Abstract: A transformable airplane may be reconfigured easily and rapidly to perform any one or a combination of tanking, transport, bombing, or command and control missions as desired for a tactical situation by installing or replacing mission-specific modules as desired. A reconfigurable aircraft includes a pair of wings and an aircraft body having at least one bay defined in an interior of the aircraft body. The at least one bay is configured to accept a plurality of removably replaceable modules that configure the aircraft to perform a plurality of missions. Transport mission modules may include space and tie-downs for cargo pallets and/or palletized seating. A roll-on/roll-off ramp may be provided. Tanking mission modules may include a remote aerial refueling operator station. Bombing mission modules may include a bomb rack and a bomb ejector. ISR mission modules may include command and control stations in signal communication with phased array antennas.

Abstract: This invention describes a means for acquiring GPS P/Y code under jamming conditions. It improves jam resistance by augmenting a component of the GPS signal with one from a different satellite system, such as a low earth orbiting (LEO) satellite. The preferred embodiment of this invention employs the Iridium LEO satellite constellation broadcasting in a 10 MHz wide band about 1,621 MHz. A low-cost, integrated Iridium receiver coupled to the GPS receiver employs a single antenna that is capable of receiving both the GPS and Iridium signals together.

Abstract: A fiber amplifier includes at least one longitudinally extending non-doped inner core capable of transmitting signals. At least partially surrounding the inner core and extending at least partially therealong, the fiber amplifier also includes at least one gain region capable of amplifying signals propagating therethrough. The fiber amplifier also includes an outer core surrounding the gain region and the inner core and extending longitudinally therealong. The outer core is capable of transmitting pump energy such that the pump energy at least partially amplifies signals propagating through the inner core according to a nonlinear amplification process, such as a Raman or a Brillouin amplification process.

Abstract: A transformable airplane may be reconfigured easily and rapidly to perform any one or a combination of tanking, transport, bombing, or command and control missions as desired for a tactical situation by installing or replacing mission-specific modules as desired. A reconfigurable aircraft includes a pair of wings and an aircraft body having at least one bay defined in an interior of the aircraft body. The at least one bay is configured to accept a plurality of removably replaceable modules that configure the aircraft to perform a plurality of missions. Transport mission modules may include space and tie-downs for cargo pallets and/or palletized seating. A roll-on/roll-off ramp may be provided. Tanking mission modules may include a remote aerial refueling operator station. Bombing mission modules may include a bomb rack and a bomb ejector. ISR mission modules may include command and control stations in signal communication with phased array antennas.

Abstract: Data from GPS satellites within the field of view of a ground station are retransmitted to LEO satellites, such as Iridium satellites, and cross-linked if necessary before being transmitted to a user. The user is then able to combine the fed-forward data with data received directly from GPS satellites in order to resolve errors due to interference or jamming. Iridium and data aiding thus provides a means for extending GPS performance under a variety of data-impaired conditions because it can provide certain aiding information over its data link in real time.

Abstract: A method for estimating a precise position of a user device from signals from a low earth orbit (LEO) satellite includes receiving at least one carrier signal at a user device, each carrier signal being transmitted a distinct LEO satellite. The user device processes the carrier signals to obtain a first carrier phase information. The user device recalls an inertial position fix derived at an inertial reference unit. The user device derives a position of the user device based on the inertial position fix and the first carrier phase information.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting physiological stress in a person is provided which includes an imagining device and a processor. The processor receives an output from the imagining device representative of the. The processor identifies a characteristic of the person in the image which indicates that the person is not experiencing stress and a second characteristic which indicates the person is experiencing stress. A comparator compares the image of the subject and the two characteristics and the processor extrapolates from the comparison whether or not the person is experiencing a heightened state of stress or nervousness. If so the processor provides an output to activate an alarm or otherwise signal this condition to other individuals involved in monitoring a given area.

Abstract: This invention describes a means for acquiring GPS P/Y code under jamming conditions. It improves jam resistance by augmenting a component of the GPS signal with one from a different satellite system, such as a low earth orbiting (LEO) satellite. The preferred embodiment of this invention employs the Iridium LEO satellite constellation broadcasting in a 10 MHz wide band about 1,621 MHz. A low-cost, integrated Iridium receiver coupled to the GPS receiver employs a single antenna that is capable of receiving both the GPS and Iridium signals together.

