Abstract: Apparatus for and a method of processing sensor data, the method including: using a sensor, measuring values of a parameter over a region of interest to produce an image of the region of interest, the image having a plurality of pixels; for each pixel, determining an orientation of a gradient of the parameter, at that pixel, using the measured parameter values; for each of a plurality of predetermined ranges of gradient orientation values, determining a number of pixels that have a gradient orientation value within that range; identifying the predetermined ranges that correspond to a number of pixels above a threshold value; and for each identified predetermined range, identifying as corresponding to a feature of an object, pixels that have gradient orientation values within that predetermined range.

Abstract: A method of detecting at least one moving vehicle includes receiving (202) image data representing a sequence of image frames over time. The method further includes analyzing (204-206) the image data to identify potential moving vehicles, and comparing (208-212) at least one said potential moving vehicle with a vehicle movement model that defines a trajectory of a potential moving vehicle to determine whether the at least one potential moving vehicle conforms with the model.

Abstract: According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a cradle assembly for cradling a boat, the cradle assembly comprising: a support, comprising one or more support fenders; one or more enclosure fenders extending along opposite lengths of the support; an arrestor located at one end of the support; an open-ended enclosure for a boat being formed between the support, the one or more enclosure fenders and the arrestor, the one or more support fenders facing into the enclosure, and the open end of the open-ended enclosure being opposite the arrestor.

Abstract: The invention relates to a drag reduction system, more specifically a forward mounted drag reduction system for use on extended range artillery. There is provided a long range artillery projectile having forward end comprising a fuze, an aft located base unit and located therebetween a projectile body defining 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; preferably at a predetermined time after the projectile is launched.

Abstract: An optical waveguide comprising a body of material configured for the contained propagation of light therethrough, a surface relief grating configured to receive the propagating light and at least partially to diffract or reflect it out of the waveguide, and at least one layer of dielectric material of varying thickness having a first surface and a second surface which conforms to a profiled surface of the grating so that the grating exhibits a spatial variation in efficiency dependent on the varying thickness of the dielectric material.

Abstract: An actuator control system for coupling to one or more flight control computers (FCCs); comprising: apparatus for controlling an aerodynamic control surface in response to commands received from one or more FCCs, and, integrated with the controlling apparatus, a failure protection system comprising apparatus arranged to provide at least one of the following functionalities: a servo monitor functionality, a command monitor functionality, and a loop closure functionality. Thus, in the overall flight control system, some or all of the elements of the failure protection system are located in the actuator control stage.

Abstract: An aircraft-side aircraft data retrieval system and method, comprising: a data storage device (14) located in an aircraft (2) adapted to, during a flight, store data acquired during the flight; a transmission element (50), for example a dielectric filled hole or a coaxial transmission line assembly, in an external panel (9) of the aircraft (2); and wireless apparatus (18) adapted to wirelessly transmit, after the aircraft (2) has landed, the stored data to a ground-side data retrieval system (6) via the transmission element (50).

Abstract: An aircraft-side aircraft data retrieval system and method, comprising: a data storage device (14) located in a aircraft (2) adapted to, during a flight, store data acquired during the flight; and wireless apparatus (18) adapted to wirelessly transmit, after the aircraft (2) has landed, the stored data to a ground-side data retrieval system (6), at a frequency in a range selected from the following ranges: (i) 50-70 GHz, (ii) 110-120 GHz, (iii) 170-190 GHz, (iv) 310-330 GHz, (v) 22-24 GHz. for example in the range of 50-70 GHz or more particularly in the range of 55-65 GHz. The data storage device (14) may be located in an electromagnetically sealed bay (8) of the aircraft (2). An antenna (28) of the wireless apparatus (18) may be in a location, for example an undercarriage bay, that is in an open configuration, for a purpose other than retrieving the stored data, after the aircraft (2) has landed.

Abstract: A seat for a vehicle is disclosed which includes a seat chassis for supporting a back member and a base member. The base member can have a first condition, which extends generally perpendicularly from the back member and is suitable for accommodating the occupant in a sitting position. In a second condition, the base member is retracted and thereby tends to reduce the profile of the seat. In selectively configuring the base member from the first condition to the second condition, the base member tilts such that it rises at the back edge and dips at the front edge.

Abstract: A method and system of aligning a helmet mounted display mounted to a helmet is disclosed. A method may comprise aligning a first and a second helmet mounted display guide symbol with a reference direction, respectively; selecting the alignment of the first and second helmet mounted display guide symbol with the reference direction, respectively; aligning a first and a second stabilised guide symbol, starting at positions of the aligned first and second symbols, respectively, with the reference direction, the first and second stabilised symbols being stabilised to reduce the movement of the stabilised symbol with respect to the reference direction in response to movements of the head of the user; selecting the alignment of the first and second stabilised guide symbol with the reference direction, respectively; determining a relative position and orientation between the helmet and the display according to the positions and orientations of the helmet at the alignments.

Abstract: An air-cooled antenna comprising one or more separate antenna arrays (4) and a plurality of separate respective radio transmitter and/or receiver modules (3) each adapted for generating and/or receiving radio-frequency (RF) transmissions for an antenna array associated therewith. An antenna housing (2) contains the transmitter and/or receiver modules and has a ventilation inlet (8) for receiving air into the housing to an exhaust outlet (9) for outputting the air from the housing. A ventilation driver (6) drives an air flow rate through the housing from the ventilation inlet to the exhaust outlet.

