Abstract: A high availability aircraft network architecture incorporating smart points of presence (SPoP) is disclosed. In embodiments, the network architecture divides the aircraft into districts, or physical subdivisions. Each district includes one or more mission systems (MS) smart network access point (SNAP) devices for connecting MS components and devices located within its district to the MS network. Similarly, each district includes one or more air vehicle systems (AVS) SNAP devices for connecting AVS components and devices within the district to the AVS network. The AVS network may remain in a star or hub-and-spoke topology, while the MS network may be configured in a ring or mesh topology. Selected MS and AVS SNAP devices may be connected to each other via guarded network bridges to securely interconnect the MS and AVS networks.

Abstract: A smart network access point (SNAP) device is disclosed. In embodiments, the SNAP device includes trunk ports for accepting a network trunk cable (e.g., fiber optic trunk) and thereby connecting the SNAP device to an aircraft-based network of SNAP devices. The SNAP device includes switch ports for incorporating physical connections to mission systems (MS) or air vehicle systems (AVS) components and devices, providing a local smart point of presence (SPoP) throughout a physical subdivision (e.g., network district) of an aircraft. The SNAP device is configured for monitoring data exchanges between local MS/AVS components and the aircraft network. The SNAP device includes a cybersecurity module for connecting to local security components (e.g., data guards and multiple levels of security (MLS) encryption/decryption) or for providing built-in data guard and encryption/decryption services. The SNAP device includes power control components for managing power distribution to the connected local network components.

Abstract: A high-speed light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system includes one or more arrays of transmitting laser diodes (TLD) fixed to a mobile platform; multiple such arrays may be arranged around the mobile platform instead of a single array rotating at high speeds. Each TLD of the array transmits, in sequence, a light pulse at a transmit time to illuminate a particular azimuth and elevation. One or more receiving photodiodes (RPD) are fixed to the mobile platform and configured to receive the reflected returns of the transmitted laser pulses. Signal processors allow the LIDAR system to “see” at high resolution by determining distance and directional information and generating point clouds based on the returned pulses.

Abstract: A high availability aircraft network architecture incorporating smart points of presence (SPoP) is disclosed. In embodiments, the network architecture divides the aircraft into districts, or physical subdivisions. Each district includes one or more mission systems (MS) smart network access point (SNAP) devices for connecting MS components and devices located within its district to the MS network. Similarly, each district includes one or more air vehicle systems (AVS) SNAP devices for connecting AVS components and devices within the district to the AVS network. The AVS network may remain in a star or hub-and-spoke topology, while the MS network may be configured in a ring or mesh topology. Selected MS and AVS SNAP devices may be connected to each other via guarded network bridges to securely interconnect the MS and AVS networks.

Abstract: A smart network access point (SNAP) device is disclosed. In embodiments, the SNAP device includes trunk ports for accepting a network trunk cable (e.g., fiber optic trunk) and thereby connecting the SNAP device to an aircraft-based network of SNAP devices. The SNAP device includes switch ports for incorporating physical connections to mission systems (MS) or air vehicle systems (AVS) components and devices, providing a local smart point of presence (SPoP) throughout a physical subdivision (e.g., network district) of an aircraft. The SNAP device is configured for monitoring data exchanges between local MS/AVS components and the aircraft network. The SNAP device includes a cybersecurity module for connecting to local security components (e.g., data guards and multiple levels of security (MLS) encryption/decryption) or for providing built-in data guard and encryption/decryption services. The SNAP device includes power control components for managing power distribution to the connected local network components.

Abstract: A platform operates in an environment with other platforms using active sensing. The platform includes an active sensing system configured to provide a point cloud associated with the environment. The point cloud is used to navigate the platform. The active sensing system includes a transmitter configured to provide pulses of electromagnetic energy in a light band or a radar band or sonic energy and a receiver configured to receive returns associated with the pulses striking one or more targets in the environment. The transmitter is configured to impose a code onto the pulses, and the receiver is configured to detect the code to determine when the pulses of light where transmitted or to determine a source of the pulses.

