Abstract: A method and apparatus for distributing power through a network (1), the network comprising consumer units (C1-C4) and provider units (P1-P6), the method comprising: for each provider unit (P1-P6), allocating some production capacity of that provider unit (P1-P6) to each consumer units (C1-C4) to which that provider unit (P1-P6) is connected, performing one or more times a process of performing steps (a) to (c); wherein step (a) comprises, for each consumer unit (C1-C4), generating a vector of resource requests, step (b) comprises, for each provider unit (P1-P6), determining whether it currently satisfies the requests made of it; and step (c) comprises, for each provider unit (P1-P6) which does not currently satisfy the requests made of it, updating the current production allocation; and from each provider unit (P1-P6) and dependant on the current production allocation of that provider unit (P1-P6), delivering to a consumer unit (C1-C4) an amount of resource.

Abstract: Disclosed is a liquid storage system having an outer tank (e.g. an aircraft fuel tank) for containing a liquid (e.g. aircraft fuel), the outer tank enclosing a liquid storage space; an inner tank located within the outer tank and enclosing the liquid storage space; and at least one coupling element associated with the outer tank and the inner tank for maintaining the tanks in a spaced apart relationship; wherein the coupling element(s) is/are deformable such that, on application of a force to the inner tank, at least part of the inner tank moves relative to the outer tank.

Abstract: Disclosed are apparatus and a method for receiving and transmitting radio frequency signals by a vehicle (8). The method comprises: providing a transceiver module (28), the transceiver module (28) being located on board the vehicle (8) and comprising a plurality of transceivers (40-56), each transceiver (40-56) being configured to operate within a different respective radio frequency band; receiving, by a first transceiver, a first radio frequency signal having a first frequency and a first waveform; determining, using the first frequency and first waveform, by a communications management module (36) located on board the vehicle (8), a second frequency and a second waveform, the second frequency being in a different frequency band than the first radio frequency signal, the second waveform being different to the first waveform; and transmitting, by a second transceiver, a second radio frequency signal having the second frequency and the second waveform.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining a route for a vehicle (6), the method comprising: measuring a position of the vehicle (6); providing a specification of a region (12) into which the vehicle (6) is to be moved; and, using the measurements and specification, determining the vehicle route. The route determination process comprises constructing a graph (34) within a state space (X) of the vehicle (6), identifying, within the graph (34), a path for the vehicle (6), performing a path shortening algorithm on the identified path, and, using the shortened path, determining the vehicle route. The path shortening algorithm comprises: selecting two vertices along the path that are separated by at least two edges; connecting the two selected vertices with an additional edge; and, depending on certain cost values, removing the edges and vertices by which the selected vertices are connected, and including, in the path, the additional edge.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of forming a void with a circular cross section in a substrate, more particularly to forming through holes electronic substrates The method comprising the steps of causing a laser cutter to traverse in an arc to an intended circumference of the void, traversing the intended circumference of the void at least once, wherein the lead in from the arc to the circumference comprises a radius.

Abstract: The invention relates to a launched aerial surveillance vehicle, more specifically to a grenade or under-slung grenade launcher (UGL) aerial surveillance vehicle, a surveillance system and methods of providing rapid aerial surveillance. The vehicle once deployed is capable of autonomous flight paths, with basic inputs to change the circular flight paths, so as to build up surveillance for an area of interest. The vehicle comprises at least one optical sensor, which may be IR or visible range, to survey the area of interest, and feed the images back to at least one remote user.

Abstract: A method for suppressing the Jet Engine Modulation (JEM) clutter signal returns from compressor blades (26) in data sampled by a system for Foreign Object Debris (FOD) detection in the air intake (30) of a turbine assembly, the method comprising the steps of: (a) identifying in the data the start sample position and length in samples of a single complete shaft rotation; and (b) subtracting from a current rotation dataset the samples from a comparison rotation dataset corresponding to another complete single shaft rotation.

Abstract: A method of establishing a network by sharing a secret between a first entity (A) and a second entity (B), comprising the steps of: the first entity (A) broadcasting (100) an ANNOUNCE message announcing its identity and details of other entities it is aware of, wherein each of the other entities of which it is aware is associated with a particular nonce, and the message is encrypted using a broadcast encryption scheme common to the first and second entities (A,B), and; the second entity (B), upon receiving and decrypting the ANNOUNCE message, transmitting (110) to the first entity (A) a SHARE message, wherein the SHARE message comprises a signcryption of the secret, authenticated using signcryption data associated with the particular nonce associated with the second entity (B).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing data, the data including a set of one or more system inputs; and a set of one or more system outputs; wherein each system output corresponds to a respective system input. Each system input can include a plurality of data points, such that at least one of these data points is from a different data source to at least one other of those data points. The method includes performing a kernel function on a given system input from the data and a further system input to provide kernelized data; and inferring a value indicative of a significance of data from a particular data source; wherein the inferring includes applying a regression technique to the kernelized data.

Abstract: The following invention relates to an improved LCD Backlight, particularly to an improved arrangement of the optical scattering dots within the light guiding plate. The light guiding plate comprises a lower surface which is formed with a plurality of optical scattering dots, which scatter and reflect the light beams to convert the light beams into a uniform surface light source, characterised wherein the surface area of each optical dot decreases as a function of its distance from at least one of the three edges comprising the LED lights.

