Abstract: Disclosed is a lighter than air vehicle comprising: an envelope containing a lighter than air gas, at least part of the envelope admitting the passage of light through the at least part of the envelope; and a directing device for selectively redirecting the light which passes through the at least part of the envelope. The vehicle may further comprises a plurality of devices for using incident light. The directing device for selectively redirecting the light may be for selectively redirecting the light onto a selected device, for example, by switching the positions of two or more devices into the path of the light.

Abstract: Apparatus for management of communications resources of a moving platform comprising an on-board communications system configured to effect wireless data communication between said moving platform and another node, said communications resources comprising a plurality of wireless communications links and a plurality of antennas associated therewith, the apparatus comprising an antenna analysis and selection module residing with said communications system and configured to: —receive, during a mission from one or more systems/subsystems and/or functions of said moving platform, attribute data representative of said emissions control criteria, said attribute data comprising (i) location data representative of a specified emissions control region, and/or (ii) position and/or attitude and/or velocity data representative of an adversary node defining an emissions control region; —determine, using said attribute data and based on said emissions control criteria, suitability of one or more on-board antennas and/or por

Abstract: An optical selector arrangement (22), comprising: a first set of optical ports (30), having a first number of optical ports, the first number being greater than or equal to 2; a second set of optical ports (42), having a second number of optical ports, the second number being greater than the first number; the second set of optical ports being for communicating with the first set of optical ports, a selector interface (40) for the optical selector arrangement, the selector interface comprising the second set of optical ports (42), a part of the optical selector arrangement functioning as a selector (44), the selector being arranged to selectively optically couple the first set of optical ports (30) to a set of ports of the second set of optical ports (42) of the selector interface, the selector (44) being rotatable relative to the selector interface (40) to facilitate the selection by optically aligning the first set of optical ports (30) to the second set of optical ports (42) of the selector interface (40);

Abstract: There is disclosed a surveillance apparatus comprising: —a retractable support member the member having a first end and a second end; a housing; a spooling mechanism mounted at the housing, and being rotatable relative to the housing, and being attached to the second end of the retractable support member, the spooling mechanism being: Operable to rotate in a first direction to convert the retractable support member from a coiled condition to an extended condition and thereby pay-out the support member from the housing, Operable to rotate in a second direction opposite to the first to convert the retractable support member from the extended condition to the coiled condition and thereby retract the support member into the housing; A mount attached to the first end of the retractable support member; A surveillance device attached to the mount for receiving environmental signals, a human interface remote from the surveillance device; and an electrical connection operably connecting the surveillance device to the

Abstract: According to the invention there is provided a dipole antenna array including at least one dipole antenna sub-array, wherein the dipole antenna sub-array includes a plurality of co-planar antenna units, each antenna unit including a pair of dipole radiating elements and a balun having an output line for providing output electrical signals to the pair of dipole radiating elements.

Abstract: An assembly process for assembling at least part of an aircraft airframe, the assembly process comprising: providing a first assembly including a first part of the airframe and a first reference structure attached thereto; providing a second assembly including a second part of the aircraft airframe and a second reference structure attached thereto; receiving, by a first receptacle, the first reference structure; receiving, by a second receptacle, the second reference structure; moving, by an actuation device, the receptacles into a predetermined configuration, thereby moving the first part of the aircraft airframe and the second part of the aircraft airframe into a predetermined configuration; and performing an assembly operation on the airframe parts to fixedly attach together the first part of the aircraft airframe and the second part of the aircraft airframe, thereby producing the part of the aircraft airframe.

Abstract: A method is provided for securing a mobile communications device to a level required for accessing a network, for example a secured enterprise network, by means of a public network such as the Internet. A mobile communications device is also provided incorporating functionality to enable centralized control over the configuration of the mobile device and thereby to control the actions of users of that device and of applications software that may be installed and executed on that device. Furthermore, a system is provided to implement a mobile communications infrastructure for an enterprise network with centralized control over the configuration of mobile communications devices within the system.

