Abstract: Disclosed are methods and apparatus for selectively sintering particulate material, the method comprising: providing a layer (6) of particulate material; providing an amount of a radiation absorbent material over a selected surface portion of the layer (6) of particulate material; providing an amount of a material that comprises a plurality of elongate elements (16) over at least part of the selected surface portion of the layer (6) of particulate material; and providing radiation (8) across the selected surface portion of the layer (6) of particulate material so as to sinter a portion of the material of the layer (6) including causing the plurality of elongate elements (16) to become embedded in the sintered portion of material.

Abstract: A workstation comprising a chassis having a base frame (10) and a monitor frame assembly (11), said base frame (10) defining a work area (20) at its proximal end for accommodating a user therein, in use, wherein a desk unit (24) is mounted laterally across said work area and provides a work surface for use by a user accommodated in said work area (20), in use, said monitor frame assembly (11) comprising an outer frame, extending laterally across said base frame (10) and upwardly from its distal end, and an inner frame (32) mounted within said outer frame and configured to receive thereon a plurality of monitor brackets (45), wherein said desk unit (24) is longitudinally adjustable relative to said base frame (10) so as to selectively adjust its distance from the monitor frame assembly (11), and said inner frame (32) is vertically adjustable within, and relative to, said outer frame so as to selectively adjust its height relative to said base frame; and further wherein respective locking means are provided to

Abstract: An emissions management module for a mission management system of a moving platform, said emissions management module being configured to: —obtain attribute data representative of (i) prevailing emissions control parameters in the form of an emissions control region defined by the relative locations of said platform and another node; and (ii) a direction of said emissions control region with respect to said platform; —generate, using said attribute data, an emissions plan that complies with restrictions defined by said emissions control parameters, and includes at least an emissions limit defining: a) a maximum transmission power permitted to be utilised by an on-board antenna or portion of aperture antenna in a specified direction relative to said moving platform; and/or b) permissible antenna waveforms and/or a specified maximum emissions duration in said specified direction relative to said moving platform; and/or c) permitted or restricted usage of on-board sensors in a specified direction relative to sai

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of electrodepositing a metal on an electrically conductive particulate substrate. There is provided a method of electrodepositing a metal on an electrically conductive particulate substrate comprising the steps of: (i) providing a cathode; (ii) providing an anode formed from the metal to be electrodeposited; (iii) providing the substrate, cathode and anode within an electrodeposition bath comprising an electrolyte; and (iv) providing a voltage between said anode and cathode causing metal ions to flow from the anode to the cathode, wherein a separator is provided between the anode and the cathode.

Abstract: A carbon fiber element comprising a carbon fiber to which a coating is applied that reduces its thermal coefficient of resistivity (TCR) can be included in a fiber reinforced structural component to improve sensing of strain therein by reducing errors arising from temperature variations. A method thereof includes providing, embedded within the structural component, at least one carbon fiber extending across a principle plane of the structural component, the carbon fiber being uniformly coated along its entire length with an electrically conductive material, the coating having a resistance that is equal to the carbon fiber and a TCR that is equal but opposite to the carbon fiber. The strain in the structural component is then determined by measuring changes in the electrical resistance of the carbon fiber element.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for creating an atmospheric electromagnetic radiation path modifying element (40) operative to simulate a physical optical device, the method comprising applying electromagnetic radiation to a selected plurality of three-dimensional portions (12—FIG. 3) of an atmospheric volume (10) so as to heat and/or ionize the air within said portions, wherein said selected portions are spatially located together in a substantially unbroken three-dimensional configuration.

Abstract: A tactical network comprises a plurality of assets, at least some of the assets grouped into sub-groups. The assets within each subgroup communicate with each other using a communication protocol. The sub-groups include a first subgroup in which the assets all communicate with each using a first communication protocol and a second sub-group in which the assets all communicate with each other using a second communication protocol which is incompatible with the first communication protocol. Each subgroup is associated with a federated server. The federated server is configured to receive data from the assets, to assess the data to identify significant changes, to convert the significant changes in the data into a common format, compatible with all federated servers in the tactical network, and to transmit, in the common format, to the federated server of another of the subgroups, the significant changes.

