Abstract: An excimer lamp includes a dielectric tube, an end cap, a conductive hollow tube, and an electrode grid. The dielectric tube has a closed end and an open end, and defines a cavity. The end cap sealingly covers the open end. The conductive hollow tube passes through the end cap and into the cavity of the dielectric tube, with a volume defined between an exterior surface of the conductive hollow tube and an interior surface of the dielectric tube. The volume is configured to hold a gas. The electrode grid is disposed on an exterior surface of the dielectric tube.

Abstract: An apparatus for irradiating air flow in a vehicle includes a filter unit configured to couple to a recirculating-air conduit connected to a manifold of an air circulation system, the filter unit having an inlet end, and a filter disposed in the inlet end of the filter unit, including an outer wall of filter media having a shape that defines an interior volume of the filter. The apparatus further includes an ultraviolet light disposed on an end plate, configured to be mounted with the ultraviolet light positioned in the interior volume of the filter and the end plate against an open end of the filter. The ultraviolet light is configured to emit ultraviolet radiation substantially at between 222 nm and 265 nm for irradiating air flow through the filter into the air circulation system.

Abstract: A power management system has a controller including one or more processors. The controller is configured to monitor electrical power on a power bus of a vehicle. The power bus is electrically connecting a power source to multiple subsystems of the vehicle for powering the subsystems via the electrical power on the power bus. The controller is further configured to determine that the electrical power on the power bus exceeds a designated power generation limit, and, in response, generate a reduction command message for communication to a lowest-priority subsystem of the subsystems. The reduction command message instructs the lowest-priority subsystem to reduce power consumption.

Abstract: An excimer lamp includes a first electrode, a dielectric plate, and a second electrode. The dielectric plate has a first side and a second side opposite the first side. The dielectric plate is spaced a distance from the first electrode to define a volume configured to hold a gas. The first side of the dielectric plate is oriented toward the first electrode. The second electrode is oriented toward the dielectric plate, wherein the dielectric plate is interposed between the first electrode and the second electrode.

Abstract: A system for connecting an ultraviolet (UV) lamp with an electrical coupling includes a braid attachment coupled to the UV lamp, and one or both of a compressive wrap secured around at least a portion of the braid attachment, or a clamp secured around at least a portion of the braid attachment.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a flight control cable sensor for detecting actuation of a flight control cable of an aircraft. The flight control cable sensor comprises a draw wire encoder, comprising an extendable-retractable wire. The flight control cable sensor further comprises a first connector, co-movably fixed to the extendable-retractable wire, and a second connector, co-movably fixable to the flight control cable and configured to removably co-movably engage the first connector up to a predetermined pull-off force.

Abstract: An ultraviolet (UV) light pacing system includes an assembly including a UV lamp configured to emit UV light to disinfect a component. One or more range light sources are configured to emit ranging light. At least one aspect of the ranging light is altered to provide a visual cue for guiding motion of the assembly to disinfect the component. An ultraviolet (UV) light pacing method includes emitting ranging light from one or more range light sources of and assembly having a UV lamp configured to emit UV light to disinfect a surface of a component, and altering at least one aspect of the ranging light to provide a visual cue for guiding motion of the assembly to disinfect the component.

Abstract: An ultraviolet (UV) light sanitizing cart including one or more first UV lamps configured to emit UV light, and one or more wand assemblies comprising one or more second UV lamps configured to emit UV light. The one or more wand assemblies are moveable between a stowed position and a deployed position.

Abstract: Examples for logical to physical mapping of aircraft electronic components are presented. A system may include aircraft electronic components coupled sequentially to a power wire, corresponding controllers, and a master computing device. The computing device may receive a first identifier for a first component from a first controller in response to the first controller receiving power at a first time from the power wire and a second identifier for a second component from a second controller in response to the second controller receiving power at a second time from the power wire. The second time is subsequent to the first time. The computing device determines locations for the first and second component within the aircraft based on an order of reception of the identifiers.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media storing instructions for determining cross-track error of an aircraft on a taxiway are disclosed herein. The disclosed techniques capture electronic images of a portion of the taxiway using cameras or other electronic imaging devices mounted on the aircraft, pre-process the electronic images to generate regularized image data, apply a trained multichannel neural network model to the regularized image data to generate a preliminary estimate of cross-track error relative to the centerline of the taxiway, and post-process the preliminary estimate to generate an estimate of cross-track error of the aircraft. Further embodiments adjust a GPS-based location estimate of the aircraft using the estimate of cross-track error or adjust the heading of the aircraft based upon the estimate of cross-track error.

Abstract: An actuator includes a piston and a housing. The piston includes a piston shaft that is configured to reciprocate within a chamber of the housing. The actuator includes a gland electrically coupled to the housing. The gland forms at least a portion of a first end of the chamber. The actuator also includes a first conductor positioned in the chamber. The first conductor is coupled to the gland and to a first side of the piston to electrically couple the piston to the housing.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for displaying the storage status of overhead luggage storage bins in an aircraft. A camera is provided that is mounted with a field of view directed at an inner portion of a group of open bins. The camera is communicatively coupled to a controller and selectively provides images of the inner portion of the bins immediately prior to when the bins are closed to the controller. A projector is also provided for each group of bins. The projector is communicatively coupled to the controller and is mounted such that an image received from the controller is projected onto an outer surface of the closed bins. The controller receives images from each of the cameras and selectively provides such images to the projector associated with each camera so that a storage status display is projected on an outer surface of the bins.