Abstract: A system and method of navigating through a structure includes receiving data representing a map of a structure (200), the structure map data including a plurality of locations and routes (303) between at least some of the locations, and receiving (602) data representing a user selection of one of the locations of the structure map. The method receives (602) location marker information from a location marker positioned in or on the structure and uses (604) the received location marker information to locate a current location of the user device within the structure map. The method further uses (606) the structure map data to generate navigation data for navigating from the current position to the selected location.

Abstract: A small, portable wireless router combined with a wideband, wearable antenna supports a local wireless network created on the move for exchanging information between multiple personnel spread over a useful geographic area. Multiple information sources of different types, such as cameras and GPS, can use the network to send information feeds to mobile users with interface devices such as smartphones that can deliver multiple feeds at the same time to the user. Devices connected to other networks, such as information processing devices at fixed operating bases, can deliver information feeds to the network.

Abstract: A communication network traffic control element is disclosed which is arranged to receive traffic, such as voice and data, as a plurality of discrete traffic packets at an input and communicate the traffic as a serial traffic stream to an output. The traffic control element can include a receiver which is arranged to receive the traffic packets, and a processor which is arranged to communicate the serial traffic stream to the output. The processor can include a buffer to vary a traffic output rate from the processor independently of an input rate of traffic flow to the receiver.

Abstract: A method of moving an elongate member (12) along a predetermined axis (A-A) for the introduction or withdrawal thereof to or from a free body (11). The method includes providing an elongate guide surface (18) extending parallel to the predetermined axis, and also providing a plurality of support elements (26) which are slidable on the support surface in a direction parallel to the predetermined axis. The elongate member is supported on the support elements so that at least a major portion of the mass is supported. The elongate member and the support elements are moved along the predetermined axis. Apparatus for moving an elongate member in this manner is also provided.

Abstract: A method of providing apparatus comprising: providing a first store and a first payload on or in the first store, the first store being for mounting to the outside of an aircraft; acquiring aerodynamic properties, moments of inertia, and the mass distribution of the first store and first payload; providing a second store and a second payload, the second payload being on or in the second store, the second store being for mounting to the outside of the aircraft, the second payload being different to the first, the second payload comprising a sensor and/or a projecting means; and configuring the second store and the second payload such that the aerodynamic properties, moments of inertia, and mass distribution of the second store and the second payload are substantially the same as those of the first store and first payload.

Abstract: An optical waveguide (2) arranged to transmit light under total internal reflection has a first diffractive grating region (8) arranged to receive light and diffract the received light along the optical waveguide (2), an intermediate diffraction grating (10) optically coupled to the first diffractive grating region (8) arranged to expand received light in a first dimension and a second diffractive grating region (9) optically coupled to the intermediate diffraction grating (10) arranged to expand light in a second dimension, orthogonal to the first dimension and to output the light expanded in the first and second dimensions from the optical waveguide (2) by diffraction. The first and second diffractive grating regions (8,9) are fabricated as a common grating whereas the second grating is fabricated above the common grating in an area where the common grating is erased by a coating.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method are disclosed for tracking a plurality of targets (e.g. land-based vehicles) The method can include: for a first time-step, estimating a state of each target; at a second time-step, measuring values for a state of a target; for the second time-step, estimating a state of each target using the estimated target states for the first time-step; updating the estimated target states for the second time-step using the measured values; and performing an identity management process to estimate a probability that a particular state measurement corresponds to a particular target by providing a mixing matrix, wherein an element of the mixing matrix is based on an overlap between the updated estimated target states of targets in an underlying state space of the estimated target states.

Abstract: There is disclosed a transducer apparatus for acoustic communications through a substrate at a predetermined center frequency, the apparatus comprising:—an active piezoelectric element for generating an acoustic signal; an intermediate layer, having a surface for accommodating the piezoelectric element, and having a first array of protrusions on a surface opposite the surface for accommodating the piezoelectric element; and a second array of protrusions at the substrate, wherein the active piezoelectric element is mounted onto the intermediate layer, and the intermediate layer is secured in position relative to the substrate such that the first array of protrusions faces the second array of protrusions such that the acoustic signal may propagate through the first and second arrays. There are further disclosed a method of mounting such an apparatus and a plate suitable for use in the transducer apparatus.

Abstract: There is disclosed a spectral imaging apparatus for processing electromagnetic (EM) radiation, the EM radiation originating from a target scene and comprising a wide range of frequencies, the system comprising: A dispersive element for receiving EM radiation from the target scene and promoting differing amounts of dispersion depending on the frequency of the EM radiation, A deformable lens arranged to receive EM radiation from the dispersive element, An imaging sensor for detecting EM radiation across the wide range of frequencies, and arranged to receive EM radiation from the deformable lens, Wherein the deformable lens is operable to adopt any one of a plurality of focal conditions, each focal condition tending to focus a different range of the EM radiation at the imaging sensor, each focal condition thereby defining a component band for the EM radiation.