Abstract: A method and system are presented for use in determination of the orientation of an aerospace platform with respect to a first rotation axis. A direction of a rotation rate vector of said aerospace platform within a lateral plane intersecting with said first rotation axis is measured and the measured data is analyzed to determine an orientation angle of said aerospace platform about said first rotation axis. While the aerospace platform is in a predetermined-dynamic state movement, a certain direction is determined by measuring a direction of the rotation rate of the aerospace platform within said lateral plane by a sensor assembly mounted on said platform and including at least one rotation rate sensor. An orientation of the platform with respect to said first axis is determined by determining a relation between said certain direction and said known direction within said external reference frame.

Abstract: A towbarless airplane tug comprising: a chassis mounted on a plurality of tug wheels, at least some of said plurality of tug wheels being steerable tug wheels; an airplane wheel support assembly, mounted on said chassis, for supporting rotatable wheels of a nose landing gear of an airplane; at least one tug wheel driver operative to drive said plurality of tug wheels in rotation to provide displacement of said chassis; and at least one tug controller operative to control speed of said tug, said at least one tug controller employing at least one feedback loop utilizing a mapping of speed limits along a travel path traversed by said tug and said airplane at said airport as well as an indication of the instantaneous location of said tug and said airplane along a travel path.

Abstract: A method for detecting hidden explosives or weapons, including transmitting a signal in different polarization channels towards an object, the next stage includes collecting back scattered energy in different polarization channels from the object, the next stage includes determining parameters that are dependent upon the transmitted signal polarization channels and the backscattered energy polarization channels, and providing an indication if there are hidden explosives or weapons in the object based on the parameters.

Abstract: A method and system for autonomous operation of an earth moving machine (EMM), configured for shoving matter, the EMM comprising at least one implement. Based on at least the mission objective and the mapping data of the mission area, the mission area is divided into segments, each segment being associated with a disposal point. An implement trajectory is calculated in respect of each of the segments such that matter is accumulated by the at least one implement along the segment as the EMM progresses and the accumulated matter is disposed upon arrival at the disposal point, without exhausting the EMM shoving capabilities.

Abstract: A method for inspecting structures formed of composite materials during the fabrication thereof including imaging multiple individual plies of a structure, whereby the locations and orientations of edge joints between adjacent courses of each ply are recorded, ascertaining mutual offsets in the locations of mutually parallel ones of the edge joints in the multiple individual plies and providing an output indication when at least one mutual offset of the edge joints is less than a predetermined minimum offset.

Abstract: Provided is a system and method for scanning a target area, including capturing images from onboard a platform for use in producing one or more stereoscopic views. A first set of at least two image sequences of at least two images each, covering the target area or a subsection thereof is captured. As the platform continues to move forward, at least one other set of images covering the same target area or subsection thereof is captured. At least one captured image from each of at least two of the sets may be used in producing a stereoscopic view.

Abstract: The presently disclosed subject matter includes a method and system of planning autonomous mission, the mission being executed by one or more autonomous agents. A generic mission template is obtained, the generic mission template being constructed from a plurality of mission-objects and defines logical connections between the plurality of mission-objects, wherein each mission-object is configured to logically represent a respective type of mission-element; one or more mission-object in the generic mission template are associated with a respective real world mission-element, thereby generating a specific mission plan; with the help of a processor an agent-specific mission plan is generated for the one or more agents, based on the generic mission template and the specific mission plan, wherein an agent specific mission plan comprises tasks assigned to a respective designated agent and is compatible with the technical requirement of the respective designated agent.

Abstract: A plane tractor that grips a nose gear of a plane is disclosed, which includes: a chassis; wheel modules connected to the chassis, with each wheel module including at least one actuator for inducing a vertical movement of the wheel module in relation to the chassis; a gripping platform for gripping the nose gear of a plane, with the platform together with the chassis having freedom of movement substantially in circular translation; and a damping and actuating means connecting the platform and the chassis.

Abstract: An unmanned air vehicle includes a body having front and rear sections with at least one pair of end plates connected to the body, wherein one end plate within the at least one pair of end plates is connected to the left side of the body and another end plate within the at least one pair of end plates is connected to the right side of the body, each end plate having upper and lower sections, wherein: a) the upper section is positioned above a mean line of the body; b) the lower section is positioned below the mean line of the body; and c) a ratio of the area of the upper section to the area of the lower section is less than 1.

Abstract: An air vehicle is provided, including a body having a longitudinal axis, a wing arrangement rotatably mounted to the body with respect to the longitudinal axis, a direction control arrangement for controlling the direction of motion of the body, and an actuation mechanism operable for selectively and controllably rotating the wing arrangement with respect to the body through at least a desired first angular displacement about the longitudinal axis. Methods for operating air vehicles are also provided.

Abstract: A system for instantaneous and continuous nanosecond-level accuracy determination of a relative time offset between at least two non-collocated timing units, the system including at least two non-collocated timing units located at known positions, each timing unit comprising a frequency source and a collocated receiver, each frequency source being disciplined at a frequency domain using a time source to generate corrections of the relative frequency drift between the frequency source and the time source.

