Abstract: Embodiments are directed to selecting, by a computing device comprising a processor, the size of at least one prime mover associated with an aircraft to satisfy a baseline power requirement for operation of the aircraft during a steady state load condition, selecting at least one power source configuration to supplement power provided by the at least one prime mover during a transient load condition associated with the operation of the aircraft, and selecting, by the computing device, a parameter of the at least one power source configuration to provide a total power in an amount that is greater than a threshold during the transient condition.

Abstract: A cooling system for a rotorcraft laser system is provided. The cooling system includes at least one laser carrying component operatively coupling a laser turret and a laser generating assembly. The cooling system also includes at least one fuel line fluidly coupled to a fuel tank containing a fuel. The cooling system further includes a heat exchanger containing a portion of the laser carrying component and the fuel line to transfer heat therebetween to cool the laser carrying component.

Abstract: Methods of estimating frequency skew in a packet network include determining a representation of a packet delay variation (PDV) sequence from an initial estimate of frequency skew between master and slave devices in the packet network and timestamps transmitted therebetween. An operation is performed to extract a statistical mode from an empirical probability distribution function (PDF) of the representation of the PDV sequence, where the statistical mode corresponds to a value at which the PDF has its maximum value. The, an updated estimate of the frequency skew is generated by determining a slope between timestamps at indices associated with a plurality of points in the representation of the PDV sequence that are within a range of the statistical mode.

Abstract: A cooling system for a rotorcraft laser system is provided. The cooling system includes at least one laser carrying component operatively coupling a laser turret and a laser generating assembly. The cooling system also includes at least one fuel line fluidly coupled to a fuel tank containing a fuel. The cooling system further includes a heat exchanger containing a portion of the laser carrying component and the fuel line to transfer heat therebetween to cool the laser carrying component.

Abstract: Methods of performing time-of-day synchronization in a packet processing network include accumulating timestamps transmitted in packets between master and slave devices, which are synchronized to respective master and slave clocks and separated from each other by the packet processing network. Operations are also performed to determine whether first timestamps accumulated in a first direction across the packet network demonstrate that a first packet delay variation (PDV) sequence observed from the first timestamps is stationary. A phase offset between the master and slave clocks is then adjusted using a time-of-day (ToD) estimation algorithm. This adjusting can include evaluating a location-dependent statistic of the first PDV sequence.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed to selecting, by a computing device comprising a processor, the size of at least one prime mover associated with an aircraft to satisfy a baseline power requirement for operation of the aircraft during a steady state load condition, selecting at least one power source configuration to supplement power provided by the at least one prime mover during a transient load condition associated with the operation of the aircraft, and selecting, by the computing device, a parameter of the at least one power source configuration to provide a total power in an amount that is greater than a threshold during the transient condition.

Abstract: A rotorcraft engine starting system includes a starting system controller in communication with a flight control computer; an electric engine starter; an electronic engine controller in communication with the electric engine starter; an electrical power distributor; and a plurality of power sources coupled to the electrical power distributor; the starting system controller selecting at least one of the plurality of power sources and instructing the electrical power distributor to use the at least one of the plurality of power sources to power the electric engine starter.

Abstract: Methods of packet-based synchronization in non-stationary network environments can include accumulating timestamps transmitted in packets between master and slave devices that are separated from each other by a packet network. Operations are also performed to determine whether first timestamps accumulated in a first direction across the packet network demonstrate that a first packet delay variation (PDV) sequence observed from the first timestamps is stationary. Thereafter, estimates of at least one of frequency skew and phase offset between the master and slave clocks are acquired using a first algorithm, from the first timestamps accumulated in the first direction. These operations of determining further include determining whether second timestamps accumulated in a second direction demonstrate that a second packet delay variation (PDV) sequence observed from the second timestamps is stationary.

Abstract: A vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) rotary-wing air-craft is sized and configured to match a payload container such as a standardized Joint Modular Intermodal Container (JMIC). The aircraft may be an Unmanned Air Vehicle (UAV) that is capable of autonomously engaging and disengaging the container so that the aircraft can pick up and drop off the JMIC with minimum human intervention.

Abstract: A device is provided having a local oscillator (LO) configured to generate a first signal comprising at least one of timing information, frequency information, phase information and combinations thereof. The device also has a LO error corrector comprising an input, the input configured to receive a second signal comprising at least one of timing information, frequency information, phase information and combinations thereof. The second signal is used for disciplining the LO. The LO error corrector is capable of disciplining the LO using a source that is less accurate than a preferred second signal, if the preferred second signal is unavailable to discipline the LO.

