Abstract: A method for estimating engine thrust values of an aircraft is disclosed, the method comprising calculating estimated thrust value of an engine based on an equation of longitudinal motion, aircraft data measured during flight and calibrated drag/lift models, and a method for determining the thrust of an aircraft engine, based on information available from tracking the aircraft air-speed, acceleration, and position, the method comprising calculating the thrust, using the following equation: Thrust=mg{dot over (H)}/V+m{dot over (V)}+Drag.

Abstract: Antenna assembly for providing HF radio communication in two different operating modes. The antenna assembly includes a whip antenna and at least two antenna wire segments. The whip antenna establishes short range HF radio communication with a communication target, via ground wave or low-efficiency skywave propagation, allowing communication when the antenna assembly is in motion. The antenna wire segments are deployable to form an inverted-V antenna using the whip antenna as a center mast. The inverted-V antenna establishes short or medium range HF radio communication with a communication target, via NVIS or directional skywave propagation, allowing rapid deployment of the antenna wire segments when the antenna assembly is stationary. The antenna assembly may be mounted aboard a mobile platform, such as a vehicle.

Abstract: A system and a method of generating a three-dimensional terrain model using one-dimensional interferometry of a rotating radar unit is provided herein. Height information is evaluated from phase differences between two echoes by applying a Kalman filter in relation to a phase confidence map that is generated from phase forward projections relating to formerly analyzed phase data. The radar system starts from a flat earth model and gathers height information of the actual terrain as the platform approaches it. Height ambiguities are corrected by removing redundant 2? multiples from the unwrapped phase difference between the echoes.

Abstract: A wearable system is shown that presents one or more heads-up displays to the wearer. A data source provides information to an image generator that is sufficient to generate one or more display images, which are still or moving, characters or graphical displays. The output image from the image generator passes through a lens, reflects off a curved mirror, and passes back through the lens the other way. The image then passes through two lenses, between which an intermediate image exists. The image reflects off the “lens,” or visor, of the glasses and proceeds to the pupil of the wearer's eye. Alternative embodiments use a helmet visor, mirror, or other (at least partially) reflective surface for the final reflection.

Abstract: Method for dynamically limiting the inclinations of monoblock flight control surfaces (FCS) in an aircraft. Dynamic limitation of the FCS is activated if a stall susceptibility condition is detected in the current aircraft environment. The real-time calibrated airspeed of the aircraft, real-time angle of attack (AOA) of the aircraft, and real-time sideslip angle (AOS) of the aircraft are obtained. The aircraft parameters may be obtained via estimation if the measured values are deemed unsuitable. The real-time local AOA and AOS of the FCS are calculated based on the obtained aircraft parameters. The inclination of each of the FCS relative to the critical values is dynamically limited according to the calculated real-time local AOA and AOS of the FCS. The aircraft may be an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and/or a V-tail aircraft. The stall susceptibility condition may include icy conditions.

Abstract: A safety system for preventing aircraft collisions with objects on the ground is provided herein. The safety system may include gated imaging sensors attached to the aircraft that capture overlapping gated images which are images that allow estimating the range of the imaged objects. The overlap zones are utilized to generate a three dimensional model of the aircraft surroundings. Additionally, aircraft contour data and aircraft kinematic data are used to construct an expected swept volume of the aircraft which is then projected onto the three dimensional model of the aircraft surroundings to derive an estimation of likelihood of collision of the aircraft with objects in its surroundings and corresponding warnings.

Abstract: A medical Wide-Field-Of-View optical-tracking-system for determining the position and orientation of a target-object in a reference coordinate system. The system includes at least three light-emitters, at least one optical-detector and a processor. The processor is coupled with each optical-detector. One optical-detector is a Wide-Field-Of-View optical detector, which acquires an image of the light-emitters within the field-of-view thereof. Each Wide-Field-Of-View optical-detector includes an optical-sensor and two optical-receptors. The processor determines the position and orientation of the target-object in the reference coordinate system according to representations of the light-emitters. Each light-emitter is within the field-of-view of an optical-detector. Each optical-detector and each light-emitter is attached to one of the target-object and a reference-location.

