Abstract: A method for manufacturing a waveguide for a display apparatus comprising providing a planar optical waveguide part (20), depositing upon the optical waveguide part a fluid material (11) curable to form an optically transparent solid, impressing (30) upon the fluid material an impression defining an input diffraction grating region, an intermediate diffraction grating region and an output diffraction grating region wherein the fluid material of the intermediate diffraction grating region is continuous with the fluid material of at least the input diffraction grating region, curing (45) the impressed fluid material to solidify said impression. The physical location of the input diffraction grating is located wholly within the geographical area of the intermediate grating, and the grating vectors of the input diffraction grating and the intermediate diffraction grating are oriented in different respective directions.

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 secondary ply structure suitable for incorporation into a continuous fiber reinforced composite structure comprising a matrix material and a plurality of fiber ply reinforcing structures, a continuous fiber reinforced composite material so formed, and a method for the fabrication of the same are described. The secondary ply comprises a carrier sheet for example in the form of a ply of primary fibers and carries a two dimensional planar array of secondary fibers extending outwardly of the plane of the sheet into a third dimension in generally aligned manner and disposed across at least a major part of the surface thereof in generally aligned manner to provide out of plane reinforcement in the consolidated structure.

Abstract: The invention relates to a joint and welding configuration used during repair of metal and metal alloy plates specifically for providing a means of joining metal plates and filling voids in metal plates where access from one side is restricted. A joint arrangement suitable for repairing a void in at least one element, wherein said at least one element has a first surface and a second surface, wherein the thickness of the at least one element is at least 10 mm, further comprising two or more insert elements, each of said two or more insert elements each being friction stir welded at their abutted surfaces to said at least one element, characterized wherein said at least one element comprises at least one recess portion, wherein a Friction Stir Weld is caused from the direction of said first surface.

Abstract: The invention relates to a cast explosive composition, particularly to a pre-cure castable explosive composition comprising an explosive material, a polymerisable binder, a microencapsulated cross linking reagent, said microencapsulated cross linking reagent, comprising a cross linking agent encapsulated in a microcapsule.

Abstract: A method of configuring a telecommunications network comprising the steps of: providing a first set of time dependent network data, a network related parameter varying with time; identifying abnormalities embedded within said first set of data; providing a first set of external event data; associating respective abnormalities with corresponding event data; generating a model to represent an impact of the, or each, class of event, represented by the event data; using the, or each, model in combination with extrapolated data to predict future variation in the network related parameter; repeating this simulation for alternative input conditions; selecting a solution from the output of one the simulations; and implementing a modification to the network corresponding to the/or each respective input condition.

Abstract: A cartridge casing comprises a casing tube and a head cap. The casing tube bounds at least part of the head cap. The head cap is being fixed relative to the tube by a welding process.

Abstract: A method of characterizing fragmentation of an explosive device (110) comprises receiving a image of a witness plate (100) that has been subject to impact by fragments from explosion of the device; warping the image to remove deformations of the plate (100); marking strike damage sites (120) caused by impact of the fragments; and recording the position and area of the strike damage sites (120).

Abstract: A drag reduction system, more specifically a forward mounted drag reduction system for use on an extended range artillery shell, includes a forward end comprising a fuse, an aft located base unit and located therebetween a shell body defining a cavity which comprises a payload, a forwardly located gas generator capable of generating a gas flow, and an ignition device to ignite the gas generator after the shell is launched.

Abstract: The invention relates to an illumination munition, particularly an illumination payload ejection device housed within a common carrier payload delivery shell, with a frangible safety link. There is provided an illumination munition comprising a shearable tail unit, a main body which comprises a payload cavity for receiving an illumination payload apparatus, a fuze, an ogive element located between said main body and the fuze, and an explosive train operably connected to said fuze, wherein the illumination payload apparatus comprises an illumination composition, a drogue parachute and a main parachute, wherein the main parachute is tethered by a payload tether to the payload apparatus, such that after deployment of said main parachute said payload apparatus descends under the control of said main parachute.

Abstract: A method and system configured to evaluate near range communications quality in an environment. Data describing an environment is obtained from at least one data source (202). The data describing the environment is processed (204) to generate a ground-plane data set (206) describing a ground-plane of the environment, and a 3D object data set (206) describing 3D objects in the environment. These data are used to compute (208) a propagation path between a first location and a second location in the environment, and a near range communications quality characteristic of the propagation path is computed (210).

