Abstract: An interface node for enabling a robotic arm to be used as a reconfigurable fixture for vehicle manufacture is described. The interface node comprises an attachment element for attaching the interface node to the robotic arm. The interface node also comprises a first locating element, the first locating element comprising a flat surface wherein the flat surface is suitable for locating a first feature of a first component wherein the first feature comprises a face of the first component. The interface node further comprises a wall extending from and substantially around the flat surface, the wall connecting the flat surface to the attachment element wherein the wall defines a second locating element, the second locating element suitable for locating a second feature of a second component, which may or may not be the same.

Abstract: In some examples, an apparatus for optical underwater data transmission comprises an optical transmitter configured to generate an optical signal for a short range underwater optical communications channel, wherein the optical transmitter comprises a source of electromagnetic radiation configured to generate an optical signal with a selected wavelength.

Abstract: A mobile communication device (102) of a vehicle (103) is associated with a navigation system (202). Vehicle navigational data derived from the navigation system (202) is received, via cellular network communication, from the mobile communication device (102) of a vehicle (103). The vehicle navigational data is used to determine that a navigation assistance notification should be communicated to the mobile communication device (102) and, in response, communication of the navigation assistance notification to the mobile communication device (102) is initiated.

Abstract: In some examples, an underwater imaging apparatus comprises a source of electromagnetic radiation configured to generate a short-range illuminating beam at a selected wavelength, and an image sensor for generating image data representing a scene or object to be illuminated by the illuminating beam, the image sensor sensitive to the selected wavelength.

Abstract: A signal from a mobile communication device (102) of an unmanned aerial vehicle (103) is received, via cellular network communication, by each of a plurality of cellular network base stations (106, 107, 108). A position of the unmanned aerial vehicle (103) is determined based on a triangulation operation performed using the signal received by the cellular network base stations (106, 107, 108). Vehicle navigational data derived from the position determination is used to determine that a navigation assistance notification should be communicated to a notification receiver (102, 114) and, in response, communication of the navigation assistance notification to the notification receiver (102, 114) is initiated.

Abstract: A method of performing analogue to digital conversion of an analogue input signal. The method comprises: generating a first laser pulse train having a first wavelength; generating a second laser pulse train having a second different wavelength; modulating, using an interferometric modulator, the first laser pulse train and the second laser pulse train on the basis of the analogue input signal, wherein the interferometric modulator is configured such that its response to the first laser pulse train is not in phase with its response to the second laser pulse train; determining, on the basis of the modulated first laser pulse train and the modulated second laser pulse train, a voltage of the analogue input signal; and generating a digital signal indicative of the determined voltage.

Abstract: There is provided an apparatus for pulse charging of a load capacitor, the apparatus comprising: a ferrous cored transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding; a primary circuit connected to the primary winding; a secondary circuit connected to the secondary winding, the secondary circuit comprising the load capacitor; and an uncoupled inductance in the primary circuit or the secondary circuit, the uncoupled inductance reducing the coupling coefficient between the primary circuit and the secondary circuit.

Abstract: A video processing system (100) comprises at least one controller (102) configured to receive a plurality of video data from a respective plurality of video data sources (106, 208). The system can assign one of a plurality of hierarchical display layers to each of the plurality of video data, and generate an output video for display, the output video comprising at least a portion of each of the plurality of video data layered according to the assigned hierarchical display layers. The plurality of hierarchical display layers is based on a respective plurality of safety/security levels defined in a safety/security standard.

Abstract: An unmanned vehicle (20) for relaying radio frequency signals in a tactical communications network is described. The unmanned vehicle comprises a processor (22) arranged to receive the location of a first asset (40a); select a relay site (30) from at least one relay site; and control the unmanned vehicle to move to the selected relay site, wherein at the selected relay site, communication between the first asset and the unmanned vehicle is enabled. The unmanned vehicle also comprises a receiver for receiving data from the first asset; and a transmitter for transmitting the data to a second asset (40b, 20, 10). A control unit (60) for an unmanned vehicle, a tactical communications network comprising a plurality of unmanned vehicles, and a method of relaying signals in a tactical communications network using an unmanned vehicle are all also described.

Abstract: A drive arrangement for manipulating a vehicle control surface, comprises: a first drive; a second drive; an output member for connecting to the vehicle control surface; first engaging means for selectively engaging and disengaging the first drive and the output member; and second engaging means for selectively engaging and disengaging the second drive and the output member, wherein the first drive and the second drive are mounted on bearings.

