The Boeing Company

The Boeine Company

Michael Worcester

Uma Jha

John W Behrens

Bruce Lee Drolen

Geoffrey Orias

Bruce L Drolen

John Behrens

An electrothermal deployment system may be configured for controlled release of various apparatus from their prelaunch stowage positions in small satellites. The deployment system includes a fusible line secured to a structural component of the satellite, as well as to various deployable apparatus secured to, within, or on the satellite. The deployable apparatus may include items such as solar panels and antennas. The deployment system includes an electrically resistive element such as a burn bar formed of a cylinder or tube, including a resistor pad overlying and/or incorporated within an exterior surface of the burn bar. The burn bar may be coupled to an electrical circuit configured to heat the resistor for the purpose of melting the fusible line secured in direct contact therewith, thus causing the fusible line to break to cause deployment. The fusible line is configured to remain in secure contact with the resistor until apparatus deployment.

NANOSAT electrothermal deployment system

Methods and apparatus are provided for assuring content of a product. The method comprises identifying key elements that at least partially specify the content of the product creating assessment criteria for each of the key elements, and defining maturity levels for each of the assessment criteria. The method further comprises developing a planned maturity level for each of said assessment criteria that comprise a relationship between the maturity and the maturity levels and conducting evaluations of the assessment criteria with at least the planned maturity level to determine a plurality of metrics for each of the assessment criteria that at least partially corresponds to the maturity of the content. In addition, the method comprises projecting a future maturity level for at least one of the assessment criteria based at least in part upon a statistical analysis of the metrics of the at least one of the assessment criteria and identifying issues with the content of the product based at least in part upon the future maturity level.

Methods and apparatus for providing mission assurance

Systems and methods measure the effectiveness of network-centric environments. A network-centric environment is described by a computerized model that includes a plurality of parameters describing the various sensors and effectors available within the scenario. As the model is executed, numerical representations of the level of interoperability (e.g. a speed of command parameter, a situational awareness parameter, an asset utilization parameter and/or the like) are computed. A measure of effectiveness is then determined for the scenario as a function of the numerical representations. The measure of effectiveness can then be reported to a user, administrator or other use, who may use the data to compare and contrast different resources or scenarios, to design improved network centric environments, and/or for other purposes.

Systems and methods for assessing measurements of effectiveness in network-centric environments

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Orange, CA, United States of America

Michael Worcester