Abstract: The following invention relates to an optical device for use in a system that requires optical zoom or focus abilities, particularly for providing pre-set zoom parameters with a very low energy requirement. There is provided an optical magnification device comprising at least one pair of optically aligned deformable reflectors, wherein each reflector pair has at least two configurations, wherein selection of a first and a second configuration of said deformable reflector pairs provides pre-defined magnification states, such that in any configuration one reflector is substantially concave and the other is substantially convex; at least one controller may cause both the reflectors to move between said at least two configurations.

Abstract: A machine is on a first side of a plate. A cable, a bundle of cables, a pipe carrying a fluid to or from the machine, a conduit, or any combination of these, passes along or through the plate. The plate is susceptible to vibrations arising from operation of the machine. An active vibration suppressor is mounted on the cable(s), pipe, or conduit, and a controller is configured to control the active vibration suppressor to suppress vibrations of the plate.

Abstract: Disclosed is an image processing method and apparatus. The method comprises: acquiring a reference time code such as a Coordinated Universal Time signal; displaying, on a display (110), a value based on the reference time code; imaging, by a sensor (200), the display (110), thereby generating an image of the display (110); processing, by an image processor, the image including generating, based on the reference time code, a time-stamp for the image; and comparing the value displayed on the display (110) in the image to the time-stamp to determine a latency value. The latency value may be used to correct time-stamps of images capture by the sensor (200) and determined by the image processor.

Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) transmitter, comprising a Tesla transformer and an LC oscillator, said Tesla transformer comprising inner and outer conductors (10, 20), said inner conductor (20) comprising a generally tubular magnetic core (22) carrying a conductive member (22a) on its outer surface and said outer conductor (10) comprising a generally tubular magnetic core (13) carrying a conductive member (12) on its inner surface, said LC oscillator including a secondary winding module (40) comprising a generally tubular body (41) carrying a conductive coil (42) on its outer surface, said inner conductor (20), outer conductor (10) and secondary winding module (40) being arranged in a substantially concentric nested configuration such that said inner conductor (20) is located within said secondary winding module (40) and said secondary winding module (40) is located within said outer conductor (10), wherein a first portion (45) of relatively high permittivity dielectric material is provided between said conductive me

Abstract: Disclosed is a glide path indicator (2) comprising a light emitter (20) configured to emit a visible light signal that defines a glide path (14) for use by a pilot of an approaching aircraft (10), and a camera (22) configured to capture images of the approaching aircraft (10), the camera (22) being arranged such that at least part of the glide path (14) defined by the light emitter (20) is located within a field of view of the camera (22). The glide path indicator (2) may be mounted to a vehicle (4), for example, an aircraft carrier. The glide path indicator (2) may further comprise a stabilization module (26) configured to stabilize the light emitter (20) and the camera (22) so as to reduce or eliminate the effects of the vehicle's motion on the glide path (14) and the field of view of the camera (22).

Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) transmitter, comprising a Tesla transformer and an LC oscillator, said Tesla transformer comprising inner and outer conductors (10, 20), said inner conductor (20) comprising a generally tubular magnetic core (22) carrying a conductive member (22a) on its outer surface and said outer conductor (10) comprising a generally tubular magnetic core (13) carrying a conductive member (12) on its inner surface, said LC oscillator including a secondary winding module (40) comprising a generally tubular body (41) carrying a conductive coil (42) on its outer surface, said inner conductor (20), outer conductor (10) and secondary winding module (40) being arranged in a substantially concentric nested configuration such that said inner conductor (20) is located within said secondary winding module (40) and said secondary winding module (40) is located within said outer conductor (10), wherein a first portion (45) of relatively high permittivity dielectric material is provided between said conductive me

Abstract: A rotary-wing air vehicle comprising a main body (12) and at least two rotor devices (16a, 16b) arranged and configured to generate propulsion and thrust, in use, to lift and propel said air vehicle, said rotor devices (16a, 16b) being arranged and configured relative to said main body (12) such that the blades thereof do not cross through a central vertical axis of said main body (12) defining the centre of mass thereof, wherein said main body (12) is provided with an aperture (100) that extends therethrough to define a channel about said central vertical axis.