Abstract: A primary controller disclosed. The primary controller is configured for controlling operation of a drive system comprising a prime mover, a generator, and a motor, wherein the prime mover is configured to provide energy to the generator, which is configured to drive the motor. The controller comprises a speed controller configured for determining a target speed of the motor dependent on externally-supplied speed input and a torque controller configured for determining a target torque of the motor based on externally-supplied torque input and on parameters of the vehicle. The primary controller is configured to simultaneously determine the target speed and the target torque and to simultaneously control the prime mover, generator, and motor to operate the motor at the target speed and the target torque.

Abstract: A mounting set for use in mounting an external stores to a mounting station of an aerospace vehicle includes a mounting bracket arrangement and a strap arrangement. The bracket arrangement is configured for selective reversible engagement with respect to the mounting station and for cooperating with the strap arrangement. The strap arrangement is configured for securing the bracket arrangement to the stores in load bearing abutment therewith to enable transfer of loads between the stores and the mounting station via said bracket arrangement, in operation of said mounting set. A mounting system is also provided for mounting an external stores to an aerospace vehicle having two or more mounting stations, including a mounting set for each mounting station. Mounting methods are also provided.

Abstract: A computerized system for monitoring physical data for anomalies, which physical data are predictable given predetermined information, the system comprising a predetermined information data point generator operative to compute a sequence of model data points which the physical data, given predetermined information, can be expected to duplicate at each of a corresponding sequence of temporal sampling points; a wayward point monitor including a processor operative for monitoring the physical data including identifying wayward points within said physical data that are incongruous with the predetermined information; and an anomalous episode-prompted alarm generator operative for identifying anomalous episodes, each including a cluster of wayward points satisfying predefined anomalous episode-defining criteria and generating an alarm for each anomalous episode identified.

Abstract: A method for tracking an object that is embedded within images of a scene, including: in a sensor unit, generating, storing and transmitting over a communication link a succession of images of a scene. In a remote control unit, receiving the images, receiving a command for selecting an object of interest in a given image and determining object data associated with the object and transmitting the object data to the sensor unit. In the sensor unit, identifying the given image and the object of interest using the object data, and tracking the object in other images. If the object cannot be located in the latest image of the stored succession of images, using information of images in which the object was located to predict estimated real-time location thereof and generating direction commands to the movable sensor for generating realtime images of the scene and locking on the object.

Abstract: A mounting set for use in mounting an external stores to a mounting station of an aerospace vehicle includes a mounting bracket arrangement and a strap arrangement. The bracket arrangement is configured for selective reversible engagement with respect to the mounting station and for cooperating with the strap arrangement. The strap arrangement is configured for securing the bracket arrangement to the stores in load bearing abutment therewith to enable transfer of loads between the stores and the mounting station via said bracket arrangement, in operation of said mounting set. A mounting system is also provided for mounting an external stores to an aerospace vehicle having two or more mounting stations, including a mounting set for each mounting station. Mounting methods are also provided.

Abstract: A robotic system comprising a robotic platform; a follow-path functionality enabling the robotic platform to follow a leading soldier, at least selectably, without reliance on GPS; and a Human Machine Interface between the platform and a leading soldier.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a towbarless airplane tug configured for receiving a landing gear of an airplane and towing the airplane thereby at an actual speed is disclosed. The towbarless airplane tug includes a chassis configured for receiving thereon at least a portion of the landing gear, and a propulsion arrangement configured to move the towbarless airplane tug in a direction along a trajectory. The towbarless airplane tug further includes a controller configured to compare between the actual speed of the towbarless airplane tug, when towing the airplane, and a predetermined desired speed thereof, and to direct the propulsion arrangement to maintain the actual speed of the towbarless airplane tug if: the actual speed is lower than the desired speed, and the actual speed was maintained within a predefined speed range during a predefined period that preceded the comparing.

Abstract: A two element aerofoil, and wing element based thereon, is provided, including a primary aerofoil element including a leading edge of the aerofoil and a secondary aerofoil element including a trailing edge of the aerofoil. A gap is provided between the primary aerofoil element and the secondary aerofoil element. The primary aerofoil element has at least one of a profile, orientation and location with respect to a respective at least one of a profile, orientation and location of the secondary aerofoil element that is configured for minimizing or avoiding accretion of contaminant on the secondary aerofoil element when subjected to an airflow that includes the contaminant, at least at one design set of conditions. A method for designing a two element aerofoil is also provided.

Abstract: A water desalination system including at least one reverse osmosis desalination unit, including at least one reverse osmosis membrane and having a saline water inlet at a feed side of the at least one reverse osmosis membrane and a permeate outlet at a permeate side of the at least one reverse osmosis membrane, and an intermittent cleaning control subsystem operative to provide intermittent cleaning of the at least one reverse osmosis membrane by at least one of narrowing or closing the permeate outlet, thereby causing an increase of pressure of the permeate at the permeate side of the at least one reverse osmosis and reducing the feed pressure, without significantly increasing the permeate pressure, thereby causing permeate to flow from the permeate side to the feed side of a membrane and flushing foulants to a location outside of the desalination unit.