Abstract: An objective of the present invention is to provide a system to sense immersion of a participant into water. The system comprises a smart flag and an alarm device of a watercraft, and an FOB device of a participant. The smart flag, the alarm, and the FOB device are wirelessly connected to each other. The FOB device detects the immersion of the participant in the water. The smart flag is automatically deployed based on the detected immersion. The alarm device is automatically turned ON creating an alarm indicating an SOS signal. When the participant gets submerged in the water, the communication is ceased, thus initiating the flag to go up automatically and alarm a captain of the watercraft. Deployment of the flag lets surrounding watercraft to know that the participant is in the water.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus for hosting pre-certified systems, remote activation of customer options, and optimization of flight algorithms in an emulated environment with real world operational conditions and data are disclosed. A method for operating in an emulated environment comprises generating and outputting, by a plurality of production line replaceable units (LRUs) operating in an operational environment, physical environmental data and production LRU output data. The method further comprises emulating, by a plurality of emulators in an emulation server, the production LRUs. Also, the method comprises generating and outputting, by the emulators using the physical environmental data, a model of the operational environment. Further, the method comprises generating and outputting, by a plurality of pre-certified LRUs using the model of the operational environment, pre-certified LRU output data. In one or more embodiments, the pre-certified LRUs correspond to the production LRUs.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a communications interface configured to receive, at a first aircraft, data related to a radiofrequency (RF) survey of a particular location. The RF survey is based on RF samples from at least a second aircraft. The apparatus further includes a radio, an onboard network system (ONS) configured to determine that the first aircraft is approaching the particular location, and a radio controller coupled to the radio. The radio controller is configured to automatically adjust, based on the RF survey and responsive to determining that the first aircraft is approaching the particular location, a parameter of the radio.

Abstract: Provided are methods and systems for terrestrial data transmission between aircrafts and external networks, such as airline and/or airport computer systems. When an aircraft is parked at the gate, the aircraft is connected to and powered by an electrical cable, such as a stinger cable. This cable may be also be used for wired data transmission between the aircraft and the gate using broadband over power line (BPL) technology. The gate and the aircraft are each equipped with a BPL module. The aircraft may include other communication modules, such as a Wi-Fi module, a cellular module, and/or an Ethernet module. These other modules can be also used for data transmission in addition to or instead of communication through the BPL module. A communication link manager may be used to select one or more communication modules depending on availability of communication links, costs, speed, and other parameters.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to emulating special-purpose hardware devices using virtual hardware. A process in accordance with various implementations consistent with the present disclosure includes emulating hardware devices using virtual devices of a virtualization system configured to emulate the hardware devices. The process also includes installing in a physical system, instances of the virtualization system including the virtual devices. The process further includes emulating the hardware devices of the physical system using the virtual devices. Additionally, the process includes communicating with equipment of the physical system using the virtual devices.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for ensuring safety controls for a network-connected autonomous vehicle. The method and apparatus monitor a respective state of each of one or more data communication connections one or more data communication networks. One of a plurality of operational modes for the autonomous vehicle is selected based on the monitored states. Each of the plurality of operational modes defines a respective level of autonomous control for the autonomous vehicle. The method and apparatus transition operation of the autonomous vehicle to the selected operational mode.

Abstract: A system includes server that performs operations including obtaining, from sensors, measurements of physical parameters related to electrical power transmission and data transfer corresponding to a Broadband over Power Line (BPL) data links and a multi-use power interface configured to be electrically and communicatively coupled to a vehicle via the BPL data links. The operations also include receiving identification and location information, and a timestamp associated with a connector of the multi-use power interface, and then storing the measurements, the identification and location information, and the timestamp. The operations further include detecting a change of the connector, and identifying trends in parameters by comparing the measurements and the identification and location information to historical data.

