Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for capturing dynamically selectable data streams from a communications network substantially at network line rates and for routing packets in selected data streams to one or more pre-assigned outputs by means of multiple selectable data processing queues.

Abstract: A vibration damping counterbalance unit for an inceptor apparatus having a wall defining a cavity; and a plurality of vibration damping masses housed within the cavity.

Abstract: A rotary-wing air vehicle comprising a main body (12) and at least two rotor devices (16a, 16b) arranged and configured to generate propulsion and thrust, in use, to lift and propel said air vehicle, said rotor devices (16a, 16b) being arranged and configured relative to said main body (12) such that the blades thereof do not cross through a central vertical axis of said main body (12) defining the centre of mass thereof, wherein said main body (12) is provided with an aperture (100) that extends therethrough to define a channel about said central vertical axis.

Abstract: An aircraft emergency control system comprises at least one sensor (104A, 104B, 104C) configured to output an electronic signal relating to detection of incapacitation of at least one aircraft crew member. A processor (108) is configured to receive and process the electronic signal to determine whether emergency action is to be taken. A control unit (114) is configured to communicate, in use, a control signal to an avionics system (116) of the aircraft (100) in relation to the emergency action if the processor determines that emergency action is to be taken.

Abstract: A glare visor (13) for reducing ambient light intensity perceived by a wearer viewing a head-up display (3) employing display light (7) including a given wavelength(s) of light. The visor includes a visor body comprising optically transparent material which is partially absorbing of light of visible optical wavelengths thereby to reduce the intensity of ambient light transmitted therethrough to the wearer. A transparent optical coating (12) is formed upon a surface of the visor body which is partially transmissive of light of visible optical wavelengths amongst which it is preferentially transmissive of light of a sub-range of wavelengths for including therein the wavelength(s) of display light. This permits a perceived enhancement of contrast between display light (7) relative to ambient light (8).

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for controlling a display device to generate a colour image for viewing by a user on a display, the colour image being formed by one or more colour components each of a colour selected from two or more different colours to be displayed with predetermined relative timings. Received image data define one or more colour components of a feature to be displayed as an element in the colour image. Rate data are received, e.g. from an associated tracker system, indicative of a rate of change in orientation of the display relative to a direction of gaze of an eye of the user. The received rate data are used to determine a position on the display for displaying each of the one or more colour components of the feature including determining any respective adjustment required to a determined position for the colour component according to its respective colour, the received rate data and the predetermined relative timings.

Abstract: The system and method for creating plasma flares in air by using an ultra-short pulse laser (USPL) that generates plasma filaments with a short lifetime (in nanoseconds), and by heating these plasma filaments with intense microwave (RF) radiation to induce robust air breakdown, resulting in long lifetime (up to milliseconds) plasma flares in the atmosphere.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing and an antenna having an upper and lower loop. Upper loop comprising a first conductive loop defined by an upper conductor and a first conductive blade tapering outwardly to form a flare portion adjacent a distal end of the upper conductor. Lower loop comprising a second conductive loop defined by a base conductor and a second conductive blade tapering outwardly forming a flare portion adjacent a distal end of the base conductor. First and second conductive blades defining, between their facing edges, a notch opening outwardly from a feed region. Upper loop further comprising an elongate conductive vane extending at an angle from a first location on the upper conductor to a second location on the first conductive blade defining a pair of loops within the upper loop.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a device for signature adaptation, comprising a surface element arranged to assume a determined thermal distribution, wherein said surface element comprises at least one temperature generating element arranged to generate at least one predetermined temperature gradient to a portion of a first heat conducting layer of said surface element, characterized in that said device for signature adaptation comprises a liquid cooling element arranged to provide at least one liquid flow, thermally contacting an inner portion of said at least one temperature generating element so that thermal energy is dispersed from said at least one temperature generating element.

Abstract: Drilling apparatus and method, the apparatus comprising: a first robot (10); a first member (30) (e.g. a pressure foot) and a drilling tool (38) both coupled to the first robot (10); a second robot (12); and a second member (52) coupled to the second robot (12); wherein the apparatus is arranged to press the members (30, 52) against opposite sides of a part to be drilled (2, 100) (e.g. an aircraft panel) so as to hold the part (2, 100) and prevent deflection of at least a portion of the part (2, 100); and the first member (30) and the drilling tool (38) are arranged such that the drilling tool (38) may drill into the portion of the part (2, 100) of which deflection is opposed from the side of the part (2, 100) pressed against by the first member (30). The robots (10, 12) may be robotic arms.

