Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for a turboprop-powered medium altitude long endurance (MALE) aircraft, having: a heat exchanger with a heat-storage material, for example a heat-storage wax; and an air recirculation path. The heat exchanger can be arranged to cool air recirculating around the air recirculation path which is arranged to provide cooling to the MALE aircraft, for example to an equipment bay. The heat-storage material may be cooled by ground-based cooling apparatus when the aircraft is on the ground and/or by ram air when the aircraft is in flight. The heat-storage material may have a melting point selected so as to be rendered solid during ground-based cooling and/or ram air cooling, and/or selected so as to undergo melting while cooling the air recirculating around the air recirculation path.

Abstract: A method of generating probability data for use in assessing performance of a system and a mission involving the system. The method includes receiving (302) a combined model describing a system diagnosis model describing symptoms, failures and link strengths (conditionals) of components/subsystems of the system, and a mission impact model, the mission impact model describing effects of the system on an ability to perform the mission. Observation data regarding a state of the system is also received (306) The observation data is used (308) in combination with the combined model to generate probability data for use in assessing performance of the system and the mission.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing surveillance comprising: imaging, at a first frame rate, an area (4) to produce images; detecting, using the images, a feature of interest (22) within the area (4); determining a region of interest (24), the region of interest (24) corresponding to a region within the area (4) in which the feature of interest (22) will be located at a later time-step; and, at the later time-step, using the region of interest (24), imaging the area (4) such that images of the region within the area (4) in which the feature of interest (22) is located are produced at a second frame rate, while images of the rest of the area (4) are produced at a third frame rate, the second rate being different to the third rate.

Abstract: A metamaterial (400) for attenuating acoustic transmission comprises a plurality of layers (410). Each layer (410) comprises a transmission structure (420) and a resonator (450), coupled to the transmission structure (420). The transmission structure (420) in a layer (410) is coupled to the transmission structures (420) of the layers (410) neighboring said layer (410). The resonator (450) in a layer (410) is coupled to the transmission structure (420) of the layers (410) neighboring said layer (410).

Abstract: The invention relates to methods and devices for shaping plastic optical fibers (POFs), more specifically for optically modifying and yet more specifically for rapidly joining two portions of the plastic optical fibers to create a new optical connection. The plastic optical fibers may be heated under controlled conditions, to soften them and lens, sensor or patterns may be imprinted on portions of the fiber. Methods are provide to optical joints, and combined physical and optical joints.

Abstract: A color sequential display method and apparatus that reduces or eliminates color breakup. In a given frame an illumination source provides a first illumination color in a first subframe, a second illumination color in a third subframe, and both the first and second illumination colors simultaneously in a second subframe to provide a third mixed illumination color. A pixel is driven either: (a) during the first subframe to display the first color; or (b) during the third subframe to display the second color; or (c) at least during the second subframe to display the third color.

Abstract: A network management assembly is disclosed for managing a flow of network management traffic across a network containing a plurality of discrete network domains. The assembly can include a first management terminal which is arranged to transmit network management traffic to each of the network domains via a respective first communication link, and a second management terminal which is arranged to receive network management traffic from each of the network domains via a respective second communication link. Each of the first communication links can permit a flow of network management traffic from the first management terminal to a respective domain, and prevent a reverse flow of network management traffic from the respective domain to the first management terminal. Each of the second communication links can permit a flow of network management traffic from a respective domain to the second management terminal, and prevent a reverse flow.

Abstract: The invention relates to a removable test fitment which may be readily locatable to remove it from a complex system, specifically to the removal of test fitments which are installed in low light or confined spaces. There is provided a removable test fitment suitable for use to temporarily monitor a complex system, wherein said removable test fitting comprises an indicator to identify the presence of the component within the complex system.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of detecting an anomalous propagation condition in a Radar system, comprising the steps of: subtracting returns received in a first receive period from returns received in a succeeding second receive period, and repeating this step for a plurality of receive periods; and if the step of subtracting gives a result in excess of a predetermined threshold in one of the plurality of receive periods, then registering this as a possible anomalous propagation condition.

Abstract: An optical surface roughness measurement-enabling arrangement and method are disclosed for enabling measurement of the surface roughness of a material. The arrangement comprises an optical radiation source for generating a beam of collimated radiation along a first axis for illuminating the surface of the material with the radiation directed along the first axis, a refractive optical element optically alignable with the beam of radiation for refracting the beam along a second axis which is non-parallel with the first axis, for illuminating the surface of the material with the radiation directed along the second axis and a detector which is arranged to detect the radiation, incident upon the surface along the first axis and second axis, which becomes reflected off the surface of the material. An optical surface roughness measuring arrangement and method are also disclosed for providing a measurement value of the surface roughness.