Abstract: Example implementations relate to autonomous airport runway navigation. An example system includes a first sensor and a second sensor coupled to an aircraft at a first location and a second location, respectively, and a computing system configured to receive sensor data from one or both of the first sensor and the second sensor to detect airport markings positioned proximate a runway. The computing system is further configured to identify a centerline of the runway based on the airport markings and receive sensor data from both of the first sensor and the second sensor to determine a lateral displacement that represents a distance between a reference point of the aircraft and the centerline of the runway. The computing system is further configured to control instructions that indicate adjustments for aligning the reference point of the aircraft with the centerline of the runway during subsequent navigation of the aircraft.

Abstract: A method for aligning a removable sensor on a vehicle includes connecting the removable sensor to a sensor mounting device. The method further includes connecting a connector of an alignment apparatus to either (i) the removable sensor such that a spatial reference component of the alignment apparatus has a known position and orientation relative to a current position and orientation of the removable sensor or (ii) a fixed connection location on the vehicle such that the spatial reference component indicates a desired position and orientation of the removable sensor. In addition the method includes adjusting the current position and orientation of the removable sensor by reference to the alignment apparatus to cause the current position and orientation of the removable sensor to match the desired position and orientation of the removable sensor.

Abstract: Systems and methods of aligning removable sensors mounted on a vehicle based upon sensor output of such sensors are described. Sensor output is collected from a removable sensor (e.g., a digital camera), and a representation of such sensor output is generated (e.g., a digital image). The representation of the sensor output is compared against a spatial template (e.g., a digital mask overlaid on the representation) to determine whether external references in the representation align with corresponding reference indicators in the spatial template. When alignment is required, the removable sensor is aligned by one or both of the following until the external references in a representation of sensor data at an updated current location align with the corresponding reference indicators in the spatial template: (i) adjusting the position of the removable sensor on the vehicle or (ii) adjusting the representation of the sensor output to simulate such repositioning.

Abstract: In an example, a method of operating a UV light source for a vehicle includes measuring an amount of power on a commodity power feeder, determining when the measured amount of power is greater than a threshold amount of power and, responsively, actuating a switch to a first state in which the switch decouples the UV light source from the power on the commodity power feeder. The method also includes determining when the measured amount of power is less than the threshold amount of power and responsively actuating the switch to a second state in which the switch couples the UV light source to the power on the commodity power feeder. The method also includes, while the switch is in the second state, activating the UV light source, using the power from the commodity power feeder, to emit UV light in the vehicle.

Abstract: Examples for logical to physical mapping of aircraft electronic components are presented. A system may include aircraft electronic components coupled sequentially to a power wire, corresponding controllers, and a master computing device. The computing device may receive a first identifier for a first component from a first controller in response to the first controller receiving power at a first time from the power wire and a second identifier for a second component from a second controller in response to the second controller receiving power at a second time from the power wire. The second time is subsequent to the first time. The computing device determines locations for the first and second component within the aircraft based on an order of reception of the identifiers.

Abstract: A passenger control unit (PCU) network is provided for a passenger aircraft having passenger seats in a plurality of zones, each zone having at least one column of seats, and each column having at least one row of seats. The PCU network includes a direct current (DC) power distribution system, and a plurality of wired PCUs, one PCU associated with each passenger seat and coupled to the DC power distribution system. Each PCU has a processor and system memory and a standard data and power interface, the processor being programmed for differential peer-to-peer communication with adjacently interconnected PCUs throughout the PCU network and with an external system of the aircraft.

Abstract: In an example, a method of operating a UV light source for a vehicle includes measuring an amount of power on a commodity power feeder, determining when the measured amount of power is greater than a threshold amount of power and, responsively, actuating a switch to a first state in which the switch decouples the UV light source from the power on the commodity power feeder. The method also includes determining when the measured amount of power is less than the threshold amount of power and responsively actuating the switch to a second state in which the switch couples the UV light source to the power on the commodity power feeder. The method also includes, while the switch is in the second state, activating the UV light source, using the power from the commodity power feeder, to emit UV light in the vehicle.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media storing instructions for determining cross-track error of an aircraft on a taxiway are disclosed herein. The disclosed techniques capture electronic images of a portion of the taxiway using cameras or other electronic imaging devices mounted on the aircraft, pre-process the electronic images to generate regularized image data, apply a trained multichannel neural network model to the regularized image data to generate a preliminary estimate of cross-track error relative to the centerline of the taxiway, and post-process the preliminary estimate to generate an estimate of cross-track error of the aircraft. Further embodiments adjust a GPS-based location estimate of the aircraft using the estimate of cross-track error or adjust the heading of the aircraft based upon the estimate of cross-track error.