Abstract: A vehicle network system is configured to detect unauthorized intrusions by a passenger-owned device, and to identify the passenger-owned device based at least in part on stored information representative of network communications. The vehicle network system can be further configured to determine a position of the intruding passenger-owned device within a passenger area of the vehicle and to obtain a name and/or camera image of a passenger associated with the device. The position of the intruding device can be identified based at least in part on communications between the intruding device and one or more network-access devices distributed throughout the passenger area.

Abstract: A method for communicating data between a vehicle and a ground system comprises receiving, by a vehicle bus multiplexer on the vehicle, the data via a plurality of vehicle data buses from an onboard system. The method further comprises multiplexing, by the vehicle bus multiplexer, the data into at least one data path of a multi-use power interface. Also, the method comprises transmitting, by the multi-use power interface via at least one data path, the data from the vehicle bus multiplexer to a ground bus multiplexer associated with the ground system. In addition, the method comprises demultiplexing, by the ground bus multiplexer, the data from at least one data path of the multi-use power interface into a plurality of ground data buses associated with the ground system. Further, the method comprises transmitting, by the ground bus multiplexer, the data via the plurality of ground data buses to the ground system.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus for a multi-use optical data, powerline data, and ground power interface for an airplane are disclosed. A method for communicating data between a vehicle and a ground system comprises disposing a pin of a connector of a multi-use power interface, which is connected to the ground system, into a socket of a connector of the vehicle such that a lens located on an end of the pin mates with an interior surface of a bottom of the socket. The pin and the socket each comprise an optical portion and a power portion. The method further comprises providing, by the ground system, power to an onboard system on the vehicle via the power portions of the pin and socket. Further, the method comprises communicating data between the onboard system and the ground system via the optical portions and the power portions of the pin and socket.

Abstract: A method for managing power in an airplane. Power quality data and load management data are collected from airplane systems in the airplane at a variable sampling rate using data collectors assigned to the airplane systems in which the variable sampling rate increases in response to a selected trigger event. The power quality data and the load management data are received by a power monitor from the data collectors during phases of flight for the airplane. A group of load management operations for the airplane systems are performed by a load manager in the airplane during operation of the airplane. The group of load management operations is performed using the power quality data and the load management data received from the data collectors during the phases of flight for the airplane.

Abstract: Disclosed are onboard network systems for passenger aircrafts and methods of operating thereof. Specifically, an onboard network system is configured to handle various requests (e.g., communication, entertainment) from passenger devices during aircraft operation. Each request is first received at a cabin virtual router, which determines the security threat associated with this request and, if the security threat exceeds a security threshold, performs a corresponding security operation. In some examples, the cabin virtual router is configured to disable its operation entirely, e.g., if the security threat is high. In other examples, the cabin virtual router switches to a new operating system and/or throttles its operation. The cabin virtual router effectively isolates other components of the onboard network system (e.g., a flight deck) from potential threats associated with the passenger devices using this system.

Abstract: A system includes a multi-use power interface configured to be electrically and communicatively coupled to a vehicle via Broadband over Power Line (BPL) data links. The system also includes sensors configured to collect power quality data and load management data for the BPL data links and the multi-use power interface. The multi-use power interface includes a user interface, a processor, and a memory having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by the processor, cause the multi-use power interface to perform operations. The operations include receiving power quality data and load management data from the sensors. The operations also include determining, based on the received data, functional health statuses of the multi-use power interface and the BPL data links. The operations further include transmitting the functional health statuses, the power quality data, and the load management data to a data store, and indicating, in the user interface, the functional health statuses.

Abstract: Provided are methods and systems for transmission of terrestrial data between aircraft and ground-based systems using broadband over power line (BPL) communication channels. These channels are established based on authentication of biometric data. Specifically, a biometric module, positioned on an aircraft or a gate, receives biometric data from a user and then authenticates this data based on available reference data. The authentication results are used by a BPL module to establish (or not establish) a BPL communication channel. The BPL communication channel is established through an electrical power cable connecting the aircraft to the gate. Furthermore, the BPL communication channel is established through at least a portion of the onboard electrical power distribution system of the aircraft. The terrestrial data, e.g., aircraft control data, in-flight entertainment data, and/or airplane information system data, is then transmitted through this BPL communication channel.

