Abstract: Automated systems and methods are provided for use in processing explant material. One example system includes a first station configured to sterilize explant material with sterilization media, a second station configured to receive the explant material from the first station and rinse the explant material, and a third station configured to receive the explant material from the second station and hydrate the explant material with rehydration media. The system also includes a support structure, wherein the first station, the second station, and the third station are positioned on the support structure.

Abstract: A water producing system for a photovoltaic panel may include a moisture collection layer, a liquid transfer mat, and a moisture collection substrate. The moisture collection layer may collect moisture from condensation and direct moisture away from the photovoltaic panel. The liquid transfer mat may include a plurality of tubes through which a chilled heat transfer liquid passes. The moisture collection substrate may include a thermally conductive material. The chilled heat transfer liquid within the liquid transfer mat may absorb heat from the photovoltaic panel and from ambient air through the moisture collection substrate, thereby reducing a temperature of the photovoltaic panel and condensing water on the moisture collection substrate to produce water.

Abstract: A waste heat recovery system for a photovoltaic panel may include an open loop system and a closed loop system. The open loop system includes an electric insulator layer and a moisture collection layer. The moisture collection layer may collect moisture from condensation and to direct moisture away from the photovoltaic panel. The closed loop system may be positioned adjacent to the open loop system. The closed loop system may include a liquid transfer mat that has a plurality of tubes through which a liquid passes to absorb heat from the photovoltaic panel. The open loop system is configured to encourage heat transfer from the photovoltaic panel to the closed loop system.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for performing determinations and actions as to a required time of arrival (RTA) for an aircraft during flight. In exemplary embodiments, data is received as to the RTA for the aircraft during flight. Also in exemplary embodiments, determinations are made, via a processor, as to one or more RTA limits for the aircraft based on the RTA. Also in exemplary embodiments, the RTA limits comprise one or both of the following: one or more limits for aircraft speed based on the RTA; and one or more limits for aircraft arrival time based on the RTA.

Abstract: Systems and methods for coordinating with a flight management system (FMS) on-board an aircraft to determine whether a flight plan (FP) change generated by an external device is valid. The method includes generating the FP change, which includes a deviation to the intended FP and a savings parameter associated with a parameter of the intended FP, responsive to weather data and aircraft state data; generating a lateral display showing the intended FP and an alphanumeric window with the FP change; transmitting the FP change to the FMS; receiving, from the FMS, a travel path and a calculated parameter for the travel path, generated by the FMS responsive to the FP change; determining whether the travel path realizes the savings parameter by comparing the calculated parameter to the savings parameter; and, displaying either a selectable graphical user interface (GUI) object to implement the FP change, or a warning based thereon.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for assisting operation of a vehicle to satisfy a downpath energy constraint when a current energy state has deviated from a reference energy state according to a planned route of travel. One method involves identifying an intermediate energy constraint at an intermediate point en route to the downpath waypoint, determining a first segment for satisfying the intermediate energy constraint at the intermediate point from the current energy state using a first configuration, determining a second segment from the intermediate point that satisfies the requested energy constraint at the downpath waypoint using a different configuration, and providing graphical indicia of the recommended path including the first and second segments. The graphical indicia includes a first graphical indication of the first configuration associated with the first segment and a second graphical indication of the second configuration associated with the second segment.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for assisting operation of a vehicle to satisfy a downpath energy constraint when a current energy state has deviated from a reference energy state according to a planned route of travel. One method involves identifying an intermediate energy constraint at an intermediate point en route to the downpath waypoint, determining a first segment for satisfying the intermediate energy constraint at the intermediate point from the current energy state using a first configuration, determining a second segment from the intermediate point that satisfies the requested energy constraint at the downpath waypoint using a different configuration, and providing graphical indicia of the recommended path including the first and second segments. The graphical indicia includes a first graphical indication of the first configuration associated with the first segment and a second graphical indication of the second configuration associated with the second segment.

Abstract: Systems and methods for coordinating with a flight management system (FMS) on-board an aircraft to determine whether a flight plan (FP) change generated by an external device is valid. The method includes generating the FP change, which includes a deviation to the intended FP and a savings parameter associated with a parameter of the intended FP, responsive to weather data and aircraft state data; generating a lateral display showing the intended FP and an alphanumeric window with the FP change; transmitting the FP change to the FMS; receiving, from the FMS, a travel path and a calculated parameter for the travel path, generated by the FMS responsive to the FP change; determining whether the travel path realizes the savings parameter by comparing the calculated parameter to the savings parameter; and, displaying either a selectable graphical user interface (GUI) object to implement the FP change, or a warning based thereon.

Abstract: A system and methods for enhancing operator situational awareness are disclosed. For example, one method includes monitoring a plurality of radio transmissions associated with a plurality of vehicles in a first traffic flow pattern, monitoring a second traffic flow pattern in a vicinity of a vehicle of the plurality of vehicles, monitoring at least one weather value for a destination site for the plurality of vehicles, proposing a destination approach for the vehicle in response to the monitoring, evaluating an impact of the proposed destination approach on an existing travel path for the vehicle, and generating a second travel path for the vehicle in response to the evaluating.

