Abstract: There is provided methods, apparatus, and computer program products for implementing a KINSTLER maneuver for an exit vehicle that is departing from a rotating space vehicle such that the exit vehicle does not contact the space vehicle during departure. A composite spin axis of the space vehicle is determined, which defines a plurality of spin axis planes that contain the exit vehicle along the exit flight path. The spin rate of the rotating space vehicle is determined about the composite spin axis, and the exit vehicle is launched from the space vehicle, providing the exit vehicle with a departure velocity having a VS component. Lateral thrust is applied to provide a lateral acceleration, which provides a turn rate of the exit vehicle's VS component in the spin axis plane about the composite spin axis that is proportionate to the spin rate of the rotating space vehicle.

Abstract: A bus management tool that allows communication to be maintained between a group of nodes operatively connected on two busses in the presence of radiation by transmitting periodically a first message from one to another of the nodes on one of the busses, determining whether the first message was received by the other of the nodes on the first bus, and when it is determined that the first message was not received by the other of the nodes, transmitting a recovery command to the other of the nodes on a second of the of busses. Methods, systems, and articles of manufacture consistent with the present invention also provide for a bus recovery tool on the other node that re-initializes a bus interface circuit operatively connecting the other node to the first bus in response to the recovery command.

Abstract: There is provided methods, apparatus, and computer program products for implementing a KINSTLER maneuver for an exit vehicle that is departing from a rotating space vehicle such that the exit vehicle does not contact the space vehicle during departure. A composite spin axis of the space vehicle is determined, which defines a plurality of spin axis planes that contain the exit vehicle along the exit flight path. The spin rate of the rotating space vehicle is determined about the composite spin axis, and the exit vehicle is launched from the space vehicle, providing the exit vehicle with a departure velocity having a VS component. Lateral thrust is applied to provide a lateral acceleration, which provides a turn rate of the exit vehicle's VS component in the spin axis plane about the composite spin axis that is proportionate to the spin rate of the rotating space vehicle.

Abstract: Various methods and systems provide interfaces between legacy data buses such as MIL-STD 1553 buses and wideband data buses such as IEEE 1394 data buses. One technique for interfacing a legacy bus to a wideband data bus involves providing a hybrid bus controller/remote interface unit as an interface between the two buses. In operation, the legacy interface suitably receives data intended for a legacy node from a wideband data bus capable node. The legacy data is converted in the legacy interface/remote interface unit to at least one legacy word having a legacy format for transmission on the legacy data bus. The legacy interface may be further configured to receive a reply to the wideband data bus capable node message from the legacy component on the legacy data bus, and to forward the reply to the wideband data bus capable node component.

Abstract: Various methods and systems provide interfaces between legacy data buses such as MIL-STD 1553 buses and wideband data buses such as IEEE 1394 data buses. One technique for interfacing a legacy device to a wideband data bus includes the broad steps of receiving legacy data in a legacy format from the legacy device, acquiring a timeslot on the high-speed data bus for at least a portion of the legacy data, embedding the portion of the legacy data into the timeslot to thereby transmit the portion of the data on the wideband data bus, repeating the acquiring and embedding steps until all of the received data is transmitted on the wideband data bus. The timeslot may be, for example, an immediate timeslot obtained via an interrupt-type request, or an acknowledge-accelerated arbitration requested timeslot occurring during a recurring access window.

Abstract: There is provided methods, apparatus, and computer program products for implementing a KINSTLER maneuver for an exit vehicle that is departing from a rotating space vehicle such that the exit vehicle does not contact the space vehicle during departure. A composite spin axis of the space vehicle is determined, which defines a plurality of spin axis planes that contain the exit vehicle along the exit flight path. The spin rate of the rotating space vehicle is determined about the composite spin axis, and the exit vehicle is launched from the space vehicle, providing the exit vehicle with a departure velocity having a VS component. Lateral thrust is applied to provide a lateral acceleration, which provides a turn rate of the exit vehicle's VS component in the spin axis plane about the composite spin axis that is proportionate to the spin rate of the rotating space vehicle.