Abstract: Provided are methods and systems for on-ground communication using an electrical power distribution system of an aircraft. Specifically, two broadband over power line (BPL) communication modules are communicatively coupled to an electrical power distribution system of an aircraft at different locations. A communication-initiation request is transmitted between these modules and, in some examples, is used to establish communication between the modules. In more specific examples, the receiving module determines received parameters of the communication-initiation request, which depend, at least in part, on characteristics of the electrical power distribution system. The received parameters are compared with expected parameters, and an operating indication of the electrical power distribution system is generated based on this comparison. In some examples, the operating indication is used to verify configuration of the electrical power distribution system (e.g., during aircraft assembly), service requirements (e.

Abstract: A system includes server that performs operations including obtaining, from sensors, measurements of physical parameters related to electrical power transmission and data transfer corresponding to a Broadband over Power Line (BPL) data links and a multi-use power interface configured to be electrically and communicatively coupled to a vehicle via the BPL data links. The operations also include receiving identification and location information, and a timestamp associated with a connector of the multi-use power interface, and then storing the measurements, the identification and location information, and the timestamp. The operations further include detecting a change of the connector, and identifying trends in parameters by comparing the measurements and the identification and location information to historical data.

Abstract: Systems for and methods of securely communicating between a ground station and an aircraft are presented. The communications are among a plurality of nodes, including a ground based node and a plurality of aircraft based nodes. Each node stores at least a respective portion of a blockchain representing interactions among at least some of the nodes. Control nodes may initiate a privileged network action by: broadcasting to the plurality of control nodes a blockchain record representing the privileged network action, receiving from control nodes a plurality of votes representing validation results of the privileged network action, determining that a consensus from the control node votes indicates that the privileged action is permissible, and publishing to respective blockchain portions of each of the plurality of nodes a derivation of the blockchain record representing the privileged action, where the system implements the privileged action based on the determining.

Abstract: Disclosed are onboard network systems for passenger aircrafts and methods of operating thereof. Specifically, an onboard network system is configured to handle various requests (e.g., communication, entertainment) from passenger devices during aircraft operation. Each request is first received at a cabin virtual router, which determines the security threat associated with this request and, if the security threat exceeds a security threshold, performs a corresponding security operation. In some examples, the cabin virtual router is configured to disable its operation entirely, e.g., if the security threat is high. In other examples, the cabin virtual router switches to a new operating system and/or throttles its operation. The cabin virtual router effectively isolates other components of the onboard network system (e.g., a flight deck) from potential threats associated with the passenger devices using this system.

Abstract: Provided are methods and systems for terrestrial data transmission between aircrafts and external networks, such as airline and/or airport computer systems. When an aircraft is parked at the gate, the aircraft is connected to and powered by an electrical cable, such as a stinger cable. This cable may be also be used for wired data transmission between the aircraft and the gate using broadband over power line (BPL) technology. The gate and the aircraft are each equipped with a BPL module. The aircraft may include other communication modules, such as a Wi-Fi module, a cellular module, and/or an Ethernet module. These other modules can be also used for data transmission in addition to or instead of communication through the BPL module. A communication link manager may be used to select one or more communication modules depending on availability of communication links, costs, speed, and other parameters.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for ensuring safety controls for a network-connected autonomous vehicle. The method and apparatus monitor a respective state of each of one or more data communication connections one or more data communication networks. One of a plurality of operational modes for the autonomous vehicle is selected based on the monitored states. Each of the plurality of operational modes defines a respective level of autonomous control for the autonomous vehicle. The method and apparatus transition operation of the autonomous vehicle to the selected operational mode.