Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining a trajectory for a vehicle can include: identifying a starting position (p0) and desired terminal position (P) for the vehicle; linearly approximating dynamics of the vehicle; and using the starting position (p0), terminal position (P), and linear approximation, determining the trajectory; wherein the linear approximation can be constrained by a requirement (e.g., specification) that the vehicle may not travel in a region; a center point of the region is at a distance from a predetermined point on the vehicle substantially equal to a minimum turn radius of the vehicle, in a direction substantially perpendicular to a velocity of the vehicle; and a distance from the center point of the region to a point on a perimeter of the region is greater than or substantially equal to the minimum turn radius of the vehicle.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining a trajectory for a vehicle are disclosed, wherein the method can include identifying a starting position (p0) for the vehicle; identifying a desired terminal position (P) for the vehicle; linearly approximating dynamics of the vehicle; and using the starting position (p0), the desired terminal position (P), and the linear approximation, determining the trajectory for the vehicle. The linear approximation can be constrained by requirements that: an acceleration of the vehicle during the trajectory is less than a threshold value for the acceleration; and the threshold value for the acceleration is dependent on an infinity norm of a velocity of the vehicle. The vehicle may have a curvature limit.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for determining a route for a vehicle (2), the method comprising: providing a set of routes, each route from a starting location to a terminal location and determined using a first algorithm; acquiring, by a processor (6), a starting location (A); acquiring, by the processor (6), a terminal location (B); using the starting and terminal locations, selecting, by the processor (6), one or more routes from the provided set of routes dependent upon the starting location (A) and the terminal location (B); and, using the acquired starting and terminal locations, and the selected routes, performing, by the processor (6), a second algorithm to determine a route for the vehicle (2) from the starting location (A) to the terminal location (B), the second algorithm comprising an optimization process (with respect to certain objectives) using the selected routes as at least part of an initiator set of routes.

Abstract: A method of generating probability data for use in assessing performance of a system and a mission involving the system, the method including receiving (1002) model data representing a combined model of a system and a mission involving the system. The method further includes producing (1004) a Conjunctive Normal Form (CNF) encoding of the combined model data and producing (1006) a smooth deterministic Decomposable Negation Normal Form (sd-DNNF) representation of the CNF encoding. The method further includes producing (1008) an Arithmetic Circuit based on the sd-DNNF representation; receiving (306) observation data, and performing (308) inference on the observation data using the Arithmetic Circuit in order to produce probability values relating to performance of the system and the mission.

Abstract: A frequency synthesizer and oscillator are disclosed for reducing noise in processed signals. The synthesizer and oscillator comprise an array of frequency dividers adapted to receive an input signal, which is derived from a single signal source having a prescribed frequency. The synthesizer and oscillator further comprise at least one frequency multiplier coupled to at least one of the frequency dividers, such that in use, the dividers and the at least one multiplier are operable to generate a plurality of frequencies which are coherent with the prescribed frequency. A regulated power supply is also disclosed comprising a filter and first and second regulators, for reducing noise in the output voltage of the power supply.

Abstract: A method of controlling a radar system by receiving a radar return signal from a target and generating a range-Doppler target image signature of the target; selecting a spectral line within the range-Doppler target image signature from a modulation feature on the target which includes an effective point scatterer; providing a range profile for the spectral line; obtaining a reference range profile of a reference point scatterer; determining a difference between a power at a range shorter than a peak corresponding to the modulation feature in the range profile and a power at a corresponding range of the reference range profile; and generating a first control signal or a second control signal arranged to provide or prevent provision of the range-Doppler target image signature based on the difference.

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: There is disclosed a balun for dividing an input electrical signal to produce first and second output electrical signals which are substantially out of phase, the balun including: an input port for receiving the input electrical signal; an input line for coupling the input electrical signal to a slotline; and an output line for coupling the first and second output electrical signals to, respectively a first output port and a second output port, the output line having a junction with the slotline; wherein the slotline couples the input electrical signal to the junction, and the junction acts as a divider to produce the first and second electrical signals; in which at least one of the input line, slotline and output line has a width and a length wherein the width varies over the length.

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, whilst 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 method and apparatus for compensating for hysteresis in a system, the method comprising: determining a first estimate of a system parameter using the Preisach model; measuring a value of a system parameter; and determining an updated estimate of the estimated system parameter using the measured value of a system parameter. The measured system parameter may be the same system parameter as the system parameter for which the first estimate is determined using the Preisach model, or it may be a further system parameter that is a different system parameter to the system parameter for which the first estimate is determined using the Preisach model. Determining the updated estimate of the estimated system parameter may further use the first estimate of the estimated system parameter, or it may further use a corresponding determined value of the further system parameter.