Abstract: The invention 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: An aircraft-side aircraft data retrieval system and method, comprising: a data storage device (14) located in a first location, for example a bay (8), in a aircraft (2) adapted to, during a flight, store data acquired during the flight; and wireless apparatus (18) comprising an antenna (28), at least the antenna (28) being located in a second location, for example an undercarriage bay, in the aircraft (2) that is different to the first location, the wireless apparatus (18) adapted to wirelessly transmit, after landing, the stored data to a ground-side data retrieval system (6); the second location (10) being a location that can have a closed or open configuration and which will be in the closed configuration for at least a majority of the flight and in the open configuration, for a purpose other than retrieving the stored data, after the aircraft (2) has landed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a projection display (10) for projecting a color image to a viewer (12) overlaid on a real world scene viewed through the display. The display comprises an image generator (16) for generating image bearing chromatic light for injection into a waveguide assembly (28) at a first range of field angles (44) and a second range of field angles (46). The waveguide assembly comprises a first waveguide (30) having a first input diffraction region (32) arranged to couple image bearing chromatic light in the first range of field angles into the first waveguide to propagate by total internal reflection; and a second waveguide (40) having a second input diffraction region (42) arranged to couple image bearing chromatic light in the second range of field angles into the second waveguide to propagate by total internal reflection.

Abstract: A display assembly, comprising: a display device (30); a microlens array (34); and an eye tracker (8), for example a pupil tracker (8), and/or a head tracker; wherein plural pixels (150) or sub-pixels of the display device (30) are provided for each microlens (160) of the microlens array (34). The display may be adapted such that only certain pixels/sub-pixels (150) are activated/selected for any particular determined pupil/eye/head position, for example such that for each microlens (160), only one respective pixel/sub-pixel (150) is activated/selected for any particular determined pupil/eye/head position. The display device (30) may be a transparent display device (30), the microlens array (34) may be a switchable microlens array (34), and the display assembly may further comprise a light blocking device (32) that is switchable between a substantially light blocking state and a substantially light passing state.

Abstract: The invention relates to a common carrier munition ammunition device, more particularly to common carrier payload delivery shell. There is provided a common carrier munition comprising a tail unit, a main body which comprises a payload cavity for receiving a payload, a fuze, and located between said main body and the fuze an ogive element, wherein the tail unit and main body comprise cooperatively engaging male and female threaded portions, wherein at least one of the threads is a shearable thread.

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: The invention relates to a common carrier munition ammunition device, more particularly to common carrier payload delivery shell with a frangible ogive element. There is provided a common carrier munition comprising a tail unit, a main body which comprises a payload cavity for receiving a payload, a fuze, and located between said main body and the fuze an frangible ogive element, wherein the tail unit and main body comprise cooperatively engaging male and female threaded portions, wherein at least one of the threads is a shearable thread.

Abstract: The invention relates to a smoke pay load apparatus, particularly a smoke payload ejection apparatus housed within a common carrier payload delivery shell with a frangible safety link. There is provided a smoke screen munition comprising a shearable tail unit, a main body which comprises a payload cavity for receiving a smoke 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 smoke payload apparatus comprises a plurality of unconfined portions of a smoke generating energetic material, wherein said portions burn on at least two surfaces.

Abstract: Non-linear Transmission Line Device A non-linear transmission line device includes a magnetic element having at least one end profiled to reduce demagnetisation when the element is biased. The profile may be tapered, stepped, or smoothly curved. Also disclosed is a non-linear transmission device made up of a solid magnetic element, typically of flat rectangular form.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and apparatus for manufacturing an object (54). The method comprises: performing, by Additive Manufacturing apparatus (2), an Additive Manufacturing process to form an initial object (4), the initial object (4) comprising a first portion (42) and a second portion (40), wherein the first portion (42) and the second portion (40) are attached together such that at least part of the first portion (42) is inside at least part of the second portion (40) and such that there is a chamber (50) between the second portion (40) and the at least part of the first portion (42) that is inside the second portion (40), the chamber (50) having a chamber opening (52); establishing, within the chamber (50), via the chamber opening (52), a predetermined environment; and, thereafter, sealing the chamber opening (52) so as to maintain, within the chamber (50), the established environment, thereby producing the object (54).