Abstract: Apparatus for a Directed-Energy Weapon An apparatus for a directed-energy weapon comprises: an assessment system arranged to, during an assessment phase, perform an assessment of a target environment, wherein the target environment comprises a target, and the assessment comprises determining a possible engagement efficiency of the target by the directed-energy weapon; and a controller arranged to, during an engaging phase, control the directed-energy weapon to direct energy towards the target environment conditionally upon the possible engagement efficiency.

Abstract: A vehicle control system (110) for use with at least one fluidic control effector (102) for a vehicle, the vehicle control system (110) comprising a controller (110), wherein the controller is configured to: receive a vehicle control input indicating a demanded vehicle manoeuvre, wherein the input is further configured to receive condition data; determine a fluid mass-flow for the at least one fluid control effector based on the received vehicle control input and the condition data, wherein the relationship between the fluid mass-flow and the vehicle control input is substantially non-linear; and output data relating to the determined fluid mass-flow to effect the demanded vehicle manoeuvre, wherein the fluid mass-flow is determined to provide a substantially linear relationship between the vehicle control input and the effected demanded vehicle manoeuvre.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a control system for a vehicle, comprising: at least one compressor arranged to generate compressed fluid having a massflow rate; at least one fluidic control effector in fluidic communication with the at least one compressor and arranged to change the direction of travel of the vehicle when the compressed fluid is incident on the at least one fluidic control effector; a dump duct for expelling excess compressed fluid not delivered to the at least one fluidic control effector out of the vehicle; a dump valve for controlling the massflow rate of compressed fluid delivered to the dump duct; and a controller electrically coupled to the dump valve and configured to adjust the dump valve. The present disclosure also relates to an aircraft having the control system and a method of controlling a vehicle.

Abstract: An airborne redirection unit (ARU), for deflecting an RF energy beam, the ARU comprising: A canopy comprising a surface for slowing the rate of descent, A beam director supported at the canopy, the ARU being configured to focus the RF energy beam.

Abstract: A packer for application to an aircraft airframe, the packer comprising: a sheet of material having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface; and a plurality of voids defined through the sheet of material from the first surface to the second surface, thereby to provide that the sheet of material is flexible. The sheet of material may define a frame and a plurality of struts extending from one side of the frame to an opposite side of the frame. The frame and the struts may define, at least in part, the voids.

Abstract: An equipment enclosure (1) for electromagnetically isolating an electronic device, the equipment enclosure 1 comprising a conductive housing (3) and a plurality of conductive sheets (5). Each sheet (5) includes an aperture (7). The sheets (5) are stacked in a spaced-apart relationship within the housing (3) thereby defining a plurality of electromagnetically-isolated cavities (9) each within a respective Faraday cage formed by the conductive housing (3) and the conductive sheets (5). The apertures (7) form a channel (11) that extends through the enclosure (1) providing a route for connections between the cavities (9).

Abstract: A system for robot and human collaboration. The system comprises: a multi-axis robot; one or more torque sensors, each torque sensor being configured to measure a torque about a respective axis of the multi-axis robot; and a controller configured to: receive one or more torque measurements taken by the one or more torque sensors; compare the one or more torque measurements or a function of the one or more torque measurements to a threshold value; and control the multi-axis robot based on the comparison.

Abstract: There is disclosed a line apparatus for inhibiting an airborne target. The line apparatus comprises at least one line comprising: a flexible tubular member, having a wall and defining a bore; and a fluid adhesive housed within the flexible tubular member, wherein the flexible tubular member is configured to express the fluid adhesive through the wall.

Abstract: There is provided a user-vehicle interface, comprising: a gesture control system, arranged to sense a gesture of a user of the vehicle; the gesture control system being arranged to process the sensed gesture to control interaction with content on a display, in accordance with that sensed gesture; and the user-vehicle interface further comprises a gesture control support, arranged to physically support a body part of the user associated with a provision of the gesture.

Abstract: A vehicle comprising: a fuel store (104) configured to store a fuel, the fuel comprising a hydrocarbon; a fuel reformer (108) coupled to the fuel store (104) and configured to: receive an input comprising the hydrocarbon; and process the received input to produce an output comprising hydrogen; and a fuel cell (112) coupled to the fuel reformer (108) and configured to: receive the hydrogen from the fuel reformer (108); and produce, using the received hydrogen, electricity for use on the vehicle.

