Abstract: An apparatus and method for displaying an operational area to an operative of a host platform, said operational area being defined within an external real-world environment relative to said host platform, the apparatus comprising a viewing device (12) configured to provide to said operative, in use, a three-dimensional view of said external real-world environment, a display generating device for creating images at the viewing device, and a processor (32) comprising an input (34) for receiving real-time first data representative of a specified target and its location within said external real-world environment and configured to receive or obtain second data representative of at least one characteristic of said specified target, the processor (32) being further configured to: use said first and second data to calculate a geometric volume representative of a region of influence of said specified target relative to said real-world external environment and/or said host platform, generate three-dimensional image da

Abstract: A plug assembly in which the insulator part can be moved from an unfolded state to a folded state. The insulator may be utilised in the unfolded state for assembly of a wiring loom, and then folded into the folded state for insertion into a connector body.

Abstract: Disclosed is a lighter than air vehicle comprising a first envelope, a second envelope located inside the first envelope, and a tube connecting the first envelope to the second envelope. The first envelope and the second envelope are spaced apart so as to define a chamber between the first envelope and the second envelope. The chamber is filled with a lighter than air gas. A first opening of the tube is located at an external surface of the first envelope. A second opening of the tube is located at an internal surface of the second envelope, the second opening of the tube being at an opposite end of the tube to the first opening of the tube.

Abstract: The present invention provides a vehicle comprising: a rotor and a stator; at least one planar control surface coupled to the rotor, wherein the rotor is configured to rotate relative to the stator such that, in use, the at least one planar control surface moves from a first position to a second position, and wherein in the first position the planar control surface is controllable to affect substantially only the pitch of the vehicle and in the second position the planar control surface is controllable to affect substantially both of the pitch and yaw of the vehicle, or substantially only the yaw, or in the first position the planar control surface is controllable to affect substantially only the yaw of the vehicle and in the second position the planar control surface is controllable to affect substantially both of the pitch and yaw of the vehicle, or substantially only the pitch of the vehicle. The present invention also provides a method of controlling a vehicle.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method suitable for use in a sense and avoid system of a vehicle having a hyperspectral imaging system, the method comprising: estimating the range to an object from the vehicle, wherein estimating the range comprises: measuring the emission spectrum of the object using the hyperspectral imaging system; identifying at least one trough and/or discontinuity in the emission spectrum by subtracting the measured emission spectrum from a perfect blackbody emission spectrum; and searching a storage means storing spectral radiances and/or wavelengths of troughs and/or discontinuities, each with an associated known atmospheric path length, for the corresponding spectral radiance and/or wavelength of the identified at least one trough and/or discontinuity in order to estimate the atmospheric path length, and consequently the range, between the object and the vehicle. The present invention also provides a sense and avoid system for performing the same method.

Abstract: A vehicle comprising: an engine; an engine driven electrical power generator configured to be driven by the engine; a fuel cell; one or more vehicle subsystems; a memory storing a plurality of different power sharing templates, each power sharing template specifying different power supply sharing information; and a controller configured to: select a power sharing template from the plurality of power sharing templates; and control the engine driven electrical power generator and the fuel cell to supply electrical power to the one or more vehicle subsystems such that said supply of electrical power is proportioned between the engine driven electrical power generator and the fuel cell in accordance with the power supply sharing information specified in the selected power sharing template.

Abstract: Apparatus and method are disclosed for co-aligning laterally displaced radiation beams from respective radiation source outputs, each beam comprising a number of spectral components. The apparatus comprises a collimating element for receiving each of said radiation beams with respective lateral displacements and a combining element for receiving each of said radiation beams passed by said collimating element for co-aligning the radiation beams. The apparatus further comprises a diffraction assembly disposed in an optical path between the output of at least one radiation source and the collimating element, for spatially separating the radiation beam output by said at least one radiation source into the constituent spectral components of radiation prior to passing the radiation to the collimating element.

Abstract: There is disclosed a heat exchanger comprising a first channel, for communicating between a first channel inlet and a first channel outlet, a second channel for communicating between a second channel inlet and a second channel outlet, a third channel for communicating between a third channel inlet and a third channel outlet, a first conduit interconnecting the first channel and the third channel, and thereby defining a first group of interconnected channels, the first conduit extending through the second channel.

Abstract: According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a laser weapon system, comprising: one or more lasers for generating electromagnetic radiation; laser optics for directing the generated electromagnetic radiation at a target; and a control system, the control system being arranged to monitor three-dimensional position of an object other than the target, and to control a mask to at least limit generated electromagnetic radiation being directed at that object or to direct generated electromagnetic radiation towards another target or a safe location.

Abstract: According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a laser weapon system, comprising: one or more lasers for generating electromagnetic radiation; laser optics for routing the electromagnetic radiation to laser apertures in the platform which direct the generated electromagnetic radiation at a target, the laser apertures having an associated field of regard; and a control system, the control system being arranged to control which combination of laser, laser optics and laser aperture is used to engage the target, based on a probability of successfully engaging that target in relation to the field of regard of the laser aperture of the combination.

Abstract: A heat exchanger comprising: a core comprising first fluid channels, for guiding a first fluid, wherein each of the first fluid channels comprises a plurality of spur conduits interconnecting with at least one of another of the first fluid channels; a manifold for first fluid input comprising an input port which communicates with an input chamber for a first fluid, the chamber branching to form a plurality of first-fluid core-input channels; and a manifold for first fluid output comprising a plurality of first-fluid core-output channels which lead into an output chamber communicating with an output port, wherein each first fluid channel in the core communicates between a respective first-fluid core-input channel and a respective first-fluid core-output channel.