Abstract: An active inceptor apparatus and method for operating a machine. The apparatus comprises a stick member having a grip portion, the stick member being pivotably mounted relative to a housing. It further comprises a position sensor responsive to, and for generating signals indicative of, stick member position. A force sensor is provided on the stick member responsive to, and for generating signals indicative of, force applied to the stick by a user. The apparatus also includes a control unit operable to receive the position and force signals from the position and force sensors respectively. The control unit is operable to process the signals according to a predetermined relationship to determine a value FD indicative of force applied to the stick member relative to displacement of the stick member. The control unit is also operable to generate machine control signals as a function of position signals and force signals in dependence upon the value FD, for communication to the machine.

Abstract: According to the invention there is provided a balun including: a slotline which is coupled to an input line and an output line, in which at least a portion of the slotline is sandwiched between a first and a second layer of dielectric material.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for radio positioning of a vehicle using a virtual positioning reference established by logging a known position of the vehicle together with a local time that a first instance of a predictably repeated code word is received from an opportunistic terrestrial radio transmitter. During movement of the vehicle to a second, unknown position, a local clock is used to determine the time difference between when the virtual positioning reference is predicted to receive a second instance of the code word and when the vehicle actually receives the second instance of the code word, thereby providing positioning information when traditional navigation signals such as GPS are not available. The radio positioning information is then used to initiate an action such as recording the location information for future retrieval by a user, and/or controlling the movements of an autonomous vehicle.

Abstract: A system comprising a low observable aircraft (2) having its surfaces oriented at a limited number of directions, and a lightning diverter strip (4, 22, 30) comprising a plurality of electrically conductive elements (8, 24, 32) arranged in a spaced apart relation, each of the electrically conductive elements (8, 24, 32) comprising an elongate portion. The lightning diverter strip (4, 22, 30) is attached to the aircraft in such a way that the conductive elements (8, 24, 32) are located on an exposed outer surface of the lightning diverter strip (4, 22, 30) and exposed to atmospheric conditions. For each conductive element (8, 24, 32), a long axis of the elongate portion of that conductive element (8, 24, 32) is substantially parallel with a surface of the aircraft.

Abstract: A heat exchanger (2) comprising a duct (4) through which a first fluid (e.g. a coolant such as ram air) may flow, and one or more vanes (18) disposed within the duct (4) and configured to disrupt the flow of the first fluid through the duct (4). Each vane (18) comprises one or more flow channels (24) through which a second fluid (e.g. a fluid to be cooled, such as engine coolant) may flow so as to transfer heat between the first fluid flowing through the duct (4) and the second fluid flowing through the one or more flow channels (24). The flow channels (24) within the vanes (18) are separated from the duct (4) by a channel wall such that fluid cannot flow between the duct (4) and the flow channels (24).

Abstract: A beamsplitter is disclosed for splitting an input beam of radiation which is incident upon the beamsplitter into at least one first and second output beam of radiation which propagate from the beamsplitter.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining routes vehicles (4, 6), the method comprising: measuring positions of a first vehicle and a second vehicle (6); providing a specification of a region (12) having a fixed position in relation to the first vehicle (4); using the measurements and the region specification, determining a first route for the first vehicle (4) and a second route for the second vehicle (6). Determining the routes comprises: constructing a graph (34) within a joint state space (X) of the vehicles (4, 6); identifying, within the graph (34), a path from a first vertex to a second vertex, the first vertex corresponding to the measured positions of the vehicles (4, 6), and the second vertex corresponding to the second vehicle (6) being at least partially located within the region (12); and, using the identified path, determining the first and second routes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a digital display plotter for plotting images on a digital display device 18. A cursive imagery generator 12 generates imagery inputs at a plurality of respective update phases during a refresh period of the display device. A control 20 for the display device activates selected pixels of the digital display device in response to respective said imagery inputs, activation being controlled subsequent to each update phase during a refresh period. An input store 14, 16 associates each cursively generated imagery input with an update phase that the imagery input was generated during a refresh period. The control 20 is responsive to the input store and configured to deactivate the selected pixels activated in response to each imagery input dependent on the associated update phase of each imagery input.

Abstract: According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a duplexer for a radio frequency antenna, comprising: a radio frequency signal transmitter port arranged for connection to a radio frequency signal transmitter; a radio frequency signal receiver port arranged for connection to a radio frequency signal receiver; a switch arranged selectively to adopt either one of: a first state which connects the transmitter port to a common input/output port of the switch arranged for connection to a radio frequency antenna; and a second state which connects the receiver port to the common input/output port; a switch control unit arranged to monitor radio frequency power at the common input/output port and to receive a transmission gate signal; wherein the switch control unit is arranged to control the switch to adopt the first state upon receipt of the transmission gate signal, and, subsequently, to control the switch to adopt the second state when the monitored radio frequency power falls below a thres

Abstract: There is disclosed a directional multi-band antenna comprising a substrate structure, a plurality of RF units arranged at the substrate structure to provide an RF phased array, the RF phased array having an angular scan range, an array of optical units arranged at the substrate structure and interspersed amongst the RF units, an array of optical lensing devices supported over the substrate structure, the array of optical lensing devices being substantially RF transmissive and being arranged to correspond with the arrangement of the optical units, such that each optical unit may communicate light signals with an associated optical lensing device so as to communicate light signals along an optical axis within the angular scan range of the RF phased array.