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: The invention relates to A nose cone assembly for a munition, comprising a transducer array operably linked to a transmission assembly, wherein the transducer array is operably connected to a transducer housing, said transducer housing comprising a first and second surface, wherein said transmission assembly is reversibly operably connected to the second surface of said transducer housing, said transmission assembly comprising a control board and a plurality of electronic circuit boards, wherein at least one electronic circuit board is a transceiver circuit board, said electronic circuit boards being reversibly connected to the control board and being arranged along their longest dimension, at an axis substantially perpendicular to the control board and further arranged such that the electronic circuit boards extend radially inwardly to a substantially rotational centre of the control board.

Abstract: A material for 3D printing is described. The material comprises a polymeric composition comprising a thermoplastic polymer; and from 50 to 99 wt. % ceramic particles comprising a metal, wherein at least 50% by weight of the particles have a diameter in a range from 10 to 100 ?m; wherein the material has a dielectric strength of at least 5 kV/mm and/or a dielectric constant of at least 5.

Abstract: A Mid-Wave Infrared (MWIR) objective lens having an F # of 2.64 and a 33.6° angular field of view. It is deployed, with a focal plane and scanning system, on an airborne platform for remote sensing applications. Focal length is 9 inches, and the image is formed on a focal plane constituting CCD or CMOS with micro lenses. The lens has, from object to image, three optical element groups with a cold shield/aperture stop. Group 1 has a positive optical power and three optical elements; Group 2 has a positive optical power and four optical elements; Group 3 has a positive optical power and three optical elements. The objective lens is made of two Germanium and Silicon. The lens is both apochromatic and orthoscopic, and corrected for monochromatic and chromatic aberrations over 3.3 to 5.1 micrometers.

Abstract: An energy harvesting system is disclosed that is especially well-suited for use on aerodynamic systems such as guided projectiles or other aerobodies. A series of piezoelectric cantilevers are arranged to capture vibrations from the ambient environment and transduce the mechanical motion from the vibrations into useful electrical energy. The piezoelectric cantilevers can be arranged along different planes from one another to capture different vibrational modes and directions. A power conditioning circuit is included to receive the electrical energy produced by the piezoelectric cantilevers. A storage element coupled to the power conditioning circuit is configured to store charge based on the electrical energy produced by the plurality of piezoelectric cantilever structures. The stored charge can be used to provide low levels of power to certain electrical components on board the aerodynamic system before it has been launched.

Abstract: An antenna module configured for use on an underwater vehicle is disclosed. The antenna module includes an array of spiral antennas fabricated on a multi-layer substrate that provides wide-band RF communication with direction finding (DF) capability. The antenna module can also include other antennas fabricated on the same multi-layer substrate, such as one or more global positioning system (GPS) receivers, an ultra-high frequency/very-high frequency (UHV/VHF) antenna, or one or more iridium antennas. The antenna module may further include a water-proof housing that is coupled to the outside hull of an undersea vehicle via a coupling mechanism. The coupling mechanism allows the antenna module to rotate between a stowed position against the hull and a deployed position that extends the antennas out away from the undersea vehicle. The antenna module is curved or flexible so it can stow against a corresponding curved hull of the undersea vehicle.

Abstract: There is provided a thermal management apparatus for use with a vehicle comprising: a chassis in thermal contact with one or more first components that require thermal management and one or more second components that require thermal management, wherein the chassis is configured to transfer heat from the one or more first components to the one or more second components.

Abstract: A mid-wave infrared (MWIR) discrete zoom lens for use with remote surveillance and identification having a dual focal length of 9 and 6.39 inches and F #2.8 and F #2, respectively. In one case, a full field of view is about 30.8 degrees for a 9 inch focal length configuration and about 43 degrees for a 6.39 inch focal length configuration. The lens is corrected for monochromatic and chromatic aberrations over the wavelength range 5100 nm-3300 nm. The focal plane may constitute a pixel array consisting of MWIR sensitive material (e.g. InSb, HgCdTe, nBn, SLS, etc.) for use in high-resolution, wide-area imaging applications.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the etching of variable depth features in a substrate is described. Movement of the substrate relative to an etchant (e.g. into or out of the etchant) during the etching process is utilised to provide a varying etch time, and hence depth, across the substrate, and in various examples this is enabled without requiring a varying mask.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for laser illumination employing closely spaced laser beams. A system implementing the techniques according to an embodiment includes a semi-cylindrical optical block comprising a curved surface and a planar surface. A first laser source to generate a first laser beam directed to the planar surface, wherein the first laser beam enters the optical block at a first angle that exceeds a critical angle, relative to the planar surface, the critical angle causing total internal reflection, such that the first laser beam is refracted through and exits the optical block.

