Abstract: Disclosed is a method of managing a plurality of individual nodes in a communication network, wherein one of the plurality of nodes is operating in the vicinity of a jurisdictional boundary and is expected to cross the boundary, comprising the steps of: a network controller retrieving, from a spectrum access database, operating parameter information for the node expected to cross the boundary, wherein the operating parameter information comprises operating parameters relating to a present location of the node and an expected future location; the network controller determining operating parameter information for use by the node, whereby the operating parameter information causes the node to comply with relevant regulations in the present and expected future location; and the network controller transmitting the determined operating parameter information to the node.

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: An end effector for a robot having a threaded shaft; a motor coupled to the shaft and configured to rotate the shaft about its axis; a nut threaded onto the shaft; a feature for preventing the nut from rotating about the axis of the shaft; and an elongate member fixed at one end to the nut and extending from the nut in a direction parallel to the axis of the shaft. The end effector may further include a container for containing a fluid having an elongate body portion having an opening at one end; and a reciprocable plunger extending into an opposite end of the body portion. A second end of the elongate member may be coupled to the plunger.

Abstract: The present invention provides a pod (100) for an aircraft (1000), comprising: a housing (1); a unit (2) comprising a propulsion system, the unit comprising at least one attachment point (5) for coupling the unit to the housing (1), wherein the position of the unit relative to the housing is selected from a plurality of positions based on the centre of gravity of the aircraft, such that deflection of control surfaces required for the aircraft to maintain a constant angle of attack is minimised. The invention also provides an aircraft (1000) having the pod (100) and a method of balancing the aircraft (1000).

Abstract: An airframe (10) for an air vehicle comprising an outer skin layer (12) and a support layer (13) defining a fuselage of said air vehicle, wherein said outer skin layer (12) is magnetically coupled to said support layer (13).

Abstract: A method of producing part of an aircraft comprising: providing a frame having a first surface, a second surface, and one or more side edges between the first and second surfaces; mounting the frame to a first tool, the first tool comprising a support surface that contacts the second surface of the frame to opposing movement of the frame; while the frame is mounted to the first tool, machining the first surface to form attachment features; mounting the machined frame to a second tool which contacts with the frame at only the one or more side edges; and, while the frame is mounted to the second tool, attaching, using the attachment features, to the first and second surfaces, aircraft panels to form an outer skin.

Abstract: An electroacoustic transducer, comprising a piezoelectric part comprising a piezoelectric material having a first acoustical impedance and an acoustical thickness, a substrate part comprising a material having a second acoustical impedance, and an intermediate part comprising a material having a third acoustical impedance and at least partially sandwiched between the piezoelectric part and the substrate part for acoustical communication therewith. The first acoustical impedance and the second acoustical impedance each has a respective value within a range of values for which the value of third acoustical impedance: is an upper limit if said acoustical thickness is less than 0.4?, or is a lower limit if said acoustical thickness is greater than 0.4? where ? is an acoustical wavelength in the material of the piezoelectric part.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for displaying an operational area, the apparatus comprising a headset (10) for placing over a user's eyes, the headset including a viewing device (12) configured to provide to said user, in use, a view of a real-world environment, a display generating device for depicting an operational area, said operational area being defined within said real-world environment and comprising a plurality of functional regions each defining a different one or more selectable functions or operations that can be performed in respect of said operational area, the apparatus being configured to transfer image data from said display generating device into said user's view of said real-world environment at said viewing device to generate an augmented reality environment, the apparatus further comprising a control module (26) including a control device (28) configured to be selectively communicably coupled to all of said functional regions to enable a user to selectively perform the respective one or more fun

Abstract: A display apparatus and method for displaying an operational area to an operative of a host platform, said operational area being defined within an external real-world environment relative to said host platform, the apparatus comprising a viewing device (12) configured to provide to said operative, in use, a three-dimensional view of said external real-world environment; a display generating device for creating images at the viewing device, a user input (33) configured to receive user input data (35) representative of a specified target or region in respect of which an operation is to be performed, and thereby defining an initial geometric volume for the operational area, said user input data including data representative of the location within said external real-world environment of said specified target or region and data representative of said operation to be performed in respect thereof; and a processor (32) configured to: use said user input data to generate or obtain three-dimensional image data represe

Abstract: There is disclosed an acoustic transducer for communications within an operational bandwidth, the transducer comprising: A signal generator for generating a signal at a centre-frequency within the operational bandwidth; A piezoelectric element having a dielectric constant that varies with temperature; A driving electrode at the surface of the piezoelectric element; A matching network, having a natural frequency at a given temperature, and operable to transfer the signal from the signal generator to the piezoelectric element whilst mitigating electrical loss, the matching network being connected to the driving electrode; Wherein the matching network comprises a temperature compensating capacitor connected in parallel with the piezoelectric element, the temperature compensating capacitor being for counteracting temperature-induced changes to the dielectric constant of the piezoelectric element such that the electrical natural frequency of the transducer is substantially constant over a range of temperatures.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a construction method for improved tracer ammunition production. There is provided a method of forming a component for a round, said method comprising the step of causing said component to be drawn through at least one floating die.

