then right bit shifted. The two partial FFT's are summed to create a single output that is largely equivalent to an FFT of the original waveform. Rounding distortion is reduced by overlapping the MSB and LSB partial signals.

Abstract: Methods and systems for plasmonically enhanced bionanoantennas for tagging, tracking, and locating targets of interest at long distances in both day and nighttime conditions. The nanoantennas are used to tag a target of interest and emit a wavelength to impart a unique biometric signature. The nanoantennas are detectable by selectively harvesting and plasmonically enhancing incident light in the visible region, then upconverting that energy through an activated phosphor.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for the self-detection and/or self-decontamination of chemical, biological, radiological, and/or nuclear hazards, threats, and contaminants. The self-detection system preferably uses aptamers functionalized to an electronic system to sense CBRN threats. The aptamers are functionalized directly to a conductive surface such as a noble metal coated fiber or other conductive fiber strand. The self-decontamination system is preferably in communication with the self-detection system and responds to the detection of a CBRN agent by switching to a decontamination state, such as becoming absorbent or releasing an anti-CBRN agent such that it can neutralize the threat. In a preferred embodiment, the system is worn by a user.

Abstract: A circuit board chassis and a method for assembling a backplane and a circuit board into the circuit board chassis include an aperture within at least one sidewall of the circuit board chassis. The backplane is inserted and assembled into the circuit board chassis through the aperture (that may include a counter-opposed pair of backplane insertion and assembly slots) in a first direction, and a circuit board is inserted and assembled into the circuit board chassis and the backplane in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. By inserting and assembling the backplane into the aperture and slots, rather than assembling the backplane as an external surface component of the circuit board chassis, the embodiments provide for ease of replacement of the backplane and circuit board under space constrained limitations. The resulting embodiments also provide enhanced rigidity and enhanced thermal dissipation within the circuit board chassis.

Abstract: Filtration devices, methods, and systems comprising a decontamination filtration medium. The filtration medium comprises a remotely-triggered decontamination material stored in microcapsules that are embedded in or attached to a filter element. The microcapsules contain a decontamination agent that will detoxify one or more toxins, including but not limited to chemical and biological warfare agents, and industrial materials and chemicals, among other things. The microcapsules can be locally or remotely triggered to release the detoxifying agent by a triggering agent such as light, electrical potential, pressure, temperature, or other methods. One method of use of the filtration device comprises the following: when a target toxin is detected in the vicinity of the device, the microcapsules are actively triggered to release the detoxifying agent, thereby neutralizing the toxic agent.

Abstract: A method, a system and a program product for deinterleaving and classifying an incoming unknown radar pulse pattern uses a library of state machines that mesh with a library of known radar pulse patterns of a library of known radar emitter sources. A continuous sequence of radar pulse descriptor words is secured for the incoming unknown radar pulse pattern and a plurality of state machines that may mesh with the continuous sequence of radar pulse descriptor words is selected from the library of state machines. The plurality of state machines that may mesh with the incoming unknown radar pulse pattern is operated upon the incoming unknown radar pulse pattern. Radar emitter sources that correlate with state machines that actually mesh with the incoming unknown radar pulse pattern are designated as radar emitter sources that comprise the incoming unknown radar pulse pattern.