Abstract: A system comprising: an additive manufacturing apparatus configured to perform an additive manufacturing process using a feedstock supplied thereto, thereby to produce an article; a feedstock storage module configured to supply feedstock to the additive manufacturing apparatus; a machining apparatus configured to perform a machining process; a controller configured to control operation of the additive manufacturing apparatus and the machining apparatus; and are cycling module configured to receive a waste material and to produce the feedstock therefrom, and to transfer the produced feedstock to the feedstock storage module. The additive manufacturing apparatus and the machining apparatus comprise a common heat source, the additive manufacturing apparatus configured to use the common heat source to perform the additive manufacturing process, and the machining apparatus configured to use the common heat source to perform the machining process.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for generating image data for output to a display device such as a HUD or HMD for display and for the validating image data being output to an applicable standard. The image generator comprises an interfacing component, an image rendering component implementing at least one image rendering function and an integrity monitor. The interfacing component receives drawing commands from external systems defining an image to be displayed and derives rendering and other control commands according to a predefined command set recognisable by the image rendering component. The image rendering component generates a set of image data from received rendering commands in the predefined set. The integrity monitor includes a rendering simulator arranged to simulate the at least one image rendering function to generate a nominally identical set of image data from received drawing or rendering commands.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for forming a structure comprising: a) forming a pack from a skin sheet and a core sheet, wherein venting grooves are formed in a surface of a sheet that is adjacent to the other sheet; b) placing the pack in a mould and heating the pack; c) injecting a first gas between the core and skin sheets to urge the skin sheet against the mould; d) injecting a second gas on the side of the core sheet remote from the skin sheet to urge the core sheet against the skin sheet; e) maintaining gas pressure of the second gas thereby diffusion bonding the sheets; and f) withdrawing some or all of the first gas from the cavity.

Abstract: A method of forming a filter, comprising the steps of: —selecting at least a first wavelength corresponding to a predetermined laser threat and having a first colour in the visible spectrum; —providing a generally transparent substrate and forming a first notch filter region therein configured to substantially block incident radiation thereon of wavelengths within a first predetermined wavelength band including said first wavelength; —selecting a second wavelength having a second colour in the visible spectrum and forming a colour balancing notch filter region in said substrate configured to block incident radiation thereon of wavelengths within a wavelength band including said second wavelength, thereby to balance or neutralise any colour distortion of said substrate caused by said first notch filter region.

Abstract: The invention is a self-contained, anti-collision safety system controller for high altitude, solar powered, unmanned aircraft. The controller acts as a backup to the primary safety system on the aircraft. It automatically turns on safety system equipment, such as a Mode S transponder and anti-collision lights when the aircraft descends below a pre-set pressure altitude. The pre-set altitude is chosen so that exceeds the altitude where other aircraft are operating and where collisions might occur. The controller measures the external air pressure to determine the aircrafts pressure altitude and activates/deactivates an internal switch between the power supply and the safety system equipment depending on whether the measured altitude exceeds the pre-set altitude level or not. The controller can be integrated into the exterior surface of an aircraft or internally within the airframe.

Abstract: A remote authentication device includes a memory. The memory includes a one time pad comprising a series of bits. The memory includes circuitry arranged to retrieve a plurality of the bits from the one time pad. The circuitry is arranged to form a key from the plurality of bits and to use the key in a hash to generate an authentication code. The retrieval of the bits, forming of the key, and generation of the authentication code are repeated a plurality of times using a different plurality of bits from the one time pad.

Abstract: Apparatus for releasing a payload from an air vehicle (14), the apparatus comprising a generally tubular holding device (10) mounted on, or formed integrally with, said air vehicle, said holding device (10) having an open end facing in a direction substantially opposite to the direction of travel (16) of said air vehicle (14), in use, the apparatus further comprising a container (18) for housing said payload and configured to be at least partially received within said holding device (10), at least one releasable retaining device (20) for releasably retaining said container (18) within said holding device (10), and an actuation device for selectively actuating said at least one releasable retaining device to release said container from said holding device, said container (18) having thereon at least one drag inducing device (22) configured to induce drag in a direction substantially opposite to that of said direction of travel (16) of said air vehicle, in use, so as to act to drag said container (18) from said

Abstract: A process and apparatus for forming a structure comprising: a) forming a pack from a skin sheet and a core sheet, b) placing the pack in a mould and heating the pack; c) injecting a first gas between the core and skin sheets to urge the skin sheet against the mould; d) injecting a second gas on the side of the core sheet remote from the skin sheet to urge the core sheet against the skin sheet; e) maintaining gas pressure of the second gas thereby diffusion bonding the sheets; and f) injecting a third gas between the skin sheet and the mould, to force the skin sheet against the core sheet.

Abstract: An air vehicle comprising a main body and a pair of opposing wing members extending substantially laterally from the main body, at least a first propulsion device associated with a first of said wing members and a second propulsion device associated with a second of said wing members, each said propulsion device being arranged and configured to generate linear thrust relative to said main body, in use, the air vehicle further comprising a control module for generating a control signal configured to change a mode of flying of said air vehicle, in use, between a fixed wing mode and a rotary wing mode, wherein, in said fixed wing mode of flying, the direction of thrust generated by the first propulsion device relative to the main body is the same as the direction of thrust generated by the second propulsion device, and in said second mode of flying, the direction of thrust generated by the first propulsion device relative to the main body is opposite to that generated by the second propulsion device.