Abstract: A detector for detecting ionizing radiation comprises a scintillator 10 selected to emit light in response to incidence thereon of radiation to be detected, at least one detector 16 for detecting said emitted light, and at least one optical waveguide 12 for transmitting said emitted light to said detector 16. The optical waveguide typically comprises a flexible solid or hollow fiber that can be incorporated into a flexible mat or into a fiber-reinforced structure, so that the detector is integrated therewith.

Abstract: The invention relates to a launched aerial surveillance vehicle, more specifically to a grenade or under-slung grenade launcher (UGL) aerial surveillance vehicle, a surveillance system and methods of providing rapid aerial surveillance. The vehicle once deployed is capable of autonomous flight paths, with basic inputs to change the circular flight paths, so as to build up surveillance for an area of interest. The vehicle comprises at least on optical sensor, which may be IR or visible range, to survey the area of interest, and feed the images back to at least one remote user.

Abstract: Techniques and structure are disclosed for implementing a spatial walk-off compensation mechanism having an integral tilt function. In some embodiments, the mechanism may comprise a tilt-ball mount having an integrated walk-off compensation medium. In some embodiments, the mechanism may be configured to receive an output beam from a non-linear converter (e.g., optical parametric oscillator or OPO) implementing a non-linear medium comprising a bi-refringent material (e.g., zinc germanium phosphide, or ZnGeP2; cadmium silicon phosphide, or CdSiP2). In some embodiments, the walk-off compensation medium may comprise the same material and/or have the same cut as the non-linear medium. In some embodiments, the mechanism may be manually and/or mechanically adjusted/repositioned to reduce beam walk-off and/or to more precisely direct the beam. In some embodiments, the mechanism may be implemented in mid-infrared (MIR) applications. Numerous configurations and variations will be apparent in light of this disclosure.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for laser beam splitting and shaping is disclosed wherein two beam splitters are used to split one input laser beam into four beams in a generally rectangular pattern. Half-wave plates are used to adjust the power of the input laser beam between the four laser beams. A variable power optical telescope comprising negative and positive lens pairs for the four laser beams is used to adjust the divergence of the four beams, and pointing control prism wedges are used to point or steer the four beams to be parallel to each other and to adjust their relative spacing to create a flat top profile.

Abstract: A system and method for powering an air-drop device is presented. One configuration of the system includes an energy capture device, a generator and an electrical logic unit. The energy capture device converts the movement air passing by the air-drop tail device into kinetic energy. The generator converts that kinetic energy into electrical energy and the electrical logic unit can then be powered by the electrical energy allowing it to perform at least a portion of a mission.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for thermal adaptation, comprising at least one surface element arranged to assume a determined thermal distribution, said surface element comprising a first heat conducting layer, a second heat conducting layer, said first and second heat conducting layers being mutually thermally isolated by means of an intermediate insulation layer, wherein at least one thermoelectric element is arranged to generate a predetermined temperature gradient to a portion of said first layer. The invention also relates to an object such as a craft.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for analysing a process. An exemplary method includes: generating a process template; and determining a probabilistic model specifying the process template. The method can include use of task nodes for tasks of the process; observables nodes for observables that may be caused by performance of the tasks; and a background activities node, wherein observables may further be caused by background activities of the background node. The method can include use of task nodes for tasks of the process; observables nodes for observables that may be caused by performance of the tasks; and a background activities node, observables may further be caused by background activities of the background node. The method can include measuring values of an observable corresponding to one of the observables nodes; and updating a probabilistic estimate of the process state using the measured values.

Abstract: A floating floor assembly for an armored vehicle mounted to the sides of the vehicle to suspend the floor above the belly armor of the vehicle rather than being directly supported by the belly armor. The floating floor reduces the amount of energy that is transferred by the floating floor from the belly plate and further reduces the risk that any deformation of the belly armor from the explosion will cascade to the floating floor causing the floor to buckle or fragment into secondary shrapnel.

Abstract: Implementing a layered hyperbolic metamaterial in a vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) to improve thermal conductivity and thermal dissipation thereby stabilizing optical performance. Improvement in the thermal management and power is expected by replacing the distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) mirrors in the VCSEL. The layered metamaterial structure performs the dual function of the DBR and the heat spreader at the same time.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a presentation device for presenting information about the angle to a target to a wearer (2) by means of a display (1) worn by the wearer tracking movement of the wearer's head, the wearer's head movements being detected and the angle of the wearer's head relative to a target being indicated on the display. According to the invention, movements of the wearer's (2) head are detected independently of the target, the position of the wearer is determined locally, the position of the target is designated and the display is controlled on the basis of local information about the wearer's head movement, the wearer's position and the position designated as the target in order to indicate the angle of the wearer's head relative to the target.

