Abstract: An electric and hybrid Vertical-Take Off and Landing (“VTOL”) aircraft is disclosed comprising a plurality of small Electric Ducted Fans (“EDFs”) of various sizes and orientations. The thrust of each fixed EDF is individually controlled by modulation of motor power by one or more onboard microcomputers connected to a plurality of onboard laser distance measuring sensors, at least three onboard three-axis accelerometers and at least one GPS thereby allowing extremely precise and safe VTOL operation. The aircraft may be employed to allow robotic and passenger vehicles to transition extremely quickly between normal linear flight and VTOL and to operate in extreme and gusty conditions.

Abstract: An image capture system for a digital holographic printer is disclosed comprising a digital camera (22) having a relatively small horizontal field of view (29). The camera (22) is translated along a rail (21). As the camera (22) is translated along the rail (21) the camera (22) is also rotated so that it faces a target point of an object which is to be reproduced as an hologram. The image data which is obtained by the camera (22) is converted into image data which corresponds with image data which would have been obtained had a non-rotating camera having a substantially higher horizontal field of view been translated along the rail (21) and been used to capture images of the object.

Abstract: An electric and hybrid Vertical-Take Off and Landing (“VTOL”) aircraft is disclosed comprising a plurality of small Electric Ducted Fans (“EDFs”) of various sizes and orientations. The thrust of each fixed EDF is individually controlled by modulation of motor power by one or more onboard microcomputers connected to a plurality of onboard laser distance measuring sensors, at least three onboard three-axis accelerometers and at least one GPS thereby allowing extremely precise and safe VTOL operation. The aircraft may be employed to allow robotic and passenger vehicles to transition extremely quickly between normal linear flight and VTOL and tb operate in extreme and gusty conditions.

Abstract: A pulsed multiple color laser system is disclosed having particular application for incorporation into a digital holographic printer for producing RGB color reflection holograms. A Nd:YLF crystal 1 in a laser cavity is excited to produce an emission at 1313 nm which is frequency converted by doubling to 656.5 nm and by tripling to 437.7 nm. In a separate cavity a similar Nd:YLF crystal 1a is synchronously or asynchronously excited to produce an emission at 1047.1 nm (or at the related line of 1053 nm) which is frequency converted by doubling to 523.6 nm (or 526.5 nm). The emissions at 437.7 nm and 656.5 nm are combined co-linearly with the emission at 523.6 nm (or 526.5 nm) to produce a single RGB pulsed laser beam.

Abstract: A pulsed laser is disclosed comprising an active lasing medium (1), an output coupler (5) and a rear cavity mirror (6). The rear cavity mirror (6) is attached to a mount (21) via an intermediate attachment (15). Heating elements are embedded within the attachment (15). The attachment (15) is heated in order to vary the physical length of the laser cavity in a manner which seeks to stabilise the output energy and wavelength of the laser pulses emitted from the laser cavity.

Abstract: An image capture system for a digital holographic printer is disclosed comprising a digital camera (22) having a relatively small horizontal field of view (29). The camera (22) is translated along a rail (21). As the camera (22) is translated along the rail (21) the camera (22) is also rotated so that it faces a target point of an object which is to be reproduced as an hologram. The image data which is obtained by the camera (22) is converted into image data which corresponds with image data which would have been obtained had a non-rotating camera having a substantially higher horizontal field of view been translated along the rail (21) and been used to capture images of the object.

Abstract: A single method and apparatus for producing many of the most common types of hologram from digital data is disclosed. The data are generated entirely by a computer as a 3-D (animated) model or from multiple 2-D camera images taken of a real 3-D (moving) object or scene from a plurality of different camera positions. The data are digitally processed and displayed on a small high resolution spatial light modulator (SLM). A compact low energy pulsed laser, is used to record composite holograms. The present invention permits the creation of restricted or full parallax master transmission or reflection type composite holograms, known as H1 holograms, that can be copied using traditional methods. Alternatively the same invention and apparatus permits the direct writing of hologram without the need to pass through the intermediate stage of the H1 transmission hologram.

Abstract: A single method and apparatus for producing many of the most common types of hologram from digital data is disclosed. The data are generated entirely by a computer as a 3-D (animated) model or from multiple 2-D camera images taken of a real 3-D (moving) object or scene from a plurality of different camera positions. The data are digitally processed and displayed on a small high resolution spatial light modulator (SLM). A compact low energy pulsed laser, is used to record composite holograms. The present invention permits the creation of restricted or full parallax master transmission or reflection type composite holograms, known as H1 holograms, that can be copied using traditional methods. Alternatively the same invention and apparatus permits the direct writing of hologram without the need to pass through the intermediate stage of the H1 transmission hologram.

Abstract: A holographic printer is disclosed which produces an intermediate hologram H3 and uses the intermediate hologram H3 to produce a white light viewable hologram H2.

Abstract: A pulsed multiple color laser system is disclosed having particular application for incorporation into a digital holographic printer for producing RGB color reflection holograms. A Nd:YLF crystal (1) in a laser cavity is excited to produce an emission at (1313) nm which is frequency converted by doubling to 656.3 nm and by tripling to 437.7 nm. In a separate cavity a similar Nd:YLF crystal (1a) is synchronously or asynchronously excited to produce an emission at 1047.1 nm (or at the related line of 1053 nm) which is frequency converted by doubling to 523.6 nm (or 526.5 m). The emissions at 437.7 nm and 656.5 nm are combined co-linearly with the emission at 523.6 nm (or 526.5 nm) to produce a single RGB pulsed laser beam.