Abstract: Disclosed is a method that includes receiving absolute wireless access point coordinates from wireless access points that define respective wireless access point positions of the wireless access points. The method includes orienting the directional antenna to orientations based on the absolute wireless access point coordinates. The method includes transmitting test signals to the respective wireless access points while the directional antenna is positioned at the orientations to generate the database entries associated with the respective wireless access point positions. The method includes orienting the directional antenna according to a first one of the database entries having a greatest likelihood to establish a first communications path between a first one of the wireless access points and the wireless endpoint. The method includes transmitting a data signal to the first one of the wireless access points with a minimum transmission power based on the database entries.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method that includes receiving absolute wireless access point coordinates from wireless access points that define respective wireless access point positions of the wireless access points. The method includes orienting the directional antenna to orientations based on the absolute wireless access point coordinates. The method includes transmitting test signals to the respective wireless access points while the directional antenna is positioned at the orientations to generate the database entries associated with the respective wireless access point positions. The method includes orienting the directional antenna according to a first one of the database entries having a greatest likelihood to establish a first communications path between a first one of the wireless access points and the wireless endpoint. The method includes transmitting a data signal to the first one of the wireless access points with a minimum transmission power based on the database entries.

Abstract: Embodiments include a system for prognosis of a wireless aircraft network including a network manager including a network prognostic manager, one or more data controllers operably coupled to the network manager over a first connection, and one or more wireless nodes operably coupled to the one or more data controllers over a second connection, wherein the second connection is a different type of connection than the first connection, wherein the network manager includes a network prognostic manager, wherein the network prognostic manager. The network manager performs a method of receiving measured parameters from a wireless communications network, computing thresholds associated with the parameters, comparing the received parameters to the computed thresholds, identifying a failure condition based on the comparison of the received parameters to the computed thresholds, and based at least in part on the identified failure condition, executing a corrective action.

Abstract: Embodiments herein relate to a permanent magnet (PM) motor driven hoist system. The hoist system includes a PM out-runner motor with a stator on a fixed central shaft with stator coils, and an outer rotor assembly coaxial with and rotatable about the stator. The rotor having a rotating housing with an outer surface radially outward of the shaft and an inner surface radially inward of the shaft and plurality of PMs disposed at the inner surface configured to magnetically couple with the stator. The rotating housing coupled to the cable drum such that rotation of the rotor assembly causes rotation of the cable drum. The system also includes a controller connected to a power source and the motor, configured to generate excitation signals applied to the stator coils to induce a torque in the outer rotor assembly and cause it to rotate about the stator and central shaft.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include techniques for implementing a network security framework for wireless aircraft communication, where the techniques include receiving a key index sequence over a first communication link, and transmitting a subset of the key index to one or more nodes. The techniques also include generating a random encryption key based at least in part on the subset of the key index sequence, encrypting data using the random encryption key, and transmitting the encrypted data over a second communication link.

Abstract: Systems and methods for wireless network deployment are provided. Aspects include scanning, by a network controller, a plurality of wireless channels to determine an energy level for each channel in the plurality of wireless channels. Selecting a primary channel and a secondary channel from the plurality of wireless channels based at least in part on the energy level. Selecting a primary wireless controller and a secondary wireless data controller for each of the plurality of the wireless sensor nodes and establishing wireless communication with each of a plurality of wireless sensors over the primary channel and the secondary channel.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include methods and systems for architectures for wireless avionics communication networks. The embodiments further include detecting a signal strength of wireless nodes, assigning a primary data controller and standby data controller for each of the wireless nodes based at least in part on the signal strength, and generating a deployment matrix based on the assignment of the primary data controller and the standby data controller. The embodiments also include broadcasting the deployment matrix over a wired connection, allocating a buffer size based on data rates of each of the wireless nodes connected to the primary data controller and the standby data controller, and exchanging data based on the deployment matrix.

Abstract: Systems and methods for wireless network deployment are provided. Aspects include scanning, by a network controller, a plurality of wireless channels to determine an energy level for each channel in the plurality of wireless channels. Selecting a primary channel and a secondary channel from the plurality of wireless channels based at least in part on the energy level. Selecting a primary wireless controller and a secondary wireless data controller for each of the plurality of the wireless sensor nodes and establishing wireless communication with each of a plurality of wireless sensors over the primary channel and the secondary channel.

Abstract: Embodiments herein relate to a permanent magnet (PM) motor driven hoist with a motor based electromagnetic brake. The hoist includes a direct current (DC) power source, a PM motor having stator coils and a PM rotor operably coupled to a cable drum with a cable wrapped thereon. The hoist also includes a controller operably connected to the direct current power source and the PM motor, wherein the controller is configured to control the PM motor employing a method to brake the PM motor. The method includes generating control signals in the controller based on a position of the PM motor, applying a braking command signal to the PM motor to magnetically lock the PM rotor of the PM motor for a selected duration, removing the braking command signals for a second selected duration, and repeating the generating, applying, and removing until the PM motor has stopped.

