Abstract: The invention comprises of a UAV designed to limit visually contrast and audibility in flight for covert surveillance operations, a method of configuring the UAVs structure to further reduce its visual signature to take account for the atmospheric and terrestrial environment it will operate in and a method of conducting a covert surveillance operation to actively minimise the UAVs visual & auditory signature from the viewpoint of an individual under surveillance. Both passive and active illumination are used to reduce the visual signature of the UAV. The UAV is actively camouflaged using lighting techniques that utilises the limitations of the human visual system and the optical effects of light interacting with the terrain, atmosphere and aircraft. The visual camouflage is directional. The audible signature of the UAV is reduced through the design of the propulsion system and the mode in which the UAV is operated.

Abstract: The invention relates to a cast explosive composition. There is provided a precure castable explosive composition comprising an explosive material, a polymerisable binder, said cross linking reagent comprising at least two reactive groups each of which is protected by a labile blocking group.

Abstract: A method for providing access to a database for product life cycle support (PLCS database), the method comprising receiving from a client apparatus an input data item including heading data identifying the input data item; correlating said heading data with a data field used in the PLCS database amongst all data fields used in the PLCS database thereby identifying a correlated entry in the PLCS database to be associated with the input data item; searching the PLCS database using said correlated entry; retrieving one or more data elements from the PLCS database according to said search; outputting to the client apparatus a return data item which includes said heading data identifying the return data item and which includes said retrieved data elements(s).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of improved ammunition production, more specifically to an improved pressed metal head component suitable for a polymer tube cartridge The invention relates to a method of drawing and forming a metal head unit for use with a polymer case to form a polymer cartridge for use in a rifled barrel, comprising the steps of i) providing a metal cup drawing it through one or more dies to provide a case tube, wherein the case tube has a closed head end with a first outer diameter and an elongate open end, ii) trimming the elongate open end to form a metal coupling protrusion, said metal coupling protrusion with a second outer diameter, wherein the first diameter and second diameter are the same, iii) forming, a primer cavity into the closed head end, iv) forming internal and external features in the closed head end, v) forming by a heading process, an enlarged head rim on the closed head end, such that said enlarged head rim has a third diameter which is larger than the second diame

Abstract: A tamper-resistant lock assembly comprising a plate having a slot for receiving a key, the slot extending through the plate from an opening in a front face thereof to an exit in an opposing rear face thereof, the opening having a first profile and the exit having a second, different profile, the key comprising a shaft having a bit extending therefrom, the bit being formed of a shape memory material and being pre-configured such that its cross-sectional shape in its temporary form matches the first profile and the bit can be inserted through the slot via the opening and, upon application of a predetermined external stimulus, returns to a permanent form in which its cross-sectional shape matches the second profile and the bit can be retracted from the slot via the exit.

Abstract: The invention relates to a modular charge container device formed of one or more combustible modular cartridges, wherein said combustible modular cartridge comprises two ends, a first end comprising a base portion and a second end comprising a top portion, wherein the combustible modular cartridge is formed using a substantially rigid and combustible material, said combustible modular cartridge comprises at least one wall to define a cavity, wherein the cavity further comprises at least one combustible canister, wherein said combustible canister comprises an energetic material.

Abstract: According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fuse system for a projectile for a ranged weapon, the fuse system comprising: a pressure sensor system for sensing an air pressure of an environment in which the fuse system is present; a control system arranged to receive a signal from the pressure sensor system, and to at least initiate arming of the fuse system conditional on the received signal.

Abstract: There is disclosed an IR illumination device and munitions comprising the same. There is provided an IR illumination munition device for selective activation where upon activation the device emits IR radiation in the range of wavelengths of from 750 nm to 900 nm, the device comprising: an electrical power source; an array of IR light emitting diodes to emit the IR radiation.

