The Boeing Company

Mcdonnell Douglas Corporation

Mcdonnell Corporation

James Victor Leonard

Richard E Meyer

William J Ebert

Aaron Lee Eggemeyer

Robert K Menzel

Michael G Neff

Shirley N Cheng

Joshua Ryan Pollema

William Joseph Ebert, Jr

James A Simms

Todd J Palmer

Monroe A Lalumandier

Bobby J Wilson

Gregory S Van Dyke

Jeffrey L Johnson

Patrick F Dudenhoeffer

Allan W Nelson

John D Musgraves, Jr

Michael L Goodall

Terrence Halbert

Halbert Terrence L,

Terrence L Halbert

Methods and apparatus for providing a dynamic target impact point sweetener is disclosed. An example method includes identifying a target based on a composite three-dimensional image generated based on data received from a first aerial vehicle acting as a master vehicle and a second aerial vehicle acting as a slave vehicle; changing a role of the first aerial vehicle to the slave vehicle; changing the role of the second aerial vehicle to the master vehicle; and causing, using the second aerial vehicle acting as the master vehicle, a third vehicle to attack the target based on the identity of the target.

Methods and apparatus for providing a dynamic target impact point sweetener

An apparatus for providing a dynamic target impact point sweetener may include memory and a processor. The memory may store at least a target library indicating respective target parameters for a plurality of known potential targets. The processor may be configured by stored instructions to generate a composite multi-dimensional representation of a target based on radar data received at the apparatus from other aerial vehicles collecting projections over an area in which the target is located and based on radar data collected by an aerial vehicle in which the apparatus is located, identify the target based on the composite multi-dimensional representation, and generate aimpoint data regarding the target based on an identity of the target. The aimpoint data defining the most vulnerable point on the target.

Method and apparatus for providing a dynamic target impact point sweetener

A method and apparatus for sending data. Input signals from input wires are received. The input signals include data. Information about the input signals is identified. The data and the information are sent in digital signals over a wire to a second location. The input signals are recreated from the data and the information received in the digital signals over the wire.

Direct current signal transmission system

A method, apparatus and system are provided to permit an aerial asset to determine its current location and to, in turn, locate and track a target even as efforts are made by others to jam or otherwise hinder offboard communications that may prevent reliance upon GPS or other positioning systems. A method includes receiving, at a navigation control vehicle, information regarding the relative position of a target with respect to each of the at least two sonobuoys. The method also determines a relative position of the target with respect to the navigation control vehicle at least partially based on the information regarding the relative position of the target with respect to each of the at least two sonobuoys. The method provides information regarding the relative position of the target to an aerial asset to facilitate location of the target by the aerial asset.

Method and apparatus for determining the relative position of a target

A device, such as a radio frequency identification (RFID) device, includes a receiver to receive interrogation signals transmitted over a first frequency band from an RFID reader device. The device includes a transmitter to transmit a notification signal over a second frequency band to a computing device (e.g., a mobile phone) in response to receiving a particular interrogation signal at the receiver. The computing device is distinct from the RFID reader device and the second frequency band is distinct from the first frequency band. The notification signal includes data indicating that the particular interrogation signal was received at the device.

Radio frequency identification notification system

A method and apparatus for simulating a missile. A simulation program for a weapon using a processor unit is executed in a simulation unit. A number of input signals is received from a control station in a vehicle through an interface system connected to a weapons interface on the vehicle. The interface system is in communications with the processor unit. The control station is capable of operating the weapon connected to the weapons interface. A number of output signals is generated using a simulation of the weapon. The number of output signals is sent through the weapons interface to the control station.

Missile simulator

An alignment system for coupling a component to a vehicle includes at least one sensor target coupled to the component, and a controller assembly configured to transmit a signal towards the sensor target and receive a reflected signal from the sensor target, wherein the controller assembly is configured to output an orientation dataset for the component relative to the vehicle using the reflected signal. The system also includes a processing device communicatively coupled to the controller assembly, wherein the processing device is programmed to translate the orientation dataset and cause a set of component positioning signals based on the orientation dataset to be displayed at a user interface.

System and method for coupling a component to a vehicle

Methods and systems are disclosed that automatically display an optimized aimpoint on a target image in received seeker data. In one embodiment, a method receives missile seeker target data. A seeker mode data is extracted from the received missile seeker target data. The location of a most vulnerable spot on a target is identified based on a comparison of target library data with seeker image data. A marker is generated at the location of the optimized aimpoint and output to a display.

