Abstract: A method for forming a joint between a fibre reinforced composite component and a metallic component and a joint are provided. The metallic component and the composite component each define a joint surface for mating with the joint surface of the other to join the two components together and the composite component defines a free surface opposed to the joint surface thereof. The joint surface of the metallic component defines an array of pins extending therefrom with each pin defining a pin head at an end distal from the joint surface. The method includes the steps of pressing together the joint surfaces of the two components whereby to cause the array of pins to penetrate through the fibre reinforcing material, and modifying the effective cross sectional shape of the pin heads whereby to increase the constraint applied to the composite component against peeling of the composite component from the joint surface of the metallic component.

Abstract: A field effect transistor and method for making such a transistor is provided, the field effect transistor comprising: a gate layer stack comprising a layer of a first metal is disposed proximate to at least one layer of a second metal, wherein the first metal alloys with the second metal to form a shape memory alloy. The shape metal allow may be NiTi, and at the contact plane between the layers, the alloy is formed when the transistor is heated to an elevated temperature.

Abstract: A system and method for linearizing underwater sensor arrays is disclosed. The sensor array comprises slightly positive or negative buoyant sensors that are positioned along a cable. A weight is positioned at a deep end of the cable or a buoyant object is positioned at a shallow end of the cable, but not both. Distributing buoyant elements throughout the length of the array generates more consistent, uniformly distributed tension, enabling the sensor array to maintain a linear shape in currents of all strengths and speeds.

Abstract: A rechargeable battery is disclosed having electrode and separator structures which are made up of fiber-reinforced composite material, thereby allowing the battery itself to serve as an integral structural component. The utilization or efficiency of the rechargeable battery is considerably enhanced by rendering at least part of the matrix material of the electrodes and the separator porous, thereby to facilitate improved access to active sites on the electrodes, with the porosity in the separator allowing improved ion transport, both of which enhance cell operation. The porous structure also provides improved electrolyte containment and retention in the event of damage.

Abstract: A method for the reduction of noise in an image including identifying neighboring pixel values in pixels proximate to a subject pixel; comparing the neighboring pixel values to a preset tolerance range; using neighboring pixel values within the tolerance range to calculate a pixel intensity correction value; and applying the pixel intensity value to the subject pixel.

Abstract: A method of admission control in a Self Aware Network carrying at least one existing user (z) specifying at least one Quality of Service metric (qw). The method includes receiving (202) a user request for admission of a connection from a source node to a destination node in the network specifying at least one Quality of Service metric (qv). The source node then finds (203) paths (P(s,d)); creates (206) link Quality of Service matrices (Qw(i,j)); sends (208) probe traffic over the network; and uses the traffic to obtain (210) a Quality of Service matrix (q??w(i,j)). The source node computes (212) estimated link Quality of Service matrices (Q?w(i,j)) and computes (214) path Quality of Service matrices (K?w) for the Quality of Service metrics, based on the estimated link Quality of Service matrices (Q?w(i,j)). The user request is rejected or accepted (216, 218, 220) based on the path Quality of Service matrix.

Abstract: The following invention relates to an improved LCD Backlight, particularly to an improved arrangement of the optical scattering dots within the light guiding plate. The light guiding plate comprises a lower surface which is formed with a plurality of optical scattering dots, which scatter and reflect the light beams to convert the light beams into a uniform surface light source, characterised wherein the surface area of each optical dot decreases as a function of its distance from at least one of the three edges comprising the LED lights.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for operating an optical rotating joint (2); comprising: providing redundancy for camera sensor signals to be passed through an optical rotating joint (2) by: (i) passing signals from a plurality of camera sensors (28, 30) via an optical changeover switching arrangement (70) to the optical rotating joint (2); and/or (ii) passing signals for a plurality of camera sensors (28, 30) toward the camera sensors (28, 30) from the optical rotating joint (2) via an optical changeover switching arrangement (70). The signals may be sensor control signals or sensor output signals to/from a plurality of sensors (26, 28, 30), for example camera sensors. The apparatus may further comprise one or more wavelength division multiplexers (68, 94) and/or wavelength division demultiplexers (66, 95).

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for hyperspectral imaging of a scene along an imaging path, from a viewpoint which is arranged to move relative to the scene. The method comprises acquiring hyperspectral image data of a portion of the scene from the viewpoint, along a first viewing direction relative to the viewpoint and redirecting the viewing direction from the first viewing direction to a second viewing direction relative to the viewpoint, in dependence of the relative movement, to maintain a view of said portion of the scene as the viewpoint moves along a portion of the imaging path.