Abstract: Apparatus for selectively displaying an operational area comprising an internal and an external environment separated from another by at least one physical obstruction, the apparatus comprising a headset including a screen for placing over a user's eyes, the system further comprising a processor configured to generate a three-dimensional virtual environment, and an image capture device for capturing images of the internal environment, said processor being configured to blend image data representative thereof into said three dimensional virtual environment to create a mixed reality environment including a representation of said at least one physical obstruction, the processor configured to receive image data representative of said external environment and to remove at least a portion of said physical obstruction from said mixed reality environment displayed on said screen, and blend said image data of said external environment into said mixed reality environment wherein said physical obstruction appears to be

Abstract: A method of digital signal processing includes modeling a digitally-modulated radio frequency (RF) communication stream using a set of incoming samples of the stream collected from a single antenna. The stream includes a first signal, the first signal including a sequence of first digital symbols having a previous symbol and a current symbol. Each first digital symbol is chosen from a plurality of first possible values. The first signal is modulated by a first known RF communication protocol having unknown time-varying parameters, the parameters having estimated previous values from modeling the previous symbol using a previous interval of the samples corresponding to the previous symbol. The method further includes collecting a current interval of the samples, predicting current values of the parameters, deciding a value of the current symbol using maximum likelihood estimation, and estimating the current values of the parameters using maximum likelihood estimation.

Abstract: A digital to analog converter (DAC) circuit is disclosed which employs isolation providing cascode devices to reduce data dependent signal distortion. A DAC circuit configured according to an embodiment includes a current source associated with each bit of a digital word that is to be converted. Each current source is coupled to a current switch that is controlled by the associated bit. The DAC also includes a cascode device coupled to each of the current switches through a feed line. The DAC further includes a summing junction configured to generate an analog output signal corresponding to the digital word based on a sum of currents provided by the current sources, through the current switches and the feed lines. The cascode devices provide impedance matching and isolation between the feed lines and the summing junction to reduce signal reflections between the current switches and the summing junction to improve conversion performance.

Abstract: A surveillance apparatus includes a retractable support member; a housing; a spooling mechanism mounted at the housing, and being rotatable relative to the housing, and being attached to a second end of the retractable support member. The spooling mechanism is operable to rotate in a first direction to convert the retractable support member from a coiled condition to an extended condition and thereby pay-out the support member from the housing, and operable to rotate in a second direction opposite to the first to convert the retractable support member from the extended condition to the coiled condition and thereby retract the support member into the housing. A mount is attached to a first end of the retractable support member; a surveillance device is attached to the mount.

Abstract: The invention relates to an igniter device for igniting energetic materials, more specifically to the area of the initiation of munitions, and methods of forming said ignition devices. There is provided an igniter device, for use in an explosive train, comprising a first synthetic polymer layer, a second synthetic polymer layer, wherein said first layer and second layer envelope a portion of an energetic material, wherein said synthetic polymer is capable of being sealed.

Abstract: A method for displaying an image to a pilot (20) of an aircraft (2). The method comprises, using a first value of the velocity of the aircraft (2) relative to a runway (4), displaying, on a HMD (24), an indication of a first position for an image component (e.g. a FPM) (36), the first position being the position, from the pilot's point of view, that the image component (36) would occupy if the aircraft (2) was established on a predefined glideslope (16); using a second value different to the first value, displaying, on the HMD (24), an indication of a second position for the image component (36), the second position being the position, from the pilot's point of view, that the image component (36) would occupy if the aircraft (2) was established on a different glideslope.

Abstract: A system comprising: a low observable aircraft (2) having its external surfaces oriented at a limited number of directions; a device (12) mounted to the aircraft (2) outside the external surfaces of the aircraft (2); and a fairing (10) located outside the external surfaces of the aircraft (2), the fairing (10) being releasably coupled to the one or more external surfaces of the aircraft (2), at least part of the fairing (10) being spaced apart from one or more of the external surfaces of the aircraft (2) so as to define a chamber between the fairing (10) and that one or more external surfaces of the aircraft (2). The device (12) is wholly located within the chamber. One or more external surfaces of the fairing (10) are oriented in the same direction as at least one external surface of the aircraft (2).

Abstract: An optical waveguide is provided having at least first and second diffraction regions, the first diffraction region being arranged to diffract image-bearing light propagating along the waveguide so as to expand it in a first dimension and to turn the image-bearing light towards the second diffraction region, the second diffraction region being arranged to diffract the image-bearing light so as to expand it in a second dimension and to release it from the waveguide as a visible image. The first diffraction region is formed by first diffraction grating embedded within the waveguide, arranged to present a substantially similar profile to the image-bearing light when incident upon the grating from a given angle above or below the grating such that the polarization of the image bearing light is rotated by substantially similar amounts, but in opposite directions, by successive interactions with the first diffraction region.

Abstract: An optical transmitter (201) comprising: a laser diode (102) for transmitting an optical signal; a first temperature sensor (106) configured to measure a temperature at or proximate to the laser diode (102); a second temperature sensor (202) configured to measure a temperature of an environment in which the optical transmitter (201) is operating; a thermoelectric device (208) configured to apply heating or cooling to the laser diode (102); and a controller (212) configured to, using the temperature measurements taken by the first temperature sensor (106) and the second temperature sensor (202), control the thermoelectric device (208) to heat or cool the laser diode (102).

Abstract: A system (102) is configured to monitor energy usage of a surface maritime vessel (100). The system comprises a device (102A) configured to receive characteristic data representing at least one operating characteristic of the vessel, and a device (102A) configured to receive model data representing at least one energy usage model for the vessel. The system further includes a device (102A) configured to process the characteristic data and the model data to generate an output representing a comparison between the characteristic data and the model data.