Abstract: A control system (200) using fixed point computation avoids overflow conditions by limiting the internal quantities ensuring that contributing calculations from various parts of the control loop never add up to an overflow. Various parts of a control loop e.g. proportional terms can be prioritised over other parts, e.g. integral and differential terms and ensuring that the overall total resulting when the separate terms are summed together never exceeds the maximum or minimum imposed limits. Variable limit calculator circuits (211,219) revise the limits according to the output of the higher priority control path(s). The revised limits cascade down through each contributor, eventually allowing the lowest priority control path the smallest authority. The control system may be applied to control of a drive motor (111) for an aircraft inceptor (103).

Abstract: A waveguide structure for a head up display in which a reflective output coupling structure is formed of a separate, but connected, component to a main waveguide. Light is coupled from the main waveguide to the output coupling structure by evanescent wave coupling. In a method of manufacture for such a waveguide the output coupling structure is attached to the main waveguide using an optical feedback technique.

Abstract: A data storage and retrieval system for a computer memory for maintaining a database for product life cycle support (PLCS database). A computer system receives data exchange packets comprising data fields and populated with data according to different respective database schema and selects optimal data from amongst the packets. A master data exchange packet is formed comprising common field headers and the optimal data in data fields of the master data exchange packet. The system maps the common field headers to corresponding field headers of the PLCS database schema, and loads the optimal data of the master data exchange packet into the PLCS database according to the mapped PLCS field headers.

Abstract: A workbench system comprising: a workbench; a multi-axis robot; a visible light projector; and a controller; wherein the workbench and the robot are located in a common workspace; the controller is configured to: determine a movement operation for the robot; and, using the determined movement operation, control the visible light projector to project a visible light indication onto at least one of a surface of the workbench and a surface of the workspace; the visible light indication indicates a limited area of the workbench and/or workspace, the limited area corresponding to a limited volume of space; and the movement operation is such that, if the robot performs the movement operation, the robot moves entirely within only the limited volume of space.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for determining the orientation of an object relative to a platform likely to be exposed to buffeting. The object may be a helmet worn by a pilot in which orientation of the helmet relative the aircraft while in flight may usefully be known, in particular when determining the position of space-stabilised symbols being displayed in an associated helmet-mounted digital display system. According to the method, not only may orientation of an object may be predicted at some time ahead of a time point of validity of source sensor data, but the prediction may be dynamically configured to according to a detected severity of buffeting to reduce the effects of the buffeting upon the quality of data output by the system. The method includes measuring the severity of any buffeting using the same source data as used to determine orientation of the object.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved thermal management system for a heat source, such as a high-powered electronic device. Thermal management systems work to maintain the optimal operational temperature of a device to maximise reliability, operational lifespan and/or efficiency, for example by using a fluid coolant to transfer thermal energy from the device to a heat exchanger. The present invention seeks to provide an improved thermal management system by incorporating a phase change material into a heat exchanger.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved thermal management system for a heat source, such as a high-powered electronic device. Thermal management systems work to maintain the optimal operational temperature of a device to maximise reliability, operational lifespan and/or efficiency, for example by using a fluid coolant to transfer thermal energy from the device to a heat exchanger. The present invention seeks to provide an improved thermal management system which maintains the optimal operational temperature of a fluid coolant.

Abstract: 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 receiving data relating to a map of at least a portion of a target environment; and a controller arranged to, during an engaging phase, control the directed-energy weapon to direct energy towards the target environment conditionally upon the data.

Abstract: 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 receiving data relating to a map of at least a portion of a target environment; and a controller arranged to, during an engaging phase, control the directed-energy weapon to direct energy towards the target environment conditionally upon the data.

Abstract: A method of producing a shim for use in an aircraft airframe (200) comprising: providing a plurality of component parts (202, 204) of the aircraft airframe (200); measuring a surface of each of the component parts (202, 204) and creating a digital models of the component part (202, 204) therefrom; digitally assembling together the digital models of the component parts (202, 204) thereby to produce a digital model (600) of at least part of the aircraft airframe (200); using that digital model (600), creating a digital model of a shim (604), the digital model of the shim (604) filling a gap between at least two digital models of component parts (202, 204) in the digital model (600) of at least part of the aircraft airframe (200); and producing a physical shim using the digital model of the shim (604).