Abstract: Additive manufacturing apparatus for fabricating a three-dimensional object, the apparatus comprising: means for directing energy onto a growth surface of a workpiece to form thereon a liquid melt-pool; means for feeding additional material into the melt-pool so as to cause the additional material to become incorporated into the liquid of the melt-pool; and means for cryogenically cooling the liquid melt-pool, thereby to achieve a cooling rate of the liquid melt pool of at least 100° C. per second and to cause the liquid melt-pool to solidify.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for determining a depth of a feature (4) formed in an object (2), the feature (4) having been formed in the object (2) by a cutting tool (38). The apparatus comprises: a camera (42) configured to capture an image of the feature (4) and a portion of the object (2) proximate to the feature (4); and one or more processors operatively coupled to the camera (42) and configured to: detect, in the image, an edge (72) of the feature (4) between the feature (4) and a surface of the object (2); using the detected edge (72), calculate a diameter for a circle (74, 76, 78); acquire a point angle of the cutting tool (38); and, using the calculated diameter and the acquired point angle, calculate a depth value for the feature (4).

Abstract: A data transfer method and system includes at least one switch device (102) configured, in use, to transfer data, directly or indirectly, between a plurality of computing devices (104). The at least one switch device is configured to provide a plurality of Virtual Local Area Networks (VLAN), each said VLAN being configured as a Virtual Channel (VC) by receiving data from a said computing device designated as a sole source of data over the VC. The VC data is transmitted from the sole source computing device as Ethernet frames (200) tagged with a VLAN tag (202). The VCs are routed through the at least one switch device according to a VLAN Id field of the VLAN tag of a said frame, with fixed and pre-determined routing of the frame being determined by configuration of the at least one switch device.

Abstract: Imaging apparatus on a host platform having an external surface, the external surface comprising a first surface facing a first direction and a second surface facing a second direction, the second direction being different to the first, the apparatus comprising a first and second plurality of single pixel detectors (10) distributed about said external surface such that the first plurality of single pixel detectors are distributed over the first surface and the second plurality of single pixel detectors are distributed over the second surface, each single pixel detector being configured to receive radiation reflected by an object or region of interest (18) and generate two-dimensional image data representative thereof, the apparatus further comprising an image processing module (16) for receiving said two-dimensional image data from each of a plurality of single pixel detectors (10) and reconstructing a three-dimensional image of said object or region of interest (18) using a ghost imaging algorithm.

Abstract: Apparatus for a communications system of a moving platform comprising a plurality of systems, at least one platform application, and a communications module comprising at least one wireless communications link and configured to effect wireless data communication, wherein said apparatus comprises a communications planning module configured to: —receive data representative of a communications requirement between said platform and a recipient node; —identify a communications link for supporting said communications requirement; —determine, using attribute data representative of a position and/or orientation of said platform relative to said recipient node, a distance and direction of said recipient node with respect to said platform; —receive data representative of prevailing emissions control restrictions including an upper emissions limit defining a maximum transmission power permitted N to be utilized by an on-board antenna or portion of aperture antenna; —determine a best achievable transmission power, within

Abstract: A method and apparatus for displaying an image to an aircraft pilot (20). The method comprises: displaying, by a display (24), to the pilot (20), an image comprising guidance symbology (34) for use by the pilot (20) when landing the aircraft (2), the position of the guidance symbology (34) on the display (24) being dependent upon an output of an INS of the aircraft (2); providing, to a processor (26), an indication that the INS output is incorrect; determining, by the processor (26), a further value for the INS output and a specification of further guidance symbology (40); and displaying, by the display (24), to the pilot (20), an image comprising the further guidance symbology (40). The position on the display (24) of the further guidance symbology (40) relative to that of the guidance symbology (34) is dependent upon the difference between the further value and the incorrect INS output.

