Abstract: A method of manufacturing and an antenna having an upper and lower loop. Upper loop comprising a first conductive loop defined by an upper conductor and a first conductive blade tapering outwardly to form a flare portion adjacent a distal end of the upper conductor. Lower loop comprising a second conductive loop defined by a base conductor and a second conductive blade tapering outwardly forming a flare portion adjacent a distal end of the base conductor. First and second conductive blades defining, between their facing edges, a notch opening outwardly from a feed region. Upper loop further comprising an elongate conductive vane extending at an angle from a first location on the upper conductor to a second location on the first conductive blade defining a pair of loops within the upper loop.

Abstract: Drilling apparatus and method, the apparatus comprising: a first robot (10); a first member (30) (e.g. a pressure foot) and a drilling tool (38) both coupled to the first robot (10); a second robot (12); and a second member (52) coupled to the second robot (12); wherein the apparatus is arranged to press the members (30, 52) against opposite sides of a part to be drilled (2, 100) (e.g. an aircraft panel) so as to hold the part (2, 100) and prevent deflection of at least a portion of the part (2, 100); and the first member (30) and the drilling tool (38) are arranged such that the drilling tool (38) may drill into the portion of the part (2, 100) of which deflection is opposed from the side of the part (2, 100) pressed against by the first member (30). The robots (10, 12) may be robotic arms.

Abstract: Apparatus for selectively displaying an operational area comprising an internal and an external environment separated from another by at least one physical obstruction, the apparatus comprising a headset including a screen for placing over a user's eyes, the system further comprising a processor configured to generate a three-dimensional virtual environment, and an image capture device for capturing images of the internal environment, said processor being configured to blend image data representative thereof into said three dimensional virtual environment to create a mixed reality environment including a representation of said at least one physical obstruction, the processor configured to receive image data representative of said external environment and to remove at least a portion of said physical obstruction from said mixed reality environment displayed on said screen, and blend said image data of said external environment into said mixed reality environment wherein said physical obstruction appears to be

Abstract: A surveillance apparatus includes a retractable support member; a housing; a spooling mechanism mounted at the housing, and being rotatable relative to the housing, and being attached to a second end of the retractable support member. The spooling mechanism is operable to rotate in a first direction to convert the retractable support member from a coiled condition to an extended condition and thereby pay-out the support member from the housing, and operable to rotate in a second direction opposite to the first to convert the retractable support member from the extended condition to the coiled condition and thereby retract the support member into the housing. A mount is attached to a first end of the retractable support member; a surveillance device is attached to the mount.

Abstract: A system comprising: a low observable aircraft (2) having its external surfaces oriented at a limited number of directions; a device (12) mounted to the aircraft (2) outside the external surfaces of the aircraft (2); and a fairing (10) located outside the external surfaces of the aircraft (2), the fairing (10) being releasably coupled to the one or more external surfaces of the aircraft (2), at least part of the fairing (10) being spaced apart from one or more of the external surfaces of the aircraft (2) so as to define a chamber between the fairing (10) and that one or more external surfaces of the aircraft (2). The device (12) is wholly located within the chamber. One or more external surfaces of the fairing (10) are oriented in the same direction as at least one external surface of the aircraft (2).

Abstract: The invention relates to an igniter device for igniting energetic materials, more specifically to the area of the initiation of munitions, and methods of forming said ignition devices. There is provided an igniter device, for use in an explosive train, comprising a first synthetic polymer layer, a second synthetic polymer layer, wherein said first layer and second layer envelope a portion of an energetic material, wherein said synthetic polymer is capable of being sealed.

Abstract: A method for displaying an image to a pilot (20) of an aircraft (2). The method comprises, using a first value of the velocity of the aircraft (2) relative to a runway (4), displaying, on a HMD (24), an indication of a first position for an image component (e.g. a FPM) (36), the first position being the position, from the pilot's point of view, that the image component (36) would occupy if the aircraft (2) was established on a predefined glideslope (16); using a second value different to the first value, displaying, on the HMD (24), an indication of a second position for the image component (36), the second position being the position, from the pilot's point of view, that the image component (36) would occupy if the aircraft (2) was established on a different glideslope.

Abstract: An optical waveguide is provided having at least first and second diffraction regions, the first diffraction region being arranged to diffract image-bearing light propagating along the waveguide so as to expand it in a first dimension and to turn the image-bearing light towards the second diffraction region, the second diffraction region being arranged to diffract the image-bearing light so as to expand it in a second dimension and to release it from the waveguide as a visible image. The first diffraction region is formed by first diffraction grating embedded within the waveguide, arranged to present a substantially similar profile to the image-bearing light when incident upon the grating from a given angle above or below the grating such that the polarization of the image bearing light is rotated by substantially similar amounts, but in opposite directions, by successive interactions with the first diffraction region.

Abstract: An optical transmitter (201) comprising: a laser diode (102) for transmitting an optical signal; a first temperature sensor (106) configured to measure a temperature at or proximate to the laser diode (102); a second temperature sensor (202) configured to measure a temperature of an environment in which the optical transmitter (201) is operating; a thermoelectric device (208) configured to apply heating or cooling to the laser diode (102); and a controller (212) configured to, using the temperature measurements taken by the first temperature sensor (106) and the second temperature sensor (202), control the thermoelectric device (208) to heat or cool the laser diode (102).