Abstract: The invention relates to methods and a novel powdered curable monomer which may be used to manufacture bulk polymers, adhesives and coatings composite materials with high percentage weight inclusions of particulate filler materials, more specifically to fibre reinforced polymer composite materials with high percentage weight inclusions of particulate filler materials. The preferred particulate filler materials are carbon nanotubes. The method according to the invention allows greater than 0.5 wt % of carbon nanotubes, typically greater 10% wt of carbon nanotubes or other high aspect ratio fillers to be readily incorporated in the resin matrix, before being applied to the fibre reinforcing plys.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of producing a machining fixture for fixedly holding a workpiece during machining of that workpiece. The method comprises: providing an initial machining fixture comprising a plurality of receiving elements for receiving the workpiece to be machined; determining a datum, the datum being dependent upon the relative positions of the receiving elements; determining positions and orientations of one or more reference surfaces with respect to the datum; measuring the surface of the initial machining fixture with respect to the datum; and, thereafter, controlling machining apparatus with respect to the datum to machine the initial machining fixture to form the one or more reference surfaces, thereby producing the machining fixture.

Abstract: A communication system 100) comprises a first set (204, 206) of transducers and a second set (210, 212) of transducers. The system further comprises a first signal processing device (106) configured to produce a signal for transmission by at least some of the transducers in the first set to at least some of the transducers in the second set, and a second signal processing device (110) configured to process signals received from at least some of the transducers in the second set in order to select a best said signal that is used for further processing. The first set of transducers comprises a first subset (204) comprising at least one said transducer, and a second subset (206) comprising at least one said transducer. Transducers in the first subset transmit on a first channel and transducers in the second subset transmit on a second channel having a different frequency.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of producing an object, the method comprising: providing a workpiece comprising a plurality of attachment features for attaching the workpiece to a machining fixture; determining a datum, the datum being dependent upon the relative positions of the attachment features; measuring the surface of the workpiece with respect to the datum; providing the machining fixture; attaching, using the attachment features, the workpiece to the machining fixture; providing a digital model specifying the object including the attachment features; and, thereafter, using the measurements of the workpiece surface and the digital model, controlling machining apparatus with respect to the datum to machine the workpiece so as to produce the object as specified by the digital model.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a reconfigurable door having a first surface and a second surface. There is also an arrangement for configuring the door so that in a first configuration at least part of the first surface is external to the vehicle, and in a second configuration at least part of the second surface is external to the vehicle. The first surface and/or the second surface includes at least one device mounting arrangement.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a sensor (1), such as a corrosion sensor, a mask including a series of masking elements (21, 22, 23) for masking a corresponding series of sensing elements (12, 13, 14), a sensing element having such a mask and a sensor are provided. The sensor (1) includes a number of metallic strips (12, 13, 14) mounted on a non-conducting substrate (9) and a module (3) for forming electrical connections to the strips whereby to enable communication between the strips (12, 13, 14) and monitoring equipment for the sensor (1). The module includes a number of wire connections (15, 16, 17, 18) and the method includes the steps of encapsulating the wire connections within a flexible chemical and heat resistant sealing compound and subsequently encapsulating the flexible sealing compound within a second sealing compound by an injection molding process. The sensing elements (12, 13, 14) are covered by the masking elements (21, 22, 23) prior painting the sensor (1) with a corrosion-inhibiting paint.

Abstract: Armour comprising a container (2) containing a liquid (6), said container having a threat-facing wall (11) and at least one shock-reflecting layer (5) of material contained within the container (2), the shock-reflecting layer (5) having a shock impedance differing from the liquid (6) and being positioned at an angle to the threat-facing wall (11) whereby to reflect shock waves (8) created in the liquid by passage of a projectile (1) through the liquid back towards the projectile (1) and across the trajectory of the projectile whereby to induce tumbling of the projectile within the liquid.

Abstract: Ferrite compositions, particularly ferrite coated substrates and more particularly fibre plys coated with ferrites in fibre reinforced polymer composites (FRPC), and composites with a plurality of functionalised fibre layers, include a magnetic ferrite composition for coating a substrate, said composition comprising a resin, and dispersed therein ferrite particulates, wherein said ferrite particulates have an average longest dimension of less than 500 nm. The composition may be used to provide a ferrite composite structure comprising at least one fibre ply, with at least one layer of a magnetic ferrite composition disposed thereon, wherein said ply is substantially encapsulated in a binder matrix to form a fibre reinforced polymer composite.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for physically coupling together a first aircraft and a second aircraft, for example for the purpose of performing air-to-air refueling. The first aircraft is an aircraft in flight. The second aircraft is an aircraft in flight. The method comprises: sending, from a transmitter located on the first aircraft, an electromagnetic signal; receiving, by a receiver located on the second aircraft, the signal; and controlling, by one or more processors, using the signal received by the second aircraft, at least one of the first and second aircraft such that the first and second aircraft are in a predetermined configuration in which the first and second aircraft are physically coupled together, for example attached together.