Abstract: A user terminal includes a reconfigurable phased array antenna having a plurality of antenna elements. The user terminal is operable for: broadening a field of regard of the reconfigurable phased array antenna; receiving signals from a plurality of satellites within the field of regard using the reconfigurable phased array antenna; determining one or more attributes of the received signals for each of the satellites; and selecting one of the plurality of satellites for communication based on the attributes of the received signals. After the satellite has been selected, the user terminal is configured for: switching to a directional mode for the reconfigurable phased array antenna; establishing the communication with the selected satellite using the reconfigurable phased array antenna; and tracking the selected satellite. Ephemeris data broadcast by the satellites is used by the user terminal to track the satellites and to perform handovers between satellites.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for providing autonomous control of a vehicle. A vehicle can be manually controlled by an operator. An autonomous system can monitor the operator's control inputs and the environment of the vehicle to determine whether the control inputs result in safe operation of the vehicle. If control inputs are not safe, then the autonomous system can modify the operator's unsafe inputs into safe inputs. In various instances, the autonomous system can operate the vehicle without operator input. In the event an operator attempts to apply control inputs to the vehicle while the autonomous system is otherwise in control, the autonomous system can check to see whether the operator's inputs result in safe operation of the vehicle. If the operator's control inputs are safe, then the autonomous system can replace its autonomous commands with the operator's commands.

Abstract: A system and methods for location authentication are presented. An estimated server signal is estimated based on a generated known code signal, and a client received satellite signal is received from a client device. The client received satellite signal is compared to the estimated server signal to provide a comparison result.

Abstract: A primary user interface displays primary content from a primary-content source, reads user interaction with the primary content, and communicates with the primary-content source based on the user interaction. A dynamic auxiliary user interface includes an information display portion and a dynamic portion. The information display portion displays supplemental information, at least a part of which is dependent on the primary content. The dynamic portion generates or varies the display of the supplemental information in response to the primary content or an attribute of the primary content.

Abstract: A rapid start power unit and a method of operating a rapid start power unit are disclosed. A fuel cell converts combustible fuel into electrical power during a normal operational period after an initial start-up period when little to no electrical energy is produced. One combustion chamber receives unspent fuel emitted by the fuel cell and combusts the unspent fuel to generate a first heated gas stream. Another combustion chamber receives combustible fuel and burns the combustible fuel to generate a second heated gas stream during the initial start-up period. A turbine receives and is driven by the first and second heated gas streams to drive a drive shaft. A generator coupled to the drive shaft generates electrical power during the initial start-up period and supplemental power during the normal operational period. In an alternative embodiment, a two-stage combustion chamber is used instead of two serially-arranged separate combustion chambers.

Abstract: A charge air control system for a forced induction internal combustion engine, comprising sensing means, comparison means and temperature control means. The sensing means are arranged to measure one or more attributes of charge air proximal to an air inlet of the internal combustion engine. The comparison means are arranged to compare the one or more attributes of charge air to at least one predetermined value. The temperature control means are arranged to control the temperature of the charge air in dependence on the comparison means.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus for laser communications in super-geosynchronous Earth orbit are disclosed. In one or more embodiments, the disclosed method involves transmitting, by at least one laser on at least one first satellite, at least one first transmit signal. The method further involves receiving, by at least one detector on at least one first satellite, at least one first receive signal. In one or more embodiments, at least one first satellite is in super-geosynchronous Earth orbit (S-GEO). In at least one embodiment, at least one first transmit signal and at least one first receive signal are laser signals and have a field of regard covering one hemisphere of the Earth.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for providing autonomous control of a vehicle. A vehicle can be manually controlled by an operator. An autonomous system can monitor the operator's control inputs and the environment of the vehicle to determine whether the control inputs result in safe operation of the vehicle. If control inputs are not safe, then the autonomous system can modify the operator's unsafe inputs into safe inputs. In various instances, the autonomous system can operate the vehicle without operator input. In the event an operator attempts to apply control inputs to the vehicle while the autonomous system is otherwise in control, the autonomous system can check to see whether the operator's inputs result in safe operation of the vehicle. If the operator's control inputs are safe, then the autonomous system can replace its autonomous commands with the operator's commands.

Abstract: An aircraft includes a fuselage, wings coupled to the fuselage, and a transceiver. The aircraft further includes a plurality of planar phased array antennas coupled to the transceiver and fixedly attached to the fuselage or to at least one of the wings. The plurality of planar phased array antennas include a first planar phased array antenna having a first normal vector and a second planar phased array antenna having a second normal vector. The first normal vector is not parallel to the second normal vector.

Abstract: A method for managing a wireless communications system may include the steps of: (1) requesting wireless communication links between a plurality of user terminals and an airborne communications relay terminal, (2) designating one of the plurality of user terminals as a primary user terminal to make a direct communication with the relay terminal, (3) designating other ones of the plurality of user terminals as secondary user terminals to make direct communication with the primary user terminal, (4) connecting the primary user terminal directly to the relay terminal, and (5) connecting the secondary user terminals indirectly to the relay terminal through the primary user terminal.

