Abstract: Some embodiments relate to non-woven composite materials, methods of making and uses thereof, including articles including the composite structures. More particularly, some embodiments relates to non-woven composite materials possessing desirable impact performance and penetration resistance.

Abstract: Some embodiments are directed to a drive configuration for a skid-steered vehicle that has a pair of traction motors for rotationally driving opposite outputs of the drive configuration. The traction motors are operatively connected to the outputs via respective gearing arrangements for selectively varying gear reduction between each of the traction motors and the corresponding output. The drive configuration also has a steer differential in a torque connection with the first and second outputs of the drive configuration. The drive configuration additional has a steer motor operatively connected to the steer differential for selectively varying the rotational speed of the first and second outputs in use. Also, the traction and steer motors define a volume in which the gearing arrangements and steering differential are at least partially located.

Abstract: Some embodiments are directed to a shaped charge liner including an apex end and a base end and defining a main liner axis that passes through the apex and base ends, the liner being rotationally symmetric about the main liner axis wherein the liner has discrete rotational symmetry about the main liner axis.

Abstract: A non-systematic convolutional decoder of a convolutionally encoded multi-level data stream includes a shift register and two or more paths of exclusive-OR (XOR) gates, arranged to reconstruct an original input information stream, each path having a quantiser arranged to quantise the signal to two levels, and a set of XOR gates arranged to match an encoding path in an associated convolutional encoder, and a selector arranged to feed an output from each path to a single input of the shift register. If the paths have differing values at their output, the selector may choose the value from the path based upon a function of the multi-level signals associated with each path, such as the path with the largest absolute signal level. The decoder provides a simple means for decoding signals while allowing the signal to also or instead be decoded using e.g. a Viterbi decoder if higher performance is required.

Abstract: A system for compensating for phase noise, with particular application in lidar, includes a compensation interferometer that receives a signal from a source, and splits it into a first and second path, with a path length difference ?? between them. Typically the path length is significantly less than that of the return distance to a target. The output of the compensation interferometer, which consists of phase noise generated in time ?? is vectorially summed during a time similar to a signal flight time to a target, and the result used to reduce phase noise present on measurements of a target. It further includes means for selecting ?? such that competing noise elements are reduced or optimised.

Abstract: A drone detection radar configured to identify, from information present on returns reflected from a target, the presence of a drone, by identification, within Doppler information on the returns, of: i) Doppler signals being characteristic of rotating parts of a motor; ii) Doppler signals being characteristic of rotating parts of a blade; and, by identification from temporal information in the reflected returns; and iii) signals being characteristic of flashing of the blade of a drone. The target is assumed to be a drone if signals i, ii, and iii are present above respective predetermined thresholds. The largest return from a drone is often from the body, but this is often filtered by a clutter filter. The identified parameters therefore improve detection ability. The characteristic form of the Doppler signals in some instances allow the body return to be implied, thus providing information as to drone velocity.

Abstract: Some embodiments are directed to a three-dimensional (3D) preform including reinforcing fibres and shape memory alloys (SMA) wires and a composite material including a polymer matrix with a 3D-preform embedded therein, wherein the 3D-preform includes reinforcing fibres and shape memory alloy (SMA) wires.

Abstract: Some embodiments are directed toward a transmission having a torque input and output, drive members selectively engageable for sequentially changing gear ratio between the torque input and output, the transmission also having a shaft with a shifting feature. The transmission includes a drum having a track around its outer perimeter and arranged such that torque can be transferred by rotating the shaft, the drum capable of being moved along the length of the shaft, a biasing mechanism for urging the drum towards a rest position along the length of the shaft, and a drive member selector member provided in operative relation to the track, wherein by rotating the shaft the drive member selector member can be selectively urged into contact with a first drive member for drivingly engaging therewith in a first torque connection or into contact with a second drive member for drivingly engaging in a second torque connection.

Abstract: Some embodiments are directed to a gearing assembly including a rotary input member, a rotary output member and a gearing arrangement between the input member and the output member selectively engageable to effect a driving engagement between the input member and the output member through at least a first torque connection having a first gear ratio and a second torque connection having a second gear ratio. One of the rotary input member and the rotary output member includes a first shaft and the first torque connection includes a first dog clutch including a dog hub having a hub set of teeth and a surrounding dog ring including a ring set of teeth. The hub and ring sets of teeth are radially projecting and mutually engageable. The dog hub is mounted on the first shaft so as to allow axial movement of the dog hub relative to the shaft.

Abstract: A thin flexible conformable electrochemical cell for powering a wearable electrical device comprising an inner electrode having an active electrode face of one charge and an outer electrode having an active electrode face of the opposite charge separated by a separator, wherein said separator comprises an electrolyte layer as a single continuous layer folded around the inner electrode, and wherein the cell has a single continuous flexible coating material folded around the separator and the inner electrode so as to offer protection for the cell, and wherein the coating material is sealable so as define access to the cell for electrode contacts for connection with the electrical device, and so as to offer avoidance of the cell short circuiting in use. Also provided are methods for cell preparation.

Abstract: Some embodiments are directed to a shaped charge liner including an apex end and a base end and defining a main liner axis that passes through the apex and base ends, the liner being rotationally symmetric about the main liner axis wherein the liner has discrete rotational symmetry about the main liner axis.

