System to determine the location of a radio frequency source using radio frequency signal strength and related methods

1 . A communications node, comprising:

a housing;

an enclosure;

wherein

the enclosure is an open ended rigid structure that comprises the housing positioned therein in a manner such that the enclosure surrounds the housing;

the housing comprises:

a communications device;

antenna elements conductively coupled to the communications device;

a control circuit communicatively coupled to the communications device;

a base;

the antenna elements

are each selectively positioned in an antenna slot of the housing;

comprise a conductive composition comprising:

fully exfoliated single sheets of graphene;

a polymer;

the base

is a rigid structure positioned under and affixed proximate to a first end of the enclosure;

comprises a plurality of orifices through which thermal energy generated by the housing dissipates;

the communications node rests on the base;

the control circuit is configured to establish, via the communications device, a self-organizing LAN with a plurality of nodes and thereby connect directly, dynamically, and non-hierarchically to the LAN; and

the communications node is man portable;

the fully exfoliated single sheets of graphene

form a three-dimensional percolated network within the polymer; and

are separated on a nanoscale within the polymer.

2 . The communications node of claim 1 , wherein

the control circuit one or more of

comprises at least two processing cores;

splits a process into parts that execute simultaneously on the processing cores;

executes code using the processing cores at different stages of execution; and

executes two or more instructions threads independently using the same process resources.

3 . The communications node of claim 1 , further comprising:

an antenna assembly;

wherein

the housing comprises the antenna assembly;

the antenna assembly comprises an antenna frame;

the antenna frame

is a rigid structure;

comprises the antenna slots;

the antenna slots

are oriented in each nodal cardinal direction; and

vertically orients the antenna elements positioned therein.

4 . The communications node of claim 1 , further comprising:

an interfacing plate assembly;

wherein

the enclosure comprises a second end positioned opposite the first end;

the interfacing plate assembly

is a rigid and metallic structure;

is horizontally oriented; and

is hermetically coupled proximate to the second end and thereby seals the second end.

5 . The communications node of claim 1 , further comprising:

a board mounting assembly;

wherein

the housing comprises the board mounting assembly;

the board mounting assembly comprises:

the communication device;

the control circuit;

a plate;

the communications device and the control circuit are each positioned above and proximate to the plate;

the plate

is horizontally positioned proximate to the base;

is hermetically coupled proximate to the first end and thereby seals the first end; and

is thermally coupled to at least one of the control circuit and the communications device.

6 . The communications node of claim 3 , wherein

the antenna frame comprises a power source rigidly affixed therein; and

the antenna elements are peripherally positioned about at least one half of the power source, the control circuit, and the communications device.

7 . The communications node of claim 5 , wherein

the plate

is structurally rigid and metallic;

is externally positioned proximate to the base;

is positioned proximate to one or more of the communications device and the control circuit;

thermally couples one or more of the communications device and the control circuit to an ambient environment of the communications node; and

the ambient environment is positioned proximate to the plurality of orifices.

8 . The communications node of claim 7 , wherein

the board mounting assembly further comprises a passive heat exchanger;

the passive heat exchanger

is thermally coupled to the plate;

is externally positioned proximate to the plate; and

transfers thermal energy from the plate to the ambient environment.

9 . The communications node of claim 3 , wherein

one of the antenna elements comprises an antenna array.

10 . A communications node, comprising:

a housing;

an enclosure;

wherein

the enclosure is an open ended rigid structure that comprises the housing positioned therein in a manner such that the enclosure surrounds the housing;

the housing comprises:

a communications device;

antenna elements conductively coupled to the communications device;

a control circuit communicatively coupled to the communications device;

a base;

the antenna elements

are each selectively positioned in an antenna slot of the housing;

comprise a conductive composition comprising:

fully exfoliated single sheets of graphene;

a polymer

the fully exfoliated sheets of graphene

form a three-dimensional percolated network within the polymer;

are separated on a nanoscale within the polymer;

the base

is a rigid structure positioned under and affixed proximate to a first end of the enclosure;

comprises a plurality of orifices through which thermal energy generated by the housing dissipates;

the communications node rests on the base;

the control circuit is configured to establish, via the communications device, a self-organizing LAN with a plurality of nodes and thereby connect directly, dynamically, and non-hierarchically to the LAN; and

the communications node is man portable.

11 . The communications node of claim 10 , wherein

the control circuit one or more of

comprises at least two processing cores;

splits a process into parts that execute simultaneously on the processing cores;

executes code using the processing cores at different stages of execution; and

executes two or more instructions threads independently using the same process resources.

12 . The communications node of claim 11 , further comprising:

an antenna assembly;

wherein

the housing comprises the antenna assembly;

the antenna assembly comprises an antenna frame;

the antenna frame

is a rigid structure;

comprises the antenna slots;

the antenna slots

are oriented in each nodal cardinal direction; and

vertically orients the antenna elements positioned therein.

13 . The communications node of claim 12 , further comprising:

an interfacing plate assembly;

wherein

the enclosure comprises a second end positioned opposite the first end;

the interfacing plate assembly

is a rigid and metallic structure;

is horizontally oriented; and

is hermetically coupled proximate to the second end and thereby seals the second end.

14 . The communications node of claim 13 , further comprising:

a board mounting assembly;

wherein

the housing comprises the board mounting assembly;

the board mounting assembly comprises:

the communication device;

the control circuit;

a plate;

the communications device and the control circuit are each positioned above and proximate to the plate;

the plate

is horizontally positioned proximate to the base;

is hermetically coupled proximate to the first end and thereby seals the first end; and

is thermally coupled to at least one of the control circuit and the communications device.

15 . The communications node of claim 14 , wherein

the antenna frame comprises a battery rigidly affixed therein; and

the antenna elements are peripherally positioned about at least one of the power source, the control circuit, and the communications device.

16 . The communications node of claim 15 , wherein

the plate

is structurally rigid and metallic;

is externally positioned proximate to the base;

is positioned proximate to one or more of the communications device and the control circuit;

thermally couples one or more of the communications device and the control circuit to an ambient environment of the communications node; and

the ambient environment is positioned proximate to the plurality of orifices.

17 . The communications node of claim 16 , wherein

the board mounting assembly further comprises a passive heat exchanger;

the passive heat exchanger

is thermally coupled to the plate;

is externally positioned proximate to plate; and

transfers thermal energy from the plate to the ambient environment.

18 . The communications node of claim 17 , wherein

one of the antenna elements comprises an antenna array.