Abstract: Apparatus for generating a connectivity map in respect of a communications system of a moving platform, said communications system comprising at least one platform application and being configured to effect wireless data communication between said platform and another node by means of one of a plurality of supported communications links in accordance with a communications plan, wherein said apparatus is configured to: —identify (700) a message or set of messages required to be transmitted from or received by said moving platform; —generate a connectivity map comprising a plurality of connectivity metrics by, for each of a plurality of different specified attitudes or orientations derived from one or more predicted trajectories of said moving platform: —identifying available transmitters for wireless transmission of said message or set of messages and/or identify available receivers for wireless reception of said message or set of messages; —for each identified transmitter, determining (702) a transmitter metr

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of producing part of an airframe for attachment to a system. The method comprises: providing an initial structure; providing a reference structure; positioning the initial structure with respect to the reference structure such that its position/orientation relative to the reference structure is the same as the position/orientation relative to the system that it would have if the part of the airframe was attached to the system; specifying an inner mold line; applying, to an outer surface of the initial structure, material; and machining the material such that the position/orientation of the outer surface of the material with respect to the reference structure is the same as the position/orientation with respect to the system that the inner mold line would have if the part of the airframe was attached to the system.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising an electromagnetic radiation source communicably coupled to a control system and a three dimensional (3D) image projector for outputting a plurality of image signals representative of a subject, the control system being configured to cause electromagnetic radiation to be applied to a plurality of sets of selected three-dimensional portions of a gaseous volume so as to heat and/or ionize the gas within selected portions, wherein each set of selected three-dimensional portions of gaseous volume intersects a path of a respective one of image signals, and wherein selected portions of each of set are spatially located together in a substantially unbroken three-dimensional configuration and selectable orientated and configured to simulate an electromagnetic radiation path modifying element for directing a respective image signals incident thereon to a selected location within a viewing region.

Abstract: An aircraft (2) comprising a launch tube (14) extending along at least part of a length of a wing of the aircraft (2), and through which an item (24) may be launched from the aircraft (2). The launch tube (14) comprises an opening (22) at a distal end of the wing (6).

Abstract: There is provided apparatus and a method for assessing the integrity of a bonded joint and a bonded joint assembly. The assembly has a bonded joint monitored for bond integrity and comprises first (1) and second (2) components each defining a bonding surface (3,4); the joint (5) is formed between the bonding surfaces (3,4) and the first component (1) defines a passage (15) therethrough from the bonding surface to an exterior of the component. The joint (5) includes an optical fiber (11) extending along the joint (5) between the bonding surfaces, through the passage (15) and emerging from the passage (15) to the exterior of the component. The method of constructing the assembly includes the steps of passing the optical fiber (11) through the passage (15) and adhering the optical fiber (11) to the bonding surface (3) of the first component (1), thus bringing the two bonding surfaces (3,4) together and forming the bond (5).

Abstract: An aircraft environmental control system (4) for controlling a temperature of a fluid, the control system comprising: a temperature sensor (30) configured to measure a temperature of the fluid and generate a signal indicative of that temperature; a control signal generator (52) configured to, using control laws (78) and the first signal, generate a control signal for controlling the temperature of the fluid; a memory (56) for storing performance data; a transmitter (60) configured to transmit, from the aircraft environmental control system (4), the performance data; a receiver (60) configured to receive, responsive to transmitting the performance data, update information; and an update module (58) configured to, using the update information, update the control laws (78).

Abstract: Apparatus for management of communications resources of a moving platform comprising a communications system configured to effect wireless data communication between the moving platform and a recipient node, the communications resources comprising a plurality of wireless communications links for facilitating the wireless data communication and a plurality of antennas associated therewith, the apparatus comprising an antenna analysis and selection module residing with the communications system and configured to: identify a communications requirement between the moving platform and a recipient node; receive attribute data representative of movement of the platform, the attribute data including platform movement data comprising future known movement of the moving platform and/or future predicted movement of the moving platform and/or the recipient node; determine, using the attribute data, suitability of each of a plurality of antennas and/or portions of aperture antenna for data transmission from the moving