Abstract: There is provided a radiation shield device for providing radiation protection to an area, such as a manned vehicle. The radiation shield device comprises a magnetic field generator, such as a solenoid, of superconductive material that provides a magnetic field around the area to shield the area from radiation. The magnetic field generator preferably comprises at least one trapezoidal portion to provide substantially isotropic protection to the area. A thermal control system, comprising a limited amount of coolant or a refrigeration cycle, is included to control a temperature of the superconductive material during operation of the magnetic field generator. A magnetic shield device may also be provided between the magnetic field generator and the area to be shielded from radiation to substantially shield the area from the magnetic field generated by the magnetic field generator.

Abstract: There is provided a radiation shield device for providing radiation protection to an area, such as a manned vehicle. The radiation shield device comprises a magnetic field generator, such as a solenoid, of superconductive material that provides a magnetic field around the area to shield the area from radiation. The solenoid preferably defines an axial length that is substantially smaller than a diameter of the solenoid. A thermal control system, comprising a limited amount of coolant or a refrigeration cycle, is included to control a temperature of the superconductive material during operation of the magnetic field generator. A magnetic shield device is also provided between the magnetic field generator and the area to be shielded from radiation to substantially shield the area from the magnetic field generated by the magnetic field generator.

Abstract: There is provided methods, apparatus, and computer program products for implementing a KINSTLER maneuver for an exit vehicle that is departing from a rotating space vehicle such that the exit vehicle does not contact the space vehicle during departure. A composite spin axis of the space vehicle is determined, which defines a plurality of spin axis planes that contain the exit vehicle along the exit flight path. The spin rate of the rotating space vehicle is determined about the composite spin axis, and the exit vehicle is launched from the space vehicle, providing the exit vehicle with a departure velocity having a VS component. Lateral thrust is applied to provide a lateral acceleration, which provides a turn rate of the exit vehicle's VS component in the spin axis plane about the composite spin axis that is proportionate to the spin rate of the rotating space vehicle.

Abstract: A bus management tool that allows communication to be maintained between a group of nodes operatively connected on two busses in the presence of radiation by transmitting periodically a first message from one to another of the nodes on one of the busses, determining whether the first message was received by the other of the nodes on the first bus, and when it is determined that the first message was not received by the other of the nodes, transmitting a recovery command to the other of the nodes on a second of the of busses. Methods, systems, and articles of manufacture consistent with the present invention also provide for a bus recovery tool on the other node that re-initializes a bus interface circuit operatively connecting the other node to the first bus in response to the recovery command.

Abstract: A bus management tool that allows communication to be maintained between a group of nodes operatively connected on two busses in the presence of radiation by transmitting periodically a first message from one to another of the nodes on one of the busses, determining whether the first message was received by the other of the nodes on the first bus, and when it is determined that the first message was not received by the other of the nodes, transmitting a recovery command to the other of the nodes on a second of the of busses. Methods, systems, and articles of manufacture consistent with the present invention also provide for a bus recovery tool on the other node that re-initializes a bus interface circuit operatively connecting the other node to the first bus in response to the recovery command.

Abstract: The adapter/coupler links at least one legacy signal to a wideband network having a defined protocol. The adapter/coupler may be used with a wideband network having a signaling speed of 90 megabits per second, or greater. The adapter/coupler includes a signal conversion/conditioning element for receiving at least one legacy signal and providing a conditioned digital signal which is compatible to the defined protocol of the wideband network. A low latency controller element receives the conditioned digital signal and provides data/control signals. A link/physical layer element receives the data/control signals and transforms them to appropriate signaling mechanisms of a defined physical layer standard in accordance with the defined protocol. The transformed signals are outputted to the wideband network. The latency from the reception of the conditioned digital signal from the signal conversion/conditioning element to the output of the transformed signals to the wideband network is less than 200 microseconds.

Abstract: Various methods and systems provide interfaces between legacy data buses such as MIL-STD 1553 buses and wideband data buses such as IEEE 1394 data buses. One technique for interfacing a legacy device to a wideband data bus includes the broad steps of receiving legacy data in a legacy format from the legacy device, acquiring a timeslot on the high-speed data bus for at least a portion of the legacy data, embedding the portion of the legacy data into the timeslot to thereby transmit the portion of the data on the wideband data bus, repeating the acquiring and embedding steps until all of the received data is transmitted on the wideband data bus. The timeslot may be, for example, an immediate timeslot obtained via an interrupt-type request, or an acknowledge-accelerated arbitration requested timeslot occurring during a recurring access window.