Abstract: A dead reckoning system for dismounted users is disclosed. The system uses a laser emitter to heat fixed points near the user. The points are ranged via LIDAR and imaged via thermal or IR imagers co-aligned with the laser emitter and LIDAR assembly (e.g., as a wearable personal system or a vehicle-based system). The system includes inertial sensors (e.g., accelerometers, gyrometers) to monitor attitude and motion trends of the system. Thermal images incorporating the heated points are captured at new user positions. The dead reckoning system includes a microcontroller for tracking distance and directional changes from one user position to the next by analyzing successive thermal images to determine changes in the position of the fixed heated points relative to the user.

Abstract: A planter having multiple growth chambers accessible by the root system of a plant disposed therein via the removal of one or more dividers and a method of use therefor is provided. The planter may further include a drainage system to remove excess water from the soil while keeping separate volumes of soil dry until being utilized by the plant being grown therein.

Abstract: Methods performed by an optoelectronic system are disclosed. A first method may be performed by a pulse data generator configured to acquire time from a clock; determine pulse data representative of a sequence of duration times and/or wavelength ranges as a function of, in part, a wavelength hopping algorithm; and determine and generate an output for controlling an operation of at least one optoelectronic system. A second method may be performed by a sensor controller configured to acquire the pulse data; and generate an output for controlling an operation of an optoelectronic system employed to produce an image viewable to a viewer. A third method may be performed by an image generator configured to acquire the pulse data; acquire digital data from an optoelectronic system; and generate image data representative of an image represented in data acquired from the optoelectronic system as a function of the pulse data.

Abstract: Methods performed by an optoelectronic system are disclosed. A first method may be performed by a pulse data generator configured to acquire time from a clock; determine pulse data representative of a sequence of duration times and/or wavelength ranges as a function of, in part, a wavelength hopping algorithm; and determine and generate an output for controlling an operation of at least one optoelectronic system. A second method may be performed by a sensor controller configured to acquire the pulse data; and generate an output for controlling an operation of an optoelectronic system employed to produce an image viewable to a viewer. A third method may be performed by an image generator configured to acquire the pulse data; acquire digital data from an optoelectronic system; and generate image data representative of an image represented in data acquired from the optoelectronic system as a function of the pulse data.

Abstract: A present novel and non-trivial system, device, and method for generating a future scene of a remotely-operated vehicle (“ROV”) are disclosed. A future scene generator (“FSG”) may receive remote navigation data from the ROV; receive engine control and steering control (“ECSC”) data representative of engine and steering commands; predict future navigation data based upon the remote navigation data, the ECSC data, and a time delay; retrieve object data corresponding to the future navigation data; generate an image data set based upon the future navigation data and the object data, where the image data set is representative of an image of a future scene located outside the remote vehicle; and provide the image data set to a display unit. If the ROV is an unmanned aerial vehicle, the ECSC data could be engine control and flight controls data, and the image of a future scene could be a three-dimensional perspective.

Abstract: A device for controlling a pointer includes an electroencephalograph for detecting signals in the midline occipital region of the user's brain, and a display system having a pointer surrounded by flashing regions having differing flashing frequencies. The electroencephalograph detects differing signals caused by the differing flashing frequencies whenever the user is looking at one of the flashing regions having differing flashing frequencies, and the device moves the pointer in the relative direction of that region. All regions remain in the same position relative to the pointer.

Abstract: A present novel and non-trivial system, device, and method for generating a future scene of a remotely-operated vehicle (“ROV”) are disclosed. A future scene generator (“FSG”) may receive remote navigation data from the ROV; receive engine control and steering control (“ECSC”) data representative of engine and steering commands; predict future navigation data based upon the remote navigation data, the ECSC data, and a time delay; retrieve object data corresponding to the future navigation data; generate an image data set based upon the future navigation data and the object data, where the image data set is representative of an image of a future scene located outside the remote vehicle; and provide the image data set to a display unit. If the ROV is an unmanned aerial vehicle, the ECSC data could be engine control and flight controls data, and the image of a future scene could be a three-dimensional perspective.