Abstract: Image-intensifying devices (for example, glasses, goggles, etc.) suitable for certain commercial and entertainment applications by virtue of their light weight, small size, and economical production are disclosed. In one embodiment, input light passes through an Amici reflector, which is used to adjust the orientation of the intensified image to register it with the real world. In another embodiment, input light passes through at least two Amici reflectors, which are used to adjust the orientation of the intensified image to register it with the real world. In alternate embodiments, at least one Amici reflector folds the light at a non-perpendicular angle and/or input light is rotated by an angle other than (180°). Other embodiments include a field-flattening lens disposed in front of an image intensifier. The intensified image is then sent through a projective lens assembly to reach the viewer's eye.

Abstract: Image-intensifying or night vision glasses are suitable for certain commercial and entertainment applications by virtue of their light weight, small size, and economical production, compared to certain other night vision products. In one embodiment, input light passes through two Amici prisms and a field-flattening lens to reach an image intensifier. The intensified image it produces is reflected off a first folding mirror, passes through a lens, reflects off a curved mirror, and passes back through the lens the other way. The intensified image then passes through two additional, non-doublet lenses, between which an intermediate image exists. The intensified image then reflects off the “lens” or visor of the glasses and proceeds to the pupil of the eye of the wearer. Alternative embodiments use a helmet visor, mirror, or other (at least partially) reflective surface for the final reflection.

Abstract: A system for mapping a magnetic-field in a volume-of-interest comprising a magnetic-field transmitter, generating a magnetic-field in the volume-of-interest, a freestanding magnetic-field detector operative to freely move within the volume-of-interest, a pose-information-acquisition-module and a processor. The detector acquires measurements of flux of the magnetic-field at a plurality of poses. The pose-information-acquisition-module measures information related to the pose of the detector. The processor determines pose-related-information respective of at least a portion of the measurements according to the information related to the pose of the detector. The processor estimates the entire set of parameters of a magnetic-field model template according to the magnetic-field flux measurement and the respective poses-related-information thereof. The processor incorporates the entire set of parameters into the magnetic-field model template, thereby determining the magnetic-field model.

Abstract: Head up display (HUD) for displaying a combined image of a scene image of a scene and an informative image, for an observer, the HUD including an image source, an optical relay, a low physical height horizontally expanding optical assembly and a planar optical module, the image source for producing a substantially small narrow angle informative image, the optical relay for producing a substantially large narrow angle informative image, by enlarging the substantially small narrow angle informative image, received from the image source, the low physical height horizontally expanding optical assembly for producing a horizontally expanded image, by horizontally expanding the substantially large narrow angle informative image, received from the optical relay, and the planar optical module for producing a substantially large informative image, by vertically expanding the horizontally expanded image, and further producing the combined image, by combining the substantially large informative image with the scene image

Abstract: An autonomous navigation system and method for a maneuverable platform are provided herein. The method may include: obtaining a plurality of objectives relating to a maneuverable platform; determining a plurality of options of direction and speed for the platform; autonomously selecting, one option of the plurality of options, in order to achieve said objectives, by calculating a weighted grade of each option based on the weights of the objectives and said grading scheme; and periodically repeating: the receiving with updated platform and obstacles data and the autonomously selecting with the updated platform and obstacles data, wherein the autonomously selecting is executed by a computer processor and includes, for each obstacle, calculating projected positions of the platform and of that obstacle to determine the distance between the platform and the obstacle at the closest point of approach and estimated time to arrive to the closest point of approach.

Abstract: An ammunition magazine (20) contains an ammunition belt (34) of linked ammunition cartridges (36) to be fed into a machine gun (12), the magazine (20) including a front opening (26?), enabling a leading end of the ammunition belt (34) to be accessible for feeding the machine gun (12) and for linking with a trailing end of another ammunition belt (34), and a rear opening (26?), enabling a trailing end of the ammunition belt (34) to be accessible for linking with a leading end of another ammunition belt (34). An arrangement of consecutive and adjacent ammunition magazines (20) allows movement of an ammunition belt (34) from the distal magazine (20b) into the proximal magazine (20a) towards the machine gun (12) during operation, enabling continuous feeding of ammunition belts (34) into the machine gun.