Abstract: A laser system produces pulses having wavelengths between 2000 nm and 2100 nm, peak output powers greater than 1 kW, average powers greater than 10 W, pulse widths variable from 0.5 to 10 nsec, pulse repetition frequencies variable from 0.1 to over 2 MHz, and a pulse extinction of at least 60 dB. Pulses from a diode laser having a wavelength between 1000 nm and 1100 nm are amplified by at least one fiberoptic amplifier and applied as the pump input to an Optical Parametric Amplifier (OPA). A cw laser provides an OPA seed input at a wavelength between 2000 nm and 2200 nm. The idler output of the OPA having difference frequency wavelength between 2000 nm and 2100 nm is further amplified by a crystal amplifier. The fiberoptic amplifier can include Ytterbium-doped fiberoptic. The crystal amplifier can include a Ho:YAG, Ho:YLF, Ho:LuAG, and/or a Ho:Lu2O3 crystal.

Abstract: An aircraft emergency control system comprises at least one sensor configured to output an electronic signal relating to detection of incapacitation of at least one aircraft crew member. A processor is configured to receive and process the electronic signal to determine whether emergency action is to be taken. A control unit is configured to communicate, in use, a control signal to an avionics system of the aircraft in relation to the emergency action if the processor determines that emergency action is to be taken.

Abstract: [A system and method for dynamic autopilot control comprising providing input to a guidance and control autopilot comprising Mach and dynamic pressure; tailoring parameters of the autopilot, the parameters comprising: roll gain; a pitch/yaw gain; a pitch/yaw loop compensator frequency; a guidance filter bandwidth; a guidance filter lead compensator frequency; and a navigation gain.

Abstract: A method for assisting a pilot to navigate an aircraft when taxiing is disclosed. A centre line of a route, conformal to outside scenery, is displayed on an eyes out screen associated with the pilot. A pictorial indication of the alignment of the undercarriage with the centre line is displayed on the eyes out screen. Further graphical information related to the navigation is displayed on the eyes out screen.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for classifying and/or identifying materials by means of their spectral response to gamma radiation. Classification is carried out by irradiating multiple different samples with gamma radiation, detecting a spectral response in the backscatter direction, sorting the spectral response into energy bands and selecting a combination of energy bands to define a relationship that best distinguishes between clusters of spectral responses for different material classes. Two or more of the energy bands may overlap.

Abstract: Apparatus for a Directed-Energy Weapon An apparatus for a directed-energy weapon comprises: an assessment system arranged to, during an assessment phase, perform an assessment of a target environment, wherein the target environment comprises a target, and the assessment comprises determining a possible engagement efficiency of the target by the directed-energy weapon; and a controller arranged to, during an engaging phase, control the directed-energy weapon to direct energy towards the target environment conditionally upon the possible engagement efficiency.

Abstract: A correlation and track system identifies whether a Radar warning (RW) Track contains one or more emitters by receiving a set of initial Short and Long Baseline Interferometer (SBI) (LBI) detections; receiving inertial navigational data; receiving subsequent LBI detections; determining whether the LBI detections represent one or multiple emitter(s) by designating an initial SBI conic with a multiple of its one sigma conic Direction Finding (DF) accuracy window as containing the emitter; laying down a set of grid points within the SBI conic window as possible emitters' locations; summing real and imaginary values of a residual phase in the form of a unit vector at each grid point for each LBI update; identifying whether there are one or more emitters in RW track based on whether the magnitude of a peak vector is above or below a defined threshold; and invoking geolocation algorithms based on the vector's magnitude.

Abstract: The system and method for imaging having filter containing polarized elements, multispectral elements or both being oscillated in circular or linear motion so each individual pixel will view a scene thru the individual filters. The motion of the filter is synchronized with a frame rate of an imager. In one example this is accomplished by micro actuators. Each pixel sampling feeds a processor detection algorithm that determines if a multispectral/polarization signature is present in the scene.

Abstract: The system and method for combining two optical assemblies into the same volume, particularly when the field of view of the two assemblies are different, so that the overall volume and swap for the system is reduced. This also allows both subsystems to use the same external protective window, reducing overall cost for a system of co-located dissimilar optical systems in a single aperture.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for the generation of a calibration signal for use on an analog to digital converter (ADC). A system implementing the techniques according to an embodiment includes a calibration signal generator configured to generate a calibration tone, located in a first frequency band, in response to a calibration enable signal. The system also includes a signal summing circuit configured to generate an ADC input signal as a sum of a received signal and the calibration tone. The received signal is located in a second frequency band. The system further includes an ADC circuit configured to convert the ADC input signal to a baseband digital output signal and to perform self-calibration, based on the calibration tone, in response to the calibration enable signal. The frequency bands and the amplitude of the calibration tone are chosen to reduce interference between the received signal and the calibration tone.