Abstract: A system and methods of an active protection system (or “APS”) for a platform. The APS has a threat cueing sensor provided at a first position on the platform where the threat cueing sensor detects a threat launched from a threat guidance system at a distance away from the platform. The APS also has a logic system operably connected to the threat cueing sensor where the logic system is adapted to determine an estimated location of the threat guidance system via a distance away from the platform. The APS also has a laser source operably connected to the logic system where the laser source emits a countermeasure beam directed at the estimated location of the threat guidance system to deter the threat away from the platform.

Abstract: A procedure for producing a warhead with controlled fragmentation includes manufacturing an inner shell and filling it with an explosive substance. The procedure further includes providing a net around the outer surface of the inner shell as well as depositing a material on and around the net. A warhead is produced by the procedure and includes an inner shell. A material applied to the warhead comprises weak points for guided fragmentation of the deposited material upon detonation of the warhead.

Abstract: A given pixel of a pixel array includes various operation modes with each of the operation modes having a different conversion gain for the charge received from the photodetector of the pixel. When the modes are used in conjunction with one another, the dynamic range of the pixel can be increased. A readout circuit coupled to a photodetector within a given pixel includes a transfer gate between the photodetector and a gain mode select block that includes capacitors of different sizes and one or more switches to control which capacitors are to receive the charge from the photodetector. Depending on the state(s) of the one or more switches, different operation modes with different conversion gains can be selected to increase the dynamic range of the pixel. The adaptability of the readout circuit can allow for a high dynamic range even in extreme temperature environments by lowering the dark current.

Abstract: An asynchronous medium access control layer scheduler increases efficiency for directional mesh networks by removing extra overhead in the time slots. The efficiency is increased by dividing time slots into sub-slots to allow for a receiving node to be offset by at least one sub-slot from the transmitting node. This enables the scheduler to more efficiently schedule operations for the nodes so that nodes can be performing other functions rather than waiting to receive a transmission or waiting after transmitting a transmission. The sub-slots may be sized to approximate the transmission propagation time or time of flight delay.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a method and system (10) for classifying vehicle behaviour, particularly abnormal behaviour of civil aircraft (12). The method may comprise receiving aircraft data from an aircraft (12) which is to be classified; and determining whether the received aircraft data comprises identification information for the aircraft (12). In response to a determination that the received aircraft data comprises identification information, the method may comprise using said identification information to classify the behaviour of the aircraft (12). In response to a determination that the received aircraft data does not comprises identification information, the method may comprise obtaining the position of the aircraft and comparing the obtained position to an expected route for the aircraft to classify the behaviour of the aircraft (12).

Abstract: An apparatus that allows for access to any and all registers of a central processing unit in a line replaceable unit (LRU) without a need to open the housing of the LRU is provided. The apparatus may receive write or read packets from an external device and relay the same to an LRU. The apparatus may receive state information from one or more registers of the LRU in response. The apparatus may transmit or transfer the state information to an external device. The apparatus may be used to update firmware in the LRU, for diagnostics or testing.

Abstract: In a brake for detachable arrangement on projectiles, the brake is configured with a surface which is situated in the direction of travel of the projectile, where the surface is larger than a surface given by ?R2-?r2, where R is the outer radius of the brake and r is the inner radius of the brake. A method for braking projectiles is also provided.

Abstract: A method for initializing an engine control system of an aircraft may include authenticating a boot loader, authenticating a manifest in response to authentication of the boot loader wherein the manifest contains hashes of one or more software components, and in response to authentication of the manifest, loading a first set of software components from among the one or more software components onto a non-transitory computer-readable medium, calculating a hash of each software component of the first set of software components, authenticating the first set of software components by comparing the calculated hash of each software component of the first set of software components to the hash of a corresponding software component in the manifest, and executing the first set of software components in response to authentication of the one or more software components. Devices and systems are also provided for initializing an engine control system of an aircraft.

Abstract: A distributed control system includes an electronic control unit to establish secure communication with a distributed control module. Upon determination that a previously negotiated session key is stored on the electronic control unit, the electronic control unit transmits encrypted communications with the distributed control module using the previously negotiated session key, negotiates a new session key with the distributed control module, and stores the new session key. Upon determination that the previously negotiated session key is not stored on the electronic control unit, the electronic control unit negotiates the new session key with the distributed control module. After negotiating the new session key with the distributed control module, the electronic control unit ceases transmission of unencrypted communications with the distributed control module, transmits encrypted communications with the distributed control module using the new session key, and stores the new session key.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an arrangement for feeding ammunition to a weapon (20). The weapon (20) is mounted to an elevation device (30) arranged to allow elevation movement of the weapon (20) about an elevation axis (Z1). The arrangement comprises a feeding chute (40; 140) connected at one end to the weapon (20). The feeding chute (40) comprises a set of elements (42; 142) assembled together in a stacked configuration. The set of elements (42; 142) is arranged about a shaft (44; 144) configured to be concentrically arranged relative to the elevation axis (Z1) so as to allow movement of individual elements of the set of elements (42; 142)) about said shaft (44; 144) in connection to elevation movement of the weapon (20) about the elevation axis (Z1). The invention also relates to a vehicle with an arrangement according to the present invention.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for employing an embedded software defined radio (SDR) in a navigation system. A navigation system implementing the techniques according to an embodiment includes a global positioning system (GPS) receiver configured to acquire and track received GPS signals. The system also includes an SDR configured to process received communication signals. The communication signals include timing data. The SDR is further configured to calculate position and navigation data based on a combination of the processed communication signals and the tracked GPS signals provided by the GPS receiver. The system further includes a system timer configured to provide a common time base for use by the GPS receiver and the SDR. The navigation system is implemented in an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC).