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: An electrical power source including at least one hollow fiber incorporated in a material structure, wherein the at least one hollow fiber forms part of an electric circuit capable of storing or generating electrical power. In this way power sources may be provided as an integral part of a fiber composite structure or fabric.

Abstract: An electrostatic capacitor device is disclosed including first and second spaced apart electrode structures separated by a dielectric structure in which the first and second electrode structures are each formed from a composite material which includes electrically conductive fibers in a binder matrix.

Abstract: A guiding assembly is adapted to be connected to a projectile and comprising a rear main unit adapted to be connected to the front end of the projectile, and a front main unit rotatably connected at its rear end to the front end of the rear main unit. The front main unit is adapted to rotate about a central longitudinal axis. A relative speed control unit is operable between the rear main unit and the front main unit and capable of providing spin braking force to slow the relative speed of rotation of the front main unit. An at least one guiding fin radially extends from the front main unit. The pitch angle of the fin is controllable by a return spring connected to the fin so that the pitch angle of the fin is growing as the aerodynamic pressure on the fin lowers and it is growing smaller as the aerodynamic pressure on the fin gets bigger.

Abstract: A fiber optically coupled laser rangefinder (LRF) for use in a gimbal system to input/extract a laser beam into/from a camera is disclosed. In one embodiment, the fiber optically coupled LRF includes a gimbal assembly. Further, the gimbal assembly includes a first fiber optic cable for receiving the laser beam from a remote transmitter assembly, a fiber optically coupled laser interface module to receive the laser beam and opposing mirrors to direct the laser beam to a target. In addition, the gimbal assembly includes a second fiber optic cable for transmitting a return laser beam to a remote receiver assembly. The opposing mirrors are further configured to direct the return laser beam from the target to the fiber optically coupled laser interface module. The fiber optically coupled laser interface module is further configured to transmit it to the receiver assembly via the second fiber optic cable.

Abstract: A printed circuit board shield (100) is provided. The shield comprises a sealing surface (120) and a shielding surface (110). The sealing surface is configured to cooperate with, and be connectable to, a sealing region of a printed circuit board (80) upon assembly therewith. The shielding surface is substantially parallel to but offset from, the sealing surface. A concave cover for receiving at least part of the printed circuit board is thereby defined. The shielding surface comprises an array of perforations (130) formed therethrough. The array of perforations is configured to correspond to a location of an electronic component mounted on the printed circuit board.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method for counteracting the effect which crags and other such environmental formations can have on radar returns or returns in similar sensor systems. In particular it has been found that the gaps between crags can lead to false detections because of firstly the function of certain signal processors which compare the high frequency return from a certain cell to a low frequency return from that cell, and secondly the effect of smearing of the returns from one cell to another. The invention seeks to mitigate this effect by selecting the maximum low frequency return from a group of range cells as the high frequency offset.

Abstract: A system for providing situational awareness outside a temporary incident area network includes a prioritized connection module for connecting a mesh network at the incident area to one of a plurality of available communications channels, with the selection based not only on the availability of a communications channel but also on the associated expense, speed, reliability or bandwidth, so that high bandwidth traffic such as video and pictures can be reliably sent from the incident area to a location outside of the incident area. In one embodiment switching to a satellite phone network bypasses problems with terrestrial networks such as cell phone networks and landlines which may be down.

Abstract: A maintenance method and apparatus based on reliability centered maintenance, applied for example to a military aircraft, include the following steps performed in a feedback manner: i) performing RCM; ii) feeding outcomes derived from performing the RCM to an update process; iii) performing the update process to provide update data for performing the RCM; and iv) inputting the update data into the performing of the RCM. The method can carry out a maintenance action selected by and/or or at a time and/or extent specified by the performing of the RCM; the outcomes that are fed to the update process including outcomes from the maintenance action that is carried out. The maintenance method thereby can provide a continuously updating RCM process.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for establishing a route for an autonomous vehicle, the method including: determining localization information for the vehicle with respect to a first frame of reference that is fixed with respect to a current state of the vehicle; determining localization information for the vehicle with respect to a second frame of reference that is fixed with respect to an entity (e.g. Earth), the vehicle being moveable with respect to the entity; establishing a route for the vehicle with respect to the second frame using the localization information for the vehicle with respect to the second frame; transforming the route from the second frame to the first frame; and determining a route for the vehicle with respect to the first frame using the localization information for the vehicle with respect to the first frame and the transformed route.