Abstract: An armrest for use by a pilot while operating a side stick inceptor has on its underside a number of secondary controls which can be operated when the side stick is not being used, the armrest then acting as a handgrip enabling the pilot to operate the secondary controls with a steady hand.

Abstract: A method is disclosed of assessing timeslot interoperability between a first platform and a second platform communicating over a Time Division Multiple Access network. An exemplary method includes obtaining data representing a metamodel of communication characteristics of the first platform and the second platform, the metamodel including information regarding at least transmit timeslots for the first platform, and information regarding at least receive timeslots for the second platform. The method can be queried to assess interoperability between the transmit timeslots and the receive timeslots, for outputting timeslot interoperability data based on a result of the querying.

Abstract: A camera array and method are disclosed for capturing and processing images of an area of terrain. For each of a plurality of time-steps within a time period, using each of a plurality of cameras in a camera array, an exemplary method includes: generating an image of a respective portion of terrain, wherein the cameras in the camera array have substantially fixed positions relative to each other, and the portions of terrain are such that the whole of the area of terrain has been imaged by the end of the time period; selecting a subset of the images such that the whole of the terrain is covered by the portions of the terrain in the images in the subset; and for an image not in the subset, if an object of interest is in that image, extracting a sub-image containing the object from that image.

Abstract: A method of tracking an entity by monitoring a signal, the signal tending to vary spatially and be generally time-invariant, the entity moving from a first location within an area to a second location within the area, the method being suitable for use when the location of the source of the signal is unknown, the method comprising providing a plurality of particles for use with a particle filter, each particle being associated with a first particle location, a first particle location being an estimate of the first location of the entity, providing an estimate of the motion of the entity between the first location and the second location, using the estimate of the motion and using the particle filter, for each particle, updating the first particle location for that particle thereby producing an updated particle location, the updated particle location being an estimate of the second location of the entity, for each updated particle, estimating at least one expected signal parameter at the updated particle locati

Abstract: According to an embodiment, an improved flying adder circuit, comprises a fine clock, a coarse pulse clock, a rising edge triggered output connected to both the fine clock and the coarse pulse clock, a pulse clock connected to the rising edge triggered output, an adder, a 12-bit register situated to receive a signal from the adder and the pulse clock, and a single bit register situated to receive a signal from the pulse clock.

Abstract: A circuit state sensing device (100) includes a transformer (102) having a primary coil (104A) and a secondary coil (104B). In use, the secondary coil is connected to a target circuit (106) for which a state is to be sensed. The device further includes a measuring arrangement (112, 122) configured to take a measurement relating to impedance at the primary coil, and a processing arrangement (122) configured to process the impedance measurement to determine a state of the target circuit.

Abstract: A method of controlling a radar system by: receiving a radar return signal from a target and generating a range-Doppler target image signature of the target; selecting a spectral line within the range-Doppler target image signature from a modulation feature on the target which includes an effective point scatterer; providing a range profile for the spectral line; obtaining a reference range profile of a reference point scatterer; and determining a difference between a power at a range shorter than a peak corresponding to the modulation feature in the range profile and a power at a corresponding range of the reference range profile. The method may further include controlling provision of the range-Doppler target image signature based on the difference.

Abstract: There is disclosed a balun for dividing an input electrical signal to produce first and second output electrical signals which are substantially out of phase, the balun including: an input port for receiving the input electrical signal; an input line for coupling the input electrical signal to a slotline; and an output line for coupling the first and second output electrical signals to, respectively a first output port and a second output port, the output line having a junction with the slotline; wherein the slotline couples the input electrical signal to the junction, and the junction acts as a divider to produce the first and second electrical signals; in which at least one of the input line, slotline and output line has a width and a length wherein the width varies over the length.

Abstract: A camera assembly is disclosed for mounting on a vehicle (e.g. an aircraft). An exemplary camera assembly can include: a fixture (e.g. a rotatable drum); a camera; and a mirror; wherein the fixture is arranged to be rotated relative to the vehicle about an axis; the camera is mounted on the fixture such that the camera has a substantially fixed position relative to the fixture; the mirror is mounted on the fixture such that, if the fixture rotates, the mirror rotates; the mirror is rotatable relative to the fixture about a further axis, the further axis being substantially perpendicular to the axis; and the camera is arranged to detect electromagnetic radiation reflected by the mirror. The axis and the further axis may intersect.

Abstract: An alignment device is configured to receive, in a generally aligned configuration, workpieces which are to be joined together. In addition, the device is further configured such that, in use of the device, a joining line between the two workpieces is visible for checking alignment, and such that, in use of the device, each workpiece can be marked at a predetermined distance from the joining line. The device and a method of alignment using the device are particularly suited to the joining of pipes in the construction of marine vessels.

Abstract: Apparatus and a method for forming a metallic component by additive layer manufacturing are provided.

