Abstract: A sequencer for use with a countermeasure defense system includes an input signal indicative of firing an expendable, a circuit card that receives the input signal indicative of firing the expendable and an output analog signal from the circuit card that fires the expendable. The parameters of the output analog signal correspond to parameters of a digital waveform.

Abstract: A system for providing high resolution image output for pilotage and two color operation for threat detection is disclosed. The system comprises a focal plane array comprising a plurality of pixels arranged into groups of equal numbers, wherein each pixel comprises at least two detectors for receiving electromagnetic energy and a readout integrated circuit.

Abstract: The present disclosure is a system comprising at least three electronically steered antennas arranged so that there is a baseline difference of a predetermined amount of wavelength between the centers of the antennas, typically configured as an obtuse or scalene triangle, where the distance between each antenna on an array is selected to provide the required accuracy and precision, the array having a timing circuit to ensure that the beam of each antenna is steered to the same azimuthal and elevation coordinates in space simultaneously. This enables the three electronically steered antennas to operate as an interferometer to determine a bearing to a target to ultimately determine the location thereof. The electronically steered antennas enable the system to be mounted on a platform in a small package that was previously difficult for traditional interferometers.

Abstract: Techniques, systems, architectures, and methods for amplifying the time difference between events detected on a focal plane array, allowing greater resolution than that afforded by a reference clock are herein disclosed.

Abstract: A Deep-Learning (DL) explainable AI system for Radio Frequency (RF) machine learning applications with expert driven neural explainability of input signals combines three algorithms (A1, A2, and A3). A1 is a neural network that learns to classify spectrograms. During training, A1 learns to map a spectrogram to its paired label. It outputs a label estimate from a spectrogram. Labels account for device number and spectrum utilization. The neural network is built on two-dimensional dilated causal convolutions to account for frequency and time dimensions of spectrogram data. A2 is a user-defined function that converts an input spectrogram into a vector that quantifies human-identifiable elements of the spectrogram. A3 is a random forest feature extraction algorithm. It takes as input the outputs of A2 and A1. From these, A3 learns which elements in the vector output by A2 were most important for choosing the labels output from A1.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for actively controlling a communications bus to mitigate threats, including cyber-attacks. A methodology implementing the techniques according to an embodiment includes detecting a threat in a message that is being transmitted between nodes on the communications bus. The message comprises one or more message frames and the threat detection is based on analysis of an initial portion of the message frame. The method further includes actively controlling the bus, based on the threat detection, to prevent the remaining portion of the message frame from delivering the threat to one or more of the nodes on the bus. Actively controlling the bus includes isolating nodes from the bus and/or overwriting data in the remaining portion of the message frame to invalidate the message frame or to remove the threat from the message frame.

Abstract: A direct digital synthesizer (DDS) circuit. The circuit includes a first input to receive a first fixed frequency clock signal having a first frequency, a second input to receive a second fixed frequency clock signal having a second frequency lower than the first frequency, and an output to provide an output frequency that is based at least in part on a frequency control word (FCW). The DDS circuit may include a frequency correction circuit having a first input to receive the first clock signal, a second input to receive the second clock signal, and a third input to receive the FCW, and an output to provide a frequency error of the first clock signal, the frequency error determined using the second clock signal and FCW. Alternatively, or in addition to, the DDS circuit may include an all-digital phase lock loop to correct for frequency wander of the first clock signal.

Abstract: Various systems and methods for leveraging legacy countermeasure dispensing systems (CMDSs). The legacy CMDSs are leveraged through the expansion of breechplates and magazines in a CMDS by expanding the amount of expendables carried by a CMDS while still maintaining the legacy sequencer and dispenser in a legacy military platform, such as an aircraft. In addition, various circuitry systems are included in a circuit card of the breechplate for duplicating and/or expanding the firing lines provided in a legacy CMDS.

Abstract: A wideband chaotic waveform that is rateless in that it may be modulated at virtually any rate and has a minimum of features introduced into the waveform. Further, the waveform provided may be operated below a signal to noise ratio wall to further enhance the LPD and LPE aspects, thereof. Additionally, the present disclosure may provide a mix of coherent and non-coherent processing techniques applied to signal samples to efficiently achieve coarse synchronization with a waveform that is faster, more efficient and more accurate than using time domain signal correlators alone.

Abstract: A battery mounting mechanism that allows for one or more battery assemblies to be mounted in various positions within a vehicle via a securely attached mounting assembly that may allow for quick and easy adjustment of the position of the battery assemblies while further preventing rotation of the battery assemblies. Further provided herein is a mechanism for connecting multiple battery assemblies into a single battery unit while still allowing these battery assemblies to take advantage of the battery mounting mechanism provided herein.

Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) implements a radiation tolerance limiting feature (RTLF) to ensure that the IC, as manufactured, will fail one or more applicable radiation tolerance tests, for example by reducing or eliminating a required voltage or blocking a required signal. As a result, the IC can be manufactured by any suitable IC foundry, and exported without restriction. The RTLF can include a leakage component, such as an oxide dielectric capacitor, a radiation-sensitive MOSFET or SCR, or a photocurrent generating component. The RTLF can include redundancy to ensure reliability. A plurality of RTLFs can be included to ensure failure of any desired combination of applicable radiation tolerance tests, such as total radiation dosage, linear energy transfer events, radiation dose rate, and single event upset. The RTLF can be obfuscated within the IC design. The RTLF can include a testing output to ensure its functionality.

Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) that is otherwise radiation tolerant implements a radiation tolerance limiting feature (RTLF) to ensure that the IC, as manufactured, will fail applicable radiation tolerance tests, thereby allowing it to be manufactured by any suitable IC foundry. Embodiments further include a programmable radiation tolerance feature (PRT) that can be actuated at an authorized actuation site after IC manufacture to override the RTLF, thereby rendering the IC radiation tolerant. The PRT and/or RTLF can include redundancy to ensure reliability. The PRT and/or RTLF can be obfuscated, encrypted, and/or password protected. Actuating the PRT can include applying a programming signal to the IC and/or uploading code to a programmable element after IC manufacture. A plurality of RTLFs can be included to ensure failure of any desired combination of applicable radiation tolerance tests, such as total radiation dosage, linear energy transfer events, radiation dose rate, and single event upset.

Abstract: A system and method for reducing laser communication terminal pointing uncertainty. The method trains an artificial neural network (ANN) with input data characterizing terminal pointing error and dependent parameters. The method inputs the trained ANN a set of data of these dependent parameters with unknown pointing error. The method uses the ANN output to apply corrections to the terminal pointing solution to reduce pointing uncertainty. The method can condition the ANN generated corrections to avoid cases where application of the ANN correction could exceed the original pointing uncertainty. This conditioning includes computing the Euclidean distance between current ANN input parameter values and values in the ANN training dataset, and bounding the allowed magnitude of the ANN pointing correction. The method can train the ANN incrementally during terminal operation for real-time updates or train the ANN offline with gathered data and implement the trained ANN on the terminal for subsequent links.

Abstract: Apparatus and method are disclosed for engaging a guide pin for installation or removal. The tool has a housing with a plunger positioned within the housing. A support tube has at least two extensions that protrude from the housing when an engagement mechanism is depressed and grips the guide pin when the engagement mechanism is released.

Abstract: The system and method for the development and use of an architecture for a Mission Data File Generator (MDFG) for Electronic Warfare (EW) and other systems, which applies state-of-the art software architecture, workflow design, and Graphical User Interface (GUI) design methods. The resulting MDFG tools are user-friendly to the EW Analyst, and allow development of Mission Data Files (MDFs) more quickly. The method and system are substantially more extensible and maintainable than current MDFG tools.

Abstract: Methods and structures are disclosed for using a graphics processing unit (GPU) to detect and organize pulses in an efficient, parallel manner. A received signal is divided into a plurality of sub-batches. Each of the plurality of sub-batches is processed in parallel by detecting a number of pulses present within each of the plurality of sub-batches. A scanning algorithm process for combining the pulse information of the detected pulses includes providing pulse information from detected pulses within a plurality of subgroups with each subgroup including 2n sub-batches, with n equal to a number of iterations of performing the providing, and repeating the iterations, increasing n by 1 for each iteration, until 2n is equal to the total number of sub-batches in the plurality of sub-batches. An output array is generated having a size based on a total combined pulse count and including sequential pulses from the plurality of sub-batches.

Abstract: Techniques, systems, architectures, and methods for reducing peak power during an Analog-to-Digital Conversion (ADC) process, in embodiments on a Focal Plane Array (FPA).

Abstract: An antenna module configured for use on an underwater vehicle is disclosed. The antenna module includes an array of spiral antennas fabricated on a multi-layer substrate that provides wide-band RF communication with direction finding (DF) capability. The antenna module can also include other antennas fabricated on the same multi-layer substrate, such as one or more global positioning system (GPS) receivers, an ultra-high frequency/very-high frequency (UHV/VHF) antenna, or one or more iridium antennas. The antenna module may further include a water-proof housing that is coupled to the outside hull of an undersea vehicle via a coupling mechanism. The coupling mechanism allows the antenna module to rotate between a stowed position against the hull and a deployed position that extends the antennas out away from the undersea vehicle. The antenna module is curved or flexible so it can stow against a corresponding curved hull of the undersea vehicle.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for asset location using backscatter communication. A methodology according to an embodiment includes receiving a signal, generated by a tag associated with an asset in response to a broadcast signal. The broadcast signal comprising a base code sequence, and the received signal comprising the broadcast signal modulated by a tag code sequence and shifted in frequency by a frequency offset. The methodology further includes translating the received signal by the frequency offset to generate a translated received signal, demodulating the translated received signal to remove the tag code sequence modulation to generate a demodulated received signal, cross-correlating the base code sequence with the demodulated received signal to generate a correlation signal, and determining a range to the asset based on a time delay associated with a peak of the correlation signal. The tag may be located based on the range and an estimated direction to the tag.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for a broadband microwave/millimeter-wave balanced-to-unbalanced transformer (balun). A balun implementing the techniques according to an embodiment includes a first impedance matching network configured to reduce insertion and return losses of a single-ended signal at a first port of the balun. The balun also includes a first planar bifilar coupled transmission line coupled to the first impedance matching network and configured to transform the single-ended signal into a differential signal. The balun further includes a second planar bifilar coupled transmission line coupled to the first bifilar coupled transmission line and configured to compensate for amplitude and phase imbalance induced on the differential signal by the first bifilar coupled transmission line.