Systems and methods for optimizing the aimpoint for a missile

A system and method are provided for testing the bus interface assembly in order to determine if the bus interface assembly is configured to interface with a data bus between an aircraft and a store. If the bus interface assembly is determined not to be properly configured, a troubleshooting routine can be deployed to more specifically identify a malfunction of the bus interface assembly, thereby facilitating the repair of the bus interface assembly. Moreover, the system and method may also program the bus interface assembly. By providing the capability to test and troubleshoot and, in some instances, program the bus interface assembly, the bus interface assembly may be more readily deployed and the performance of the bus interface assembly may be assured, thereby promoting the reliability of the bus interface assembly and the associated communications transferred across the data bus between the aircraft and the store.

Interactivity with a bus interface card

A system is provided for monitoring at least one data bus of an aircraft. The system includes an aircraft adapted to control the operation of stores of a second predetermined type (e.g., Harpoon Block I missiles). However, the aircraft is also capable of carrying a store of a first predetermined type (e.g., Harpoon Block II missiles), and capable of communicating with the store across a communication bus (e.g., MK-82 Digital Data Bus). The system also includes a bus monitor assembly capable of capturing data communications transferred across the communication bus between the aircraft and the store, the data communications being captured from the communication bus. The bus monitor assembly is also capable of preparing the data communications, and monitoring the communication bus across which the data communications are transferred, the communication bus being monitored based upon the prepared data communications.

System, bus monitor assembly and method of monitoring at least one data bus of an aircraft

A connector body component for a connector assembly in which the connector body component has a plurality of independent body segments secured together to form a single assembly. The connector body segments are held together within a housing member and may include interlocking structures on wall surfaces thereof. Forming the connector body in independent segments allows one body segment to be replaced in the event of damage to the connector body or one conductive element held in the connector body, thus eliminating the need to replace the entire connector body. This saves significant time and expense when repairing or modifying a connector body having a plurality of independent conductors coupled to it.

Connector assembly and method having segmented body portion

Methods and systems for testing and diagnosis of weapon control systems are disclosed. In one embodiment, an apparatus for testing a weapon control system includes an interface unit and a simulator unit. The interface unit is adapted to be operatively coupled to the weapon control system, and the simulator unit is operatively coupled to the interface unit. The simulator unit receives and analyzes a control signal, and transmits at least one of a first type of responsive signal indicative of a properly functioning component, and a second type of responsive signal indicative of a malfunctioning component.

Methods and apparatus for testing and diagnosis of weapon control systems

A method and apparatus for testing the electrical power system of an aircraft uses existing unmodified test equipment not otherwise capable of reliably testing and certifying the aircraft for weapon store launching operations for a particular store type.

Test adapter for a weapon store test set

A system for operating and releasing a store of a first predetermined type includes an aircraft adapted to control the operation of stores of a second predetermined type and a bypass apparatus. The store is releasably secured to the aircraft, and the aircraft is capable of releasing the store. The aircraft is capable of being configured such that a store of the first predetermined type is capable of operating independent of operating instructions. The bypass apparatus is carried by the aircraft and adapted to facilitate operation of the store. The bypass apparatus can store operating instructions and thereafter transmit the operating instructions into the store. As such, after the aircraft releases the store the store is capable of operating according to the operating instructions. Also, the system can include an umbilical cable disposed between the aircraft and the store. The bypass apparatus can, therefore, be disposed within the umbilical cable.

System, bypass apparatus and method of operating a store of a first predetermined type

An airborne missile launch system. The system includes a Harpoon aircraft command-launch control set (HACLCS) system, one or more Harpoon Block II missiles, and an interface controller coupled to the HACLCS system and the one or more Harpoon Block II missiles. The controller allows a user to create a missile profile mission. The controller combines the created missile profile mission with received positioning information. The missile(s) loads the combination into a navigation system of one of the Harpoon Block II missiles. The controller receives a mission-loaded signal upon completion of mission loading into one of the Harpoon Block II missiles, and converts the mission-loaded signal for interpretation by the HACLCS system.

Growing community of inventors

St. Charles, MO, United States of America

James Victor Leonard