Abstract: A system (102) is configured to monitor energy usage of a surface maritime vessel (100). The system comprises a device (102A) configured to receive characteristic data representing at least one operating characteristic of the vessel, and a device (102A) configured to receive model data representing at least one energy usage model for the vessel. The system further includes a device (102A) configured to process the characteristic data and the model data to generate an output representing a comparison between the characteristic data and the model data.

Abstract: A method is provided for determining corrections to rate data output by inertial sensors of a type typically used in tracking changes in orientation of an object. The present invention also extends to a tracker system incorporating the correction functionality of the present invention. The method makes use of rate data output by inertial sensors associated with the object being tracked and rate data derived from measures of orientation supplied by a non-inertial tracker system also associated with the object being tracked and comprises determining from those rate data corrections for errors due to misalignment in rate data output by inertial sensors, by calculating a mapping between vectors linking points in inertial sensor rate space represented by a sample set of received rate data from the inertial sensors and vectors linking points in a derived object orientation rate space represented by a corresponding and synchronised sample set of derived rate data.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of assessing a structural defect presence in a structure, the method comprising the steps of: determining at least one critical damage strain value of the structure, capturing a first image of a surface of the structure under a first loading condition; capturing a second image of the surface of the structure under a second loading condition; assigning a position matrix on the captured first image; obtaining a deformation matrix comprising a deformation value at each position of the position matrix by using an image correlation technique on the first and second images, and by comparing deformation of corresponding parts of the surface captured therein; calculating a strain matrix using the obtained deformation matrix; and determining a micro-crack to be present at a position if an element of the strain matrix representing the strain at the position is greater than or equal to a predetermined critical damage strain value, wherein the critical damage strain value is a strain value at which

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: A helmet for communications comprising: a helmet member for at least partially covering the user's head; a strap for extending around the user's lower jaw and thereby securing the helmet member to the user; wherein the strap comprises a transducer unit for contacting the user's lower jaw and thereby transmitting vibrations to the user.

Abstract: A tactical network comprises a plurality of assets, at least some of the assets grouped into sub-groups. The assets within each subgroup communicate with each other using a communication protocol. The sub-groups include a first subgroup in which the assets all communicate with each using a first communication protocol and a second sub-group in which the assets all communicate with each other using a second communication protocol which is incompatible with the first communication protocol. Each subgroup is associated with a federated server. The federated server is configured to receive data from the assets, to assess the data to identify significant changes, to convert the significant changes in the data into a common format, compatible with all federated servers in the tactical network, and to transmit, in the common format, to the federated server of another of the subgroups, the significant changes.

Abstract: The present invention concerns electromechanical actuators. More particularly, but not exclusively, this invention concerns actuators operable in multiple degrees of freedom. There is provided an actuator comprising a proof-mass and at least two coils arranged such that current flowing through the coil produces a force that acts on the proof-mass, the proof-mass being mounted for movement in at least two degrees of freedom, wherein one of the at least two degrees of freedom is a translational degree of freedom.

Abstract: An imaging method for capturing images using a sensor mounted on an unmanned aircraft comprises: acquiring a range of motion of the sensor relative to the aircraft; acquiring a specification of a linear path along the ground; acquiring parameter values relating to aircraft maneuverability; using the acquired information determining a procedure; performing, by the aircraft, the procedure and simultaneously capturing, by the sensor, a set of images. The procedure comprises the aircraft moving with respect to the path and the sensor moving with respect to the aircraft such that at some time each point along the path is coincident with a footprint of the sensor. Also, each point along the path is present within at least one of the captured images.

Abstract: A profiling approach for determining a path for an aircraft, using a method comprising the steps of determining at least two waypoints between a starting position and a desired terminal position for the aircraft, determining a path for the aircraft between the starting position and the terminal position, by performing a linear approximation of the heights of the waypoints such that the average height change between waypoints is minimized, and constrained by a maximum climb angle of said aircraft, and performing a linear approximation of arrival times for each of the waypoints and aircraft speeds between the waypoints, constrained by permissible velocity of said aircraft on the slope between the waypoints. In this way, the non-linear relationship between climb rate and speed is approximated with linear equations, because determination of the path between each set of two waypoints is broken into two linear problems.

Abstract: The invention relates to a surface inspection device; more specifically to the inspection of complex geometry welded joints. There is provided a device suitable for structural health monitoring of a surface said device comprising; a guide rail and a platform comprising at least one sensor, wherein said platform is cooperatively engaged with said guide rail, when said platform traverses along the rail.

Abstract: A wide band antenna comprising a signal generator coupled to a feed region of at least one antenna element comprising upper and lower loops. Upper loop comprising a first conductive loop element defined by an upper conductor and a first conductive blade tapering outwardly forming a flare portion adjacent a distal end of the upper conductor. Lower loop comprising a second loop defined by a base conductor and a second conductive blade tapering outwardly forming a flare portion adjacent a distal end of the base conductor, first and second conductive blades defining, between their facing edges, a notch opening outwardly from feed region. The method comprising matching an antenna element impedance to the transmission line; selecting an antenna element cut-off frequency; selecting an upper conductor length, and subsequently selecting dimensions of the upper loop such that they are substantially equal to a wavelength corresponding to the selected cut-off frequency.