Abstract: A method for coordinating Wireless Avionics Intra-Communication (WAIC) communications with a radio altimeter signal includes monitoring a frequency band and recording a sequence of time stamps, each time stamp of the sequence of time stamps corresponding to a time at which a strength of the radio altimeter signal exceeds a threshold signal strength in the frequency band. The method further includes calculating time stamp intervals between successive time stamps to produce a sequence of time stamp intervals, and identifying a pattern of time stamp intervals in the sequence of time stamp intervals. The method further includes coordinating the WAIC communications with the pattern of time stamp intervals to avoid interference with the radio altimeter signal.

Abstract: A method for coordinating Wireless Avionics Intra-Communication (WAIC) communications with a radio altimeter signal includes monitoring a frequency band and recording a sequence of time stamps, each time stamp of the sequence of time stamps corresponding to a time at which a strength of the radio altimeter signal exceeds a threshold signal strength in the frequency band. The method further includes calculating time stamp intervals between successive time stamps to produce a sequence of time stamp intervals, and identifying a pattern of time stamp intervals in the sequence of time stamp intervals. The method further includes coordinating the WAIC communications with the pattern of time stamp intervals to avoid interference with the radio altimeter signal.

Abstract: A portable wireless communications adapter includes a wireless receiver, a wireless transmitter, an electronic interface connector, and a location sensing module. The wireless receiver is configured to receive wireless data over a Wireless Avionics Intra-Communication (WAIC) frequency range between 4.2 gigahertz (GHz) and 4.4 GHz. The wireless transmitter is configured to send wireless data over the WAIC frequency range between 4.2 GHz and 4.4 GHz. The electronic interface connector is configured to mate with a portable electronic device for communication of the wireless data with the portable electronic device. The location sensing module is configured to determine a location of the portable wireless communications adapter relative to an interior of an aircraft based on WAIC communications received at the wireless receiver and selectively enable and disable the wireless transmitter based on the determined location.

Abstract: A system for data transfer in a rotorcraft includes a power bus extending from a power source in a main fuselage of the rotorcraft to provide electrical power to electrical loads located in a tail boom section of the rotorcraft, a first power line communication node on the power bus in the tail boom section of the rotorcraft, a second power line communication node on the power bus in the main fuselage of the rotorcraft, and a digital sensor bus connected to the first power line communication node. Information from the digital sensor bus is transmitted to the first power line communication node and across the power bus to the second power line communication node.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include techniques for implementing a network security framework for wireless aircraft communication, where the techniques include receiving a key index sequence over a first communication link, and transmitting a subset of the key index to one or more nodes. The techniques also include generating a random encryption key based at least in part on the subset of the key index sequence, encrypting data using the random encryption key, and transmitting the encrypted data over a second communication link.

Abstract: A Wireless Avionics Intra-Communications (WAIC) interface device provides communication between a portable electronic device and a WAIC controller. The WAIC interface device includes a housing, a wireless antenna, wireless access point electronics, and an interface controller. The housing is configured to be mounted to an interior surface of an aircraft and to receive and engage the portable electronic device. The wireless access point electronics are connected via a communication port to a first wired connection to communicate with the WAIC controller. The interface controller authenticates the portable electronic device. A WAIC coordinator is connected to the WAIC controller via a second wired connection, and is configured to communicate wirelessly over a WAIC frequency range between 4.2 gigahertz (GHz) and 4.4 GHz. An end node includes a transceiver configured to communicate wirelessly with the WAIC coordinator over the WAIC frequency range between 4.2 gigahertz (GHz) and 4.4 GHz.

Abstract: An integrated sensor unit for estimating a quantity of fluid in a container includes a pressure sensor configured to measure a pressure at a physical location of the sensor unit, an acceleration sensor configured to measure at least three components of an acceleration vector at the physical location of the sensor unit, and a temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature at the physical location of the sensor unit. The sensor unit is configured to produce an output signal comprising the pressure, acceleration, and temperature measurements.

Abstract: A Wireless Avionics Intra-Communications (WAIC) interface device provides communication between a portable electronic device and a WAIC controller. The WAIC interface device includes a housing, a wireless antenna, wireless access point electronics, and an interface controller. The housing is configured to be mounted to an interior surface of an aircraft and to receive and engage the portable electronic device. The wireless access point electronics are connected via a communication port to a first wired connection to communicate with the WAIC controller. The interface controller authenticates the portable electronic device. A WAIC coordinator is connected to the WAIC controller via a second wired connection, and is configured to communicate wirelessly over a WAIC frequency range between 4.2 gigahertz (GHz) and 4.4 GHz. An end node includes a transceiver configured to communicate wirelessly with the WAIC coordinator over the WAIC frequency range between 4.2 gigahertz (GHz) and 4.4 GHz.

Abstract: A computer implemented method includes transmitting a transmit command to a first data concentrator to send out a predetermined signal of predetermined characteristics according to a transmission setting, receiving a received signal from at least one second data concentrator, and determining if there are any signal transmission effects between the first data concentrator and the second data concentrator based on a comparison of the predetermined signal and the received signal.

