Abstract: A bulk dielectric material comprises a solid composite material comprising a solid matrix material and a plurality of filler elements distributed within the matrix material. The bulk dielectric material has, at a frequency greater than 1 MHz, (i) a permittivity having a real part of magnitude greater than 10 and an imaginary part of magnitude less than 3, and (ii) an electrical breakdown strength greater than 5 kV/mm and has a minimum dimension greater than 2 mm.

Abstract: A hybrid simulation method uses a simulator tool feeding kinematics commands to a movement simulator on which a moving body is mounted and to a target representative of an objective to be reached by the moving body, and on detection of an event representative of overshooting or changing a first designated objective for this moving body, the method includes a positioning stage associated with a second designated objective for the moving body, including comparing positions executed by the movement simulator in response to transition kinematics commands with a first predetermined setpoint position and activating a first marker if a position substantially the same as the first setpoint position is detected; comparing positions executed by the target in response to transition kinematics commands with a second predetermined setpoint position and activating a second marker if a position substantially the same as the second setpoint position is detected; when the first and second markers are activated, a step of eval

Abstract: A digital filter for reducing a sampling rate for an input signal includes a parallelizing block for splitting the input signal into at least two parallel raw signals, an integration block for converting the parallel raw signals into an intermediate signal, and a differentiation block for generating an output signal by differentiating the intermediate signal. The integration block includes a logic block that is designed for generating two parallel sum signals from the parallel raw signals using summation operations, and a recursion block that is designed for generating the intermediate signal recursively from the parallel sum signals.

Abstract: A radar apparatus including a transmit/receive antenna having a plurality of channels, a comparator coupled to the antenna channels for providing receive signal sum and difference channels, a radar receiver, a coupler for coupling the sum and difference channels to the radar receiver, a radar transmitter for providing a signal to be transmitted, a coupler for coupling the transmitter to a cross-channel port of the comparator, and an adjuster for adjusting a phase length of at least one antenna channel so that when the apparatus is transmitting, the transmitted signals from the antenna channels have a specified relative phase relationship.

Abstract: A missile comprises a propulsion system, a passageway for delivering air to the propulsion system and a ducting element associated with the passageway. The ducting element has a ducting surface for ducting air into the passageway, and the ducting element is rotatable, about an axis that is aligned, or more preferably co-axial, with the axis of the passageway, from a stowed position in which the ducting surface is received in the passageway, to a deployed position in which the ducting surface protrudes from the passageway to duct air into the passageway.

Abstract: An amplifier/duplexer for an antenna channel of a radar apparatus, comprises a first hybrid junction having two input/output ports for connection into the antenna channel, and two further ports each connected to a parallel combination comprising an amplifier and switching means switchable between a transmit condition in which it presents an open circuit and a receive condition in which it presents a short circuit so that a signal received in the antenna channel is applied to one of the input/output ports and reflected to the other input/output port each amplifier having an input connected to a respective output port of a further hybrid junction, an input port of the further hybrid junction being configured to receive a signal for transmission so that when the switching means is in the transmit condition the transmission signal is amplified by the amplifiers and delivered through the first hybrid junction to the antenna channel.

Abstract: A propulsion system including: a booster; a turbojet engine; the booster including a chamber which is fixed to a rear casing of the turbojet engine by being arranged along the longitudinal axis thereof, which chamber includes at a rear a jet pipe and includes at least one charge and a mechanism initiating the charge; and gas bleed tubes connected to the booster and which are configured either for igniting the combustion chamber of the turbojet engine on for starting the turbine of the turbojet.

Abstract: According to the invention, the router (5) comprises wired logic functions that at least partially use the logic circuits of the main computer (2).

Abstract: A device for testing and/or operating an effector unit for acting on a target includes a positioner unit for moving the effector unit and a control unit for driving the positioner unit. The control unit is configured to simulate and/or to damp the accelerations of a carrier platform, on which the device can be mounted under real conditions, by means of the positioner unit.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a device for remotely detonating explosives. According to the present disclosure, the device includes: a heat source in the form of an electric generator for generating a thermal infrared signal, capable of producing two heating zones and mounted in a casing; and a mobile supporting structure bearing the casing at the front and connected to a vehicle at the rear.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a mechanical connection device between a motorized vehicle and working equipment. According to the present disclosure, the device includes a rigid plate mounted by means of axles in the tow rings of the vehicle and bearing adjustable skids that are applied against a transverse surface of the vehicle, such as to abutt the connection device to the vehicle, thereby securing the same.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to mobile equipment for detonating explosives and a motorized unit for securing roads, tracks or similar. According to the present disclosure, the mobile equipment includes a supporting structure with a transverse beam having explosive-activation means mounted thereon, said means comprising at least a mass decoy device, a mechanical decoy device, a thermal electrical decoy device and controllable clearing means.