Abstract: Embodiments include a system for prognosis of a wireless aircraft network including a network manager including a network prognostic manager, one or more data controllers operably coupled to the network manager over a first connection, and one or more wireless nodes operably coupled to the one or more data controllers over a second connection, wherein the second connection is a different type of connection than the first connection, wherein the network manager includes a network prognostic manager, wherein the network prognostic manager. The network manager performs a method of receiving measured parameters from a wireless communications network, computing thresholds associated with the parameters, comparing the received parameters to the computed thresholds, identifying a failure condition based on the comparison of the received parameters to the computed thresholds, and based at least in part on the identified failure condition, executing a corrective action.

Abstract: A windshield wiper system (WWS) is provided. The WWS includes a wiper blade movable across a maximum sweep angle, a sector gear, a wiper arm coupled at opposite ends thereof to the wiper blade and the sector gear and a bi-directional motor. The bi-directional motor includes a motor shaft and a pinion gear disposed on the motor shaft to engage with the sector gear. The bi-directional motor is operable to drive rotations of the pinion and sector gears in opposite directions via the motor shaft to thereby drive opposite movements of the wiper blade via the wiper arm, respectively, without risking loss of engagement between the pinion and sector gears.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include methods and systems for architectures for wireless avionics communication networks. The embodiments further include detecting a signal strength of wireless nodes, assigning a primary data controller and standby data controller for each of the wireless nodes based at least in part on the signal strength, and generating a deployment matrix based on the assignment of the primary data controller and the standby data controller. The embodiments also include broadcasting the deployment matrix over a wired connection, allocating a buffer size based on data rates of each of the wireless nodes connected to the primary data controller and the standby data controller, and exchanging data based on the deployment matrix.

Abstract: A data aggregator includes a traffic characterization module, a rate estimator, a data regulator, and a sensor data transmission interface. The traffic characterization module is operable to generate a predicted quality of service for a plurality of sensors having one or more data rates and a plurality of priorities. The rate estimator is operable to generate a plurality of required data rates to maintain a target quality of service for one or more data consumers of an avionic communication network based on the predicted quality of service. The data regulator is operable to hold and release a plurality of sensor data from the sensors in one or more queues at the required data rates as a regulated data flow. The sensor data transmission interface is operable transmit the regulated data flow to the one or more data consumers.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include techniques for implementing a network security framework for wireless aircraft communication, where the techniques include receiving a key index sequence over a first communication link, and transmitting a subset of the key index to one or more nodes. The techniques also include generating a random encryption key based at least in part on the subset of the key index sequence, encrypting data using the random encryption key, and transmitting the encrypted data over a second communication link.

Abstract: Embodiments herein relate to a permanent magnet (PM) motor driven hoist system. The hoist system includes a PM out-runner motor with a stator on a fixed central shaft with stator coils, and an outer rotor assembly coaxial with and rotatable about the stator. The rotor having a rotating housing with an outer surface radially outward of the shaft and an inner surface radially inward of the shaft and plurality of PMs disposed at the inner surface configured to magnetically couple with the stator. The rotating housing coupled to the cable drum such that rotation of the rotor assembly causes rotation of the cable drum. The system also includes a controller connected to a power source and the motor, configured to generate excitation signals applied to the stator coils to induce a torque in the outer rotor assembly and cause it to rotate about the stator and central shaft.

Abstract: A data aggregator includes a traffic characterization module, a rate estimator, a data regulator, and a sensor data transmission interface. The traffic characterization module is operable to generate a predicted quality of service for a plurality of sensors having one or more data rates and a plurality of priorities. The rate estimator is operable to generate a plurality of required data rates to maintain a target quality of service for one or more data consumers of an avionic communication network based on the predicted quality of service. The data regulator is operable to hold and release a plurality of sensor data from the sensors in one or more queues at the required data rates as a regulated data flow. The sensor data transmission interface is operable transmit the regulated data flow to the one or more data consumers.

Abstract: Embodiments herein relate to a permanent magnet (PM) motor driven hoist with a motor based electromagnetic brake. The hoist includes a direct current (DC) power source, a PM motor having stator coils and a PM rotor operably coupled to a cable drum with a cable wrapped thereon. The hoist also includes a controller operably connected to the direct current power source and the PM motor, wherein the controller is configured to control the PM motor employing a method to brake the PM motor. The method includes generating control signals in the controller based on a position of the PM motor, applying a braking command signal to the PM motor to magnetically lock the PM rotor of the PM motor for a selected duration, removing the braking command signals for a second selected duration, and repeating the generating, applying, and removing until the PM motor has stopped.