Abstract: A method for implementing a prompt dose mitigating capacitor is disclosed. Initially, a flip chip is provided with multiple capacitors. The flip chip is then placed on top of a substrate having multiple electronic devices connected to a set of power rails. The terminals of the capacitors within the flip chip are subsequently connected to the power rails within the substrate in order to regulate voltages appeared on the power rails during a radiation pulse.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for finding a bias voltage (20) corresponding to a quadrature point of an optical modulator, the modulator comprising a biasable component which is configurable to be biased by application of the bias voltage (20) such that the modulator operates at quadrature, the method comprising: providing a target for the output power of the modulator which corresponds to quadrature; applying, to the biasable component, a bias voltage (20) having an initial value; thereafter, finding a value for the bias voltage (20) that biases the biasable component such that the output power of the modulator is within a pre-defined range of the target by, starting at the initial value, alternately increasing and decreasing (or decreasing and increasing) the bias voltage (20) with gradually increasing amplitude; and identifying the found value for the bias voltage (20) as a bias voltage corresponding to a quadrature point of the optical modulator.

Abstract: A pixel sensor having a main photodiode and a parasitic photodiode and a method for reading out that pixel sensor are disclosed. The parasitic photodiode also serves the function of a floating diffusion node in the pixel. The pixel sensor is read by first determining the exposure as measured by the parasitic photodiode and then determining the exposure as read by the main photodiode. One of the two exposure measurements is chosen as the pixel output. The main photodiode has a light conversation efficiency chosen such that one of the two measurements will provide a measurement of the exposure over a dynamic range that is greater than that of either the main photodiode or the parasitic photodiode utilized separately.

Abstract: A communications management system, including a configurable router, and method, for an unmanned air vehicle (UAV), arranged to selectively route data between a plurality of avionic subsystems/communications resources on the UAV and a plurality of transceivers on the UAV, the routes selected being determined at least in part according to a desired red and black data separation of data to be transmitted from the transceivers and/or a red and black data separation of data being received by the transceivers.

Abstract: In summary, a vertical metalized transition in the form of a via goes from the back side of a high thermal conductivity substrate and through any semiconductor layers thereon to a patterned metalized strip, with the substrate having a patterned metalized layer on the back side that is provided with a keep away zone dimensioned to provide impedance matching for RF energy coupled through the substrate to the semiconductor device while at the same time permitting the heat generated by the semiconductor device to flow through the high thermal conductivity substrate, through the back side of the substrate and to a beat sink.

Abstract: Embodiments of a method and apparatus for controlling the mechanical stabilization of an optical fiber are disclosed. The method may consist of placing an inflatable bladder between an optical fiber and a protective jacket. The bladder may be inflated with air, inert gas, or liquid to a desired pressure. The bladder may be sectioned to extend along part of or the entire length of the fiber. The bladder may isolate the optical fiber in a periodic fashion. The temperature of the material inside the bladder may vary axially along the optical fiber. Embodiments of the invention can stabilize the optical fiber by providing mechanical isolation from vibration and other perturbations. Embodiments of the invention can also alter Stimulated Brillouin Scattering (“SBS”) and Stimulated Raman Scattering (“SRS”) thresholds using either thermal or vibrational perturbations.

Abstract: A wearable antenna assembly incorporates a coplanar waveguide feed in one of the arms of a two-arm spiral antenna. The antenna has relatively high impedance compared with the feed line from a suitable radio but the coplanar waveguide feed is simply modified to provide a quarter-wave transformer adjacent to the feed connection to the antenna and at least one further impedance transformation step on a tangential extension of the feed at the outer edge of the spiral antenna.

Abstract: An optical LOS toggle uses two refractive optical elements located in the afocal space of an optical sensor. Optical surfaces of the two elements are shaped appropriately to work in combination with lateral displacements of the two elements such that the LOS angle is shifted. For a prescribed, discrete LOS shift, the optical image quality of the toggle module is corrected by a combination of aspheric shapes and diffractive surfaces on the optical surfaces of the two elements. To maintain performance along any radial direction and simplify fabrication, these aspheric or spheric shapes and diffractive surfaces should be rotationally symmetrical. Image quality is further improved through proper selection of the optical materials used to construct the optical elements.

Abstract: A suspension system for a tracked vehicle includes support wheels arranged on opposite sides of the vehicle which are rotatably journalled at an outer end of a respective rocker arm, which is pivotably journalled in the side of a vehicle chassis of the vehicle, which rocker arm includes a pivot axle, which extends transversely to the longitudinal extension of the vehicle. A torsion element in the shape of a rubber bushing is rotationally fixed to the pivot axle and which rubber bushing is enclosed by and fixedly connected to an outer bushing sleeve arranged to be fixedly fastened in the side of the vehicle chassis. The pivot axle is pivotably journalled in the vehicle chassis with radial bearings arranged on each side of the rubber bushing. The outer bushing sleeve and a support housing comprises a pivot preventing member.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for the formation of optical fiber structures. An exemplary fiber laying head houses a source of optical fiber material to which an adhesive coating is applied prior to laying the adhesive-coated optical fiber material onto a substrate. The fiber laying head can also house a radiation source that generates a radiation beam to cure the adhesive in the adhesive-coated optical fiber material to form a bond between the adhesive-coated optical fiber material and the substrate.