Abstract: Various methods and systems provide interfaces between legacy data buses such as MIL-STD 1553 buses and wideband data buses such as IEEE 1394 data buses. One technique for interfacing a legacy bus to a wideband data bus involves providing a hybrid bus controller/remote interface unit as an interface between the two buses. In operation, the legacy interface suitably receives data intended for a legacy node from a wideband data bus capable node. The legacy data is converted in the legacy interface/remote interface unit to at least one legacy word having a legacy format for transmission on the legacy data bus. The legacy interface may be further configured to receive a reply to the wideband data bus capable node message from the legacy component on the legacy data bus, and to forward the reply to the wideband data bus capable node component.

Abstract: The hybrid data bus includes client nodes and an IEEE-1394b-based network operably associated with those client nodes. At least one of the client nodes is a legacy-based client node that utilizes a non-deterministic network bus type for network interfacing. An IEEE-1394b-based network is operably associated with the client nodes via at least one network interface bridge (NIB). The IEEE-1394b-based network provides a deterministic data passing capability between the legacy-based client node and at least one other of the client nodes.

Abstract: The distributed data handling and processing resources system of the present invention includes a) a number of data handling and processing resource nodes that collectively perform a desired data handling and processing function, each data handling and processing resource node for providing a data handling/processing subfunction; and, b) a low latency, shared bandwidth databus for interconnecting the data handling and processing resource nodes. In the least, among the data handling and processing resource nodes, is a processing unit (PU) node for providing a control and data handling/processing subfunction; and, an input/output (I/O) node for providing a data handling/processing subfunction for data collection/distribution to an external environment. The present invention preferably uses the IEEE-1394b databus due to its unique and specialized low latency, shared bandwidth characteristics.

Abstract: A reconfiguration system for providing an interconnection capability for an IEEE-1394a or IEEE-1394-2000 based communication network. The reconfiguration system comprises an auxiliary connection system that includes a first port being connectable to a node of a first communication subnetwork and a second port being connectable to a node of a second communication subnetwork. Each of the ports has the capability of establishing or interrupting the sending and receiving of signals compliant with IEEE-1394a or IEEE-1394-2000 standards. A connecting subsystem of the auxiliary connection system relays the signals between the first port and the second port. A port manager system is operatively connected to the first port and the second port for managing the establishing or interrupting of the signals. A connection path is selectively provided between the first and second communication subnetworks to integrate these communication subnetworks into a common network.

Abstract: The system includes at least one data receiver, a low-power photo-voltaic power generation and distribution system, and a unique signal detector. The data receiver receives serial digital information from a remote optical data transmitter. The data receiver serves both activation and data/control wireless datalink functions. The low-power photo-voltaic power generation and distribution system includes at least one photo-voltaic panel for receiving optical power from a remote optical emission source; and power conditioning, accumulation, and distribution means. Such means includes a digital micro-power timer integrated circuit. The power conditioning, accumulation, and distribution means is connected to the photo-voltaic panel for accumulating power generated by the photo-voltaic panel for periodically and intermittently distributing accumulated power in desired quantities.

Abstract: An infrared (IR) transmitter modulator/receiver controller (TM/RC) encodes downlink serial digital data and precise time synchronization strobes from a host system to provide a downlink modulated serial digital electrical waveform. At least one IR host system transceiver (HST) converts the downlink modulated serial digital electrical waveform to a modulated downlink IR light waveform. At least one IR remote device transceiver (RDT) receives the modulated downlink IR light waveform from the HST. Each RDT is connected to a remote device. The modulated downlink IR light waveform is converted into a corresponding electrical waveform and further demultiplexed into its downlink serial digital data and precise time synchronization strobes. Each RDT provides an uplink electrical and IR modulated serial digital waveform to be received by the HST for conversion to an uplink demodulated serial digital electrical waveform.

Abstract: The system includes at least one data receiver, a low-power, photovoltaic power generation and distribution system, and a unique signal detector. The data receiver receives serial digital information from a remote optical data transmitter. The data receiver serves both activation and data/control wireless datalink functions. The low-power photovoltaic power generation and distribution system includes at least one photovoltaic panel for receiving optical power from a directed beam remote optical emission source. The power generation and distribution system also includes a power accumulation and distribution portion connected to the photovoltaic panel for accumulating power generated by the photovoltaic panel for periodically and intermittently distributing accumulated power in desired quantities. The unique signal detector is connected to the data receiver and to the power accumulation and distribution portion. It is also connectable to an electrical apparatus.