Abstract: Armour comprising a container (2) containing a liquid (6), said container having a threat-facing wall (11) and at least one shock-reflecting layer (5) of material contained within the container (2), the shock-reflecting layer (5) having a shock impedance differing from the liquid (6) and being positioned at an angle to the threat-facing wall (11) whereby to reflect shock waves (8) created in the liquid by passage of a projectile (1) through the liquid back towards the projectile (1) and across the trajectory of the projectile whereby to induce tumbling of the projectile within the liquid.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for physically coupling together a first aircraft and a second aircraft, for example for the purpose of performing air-to-air refueling. The first aircraft is an aircraft in flight. The second aircraft is an aircraft in flight. The method comprises: sending, from a transmitter located on the first aircraft, an electromagnetic signal; receiving, by a receiver located on the second aircraft, the signal; and controlling, by one or more processors, using the signal received by the second aircraft, at least one of the first and second aircraft such that the first and second aircraft are in a predetermined configuration in which the first and second aircraft are physically coupled together, for example attached together.

Abstract: Ferrite compositions, particularly ferrite coated substrates and more particularly fibre plys coated with ferrites in fibre reinforced polymer composites (FRPC), and composites with a plurality of functionalised fibre layers, include a magnetic ferrite composition for coating a substrate, said composition comprising a resin, and dispersed therein ferrite particulates, wherein said ferrite particulates have an average longest dimension of less than 500 nm. The composition may be used to provide a ferrite composite structure comprising at least one fibre ply, with at least one layer of a magnetic ferrite composition disposed thereon, wherein said ply is substantially encapsulated in a binder matrix to form a fibre reinforced polymer composite.

Abstract: Intelligent safety management for a battery is performed by applying a charging voltage to the battery, monitoring an actual charge level of the battery, determining a first charging voltage and a first charge level for the battery for charging the battery, and determining a second charging voltage and a second charge level for the battery that substantially reduces or eliminates a safety hazard associated with the battery. The second charging voltage is less than the first charging voltage and the second charge level is less than the first charge level. The applied charging voltage is limited so that the actual charge level of the battery does not exceed the second charge level.

Abstract: An aircraft wing system and method comprising: an aircraft wing including upper and lower surfaces, and a leading edge between the upper and lower surfaces; a fairing coupled to the leading edge; and actuation means configured to move the fairing relative to the aircraft wing between a stowed position, a first deployed position, and a second deployed position. The stowed position is when the fairing is in contact with the aircraft wing and serves as a continuation of the aircraft wing. The first deployed position is when the fairing is in contact with the aircraft wing and located below the stowed position. The second deployed position is when the fairing is spaced apart from the leading edge to create a gap between the fairing and the leading edge.

Abstract: A system for the display of thermal imaging data is provided with a hands free thermal imaging camera; a transparent display directly coupled to said thermal imaging camera; a head mounted lens; the display being integrated into the head mounted lens in front of at least one eye of a user.

Abstract: A method for reducing self-interference in a wireless network, such as a Link 16 network, while maintaining simultaneous multiple access takes advantage of the physical proximity of nodes in a localized subnetwork, such as a fighter-to-fighter subnetwork in a flight wing, by actively reducing the transmit powers used for subnet messages between the nodes. Calibration messages such as Precise Participant Location and Identification (PPLI) messages are exchanged between all of the nodes of the localized subnetwork, from which each node determines the identities, transmit powers, noise levels, and SNRs of all of the other nodes. The node then determines a link margin for other nodes, and sets its transmit power to a “safe” level for the subnetwork according to the lowest link margin.

Abstract: A system for two color image fusion blending co-registered low light level images in the visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum with thermal infrared images maximizes the information content of the scene by detecting in which of the two image types, IR and visible, there is more structural information and increasing the weight of the pixels in the image type having the most structural information. Additionally, situational awareness is increased by categorizing image information as “scene” or “target” and colorizing the target images to highlight target features when raw IR values are above a predetermined threshold. The system utilizes Red, Green and Blue (RGB) planes to convey different information such that for targets the Red plane is used to colorize regions when raw IR exceeds the predetermined threshold. For scene images, the Green plane provides improved situational awareness due to the above weighted blend of the two image types.

Abstract: The system and method for destroying compromised objects, including electronic devices. The system and method utilizes a barrier separating two reagents that can be rapidly mixed to form a base when desired. The system and method have a barrier configured to be triggered remotely. The barrier comprises an aluminum foil layer.

Abstract: A cable management system and method of use are provided in which brake actuation which controls a cable payout rate may be dependent on cable tension. A control system may be provided for adjusting cable tension and braking force.