Abstract: A method is disclosed that can include the steps of: in response to a radar stimulator aircraft receiving information for causing it to stimulate a radar system in a user specified manner, the radar stimulator aircraft monitoring the position of an onboard unit thereof relative to at least one antenna of the radar system; and based on the received information and the monitored position of the onboard unit the radar stimulator aircraft controlling its flight and the emission of radar signals thereby to stimulate the radar system in the user specified manner.

Abstract: A celestial navigation system includes an optical device for receiving light from a celestial object, a spectrometer for measuring a spectrum of the light in sufficient detail to identify absorption and/or emission features, and a processor for processing the spectrum to match the spectrum, or a processed version thereof, against a set of reference spectra information in a database, a device for measuring the pointing direction of the optical device and a clock. The matching may be on a maximum likelihood basis. The system is thus able, on identification of a single star, and, using commonly available navigational almanacs, to calculate a geographical position. Celestial navigation takes place even when only one celestial object (that is also within the database) is visible, although improved accuracy may be obtained with multiple observations. Advantageously, the database includes stars of the K and/or M type, that have more characteristic spectral content.

Abstract: A radio receiver includes a downconverter for downconverting dual sideband signals such as Binary Offset Carrier (BOC) signals from multiple sources to produce an upper and a lower sideband signal, and chip-matched filters for filtering each of the sideband signals. The output of each filter is provided to a series of separate channels, one for each source, where there are at least Early, Prompt and Late gates. Each gate has a nearest-neighbour sampler and a multiplier for multiplying with an appropriate part of a spreading code, a mixer for removing Doppler or other frequency offsets and an integrator. The invention provides a means for demodulating signals such as BOC modulated satellite navigation signals in an efficient manner by using a single downconverter for the received signals of interest from the multiple sources.

Abstract: Some embodiments are directed to a cross-domain communication system and method. The system includes a data hub connectable to first domain and to a second domain, the first and second domains being isolated from one another. The data hub may be connected independently to the first domain and to the second domain, such that it is able to receive data from the first domain and transmit data to the second domain. The data hub includes a processor, and optionally a data diode, the processor being adapted to inspect packet data received from the first domain, and to run a set of user-defined rules, such that commands are applied to the packet data in accordance with the rules. When a command applied to packet data received from the first domain it creates packet data transmittable to the second domain in real time, such that the first and second domains communicate indirectly via the data hub.

Abstract: An oil and gas well shaped charge perforator capable of providing an exothermic reaction after detonation is provided, comprising a housing (2), a high explosive (3), and a reactive liner (6) where the high explosive is positioned between the reactive liner and the housing. The reactive liner (6) is produced from a reactive composition which is capable of sustaining an exothermic reaction during the formation of the cutting jet. The composition is a pressed i.e. compacted particulate composition comprising at least two metals, wherein one of the metals is present as spherical particulate, and the other metal is present as a non-spherical particulate. There may also be at least one further metal, which is not capable of an exothermic reaction with the reactive composition, present in an amount greater than 10% w/w of the liner. To aid consolidation a binder may also be added.

Abstract: Some embodiments are directed to a drive configuration for a skid-steered vehicle that has a pair of traction motors for rotationally driving opposite outputs of the drive configuration. The traction motors are operatively connected to the outputs via respective gearing arrangements for selectively varying gear reduction between each of the traction motors and the corresponding output. The drive configuration also has a steer differential in a torque connection with the first and second outputs of the drive configuration. The drive configuration additional has a steer motor operatively connected to the steer differential for selectively varying the rotational speed of the first and second outputs in use. Also, the traction and steer motors define a volume in which the gearing arrangements and steering differential are at least partially located.

Abstract: A radio receiver includes a downconverter for downconverting dual sideband signals such as Binary Offset Carrier (BOC) signals from multiple sources to produce an upper and a lower sideband signal, and chip-matched filters for filtering each of the sideband signals. The output of each filter is provided to a series of separate channels, one for each source, where there are at least Early, Prompt and Late gates. Each gate has a nearest-neighbour sampler and a multiplier for multiplying with an appropriate part of a spreading code, a mixer for removing Doppler or other frequency offsets and an integrator. The invention provides a means for demodulating signals such as BOC modulated satellite navigation signals in an efficient manner by using a single downconverter for the received signals of interest from the multiple sources.

Abstract: A radar system for the detection of drones, including a transmitter, a receiver and a processor, wherein the processor is arranged to process demodulated return signals in a first process using a Doppler frequency filter, and to store locations of any detections therefrom, and to process the demodulated signals in a second process to look for signal returns indicative of a preliminary target having a rotational element at a location, and should a detection be found in the second process, to then attempt to match a location of the preliminary target with returns from the first process, and to provide a confirmed detection if a location of a detection from the first process matches with the location of a detection from the second process. The disclosed subject matter enables improved detection rates for drones, by looking for outputs from both the first and second processes.

Abstract: A wind turbine including a support structure and one or more turbine blades is presented, that incorporates ways for reducing the radar cross section (RCS), wherein the support structure is notionally divided into an upper section in the shadow of the blade sweep area, and a lower section beneath the upper section, wherein the upper section is adapted to have the ways for reducing the RCS, and the lower section does not have the adaptation. The invention makes use of the realisation that the blade masking the tower as it rotates (or the blade being masked by the tower if facing away from a radar), contributes significantly to interference to radar systems, and so localised application of e.g. RAM can give good RCS reduction at a lower cost than treating the whole structure.