Abstract: The invention relates to a pulse detonation engine operating with an air-fuel mixture. According to the invention, the engine (1) includes at least two predetonation tubes (4, 5) which operate under conditions close to thermal cutoff conditions and the shock waves from which are focused in the combustion chamber (19).

Abstract: A method for harmonizing a frame of reference of an angular positioner to receive a moving body relative to the terrestrial frame of reference, the angular positioner carrying a measurement device for taking inertial measurements of the moving body, the method includes obtaining, using inertial measurements taken by a measurement device on-board the angular positioner during at least one predetermined operating period, values representative of a local magnitude of gravity as perceived by the measurement device and/or of a speed of rotation of the earth, the angular positioner being held stationary during the at least one operating period; evaluating, using the obtained values, at least one angular bias affecting the frame of reference of the positioner; and harmonizing the frame of reference of the positioner relative to the terrestrial frame of reference by compensating for the at least one angular bias as evaluated in this way.

Abstract: An electrical drive system includes an electric motor having an armature, which is mounted on a stator, and a rotor, wherein aligning stator flux with rotor flux enables current to flow in the armature without inducing torque on the rotor shaft. The disclosed operation may be used, for example, in testing the electrical drive system. The electric drive system can carry full rated current yet produce little or no torque, thereby increasing the current that can be tested during electrical drive test procedures without producing undesired forces or motion. The method may be used, for example, in heating the electric motor, for example for de-icing.

Abstract: A method of relatively positioning a workpiece and a reference axis comprising effecting relative displacements of the workpiece and the reference axis along orthogonal axes so that an intersection of the reference axis with the workpiece is moved at substantially constant speed along a curvilinear path. The method is particularly applicable to SEE sensitivity mapping of a microchip memory using a pulsed laser, relative to the axis of which the chip is moved in a spiral path.

Abstract: In a CLOS missile guidance system, target and missile tracking data e.g. video image data are acquired on a UAV and transmitted to the missile where they are processed to provide guidance control data to the missile. Alternatively the video image data may be transmitted to a command station where the guidance control data is generated and transmitted to the missile, preferably via the UAV.

Abstract: A method of guiding a pursuer to a target is provided, and is of particular use when the possible target location is described by non-Gaussian statistics. Importantly, the method takes into account the fact that different potential target tracks in the future have significantly different times to go. That can give rise to emergent behaviour, in which the guidance method covers several possible outcomes at the same time in an optimal way. An example embodiment of the method combines Particle Filter ideas with Swarm Optimization techniques to form a method for generating guidance commands for systems with non-Gaussian statistics. That example method is then applied to a dynamic mission planning example, to guide an airborne pursuer to aground target travelling on a network of roads where the pursuer has no-go areas, to avoid collateral damage.

Abstract: An image-processing method comprising convolving a selected feature of interest (FOI) within the image with a mask of a first size, repeating the convolution with a mask of a second size, and calculating the ratio of the convolution responses, as an indication of the size of the FOI. Preferably the convolution masks are Laplacian of Gaussian. The method can be useful for prioritising potential targets in a field of view for presentation to an operator.

Abstract: The invention covers a missile canister (10) for accommodating a missile (20) along a longitudinal axis (L) of the canister. The canister comprises a plurality of generally planar longitudinal wall portions (14) connected together to form a tubular vessel having a polygonal cross-section. The interconnecting portions (16) between wall sections (14) are generally flexible so that when a missile (20) is launched the bending moment at the interconnecting portions (16) generated by the increase of pressure in the vessel is substantially less than the bending moment (10) generated at the wall portions (14). The interconnecting portions (16) allow relative angular deflection between adjacent wall portions (14) at respective interconnecting portions (16) when said missile (20) is launched.