Abstract: According to the invention there is provided a component including a supercapacitor and a method of producing same. The component comprises a first (12) and second (14) electrode and a separator structure (16) which separates the two electrodes and contains a liquid or gel electrolyte. The first and second electrode structures are each formed from a composite material (10) which includes electrically conductive fibres and electrochemically active material in a binder matrix and the supercapacitor is formed to be structurally inseparable from the rest of the component. Further, the component forms a structural capacitor. The obtained structural capacitor could be used in aircraft structure to save weight.

Abstract: A hardware device for monitoring and intercepting data packetized data traffic at full line rate, is proved. In high bandwidth embodiments, full line rate corresponds to rates that exceed 100 Mbytes/s and in some cases 1000 Mbytes/s. Monitoring and intercepting software, alone, is not able to operate on such volumes of data in real-time. An exemplary embodiment comprises: a data delay buffer with multiple delay outputs; a search engine logic for implementing a set of basic search tools that operate in real-time on the data traffic; a programmable gate array; an interface for passing data quickly to software sub-systems; and control means for implementing software control of the operation of the search tools. The programmable gate array inserts the data packets into the delay buffer, extracts them for searching at the delay outputs and formats and schedules the operation of the search engine logic.

Abstract: A seat for a vehicle is disclosed with a support for attachment to an aspect of a vehicle and a platform block which may be securely attached to the support. A seat element for accommodating an occupant is provided together with a suspension system connecting the seat element to the platform block. The suspension system includes a resilient member having an equilibrium condition to which the resilient member is biased to return if it extends beyond, retracts below or otherwise varies away from the equilibrium condition.

Abstract: A method and system for assisting with guiding a vehicle over terrain is provided. The method includes training at least one first classifier technique using a first set of terrain classifier training data, such that the at least one first classifier technique is trained to output at least one probability value usable to classify terrain. The first trained classifier technique is then used to generate a second set of terrain classifier training data. A second classifier technique is trained using the output of the at least one first classifier technique, and additional data to output a probability value useable to classify terrain.

Abstract: A method of sampling a radio frequency signal comprises: receiving the radio frequency signal; modulating an optical signal with the radio frequency signal and an oscillator signal to generate a modulated signal; applying a filter to the modulated signal to generate an intermediate frequency signal, the filter having an intermediate pass band and an intermediate roll-off, the intermediate pass band and the intermediate roll-off in combination defining a intermediate frequency band having a first bandwidth; and sampling the intermediate frequency signal at a sampling frequency using a number of optically interleaved analog-to-digital converters. The oscillator signal and the sampling frequency in combination are arranged such that the intermediate frequency band is defined between consecutive multiples of half of the sampling frequency. Corresponding apparatus for sampling a radio frequency signal is also disclosed.

Abstract: A planar Vivaldi antenna array, and method of forming such an array, the array comprising: a plurality of slots at an end of the antenna array, the slots extending through the whole thickness of the planar structure of the antenna array; and a plurality of grooves extending from the slots; wherein: the grooves do not extend through the whole thickness of the planar structure of the antenna array; and the cross-sectional shape of the grooves is complementary to the cross-sectional shape of the slots.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for determining a trajectory for a vehicle, wherein the method includes: identifying a starting position (p0) for the vehicle; identifying a desired terminal position (P) for the vehicle; linearly approximating dynamics of the vehicle; and using the starting position (p0), the desired terminal position (P), and the linear approximation, determining the trajectory for the vehicle. The linear approximation can be constrained by a requirement (e.g., specification) that a magnitude of a velocity of the vehicle is greater than or equal to a threshold value for the velocity. The vehicle may have a curvature limit.

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: The invention provides an arrangement and methods for thermally insulating aircraft, particularly but not exclusively for when the aircraft is operating in extremely hot or cold conditions, and describes an aircraft skin construction including a foam-stiffened CFC sandwich panel forming part of the aircraft outer skin mounted to an underlying load bearing aircraft structure, wherein the panel at the mounting to the structure includes two outer layers of CFC material with an inner layer of foam material sandwiched therebetween.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining a trajectory for a vehicle are disclosed, wherein, the method includes: identifying a starting position (p0) and a desired terminal position (P) for the vehicle; linearly approximating dynamics of the vehicle; and using the starting position (p0), desired terminal position (P), and linear approximation, determining the trajectory for the vehicle. The linear approximation can be constrained by requirements (e.g., specifications) that: (i) an acceleration applied to the vehicle at a point on the trajectory is relatively large when the acceleration acts in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the velocity of the vehicle; and (ii) an acceleration applied to the vehicle at a point on the trajectory is relatively small when the acceleration acts in a direction that is substantially parallel to the velocity of the vehicle. The vehicle may have a curvature limit.