Abstract: According to some examples, an energy harvesting assembly for a projectile comprises an inlet provided at the tip of a casing of the projectile, multiple outlets provided circumferentially around an outer surface of the casing proximate the tip, and an airflow channel structure extending from the inlet in a generally axial direction through a turbine to the multiple outlets.

Abstract: Embodiments provide a computer-implemented method of controlling a swarm of agents to perform actions, and agents configured accordingly. The method comprises providing (202) data for performing Reinforcement Learning in each agent in the swarm. Each of the agents uses the provided data to execute (204) at least one learning episode to train a respective state-action selector, and uses its trained state-action selector to select and perform an action (220). The training comprises each of the agents using its respective state-action selector to select (306) a fictitious action it would perform itself in the current joint states and to select a fictitious action the other agents would perform in the current joint states, and using the selected fictitious actions to update (308-312, 208-216) values in the state-action selector of each of the agents.

Abstract: According to the present disclosure there is provided an active acoustic control system for controlling an acoustic signal propagating along a propagation path, the system comprising: an active control unit configured to: receive information from a first sensor arrangement, the information related to the acoustic signal propagating along the propagation path; generate a control signal for controlling the acoustic signal based on the information from the first sensor arrangement, by being arranged to control: a first control source arrangement comprising a finite 2D array of first control sources for generating a first control signal for controlling a first component of the acoustic signal.

Abstract: A watercraft system (10) comprising a pressure hull module (100) having a longitudinal axis (114) which extends between an aft end (116) and a forward end (118) of the watercraft system (10), and which defines a first interface element (112). The system further comprises a bridge fin module system (200) which extends from the pressure hull module (100) in a direction away from the longitudinal axis (114). The bridge fin module system (200) comprises a first bridge fin sub-module (210) which defines a second interface element (222) configured to be coupled and uncoupled from the first interface element (112); the first bridge fin sub-module (210) extending from the second interface element (222) to terminate at a third interface element (232) the bridge fin module system (200) further comprises a second bridge fin sub-module (220) which defines a fourth interface element (242) configured to be coupled and uncoupled from the third interface element (232).

Abstract: According to the present disclosure there is provided an active acoustic control system for controlling an acoustic signal propagating along a propagation path, the system comprising: an active control unit configured to: receive information from a first sensor arrangement, the information related to the acoustic signal propagating along the propagation path; generate a control signal for controlling the acoustic signal based on the information from the first sensor arrangement, by being arranged to independently control: a first control source arrangement for generating a first control signal to control a first component of the acoustic signal; and a second control source arrangement for generating a second control signal to control a second component of the acoustic signal.

Abstract: A strain wave-type gearbox comprises: a flex spline component; an outer circular spline component; and a wave generator component, wherein the wave generator component is configured for adjustment of at least one dimension of the wave generator component, to cause engagement and disengagement of the flex spline component and the outer circular spline component. A drive arrangement for manipulating a vehicle control surface comprises: a first drive; a second drive; an output member for connecting to the vehicle control surface; first engaging means for selectively engaging and disengaging the first drive and the output member; and second engaging means for selectively engaging and disengaging the second drive and the output member, wherein the first engaging means comprises a strain wave-type gearbox.

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: A drive arrangement for manipulating a vehicle control surface, comprises: a first drive; a second drive; an output member for connecting to the vehicle control surface; first engaging means for selectively engaging and disengaging the first drive and the output member; and second engaging means for selectively engaging and disengaging the second drive and the output member, wherein the first engaging means comprises a first epicyclic gearbox.

Abstract: A drive arrangement for manipulating a vehicle control surface, comprises: a first drive; a second drive; an output member for connecting to the vehicle control surface; first engaging means for selectively engaging and disengaging the first drive and the output member, and second engaging means for selectively engaging and disengaging the second drive and the output member.

Abstract: A door assembly for a payload bay (10) having an opening (12), the door assembly comprising at least one door (20, 220). The at least one door comprises: a panel section (22, 222) having a first end (24, 224) and a second end (26, 226); and a first mounting member (30, 230) arranged orthogonally to the panel section at the first end and having a first engagement feature (31, 231) having a rotational axis (18, 218) about which the panel section is arranged to rotate. The engagement feature is arranged to engage with a first fixing member (16, 216) on one side of the payload bay to rotatably couple the panel section to the payload bay. The at least one door is arranged to translate between a closed configuration, in which the panel section is arranged in the same plane as the opening, and an open configuration, in which the panel section is arranged at at least 90 degrees to the plane of the opening, by rotating about the rotational axis.