Abstract: An aircraft electromechanical actuator control system for an aircraft having a direct current (DC) voltage bus includes an actuator controller that is coupled to receive a first DC voltage from the aircraft DC voltage bus, where the first DC voltage has a first voltage magnitude. The actuator controller selectively supplies AC voltage to an electromechanical actuator and includes a bidirectional DC/DC converter, an inverter, and actuator control logic. The bidirectional DC/DC converter receives the first DC voltage and supplies a second DC voltage having a second voltage magnitude that is less than the first voltage magnitude. The inverter receives the second DC voltage converts it to the AC voltage. The actuator control logic receives actuator commands and supplies inverter control signals to the inverter.

Abstract: In some examples, a processor is configured to predict the presence of ice crystals (e.g., high altitude ice crystals) in a volume of airspace based on radar reflectivity values and one or more other types of information indicative of weather conditions in the volume of airspace, such as one or more of: ambient air temperature and altitude. For example, the processor may predict the ice crystals presence by at least estimating the iced water content level within a volume of airspace of interest based on radar reflectivity values for the volume of airspace (e.g., stored as in a three-dimensional buffer) and other information indicative of weather conditions of the volume of airspace. The processor may estimate the iced water content level using a model that relates the information indicative of weather conditions in and around the volume of interest to iced water content in the atmosphere.

Abstract: Energy scavenging health monitors are provided for assessing the health of components onboard aircraft and other vehicles, as are methods carried-out by energy scavenging health monitors. In various embodiments, the energy scavenging health monitor includes an energy scavenger system, a controller coupled to the energy scavenger system, and a first sensor coupled to the controller. During operation of the health monitor, the first sensor provides sensor signals to the controller, which are indicative of an operational parameter pertaining to a monitored device of the vehicle. Storage media contains computer-readable instructions, which when executed by the controller, cause the energy scavenging health monitor to determine when a predetermined trigger event has occurred based, at least in part, on electrical input signals received from the energy scavenger system.

Abstract: Energy scavenging health monitors are provided for assessing the health of components onboard aircraft and other vehicles, as are methods carried-out by energy scavenging health monitors. In various embodiments, the energy scavenging health monitor includes an energy scavenger system, a controller coupled to the energy scavenger system, and a first sensor coupled to the controller. During operation of the health monitor, the first sensor provides sensor signals to the controller, which are indicative of an operational parameter pertaining to a monitored device of the vehicle. Storage media contains computer-readable instructions, which when executed by the controller, cause the energy scavenging health monitor to determine when a predetermined trigger event has occurred based, at least in part, on electrical input signals received from the energy scavenger system.

Abstract: In some examples, a processor is configured to predict the presence of ice crystals (e.g., high altitude ice crystals) in a volume of airspace based on radar reflectivity values and one or more other types of information indicative of weather conditions in the volume of airspace, such as one or more of: ambient air temperature and altitude. For example, the processor may predict the ice crystals presence by at least estimating the iced water content level within a volume of airspace of interest based on radar reflectivity values for the volume of airspace (e.g., stored as in a three-dimensional buffer) and other information indicative of weather conditions of the volume of airspace. The processor may estimate the iced water content level using a model that relates the information indicative of weather conditions in and around the volume of interest to iced water content in the atmosphere.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide improved systems and methods for matching scenes. In one embodiment, a processor for implementing robust feature matching between images comprises: a first process for extracting a first feature set from a first image projection and extracting a second feature set from a second image projection; a memory for storing the first feature set and the second feature set; and a second process for feature matching using invariant mutual relations between features of the first feature set and the second feature set; wherein the second feature set is selected from the second image projection based on the identification of similar descriptive subsets between the second image projection and the first image projection.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide improved systems and methods for matching scenes. In one embodiment, a processor for implementing robust feature matching between images comprises: a first process for extracting a first feature set from a first image projection and extracting a second feature set from a second image projection; a memory for storing the first feature set and the second feature set; and a second process for feature matching using invariant mutual relations between features of the first feature set and the second feature set; wherein the second feature set is selected from the second image projection based on the identification of similar descriptive subsets between the second image projection and the first image projection.

Abstract: Systems and methods for airborne object detection using monocular sensors are provided. In one embodiment, a system for detecting moving objects from a mobile vehicle comprises: an imaging camera; a navigation unit including at least an inertial measurement unit; and a computer system coupled to the image camera and the navigation unit. The computer system executes an airborne object detection process algorithm, and calculates a transformation between two or more image frames captured by the imaging camera using navigation information associated with each of the two or more image frames to generate a motion compensated background image sequence. The computer system detects moving objects from the motion compensated background image sequence.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide improved systems and methods for matching scenes. In one embodiment, a processor for implementing robust feature matching between images comprises: a first process for extracting a first feature set from a first image projection and extracting a second feature set from a second image projection; a memory for storing the first feature set and the second feature set; and a second process for feature matching using invariant mutual relations between features of the first feature set and the second feature set; wherein the second feature set is selected from the second image projection based on the identification of similar descriptive subsets between the second image projection and the first image projection.