Abstract: A glare visor (13) for reducing ambient light intensity perceived by a wearer viewing a head-up display (3) employing display light (7) including a given wavelength(s) of light. The visor includes a visor body comprising optically transparent material which is partially absorbing of light of visible optical wavelengths thereby to reduce the intensity of ambient light transmitted therethrough to the wearer. A transparent optical coating (12) is formed upon a surface of the visor body which is partially transmissive of light of visible optical wavelengths amongst which it is preferentially transmissive of light of a sub-range of wavelengths for including therein the wavelength(s) of display light. This permits a perceived enhancement of contrast between display light (7) relative to ambient light (8).

Abstract: A method of manufacturing and an antenna having an upper and lower loop. Upper loop comprising a first conductive loop defined by an upper conductor and a first conductive blade tapering outwardly to form a flare portion adjacent a distal end of the upper conductor. Lower loop comprising a second conductive loop defined by a base conductor and a second conductive blade tapering outwardly forming a flare portion adjacent a distal end of the base conductor. First and second conductive blades defining, between their facing edges, a notch opening outwardly from a feed region. Upper loop further comprising an elongate conductive vane extending at an angle from a first location on the upper conductor to a second location on the first conductive blade defining a pair of loops within the upper loop.

Abstract: Drilling apparatus and method, the apparatus comprising: a first robot (10); a first member (30) (e.g. a pressure foot) and a drilling tool (38) both coupled to the first robot (10); a second robot (12); and a second member (52) coupled to the second robot (12); wherein the apparatus is arranged to press the members (30, 52) against opposite sides of a part to be drilled (2, 100) (e.g. an aircraft panel) so as to hold the part (2, 100) and prevent deflection of at least a portion of the part (2, 100); and the first member (30) and the drilling tool (38) are arranged such that the drilling tool (38) may drill into the portion of the part (2, 100) of which deflection is opposed from the side of the part (2, 100) pressed against by the first member (30). The robots (10, 12) may be robotic arms.

Abstract: Apparatus for selectively displaying an operational area comprising an internal and an external environment separated from another by at least one physical obstruction, the apparatus comprising a headset including a screen for placing over a user's eyes, the system further comprising a processor configured to generate a three-dimensional virtual environment, and an image capture device for capturing images of the internal environment, said processor being configured to blend image data representative thereof into said three dimensional virtual environment to create a mixed reality environment including a representation of said at least one physical obstruction, the processor configured to receive image data representative of said external environment and to remove at least a portion of said physical obstruction from said mixed reality environment displayed on said screen, and blend said image data of said external environment into said mixed reality environment wherein said physical obstruction appears to be

Abstract: The invention relates to an igniter device for igniting energetic materials, more specifically to the area of the initiation of munitions, and methods of forming said ignition devices. There is provided an igniter device, for use in an explosive train, comprising a first synthetic polymer layer, a second synthetic polymer layer, wherein said first layer and second layer envelope a portion of an energetic material, wherein said synthetic polymer is capable of being sealed.

Abstract: A method for displaying an image to a pilot (20) of an aircraft (2). The method comprises, using a first value of the velocity of the aircraft (2) relative to a runway (4), displaying, on a HMD (24), an indication of a first position for an image component (e.g. a FPM) (36), the first position being the position, from the pilot's point of view, that the image component (36) would occupy if the aircraft (2) was established on a predefined glideslope (16); using a second value different to the first value, displaying, on the HMD (24), an indication of a second position for the image component (36), the second position being the position, from the pilot's point of view, that the image component (36) would occupy if the aircraft (2) was established on a different glideslope.