Abstract: An apparatus defines a protection envelope in an aircraft, including a processor and at least one sensor, each sensor being coupled with the processor, the processor executing at least one neural network based algorithm. The at least one sensor monitors flight parameters of the aircraft thereby generating monitored flight parameters. The processor divides the performance envelope of the aircraft into predefined flight regimes, wherein for each predefined flight regime, the processor defines and stores a suitable protection envelope. The processor determines an estimated flight regime of the aircraft using the neural network based algorithm based on the monitored flight parameters. The processor selects a respective suitable protection envelope for the aircraft based on the estimated flight regime.

Abstract: Multi view multi spectral detection and tracking system comprising at lease one imager, at least one of the at least one imager being a multi spectral imager, the at least one imager acquiring at least two detection sequences, and at least two tracking sequences, each sequence including at least one image, each acquired image being associated with respective image attributes, an object detector, coupled with the at least one imager, detecting objects of interest in the scene, according to the detection sequence of images and the respective image attributes, an object tracker coupled with the object detector, the object tracker tracking the objects of interest in the scene and determining dynamic spatial characteristics and dynamic spectral characteristics for each object of interest according to the tracking sequences of images and the respective image attributes and an object classifier, coupled with the object tracker, classifying the objects of interest according to the dynamic spatial characteristics and

Abstract: Device and method for providing inertial indications with high accuracy using micro inertial sensors with inherent very small size and low accuracy. The device and method of the invention disclose use of the cluster of multiple micro inertial sensors to receive from the multiple sensors an equivalent single inertial indication with high accuracy based on the multiple independent indications and mathematical manipulations for averaging the plurality of single readings and for eliminating common deviations based, for example, on measurements of the deviation of the single readings.

Abstract: A munition guidance system is disclosed. The system comprises a generally tubular enclosure, having an internal cavity adapted for receiving a munition, wherein an outer diameter of the enclosure is at most the largest outer diameter of the munition; and a processing and control unit enclosed within the enclosure and being configured for controlling guidance wings so as to maneuver the munition while flying.

Abstract: A system for mapping a magnetic field in a volume of interest, the system includes a magnetic field transmitter, generating a magnetic field in the volume of interest, at least one freestanding magnetic field detector, operative to freely move within the volume of interest, the at least one freestanding magnetic field detector acquiring measurements of the flux of the magnetic field at a plurality of poses, and a processor, coupled with the magnetic field detector, the processor re estimating parameters characterizing the magnetic field model according to deviations between the measurements of the flux of the magnetic field and according to predictions of the flux, the predictions being determined according to a stored magnetic field model, thereby, the processor estimating a new magnetic field model.

Abstract: Enhanced vision system for assisting aircraft piloting, the system including a line-of-sight detector for determining the line-of-sight of the pilot of the aircraft, a head mounted display (HMD) worn by the pilot, and a processor which receives the determined line-of-sight from the line-of-sight detector, receives a spatial image of the external scene to the aircraft, generates symbolic information respective of the aircraft piloting, and superimposes the symbolic information onto the spatial image to produce a combined spatial and symbolic image, the HMD displaying the combined spatial and symbolic image to the pilot in real-time, in alignment with the determined line-of-sight. The spatial image may be an image combined from a sensor image and a synthetic image. A communication interface may be coupled to the HMD allowing the pilot to receive and confirm flight instructions.

Abstract: A medical Wide-Field-Of-View optical-tracking-system for determining the position and orientation of a target-object in a reference coordinate system. The system includes at least three light-emitters, at least one optical-detector and a processor. The processor is coupled with each optical-detector. One optical-detector is a Wide-Field-Of-View optical detector, which acquires an image of the light-emitters within the field-of-view thereof. Each Wide-Field-Of-View optical-detector includes an optical-sensor and two optical-receptors. The processor determines the position and orientation of the target-object in the reference coordinate system according to representations of the light-emitters. Each light-emitter is within the field-of-view of an optical-detector. Each optical-detector and each light-emitter is attached to one of the target-object and a reference-location.