Abstract: A fiber amplifier includes at least one longitudinally extending non-doped inner core capable of transmitting signals. At least partially surrounding the inner core and extending at least partially therealong, the fiber amplifier also includes at least one gain region capable of amplifying signals propagating therethrough. The fiber amplifier also includes an outer core surrounding the gain region and the inner core and extending longitudinally therealong. The outer core is capable of transmitting pump energy such that the pump energy at least partially amplifies signals propagating through the inner core according to a nonlinear amplification process, such as a Raman or a Brillouin amplification process.

Abstract: A passive imaging system that uses an antenna having two antenna elements. The system cross-correlates received signals with a reference function to achieve high resolution. The antenna elements are rectangular with their long dimensions oriented normal to the longitudinal axis of a carrying vehicle and the elements are separated by a distance consistent with image resolution requirements. Additionally, the antenna elements are frequency scanned in the cross-track dimension. The channel for the forward antenna element has a time delay relative to that of the rear antenna element. This time delay achieves pointing of the antenna at a particular forward angle relative to the normal to the velocity vector. Outputs of IF filters of the antenna elements are synchronously detected to provide in-phase and quadrature (I/Q) components of their phase modulated product.

Abstract: Ferro-electric frequency selective surface radomes that have dielectric layers that comprise voltage controlled material, and the electrical properties of the dielectric layers are voltage controlled. By varying the dielectric properties, the passband frequency of the radomes can be shifted to optimize frequency and angular response of the frequency selective surface. The radomes comprise grating screens having a plurality of printed radiating elements. Inner and outer voltage controlled dielectric layers are disposed on the grating screens. Relatively high ohms per square resistive films are disposed on exposed surfaces of the voltage controlled dielectric layers.

Abstract: A microwave-absorbing material composed of blends of polar icosahedral molecular units with a variety of host matrices, or with polymers with the units covalently bonded in a pendant manner to the polymer chain. Both blends and polymers must impart a high degree of orientational mobility to the units so that they can absorb microwave radiation. These materials employ orientationally mobile, polar icosahedral molecular units as the source of dielectric loss at microwave frequencies. Examples of these units are the polar carboranes (ortho- and meta-carborane), polar carboranes with electronegative and/or electropositive substitutes, and polar "buckminsterfullerenes.

Abstract: A microwave-absorbing material composed of blends of polar icosahedral molecular units with a variety of host matrices, or with polymers with the units covalently bonded in a pendant manner to the polymer chain. Both blends and polymers must impart a high degree of orientational mobility to the units so that they can absorb microwave radiation. These materials employ orientationally mobile, polar icosahedral molecular units as the source of dielectric loss at microwave frequencies. Examples of these units are the polar carboranes (ortho- and meta-carborane), polar carboranes with electronegative and/or electropositive substitutes, and polar "buckminsterfullerenes.

Abstract: An impregnated carbon film expanded into a honeycomb structure is employed in a tapered notch phased array antenna and is used to absorb cross-polarized incident fields to reduce the reflections from shorted TEM parallel plate modes existing between radiator elements of the antenna. The carbon loading used to achieve this absorption may comprise a resistive taper, or analog circuit or anisotropic elements having a predetermined tapering resistive profile. The honeycomb cross-polarized load of the present invention provides the electrical performance necessary to meet tapered notch phased array antenna electrical requirements while reducing the weight and cost of antennas in which it is employed.

Abstract: An asymmetrical notch radiating element comprising a metal or metal-clad dielectric substrate into which a tapered slot or notch is disposed. The direction of the axis of the tapered slot lies along any preselected axis and is not constrained to be collinear with the normal to the aperture of the element. An asymmetrical antenna array comprises a plurality of asymmetrical notch radiating elements as described above. Each of the plurality of radiating elements is disposed such that the apertures of each of the elements are substantially coplanar and are at an angle relative to the notch axis. The present antenna uses asymmetric slot lines to control the antenna's electrical performance. The precise slot dimensions are chosen to optimize radiation and reduce scattering. The asymmetric flared notch allows optimization of the transmit gain in a direction that is not necessarily normal to the array surface.