Abstract: A communications system includes radio frequency equipment to generate a forward link configured for wireless transmissions of a base-to-user data stream from a plurality of airborne communications relay platforms to at least one user terminal, wherein the forward link includes a plurality of relay-to-user links, each one of the plurality of relay-to-user links includes a relay-to-user radio frequency signal encoded with a different base-to-user data sub-stream.

Abstract: An antenna system includes an array of radiating elements forming a diamond shape. The diamond shape includes a first axis and a second axis. The diamond shape is oriented with the first axis aligned with a reference plane shared by a plurality of airborne communications relay platforms. The diamond shape is reoriented to maintain the first axis aligned with the reference plane in response to a change in position of the reference plane relative to the array.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for providing autonomous control of a vehicle. A vehicle can be manually controlled by an operator. An autonomous system can monitor the operator's control inputs and the environment of the vehicle to determine whether the control inputs result in safe operation of the vehicle. If control inputs are not safe, then the autonomous system can modify the operator's unsafe inputs into safe inputs. In various instances, the autonomous system can operate the vehicle without operator input. In the event an operator attempts to apply control inputs to the vehicle while the autonomous system is otherwise in control, the autonomous system can check to see whether the operator's inputs result in safe operation of the vehicle. If the operator's control inputs are safe, then the autonomous system can replace its autonomous commands with the operator's commands.

Abstract: A satellite communication system may include a communication satellite orbiting Earth, a user terminal in radio communication with the communication satellite through a user link, a communication relay apparatus operating at an altitude of approximately 65,000 feet and in optical communication with the communication satellite through a feeder link, and a gateway station in radio communication with the communication relay apparatus through a gateway link.

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for providing an estimate of a location of a user receiver device. The method involves emitting, from at least one vehicle, at least one spot beam on Earth; and receiving, with the user receiver device, at least one spot beam. The method further involves calculating, with the user receiver device, the estimate of the location of the user receiver device according to the user receiver device's location within at least one spot beam. Each spot beam contains at least one acquisition signal, which may comprise at least one ring channel. Each ring channel comprises a frame count; a space vehicle identification (SVID); a spot beam identification (ID); and/or X, Y, Z coordinates of the vehicle emitting the spot beam relative to an Earth coordinate system. In one or more embodiments, at least one vehicle may be a satellite and/or a pseudolite.

Abstract: A communication network may include a satellite configured to provide a plurality of satellite cells within a satellite coverage area, and one or more unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) configured to fly within the satellite coverage area. Each UAV is configured to fly over one of the satellite cells. A resource allocation system may be configured to dynamically allocate at least a portion of a frequency spectrum between the satellite and the UAV(s). Each UAV provides a plurality of UAV cells within a satellite cell in response to the resource allocation system allocating the frequency spectrum (or portion thereof) to the UAV(s).

Abstract: A communications system includes radio frequency equipment configured to generate RF beams from a high altitude communications platform providing communications coverage over a coverage area, a beamformer configured to apply beam weights to the RF beams to divide the coverage area into service areas arranged in a frequency reuse ground pattern, and a processor configured to adjust the beam weights to compensate for beam displacements resulting from motion of the high altitude communications platform along a flight path, and interchange the RF beams to maintain the frequency reuse ground pattern throughout the flight path.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus for laser communications following an atmospheric event. In one or more embodiments, the disclosed method involves transmitting, by at least one laser on at least one first satellite, at least one first transmit signal. The method further involves receiving, by at least one detector on at least one first satellite, at least one first receive signal. In one or more embodiments, at least one first satellite is in super-geosynchronous earth orbit (S-GEO). In at least one embodiment, at least one first transmit signal and at least one first receive signal are laser signals. Further, the method involves adapting, by at least one first processor on at least one first satellite, at least one first transmit signal according to at least one atmospheric event.

Abstract: An aircraft includes a fuselage, wings coupled to the fuselage, and a transceiver. The aircraft further includes a plurality of planar phased array antennas coupled to the transceiver and fixedly attached to the fuselage or to at least one of the wings. The plurality of planar phased array antennas include a first planar phased array antenna having a first normal vector and a second planar phased array antenna having a second normal vector. The first normal vector is not parallel to the second normal vector.

Abstract: A user terminal includes a reconfigurable phased array antenna having a plurality of antenna elements. The user terminal is operable for: broadening a field of regard of the reconfigurable phased array antenna; receiving signals from a plurality of satellites within the field of regard using the reconfigurable phased array antenna; determining one or more attributes of the received signals for each of the satellites; and selecting one of the plurality of satellites for communication based on the attributes of the received signals. After the satellite has been selected, the user terminal is configured for: switching to a directional mode for the reconfigurable phased array antenna; establishing the communication with the selected satellite using the reconfigurable phased array antenna; and tracking the selected satellite. Ephemeris data broadcast by the satellites is used by the user terminal to track the satellites and to perform handovers between satellites.