Abstract: Human-machine interface for required time of arrival (RTA) constraint negotiation. Embodiments present critical RTA information and results of associated data calculations to the pilot in a concise and informative manner using a dialogue box with intuitive graphical displays. Embodiments present critical RTA information to assist a pilot in negotiating the RTA constraint with air traffic controllers, accepting the clearance, and having confidence in the system that it will achieve the defined RTA constraint.

Abstract: A system and method in an aircraft for providing enhanced services is provided. In one example, the method includes: setting up triggering logic to identify a beginning point and ending point for collecting a set of avionics system data during a flight; and systematically retrieving information for use by the triggering logic to identify the beginning point and the ending point. When the beginning point is reached, the method includes systematically repeating: retrieving the set of avionics systems data; and sending, to an off-board application, data from the set of avionics system data that has changed state from prior data sent to the off- board application. When the ending point is reached, the method includes cease sending data from the set of avionics system data to the off-board application.

Abstract: A system includes an aircraft avionics system and a portable computing device. The aircraft avionics system is configured to run one or more embedded avionics applications. The portable computing device is in operable communication with the aircraft avionics system and is configured to run one or more portable device applications. Each portable device application has resident therein a software development kit having libraries and utilities that enables the portable device application to: establish a secure connection with the aircraft avionics system, establish and maintain a required protocol with the embedded avionics application, and communicate with the embedded avionics application as specified by an application programming interface definition.

Abstract: A system and methods for enhancing operator situational awareness are disclosed. For example, one method includes monitoring a plurality of radio transmissions associated with a plurality of vehicles in a first traffic flow pattern, monitoring a second traffic flow pattern in a vicinity of a vehicle of the plurality of vehicles, monitoring at least one weather value for a destination site for the plurality of vehicles, proposing a destination approach for the vehicle in response to the monitoring, evaluating an impact of the proposed destination approach on an existing travel path for the vehicle, and generating a second travel path for the vehicle in response to the evaluating.

Abstract: A system and methods for enhancing operator situational awareness are disclosed. For example, one method includes monitoring a plurality of radio transmissions associated with a plurality of vehicles in a first traffic flow pattern, monitoring a second traffic flow pattern in a vicinity of a vehicle of the plurality of vehicles, monitoring at least one weather value for a destination site for the plurality of vehicles, proposing a destination approach for the vehicle in response to the monitoring, evaluating an impact of the proposed destination approach on an existing travel path for the vehicle, and generating a second travel path for the vehicle in response to the evaluating.

Abstract: A method in an aircraft for the validation of variable data is provided. The method comprises: receiving a request from an application program to retrieve data attributes for at least one data item to be entered via a GUI provided by the application program; requesting, from the flight management engine using an API, the data attributes for the at least one data item, wherein the data attributes identify at least one limit for data entry for the at least one data item including a minimum and/or maximum value for the at least one data item; receiving the requested data attributes from the flight management engine; and transmitting the data attributes to the application program; wherein the application program restricts data entry for the at least one data item in conformance with each limit provided by the data attributes for the at least one data item.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for presenting an energy state associated with an aircraft with respect to an operating envelope region for a procedure to restart an engine of the aircraft. One method involves providing a graphical user interface display having a first reference axis corresponding to a first energy state parameter and a second reference axis corresponding to a second energy state parameter different from the first energy state parameter, providing a graphical representation of an operating envelope region associated with a procedure for starting an engine of the aircraft with respect to the first and second reference axes, obtaining current values for the first and second energy state parameters for the aircraft, and providing a graphical representation of the aircraft positioned with respect to the first and second reference axes based on the current values for the first and second energy state parameters.

Abstract: Systems and methods of searching stored flight plan information using a custom search query including at least one aircraft parameter condition or environmental parameter condition. The systems and method include receiving, using a user interface module, a custom search query comprising an aircraft parameter condition or an environmental condition; searching, using a processor module, stored flight plan information for instances in the stored flight plan information that satisfy the aircraft parameter condition or environmental condition; and displaying, using a display module, the instances in the stored flight plan information that satisfy the aircraft parameter condition or environmental condition.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and circuits that prevent energy that would produce a spurious resonance from lumped, distributed or waveguide circuit elements by using for example a low pass filter with a cut-off below the first spurious resonance frequency and bypassing the energy at frequencies at or above the first spurious resonance frequency through a secondary path. This secondary path is high pass in nature, with a cutoff substantially similar to the low pass filter. The two paths are combined at the common output, using a lowpass matching network.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for performing determinations and actions as to a required time of arrival (RTA) for an aircraft during flight. In exemplary embodiments, data is received as to the RTA for the aircraft during flight. Also in exemplary embodiments, determinations are made, via a processor, as to one or more RTA limits for the aircraft based on the RTA. Also in exemplary embodiments, the RTA limits comprise one or both of the following: one or more limits for aircraft speed based on the RTA; and one or more limits for aircraft arrival time based on the RTA.

Abstract: Human-machine interface for required time of arrival (RTA) constraint negotiation. Embodiments present critical RTA information and results of associated data calculations to the pilot in a concise and informative manner using a dialogue box with intuitive graphical displays. Embodiments present critical RTA information to assist a pilot in negotiating the RTA constraint with air traffic controllers, accepting the clearance, and having confidence in the system that it will achieve the defined RTA constraint.