Abstract: There is disclosed a surveillance apparatus comprising: —a retractable support member; the retractable support member comprising an upper section and lower section, wherein at least one of the upper or lower sections are constructed from at least one deformable material, wherein upper and lower sections are arranged to form a substantially rigid cavity throughout their length, and are retained by a retaining means, wherein said retractable support member comprises a first end and a second end; a housing; a spooling mechanism mounted at the housing, and being rotatable relative to the housing, and being attached to the second end of the retractable support member, the spooling mechanism being: operable to rotate in a first direction to convert the retractable support member from a spooled condition to an extended condition and thereby pay-out the retractable support member from the housing, operable to rotate in a second direction opposite to the first to convert the retractable support member from the exte

Abstract: A control system (400) for an active inceptor (103) for a fly by wire aircraft permits a zero force null point to settle to a non-zero displacement trim position. An internal position state of a second order mass spring damper model is moved in conjunction with force-displacement characteristic coordinates. This results in no second order dynamics being superimposed on the feel of the inceptor (103) when dynamically adjusting the trim position, thereby eliminating the possibility of any unpleasant buzzing been felt by the operator of the inceptor during a trimming operation.

Abstract: A control system for electronically linked pilot and co-pilot inceptors (103) permits an asymmetric roll axis feel depending on whether an inceptor is moved inboard or outboard. A circuit (401) receives a signal representative of a force applied to the pilot's inceptor resulting from a side-to-side movement and detects if the force applied is in an inward or an outward direction. A gain factor is applied to the received force signal to produce a factored force signal. The gain applied to a signal representative of force applied in an outward direction is greater than the gain factor applied to a signal representative of force applied in an inward direction. A summer (212, 213) sums the factored force signal with a corresponding factored force signal derived from force signals from the co-pilot's inceptor to produce a modified force signal for use in a force feedback control system associated with each inceptor.

Abstract: A data link (101) for a MIMO communication system (100) comprises a first transceiver device (106A) comprising a body (109A) having a transducer mounting surface near or at which is mounted a plurality of first transducers (107A-107D) configured to, in use, receive and convert a plurality of electrical waveforms to a respective plurality of acoustic signals. A first bonding layer (120A) bonds a barrier mounting surface of the body of the first transceiver device to a barrier (103). The data link further comprises a second transceiver device (106B) comprising a body (109B) and a plurality of second transducers (107?A-107?D) configured to receive and convert the plurality of acoustic signals transmitted through the barrier to a respective plurality of electrical waveforms. A second bonding layer (120B) bonds a barrier mounting surface of the body of the second transceiver to the barrier.

Abstract: According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a watercraft comprising: a management system for use in managing functionality associated with the watercraft; an augmented reality system arranged to interact with the management system, at least a part of the augmented reality system being arranged to be wearable by a user of the watercraft to provide augmented reality image data to the user based on the interaction between the augmented reality system and the management system.

Abstract: An electroacoustic transducer array 110 is described. The electroacoustic transducer array 110 comprises a first electroacoustic transducer 40A comprising a first active element 41A and a second electroacoustic transducer 40B comprising a second active element 41B. The electroacoustic transducer array 110 comprises an acoustic coupling layer 43 arranged to acoustically couple, in use, the first active element 41A and the second active element 41B to a transmission medium. The electroacoustic transducer array 110 comprises a first cavity 42A arranged between the first active element 41A and the acoustic coupling layer 43 to receive a first fluid; and/or a second cavity 42B arranged between the second active element 41B and the acoustic coupling layer 43 to receive a second fluid. In this way, acoustic coupling of the electroacoustic transducer array 110 and the transmission medium is improved.

Abstract: An electroacoustic transducer 400 is described. The electroacoustic transducer 400 comprises an active element 410. The electroacoustic transducer 400 comprises an acoustic coupling layer 430 arranged to acoustically couple, in use, the active element 410 to a transmission medium. The electroacoustic transducer 400 further comprises a cavity 420 arranged between the active element 410 and the acoustic coupling layer 430 to receive a fluid. In this way, acoustic coupling of the electroacoustic transducer 400 and the transmission medium is improved.

Abstract: According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of slowing down a moving projectile, the projectile moving within an electromagnetic railgun, the method comprising: using an electromagnetic field generated by the railgun to slow down the projectile, wherein the projectile is a munitions projectile, and/or a carrier for catching the munitions projectile.

Abstract: A method for controlling a digital display device (105), such as a digital micro-mirror device, and a digital display apparatus (101, 106) are provided in which, in order to meet the latency requirements of the display, each frame of received image symbology data is divided into several subframes. A tag is assigned to an incoming drawing command, the tag having an initial value equal to the number of subframes in a frame. The drawing command is rendered on the first subframe and the tag is decremented by one. The drawing command is rendered again on subsequent subframes and the tag value is decremented by one each time the drawing is rendered. When the tag value reaches zero, the drawing command is discarded. Thus, a line may be rendered with lower latency compared with known systems which refresh on a frame-by-frame basis.