Abstract: The system and method for clock synchronization, or calibration, for use in high speed asynchronous serial interfaces. The system and method is automatic, on-line, and occurs in real-time. The process of synchronization may also be started by a user. The calibration scheme is a form of adaptive filtering using 8B10B encoding. Once idle traffic is 8B10B encoded it becomes a stream of K28.5 characters. These characters are used to tune a clock frequency. The process stops, and two devices are synchronized, when the number of idle K28.5 traffic samples are uniformly approximately identical for any of two successive sample intervals.

Abstract: A method is provided for calculating the bursting point of at least one projectile fired at a target object, involving measuring the position of the projectile, estimating the position of the projectile, estimating the speed of the projectile, measuring the position of the target object, estimating the position of the target object, estimating the speed of the target object, calculating optimal bursting points for the projectile based on the estimated position of the projectile, the estimated speed of the projectile, the estimated position of the target object and the estimated speed of the target object, and communicating the bursting points for the projectile to the projectile. A computer program, a computer system, and a weapons system are also provided.

Abstract: A respirator comprising: an air supply unit arranged to deliver air at its output.

Abstract: A method to modify an image from a night vision camera is disclosed. The method comprises receiving at least one image from a night vision camera; modifying the at least one image, based on motion data from a tracker system and a shutter time of night vision camera, to remove smear from the image; and outputting the modified at least one image. FIG. 1 to be published with the application.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for dynamic performance enhancement of radio frequency (RF) based systems. A system implementing the techniques according to an embodiment includes a waveform decoder configured to perform message decoding operations on a received RF signal waveform and to provide a decoding validation result for the message decoding operations. The system also includes a waveform attribute analyzer configured to analyze physical characteristics of the received RF signal waveform and to provide an attribute validation result for the physical characteristics. The system further includes a statistics analyzer configured to generate a statistic based on the decoding validation results and the attribute validation results and a thresholding system configured to generate anomaly detection based on a comparison of the generated statistic to a threshold value. In some embodiments, the RF signal waveform is an Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) transponder waveform or an IFF interrogator waveform.

Abstract: A blast attenuation device (100, 1100) for a gun tube (10). The blast attenuation device (100, 1100) has a first wall section (102, 1102) which defines a first chamber (104, 1104), which extends from an inlet end (106, 1106) having an inlet aperture (108, 1108) to an outlet end (110, 1100) having an outlet aperture (112, 1112). The blast attenuation device (100, 1100) also has a second wall section (122, 1122) which defines a second chamber (124, 1124), which extends from an inlet end (126, 1126) having an inlet aperture (128, 1128) to an outlet end (130, 1130) having an outlet aperture (132, 1132).

Abstract: An antenna element suited for direction finding (DF) with omni-directional radiation patterns utilizing a pair of chevron slots fed using a ridged waveguide magic tee (magic-t) and connected microstrip probes. The provided antenna element provides improved performance, power handling, and improved bandwidth compared to current monocone and/or slot antenna elements. The antenna element may be further realized utilizing additive manufacturing processes in combination with standard metal and polymer production techniques.

Abstract: A lens assembly for a weapon sight includes a first lens having an optical axis and a focal plane array (FPA) coaxial with the optical axis of the first lens. A first parameter of the first lens is selected that minimizes an error in image shift when the weapon sight lens assembly is adjusted for focus. The first parameter of the first lens can be at least one of a lateral position, axial displacement, thickness, effective focal length, material, effective focal length, radius of curvature, conic constants, and higher order aspheric coefficients of the first lens. A sensor can detect a position of the lens and a processor can compare the measured position to an ideal position and use a lookup table to display a corrected reticle position or corrected scene. An actuator may move the lens to the ideal position from the measured position.

Abstract: A thin film-retaining washer with custom geometry that may further provide for a simple press-on installation while maintaining retention of fasteners during assembly, shipping, handling, and/or use of associated systems. The present retaining hardware is easily manufactured from sheet or film materials with minimal post-processing and may be scaled and optimized for use with multiple size and style of fasteners. Further, the thickness profile of the thin film retaining hardware facilitates lobe spring deflection to further provide secure retention of the associated fasteners.