Abstract: A device is provided having a local oscillator (LO) configured to generate a first signal having timing information, frequency information, phase information or combinations thereof. The device also includes a prioritizer comprising at least two inputs, each input configured to receive a respective second signal having timing information, frequency information, phase information or combinations thereof. The prioritizer is configured to determine an accuracy of at least one second signal of the at least two second signals in relation to a second signal assigned to be a most accurate of the at least two second signals. The prioritizer is also configured to order the at least two second signals from most accurate to least accurate. The LO is disciplined to correct an offset error of the LO relative to a most accurate second signal that is available to the device, based on the order of the at least two second signals.

Abstract: A rotorcraft engine starting system includes a starting system controller in communication with a flight control computer; an electric engine starter; an electronic engine controller in communication with the electric engine starter; an electrical power distributor; and a plurality of power sources coupled to the electrical power distributor; the starting system controller selecting at least one of the plurality of power sources and instructing the electrical power distributor to use the at least one of the plurality of power sources to power the electric engine starter.

Abstract: In accordance with the present disclosure, there is provided a predistorter combined with a feedforward corrector that addresses power dissipation of the feedforward error path while maintaining a sufficiently simple digital predistortion model so as to further minimize power dissipation without sacrificing linearity.

Abstract: Interference-reducing circuits include a feed-forward circuit for subtracting all or part of a desired transmitter-signal component from a signal coupled from the power amplifier's output path. The error signal from this feed-forward circuit contains a replica of distortion in the power amplifier output. A cancellation loop adjusts the phase and/or amplitude of this error signal and combines this adjusted error signal with an interference-carrying signal, removing some of the undesired distortion. A spread-spectrum pilot signal is used in one or both loops, to provide a reference signal that can be monitored by an adjustment circuit, which measures the magnitude and/or phase of a spread-spectrum signal that is injected into the interference-carrying signal and, based on that measurement, adjusts the amplitude, phase, and/or delay of the cancellation signal that is added to the interference-carrying signal. This yields a reduced-interference signal in which undesired distortion is reduced.

Abstract: Embodiments of a centralized predistortion system and corresponding adaptive predistortion processes are disclosed. In general, a central node includes one or more centralized predistortion components that enable predistortion for one or more remote transmit chains in order to compensate for non-linearity of power amplifiers in the one or more remote transmit chains. For instance, in one embodiment, the central node is a hub base station and the one or more remote transmit chains are included in one or more transmitters at one or more satellite base stations.

Abstract: A device is provided having a local oscillator (LO) configured to generate a first signal comprising at least one of: timing information; frequency information; phase information; and combinations thereof. The device also has a LO error corrector comprising an input, the input configured to receive a second signal comprising at least one of: timing information; frequency information; phase information and combinations thereof, wherein the second signal is used for disciplining the LO. The LO error corrector is configured to: if the second signal is unavailable to discipline the LO, discipline the LO using a source that is less accurate than the second signal. Upon the second signal becoming at least temporarily available, the LO corrector determines an offset error of the LO relative to the second signal.

Abstract: A device is provided having a local oscillator (LO) configured to generate a first signal having timing information, frequency information, phase information or combinations thereof. The device also includes a prioritizer comprising at least two inputs, each input configured to receive a respective second signal having timing information, frequency information, phase information or combinations thereof. The prioritizer is configured to determine an accuracy of at least one second signal of the at least two second signals in relation to a second signal assigned to be a most accurate of the at least two second signals. The prioritizer is also configured to order the at least two second signals from most accurate to least accurate. The LO is disciplined to correct an offset error of the LO relative to a most accurate second signal that is available to the device, based on the order of the at least two second signals.

Abstract: A vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) rotary-wing air-craft is sized and configured to match a payload container such as a standardized Joint Modular Intermodal Container (JMIC). The aircraft may be an Unmanned Air Vehicle (UAV) that is capable of autonomously engaging and disengaging the container so that the aircraft can pick up and drop off the JMIC with minimum human intervention.

Abstract: In cellular telephony, a plurality of communication signals which are received at a base station for wireless transmission are multiplexed onto a single physical medium which runs up a mast. This reduces the use of cabling running up the mast with an attendant savings in cost.