Abstract: The mezzanine card system and method of use thereof provides a baseboard having opposing sides, each side configured to receive a mezzanine card thereon. A plurality of mezzanine cards are provided having integrated circuits, such as Field Programmable Gate Arrays, fixedly attached thereon. The mezzanine cards of the system reduce reprogramming time from about 15 months to about six weeks. This drastic reduction in reprogramming time provides great advantages for circuitry systems, especially when these systems are used within battlefield and electronic warfare technology. The surfaces of the baseboard are an Electroless Nickel, Electroless Palladium, and Immersion Gold (ENEPIG) plated finish.

Abstract: Disclosed is an example for determining a projectile trajectory with at least two sensors. In one example, the projectile trajectory is estimated using a first sensor having a first angular range. Further, the projectile trajector is estimated using a second sensor having a second angular range. The first sensor and the second sensor are disposed on a platform at different spatial locations. Furthermore, a discrepancy in the projectile trajectory is determined when the projectile moves from the first angular range to the second angular range. The discrepancy is created due to the different spatial locations of the first sensor and the second sensor. An actual projectile trajectory is determined by compensating for the discrepancy in the projectile trajectory using the estimated discrepancy.

Abstract: A method and system for processing a signal in the RF environment is disclosed. The method includes using an Analog Radio Frequency Memory (ARFM) to store an analog amplitude representation of the signal in the form of elemental charge packets. The stored signal is played back by converting the elemental charge packets back to their representative voltages to rejuvenate the original signal.

Abstract: According to the invention there is provided a Structural integrated wiring loom comprising at least one conductor comprising at least one first conductive fiber ply, wherein said at least one first conductive fiber ply comprises at least two electrical connectors, a separator structure comprising at least one first non-conductive fiber ply, and at least one second non-conductive fiber ply, said separator structure encapsulating said at least one conductor, a screen structure which encapsulates said separator structure, said screen structure comprising at least one second conductive fiber ply and at least one third conductive fiber ply, wherein said device is encapsulated a binder matrix. The device may be used to replace structural panels on a vehicle vessel or craft, to transfer electrical power or RF signals, data transmission around a composite structure.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the repeatable initiation of propellent charges in a weapon system, for example in the firing of projectiles from a barrel weapon, through electrical discharge between a rear electrode (22) and a front electrode (21) in a combustion chamber channel (3) filled with filler gas and comprising a combustion chamber combustion element (30), in which the filler gas in the combustion chamber channel (3) is ionized via a high-voltage potential from at least one ionizing electrode (100, 101, 102, 103), which ionization increases the electrical conductivity in the combustion chamber channel (3) so that an electrical flashover, through electrical discharge via a high-voltage generator (5) between the rear electrode (22) and the front electrode (21), is generated from the rear electrode (22) via at least one ionizing electrode (100, 101, 102, 103) onward to the front electrode (21), which results in hot ignition gas with plasma-like state being expelled from the combustion chamber cha

Abstract: The present invention provides improved laser beam quality with fewer parts than the current method demands and decreasing the transmit aperture, said apparatus comprising: two or more independently pumped gain modules, two or more pump diodes, a polarizing waveplate, non-linear optical crystals, and a passive Q-switch.

Abstract: An optical rotating joint installation; comprising: a drive shaft for a rotating interface, the drive shaft comprising a hollow central bore; and an optical rotating joint located in the hollow central bore. The proportion of the cross-sectional area of the material retained in the annular section of the drive shaft is preferably greater than or equal to 50%, more preferably 60%, yet more preferably 75%. The diameter of the hollow central bore is preferably less than or equal to 20 mm, more preferably 16 mm. The optical rotating joint installation may be provided as a retro-fit to replace an existing solid drive shaft that does not have an optical rotating joint, for example by hollowing out the existing solid drive shaft or by replacing the existing solid drive shaft with a drive shaft with a hollow central bore.

Abstract: Medical thermal image processing for vein or other subsurface element detection and related methods is provided. A method for thermal image processing to enhance thermal scene information includes taking an output of an infrared camera and coupling the output to a spatial high pass filter. An output of the spatial high pass filter is then applied to a scene-based noise suppression module.

Abstract: A method of generating a topographic map of a region of a body for the manufacture of a body fitting article to be fitted to the region of the body. The method allows for the resultant topographical map of the body feature to be coupled to an anatomical and functional datum on the body. The method involves use of a contact probe which is configured to generate positional data which defines the surface it is drawn across. The method comprises the steps of urging a contact probe towards the outer surface of the body such that the contact probe is touching the outer surface of the body or separated from the outer surface of the body only by a barrier layer which is flattened against the outer surface of the body by the probe. The contact probe is drawn over the region of the body where the body fitting article is to be located such that the contact probe generates 3D positional data of the surface of the outer surface of the body in the region of the body where the body fitting article is to be located.