Abstract: There is provided a user-vehicle interface, comprising: a gesture control system, arranged to sense a gesture of a user of the vehicle; the gesture control system being arranged to process the sensed gesture to control interaction with content on a display, in accordance with that sensed gesture; the vehicle comprising a physical actuator for controlling the vehicle, and the gesture control system is arranged to facilitate interaction with content on the display, when a body part of the user associated with a provision of the gesture is engaged with the actuator.

Abstract: There is provided a user-vehicle interface, comprising a gesture control system that is arranged to: sense a direction of a gesture of a user of the vehicle; and process the sensed gesture to control a location of an indicator on a display in accordance with that sensed direction, such that a location of the indicator is arranged to move in accordance with changes in the sensed direction, the indicator being used to show a current position for user interaction with content on the display, and being in a plane in which that content resides.

Abstract: There is disclosed an aircraft for intercepting an airborne target, the aircraft comprising: a frame; a plurality of lines of a first type, each attached to the frame at a first end, and free at the other end; and a plurality of lines of a second, different, type, each attached to the frame at a first end, and free at the other end.

Abstract: There is disclosed a line apparatus for inhibiting an airborne target. The line apparatus comprises at least one line comprising: a flexible tubular member, having a wall and defining a bore; and a fluid adhesive housed within the flexible tubular member, wherein the flexible tubular member is configured to express the fluid adhesive through the wall.

Abstract: There is provided an arming apparatus for a store, the apparatus comprising: a first attachment system and a second attachment system; a linking connector coupled with the first attachment system and the second attachment system; and an arming connector coupled with the linking connector and a first fuze input of the store; wherein each of the first attachment system and the second attachment system comprises: an arming unit; a first frangible connector coupled with the arming unit and the linking connector; and a second frangible connector coupled with the linking connector and the store.

Abstract: Apparatus for configuring a mission automation and decision support system for an unmanned aerial vehicle comprising a user interface and a computer-implemented module configured to: receive data representative of at least one task to be performed by the UAV, the task being defined by one or more decision points that correspond to system actions or responses that could result from respective specified mission information; for each decision point(s), request user inputs in response to questions, the questions being designed to determine an extent to which each system action or response can be automated and a respective level of mandated operator approval therefor; and allocate to each decision point a set of one or more corresponding automation levels, each automation level comprising data representative of a measure of automation to be applied at a respective decision point.

Abstract: A cavity system, comprising: a cavity (2) comprising a cavity opening; and an acoustically reflective structure (18, 20) located at least partially within the cavity (2), the acoustically reflective structure (18, 20) comprising one or more acoustically reflective surfaces (24, 26, 30, 32), each acoustically reflective surface (24, 26, 30, 32) being oblique to a plane of the cavity opening (27). The one or more acoustically reflective surfaces (24, 26, 30, 32) may be arranged to reflect incident acoustic waves out of the cavity opening while avoiding reflection into a region (48) at or proximate to a leading edge (14) of the cavity (2).

Abstract: There is disclosed an aircraft configured to collect air data, the aircraft comprising: a wing structure; a forebody, forward of the wing structure; an afterbody, backward of the forebody; a skin covering the wing, the forebody and the afterbody; at least one recess formed at the skin, the recess being configured to affect the pressure of air flowing at the recess; at least one ambient sensor port for measuring ambient air pressure at the skin; and at least one recess sensor port for measuring the air pressure at the recess.

Abstract: An assembly method comprising: providing a digital model of an aircraft airframe (200), the digital model comprising digital models of component parts (202, 204) of the airframe (200); providing the component parts (202, 204), each comprising one or more predrilled fastener holes; fixing a first component part (202a) to a support structure (1102); fixing a second component part (204a) to an end effector (1112) of a robot arm (1110); using the airframe digital model, controlling the robot arm (1110) to move the second component part (204a) relative to the first component (202a) as specified in the airframe digital model to cause one or more predrilled holes in the second component (204a) part to align with one or more predrilled holes in the first component part (202a); and attaching the second component part (204a) to the first component part (202a) using fasteners through the aligned predrilled holes.

Abstract: A robotic system comprising: a multi-axis robot; one or more sensors located on the multi-axis robot; a damping system configured to apply a resistive force to the multi-axis robot, thereby to resist movement of the multi-axis robot; and a controller coupled to the one or more sensors and the damping system, the controller being configured to: receive sensor measurements from the one or more sensors; and control, based on the received sensor measurements, the damping system thereby to control the resistive force applied by the damping system to the multi-axis robot.