Abstract: A portable wireless communications adapter includes a wireless antenna and wireless access point electronics configured to communicated wirelessly with a portable electronic device. The portable wireless communications adapter further includes a wireless receiver, a wireless transmitter, and a location sensing module. The wireless receiver is configured to receive Wireless Avionics Intra-Communication (WAIC) communications over a WAIC frequency range between 4.2 gigahertz (GHz) and 4.4 GHz. The wireless transmitter is configured to send WAIC communications over the WAIC frequency range. The location sensing module is configured to determine a location of the portable wireless communications adapter relative to an interior of an aircraft based on WAIC communications received at the wireless receiver, and selectively enable and disable the wireless transmitter based on the determined location.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include techniques for implementing a network security framework for wireless aircraft communication, where the techniques include receiving a key index sequence over a first communication link, and transmitting a subset of the key index to one or more nodes. The techniques also include generating a random encryption key based at least in part on the subset of the key index sequence, encrypting data using the random encryption key, and transmitting the encrypted data over a second communication link.

Abstract: A portable wireless communications adapter includes a wireless receiver, a wireless transmitter, an electronic interface connector, and a location sensing module. The wireless receiver is configured to receive wireless data over a Wireless Avionics Intra-Communication (WAIC) frequency range between 4.2 gigahertz (GHz) and 4.4 GHz. The wireless transmitter is configured to send wireless data over the WAIC frequency range between 4.2 GHz and 4.4 GHz. The electronic interface connector is configured to mate with a portable electronic device for communication of the wireless data with the portable electronic device. The location sensing module is configured to determine a location of the portable wireless communications adapter relative to an interior of an aircraft based on WAIC communications received at the wireless receiver and selectively enable and disable the wireless transmitter based on the determined location.

Abstract: A portable wireless communications adapter includes a wireless antenna and wireless access point electronics configured to communicated wirelessly with a portable electronic device. The portable wireless communications adapter further includes a wireless receiver, a wireless transmitter, and a location sensing module. The wireless receiver is configured to receive Wireless Avionics Intra-Communication (WAIC) communications over a WAIC frequency range between 4.2 gigahertz (GHz) and 4.4 GHz. The wireless transmitter is configured to send WAIC communications over the WAIC frequency range. The location sensing module is configured to determine a location of the portable wireless communications adapter relative to an interior of an aircraft based on WAIC communications received at the wireless receiver, and selectively enable and disable the wireless transmitter based on the determined location.

Abstract: A method can include generating reference image data representing a field of view of an interior of a fuel tank, and generating active image data representing the field of view of the interior of the fuel tank when the fuel tank contains fuel. The method can further include producing, by a processing device, a fuel measurement value representing an amount of fuel contained in the fuel tank based on the reference image data and the active image data, and outputting, by the processing device, an indication of the fuel measurement value.

Abstract: A multi-level network system of an aircraft includes at least one equipment area network and a wide area network. The equipment area network includes equipment of the aircraft, at least one wireless device, and at least one equipment area network coordinator. The at least one wireless device is configured to transmit and receive data using a first wireless link. The at least one equipment area network coordinator is configured to transmit to and receive data from the at least one wireless device using the first wireless link and to transmit data to and receive data from the wide area network using a second wireless link, the first wireless link using lower power than the second wireless link. The wide area network includes a wide area network coordinator that is configured to transmit and receive data from the at least one equipment area network coordinator using the second wireless link.

Abstract: A method can include illuminating an interior of a fuel tank with one or more light pulses, and receiving reflected returns of the one or more light pulses at a light sensor array. The method can further include producing, by a processing device, three-dimensional image data of the interior of the fuel tank based on the received reflected returns, producing, by the processing device, a fuel measurement value representing an amount of fuel contained in the fuel tank based on the three-dimensional image data, and outputting, by the processing device, an indication of the fuel measurement value.

Abstract: Apparatus and associated methods relate to selectively bypassing a daisy-chained network device based on a timing of a series of reset signals. The daisy-chained network device is bypassed if an elapsed time from a last of the reset signals of the series is longer than a predetermined time period. While no interval between adjacent reset signals of the series exceeds the predetermined time period, the daisy-chained network device is not bypassed. In some embodiments, the daisy-chained network device generates the series of reset signals. If the daisy-chained network device fails to generate a next reset signal within the predetermined time period as measured from a previous reset signal, the daisy-chained network device is bypassed. If the daisy-chained network device loses power, it will be bypassed as the reset signals will not be generated, but if the daisy-chained network device regains power, it can be reinserted into the network daisy-chain.

Abstract: A multi-level network system of an aircraft includes at least one equipment area network and a wide area network. The equipment area network includes equipment of the aircraft, at least one wireless device, and at least one equipment area network coordinator. The at least one wireless device is configured to transmit and receive data using a first wireless link. The at least one equipment area network coordinator is configured to transmit to and receive data from the at least one wireless device using the first wireless link and to transmit data to and receive data from the wide area network using a second wireless link, the first wireless link using lower power than the second wireless link. The wide area network includes a wide area network coordinator that is configured to transmit and receive data from the at least one equipment area network coordinator using the second wireless link.

Abstract: A computer implemented method includes transmitting a transmit command to a first data concentrator to send out a predetermined signal of predetermined characteristics according to a transmission setting, receiving a received signal from at least one second data concentrator, and determining if there are any signal transmission effects between the first data concentrator and the second data concentrator based on a comparison of the predetermined signal and the received signal.

Abstract: A first air data value is generated based on a first set of parameters. A second set of parameters that does not include any of the first set of parameters is processed through an artificial intelligence network to generate a second air data value. The second set of parameters is processed through a plurality of diagnostic artificial intelligence networks to generate a plurality of diagnostic air data values. Each of the plurality of diagnostic artificial intelligence networks excludes a different one of the second set of parameters. One of the second set of parameters is identified, based on the first air data value and the plurality of diagnostic air data values, as a fault source parameter that is associated with a fault condition.