Abstract: A system and method for determining positions of one or more eyes in a three-dimensional volume includes rotating an optical reflector within a linear field of view of a line scan camera to allow the line scan camera to capture image data of a two-dimensional projection within the three-dimensional volume, and processing the image data captured by the line scan camera to determine the positions of the one or more eyes.

Abstract: Systems and methods for processing extracted plane features are provided. In one embodiment, a method for processing extracted plane features includes: estimating an area of each plane of a plurality of planes extracted from data collected by an imaging sensor; generating a list of detected planes including the area of each plane; filtering the list of detected planes to produce a list of candidates for merger, filtering the list of detected planes discarding any plane not satisfying an actual points received criteria; applying a primary merge algorithm to the list of candidates for merger that iteratively produces a list of merged planes by testing hypothetical merged planes against a merging criteria, the hypothetical merged planes each comprising a plane from the list of merged planes and a plane from the list of candidates for merger; and outputting a final list of planes.

Abstract: A navigation system comprises an image sensor operable to obtain range data for a first scene, and a processing unit coupled to the image sensor. The processing unit is operable to identify one or more plane features, based on the range data, using each of a plurality of scales. The processing unit is further operable to combine each of the one or more plane features with a corresponding plane feature from each of the plurality of scales and to project the one or more combined plane features to a reference orientation.

Abstract: A method of controlling an actuator based on a set of three-dimensional (3D) data points is provided. The method includes obtaining a first set of 3D data points for a scene and a second set of 3D data points for a scene with a sensor. At least a first set of planar features is extracted from the first set of 3D data point. At least a second set of planar features is extracted from the second set of 3D data points. A motion is determined between the first set of 3D data points and the second set of 3D data points based on a rotation and a translation from the at least a first set to the at least a second set. At least one actuator is controlled based on the motion.

Abstract: A method of extracting a feature from a point cloud comprises receiving a three-dimensional (3-D) point cloud representing objects in a scene, the 3-D point cloud containing a plurality of data points; generating a plurality of hypothetical features based on data points in the 3-D point cloud, wherein the data points corresponding to each hypothetical feature are inlier data points for the respective hypothetical feature; and selecting the hypothetical feature having the most inlier data points as representative of an object in the scene.

Abstract: Systems and methods for processing extracted plane features are provided. In one embodiment, a method for processing extracted plane features includes: estimating an area of each plane of a plurality of planes extracted from data collected by an imaging sensor; generating a list of detected planes including the area of each plane; filtering the list of detected planes to produce a list of candidates for merger, filtering the list of detected planes discarding any plane not satisfying an actual points received criteria; applying a primary merge algorithm to the list of candidates for merger that iteratively produces a list of merged planes by testing hypothetical merged planes against a merging criteria, the hypothetical merged planes each comprising a plane from the list of merged planes and a plane from the list of candidates for merger; and outputting a final list of planes.

Abstract: A method of extracting a feature from a point cloud comprises receiving a three-dimensional (3-D) point cloud representing objects in a scene, the 3-D point cloud containing a plurality of data points; generating a plurality of hypothetical features based on data points in the 3-D point cloud, wherein the data points corresponding to each hypothetical feature are inlier data points for the respective hypothetical feature; and selecting the hypothetical feature having the most inlier data points as representative of an object in the scene.

Abstract: Systems and methods for airborne object detection using monocular sensors are provided. In one embodiment, a system for detecting moving objects from a mobile vehicle comprises: an imaging camera; a navigation unit including at least an inertial measurement unit; and a computer system coupled to the image camera and the navigation unit. The computer system executes an airborne object detection process algorithm, and calculates a transformation between two or more image frames captured by the imaging camera using navigation information associated with each of the two or more image frames to generate a motion compensated background image sequence. The computer system detects moving objects from the motion compensated background image sequence.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide improved systems and methods for matching scenes. In one embodiment, a processor for implementing robust feature matching between images comprises: a first process for extracting a first feature set from a first image projection and extracting a second feature set from a second image projection; a memory for storing the first feature set and the second feature set; and a second process for feature matching using invariant mutual relations between features of the first feature set and the second feature set; wherein the second feature set is selected from the second image projection based on the identification of similar descriptive subsets between the second image projection and the first image projection.

Abstract: A method of controlling an actuator based on a set of three-dimensional (3D) data points is provided. The method includes obtaining a first set of 3D data points for a scene and a second set of 3D data points for a scene with a sensor. At least a first set of planar features is extracted from the first set of 3D data point. At least a second set of planar features is extracted from the second set of 3D data points. A motion is determined between the first set of 3D data points and the second set of 3D data points based on a rotation and a translation from the at least a first set to the at least a second set. At least one actuator is controlled based on the motion.

Abstract: A navigation system comprises an image sensor operable to obtain range data for a first scene, and a processing unit coupled to the image sensor. The processing unit is operable to identify one or more plane features, based on the range data, using each of a plurality of scales. The processing unit is further operable to combine each of the one or more plane features with a corresponding plane feature from each of the plurality of scales and to project the one or more combined plane features to a reference orientation.