Abstract: A lighting system for an aircraft having at least one rotationally mounted propeller assembly that includes hub and a plurality of rotor blades extending radially away from the hub includes a light source and an optical element. The light source is mounted within the hub and is configured, upon being energized, to emit light in a first direction. The optical element is mounted within the hub and is disposed to receive the light emitted by the light source and is configured, upon receipt of the light, to redirect the light radially outward from the hub so that the light reflects off the rotor blades.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for autonomously operating a retractable lighting arrangement. One method involves obtaining a current speed of the vehicle when the lighting arrangement is in an extended state, and when the current speed is greater than a threshold when the lighting arrangement is in the extended state, verifying one or more illumination elements associated with the lighting arrangement are in a deactivated state and thereafter automatically signaling an actuation arrangement associated with the lighting arrangement to transition the lighting arrangement from the extended state to a retracted state.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for autonomously operating a retractable lighting arrangement. One method involves obtaining a current speed of the vehicle when the lighting arrangement is in an extended state, and when the current speed is greater than a threshold when the lighting arrangement is in the extended state, verifying one or more illumination elements associated with the lighting arrangement are in a deactivated state and thereafter automatically signaling an actuation arrangement associated with the lighting arrangement to transition the lighting arrangement from the extended state to a retracted state.

Abstract: A searchlight assembly includes a mount structure adapted to be mounted to an external surface of a vehicle; a lens coupled to an extending from the mount structure and having an inner surface defining a cavity; a spherical motor disposed within the cavity and coupled to the mount structure to independently rotate about two perpendicular axes relative to the mount structure and the lens; and a light source disposed within the cavity and coupled to the spherical motor to be rotatable therewith about the two perpendicular axes.

Abstract: A searchlight assembly includes a mount structure adapted to be mounted to an external surface of a vehicle; a lens coupled to an extending from the mount structure and having an inner surface defining a cavity; a spherical motor disposed within the cavity and coupled to the mount structure to independently rotate about two perpendicular axes relative to the mount structure and the lens; and a light source disposed within the cavity and coupled to the spherical motor to be rotatable therewith about the two perpendicular axes.

Abstract: A laser light assembly includes a substrate, a reflective phosphor plate, a plurality of laser diodes, a light shield, at least one mirror, a plurality of beam-shaping lenses, and a first lens. The reflective phosphor plate is coupled to the substrate and converts incident blue laser light into white light. The laser diodes emit the blue laser light. The light shield prevents the blue laser light emitted by the laser diodes from escaping the assembly. The mirror reflects the blue laser light emitted from each laser diode toward a predetermined position on the reflective phosphor plate, whereby the reflective phosphor plate emits white light. The beam-shaping lenses are disposed between a different one of the laser diodes and the mirror. The first lens receives the white emitted from the reflective phosphor plate.

Abstract: Systems and methods for using a searchlight unit to obtain elevation information about a point of interest are disclosed herein. The searchlight unit comprises an illumination source, a distance measurement system and an actuator for positioning the illumination source and for positioning the distance measurement system toward the point of interest. The searchlight unit also includes a global navigation satellite system and an inertial measurement unit for obtaining position and orientation information about the searchlight unit.

Abstract: A system and method of constructing an electronic assembly. A structural component is identified as a candidate for forming as a combined construction of a metal element and a polymer element. A minimum material thickness required of the metal element for achieving a required electromagnetic shielding property is determined. A minimum area required of the metal element for achieving a required electrical bonding property is determined. A maximum polymer element proportion of the structural component that meets a required structural property and a required thermal property is determined. The structural component is designed with the metal element having the minimum material thickness and the minimum area and with the polymer element having the maximum polymer element proportion. The structural component is manufactured from the polymer element and the metal element to meet the mechanical and electrical properties, and the structural component in the electronic assembly.

Abstract: A system and method of constructing an electronic assembly. A structural component is identified as a candidate for forming as a combined construction of a metal element and a polymer element. A minimum material thickness required of the metal element for achieving a required electromagnetic shielding property is determined. A minimum area required of the metal element for achieving a required electrical bonding property is determined. A maximum polymer element proportion of the structural component that meets a required structural property and a required thermal property is determined. The structural component is designed with the metal element having the minimum material thickness and the minimum area and with the polymer element having the maximum polymer element proportion. The structural component is manufactured from the polymer element and the metal element to meet the mechanical and electrical properties, and the structural component in the electronic assembly.

Abstract: A search and landing light system for a vehicle includes a hemispherical housing adapted to couple to the vehicle and a plurality of light emitting elements coupled to the hemispherical housing and arranged about a surface of the hemispherical housing. Each of the plurality of light emitting elements is configured to output a light beam. The search and landing light system includes a controller, having a processor in communication with each of the plurality of light emitting elements and configured to output one or more control signals to selectively activate at least one of the plurality of light emitting elements to output the light beam at a selected position relative to the vehicle.