Abstract: A blade monitoring system and method for a turbine assembly comprising rotating blades (14), the system comprising at least one sensor (10, 12) for transmitting a signal towards said rotating blades and detecting a time-varying return signal therefrom, and one or more processors (20) configured to calculate the time derivative of said return signal, generate a phase variation signal for said time derivative, determine minima points within said phase variation signal and measure said signal at said minima points so as to identify data representative of respective minimum path lengths, each said minimum path length corresponding to the returned signal as each respective blade passes said sensor, and generate, using said minimum path lengths, a time series of data representing the returned signal from individual blades as they pass the sensor.

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: An image processing method and apparatus for determining depth in an original image captured by a light field image capture device, in which a light field analysis algorithm is applied a plurality of times to the original image, changing the focus setting each time, so as to generate a respective plurality of scene images focused at different depths; edge detection is performed in respect of each of the scene images to generate a respective plurality of edge detected images; area identification is performed in respect of each edge detected image to generate a respective plurality of area identification images indicative of areas of respective edge detected images in which edges have been detected; and the area identification images are applied to respective scene images so as to extract from the scene images respective image segments corresponding to the areas in which edges have been detected.

Abstract: A data transfer system includes a set of switch and/or router devices (104B, 104E, 104F), each said device in the set being a layer 1, 2 and/or 3 device of OSI seven-layer model and being configured, in use, to transfer data, directly or indirectly, between a plurality of computing devices (102A, 102B). Each said switch or router device in the set is configured to provide a virtual partition (VP), wherein only data designated as virtual partition data is transferrable to another said device in the set via the virtual partition.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of determining a velocity of a vessel, comprising the steps of: detecting objects in the vicinity of the vessel; selecting an object having a velocity relative to the vessel which is below a predefined threshold; and determining the velocity of the vessel to be opposite to the velocity of the object. Also disclosed is an apparatus arranged to perform the method.

Abstract: Techniques for tracking a straight line object by creating a detection envelope between two detections selected from temporally-discontinuous frames are discussed. The detections within the detection envelope can then be analyzed in order to determine whether they are associated with a straight line track between the outer detections of the envelope. Techniques for identifying a launch-flash are also discussed. Potential launch flashes are checked for energy duration, intensity and spectral ratio. Techniques for detecting a hostile fire based on a single-frame detection are additionally detected. Based on a frame length of the detection, it can be determined whether the detection correlates to a hostile fire.

Abstract: A binocular display device comprising two ocular assemblies (1A, 1B) to be worn by a user concurrently with one respective ocular assembly at each eye. Each ocular assembly comprises an outer optical part having a positive optical strength (2A, 2B), an inner optical part (4A, 4B) having a negative optical strength and a transparent slab waveguide display part (3A, 3B) in between them. Substantially collimated display light is output from the waveguide for display, and external light of an external scene is transmitted through the waveguide from the outer optical part for viewing concurrently with the display light. The inner optical part imposes a divergence on the received display light to generate a virtual focal point (f) substantially common to each ocular assembly. In use, an image conveyed by the display light is superimposed on the external scene as a three-dimensional (3D) image when viewed through the binocular display device.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for automated determination of a rocket configuration based on acceleration during rocket motor burn-out and temperature. The rocket configuration is associated with a class of warhead affixed to the rocket. A methodology implementing the techniques according to an embodiment includes measuring the acceleration of the rocket over a period of time associated with the flight of the rocket. The method also includes calculating an acceleration difference between the measured acceleration associated with the start of rocket motor burn-out and the measured acceleration associated with the end of rocket motor burn-out. The method further includes measuring an internal temperature of the rocket and selecting a delta acceleration threshold based on the measured temperature. The method further includes comparing the calculated acceleration difference to the selected delta acceleration threshold, to estimate the rocket configuration.

Abstract: Disclosed is a liquid storage system comprising a tank for containing a liquid, said tank enclosing a liquid storage space, and a plurality of spaced apart protrusions extending from an internal surface of the tank into the liquid storage space. The protrusions are resistant to deformation and deflection caused by shockwaves within a liquid in the tank resulting from impact of a projectile with the tank, for example, the protrusions may be rigid and be polygonal prisms in shape.

Abstract: An optical surface roughness measurement-enabling arrangement and method are disclosed for enabling measurement of the surface roughness of a material. The arrangement comprises an optical radiation source for generating a beam of collimated radiation along a first axis for illuminating the surface of the material with the radiation directed along the first axis, a refractive optical element optically alignable with the beam of radiation for refracting the beam along a second axis which is non-parallel with the first axis, for illuminating the surface of the material with the radiation directed along the second axis and a detector which is arranged to detect the radiation, incident upon the surface along the first axis and second axis, which becomes reflected off the surface of the material. An optical surface roughness measuring arrangement and method are also disclosed for providing a measurement value of the surface roughness.