Abstract: An imaging system (30, 30?) and corresponding method has a two-dimensional imaging sensor array (32) and an associated optical system. The optical system includes at least one optical arrangement (34, 36a, 36b) defining a field of view (38a, 38b) of given angular dimensions and an optical switching mechanism (40) for alternately switching an optical axis of the imaging system between two directions (42a, 42b). The optical switching mechanism and the optical arrangement(s) are deployed such that the imaging sensor array generates images of at least two generally non-overlapping fields of view of equal angular dimensions and with diverging optical axes in fixed spatial relation. Rapid switching between the fields of view allows quasi-continuous monitoring of a larger field of view than would otherwise be possible while maintaining sensitivity to transient events. Also disclosed is an infrared search and tracking system based on such imaging systems.

Abstract: A multi-spectral video camera and corresponding method have an optical arrangement for collecting light, a light splitting prism for splitting the light into a number of spatially separated channels of distinct spectral ranges, and a corresponding number of image sensor arrays. An electronic control and processing system receives sensed pixel data from each of image sensor arrays, analyzes the pixel data separately for each of the image sensor arrays to determine an exposure parameter for each of the sensor arrays, and actuates each of the sensor arrays to capture a subsequent image frame with an effective exposure individually set for each sensor array in accordance with the corresponding exposure parameter. The camera also preferably performs independent contrast enhancement corrections for each spectral channel of the camera.

Abstract: A method for identifying within a working image of a scene a point of interest designated within a designation image of a scene, the designation image being taken along a first viewing direction and the working image being taken along a second viewing direction, the second viewing direction being significantly non-parallel to the first viewing direction, the method comprising the steps of: obtaining a designation image of the scene; obtaining a working image of the scene; correlating said designation image and said working image with each other, directly or by correlating each of said designation image and said working image with a common reference image, so as to derive an interrelation between said designation image and said working image; and employing said interrelation between said designation image and said working image to derive a location within said working image of a point of interest designated within said designation image, characterized in that the method further comprises: obtaining a secondary

Abstract: An airbag system according to any one individual feature or combination of features as described herein.

Abstract: A surface-conforming protective divide is formed by mutually adjacent interlocking sculptured elements, which have a first portion different from a second portion. The first portion has a first surface bound by a polygon wherefrom a plurality of lateral surface extend from each side of the polygon. The second portion has many knuckles, each one associated with a first and then alternately with every other lateral surface. Each knuckle has a laterally protruding rotund surface extending radially outward from the first portion. The second portion has a plurality of recesses, each recess being associated with a second and then alternately with every other lateral surface. Each recess receives therein one knuckle pertaining to an immediately adjacent sculptured element in mutual interlocking coupling. Each sculptured elements has a flat base surface terminating the second portion and forming a basis.

Abstract: A method, a system, and a product for enhancing the start of a turbine engine by providing a replaceable ignition module including a solid combustible substance, that when ignited, or a solid oxidizer substance, that when heated, releases hot gases rich in oxidizing species. The module includes a solid substance(s) appropriately selected as: a solid-propellant grain (SPG) and a solid oxidizer (SO); or an oxygen-rich burning substance (OBSS); or a solid-propellant to grain and an oxygen-rich burning substance; or an oxygen-rich burning solid substance and a solid oxidizer. The replaceable module further contains an initiator for the initiation of the solid combustible substance, or solid-propellant grain by an initiation command (IC). The hot gases released by the ignition module start and enhance the combustion process of the air-and-fuel mixture by successive fuel heating and vaporization, followed by ignition.

Abstract: A miniature lightweight high-maneuverability missile (10) has a missile body (12) with three sets of at least two aerodynamic control surfaces (14, 16, 18) for independent control of roll, pitch and yaw of the missile. Each set of control surfaces (14, 16, 18) is independently controlled by a corresponding actuator (20) deployed within the missile body (12). Other preferred features include selection of an elevation angle of incidence at a target, and switching between explosive and kinetic modes of operation.

Abstract: An arrow-type warhead (100,200,300,400,500,600,700) comprises an envelope (102,202), a filling (108), a hardened head section (104) to promote penetration of the target and a stabilizing mechanism (106,210,302,402,502,602) to stabilize the warhead in flight, hi some embodiments the filling (108) is pyrophoric and undergoes an exothermic reaction with the envelope upon impact. In other embodiments the filling is incendiary and undergoes reaction with the envelope upon impact in an oxygen rich-environment. In yet other embodiments, the filling is explosive. In all embodiments, the warhead may be equipped with a mini-rocket propulsion mechanism (802) for propelling the warhead to the target.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting the impact of an ultra-high velocity projectile includes: a projectile; at least one optical fiber attached to at least a first area of the projectile; a light source coupled to the optical fiber supplying light into the optical fiber; and a monitor coupled to optical fiber configured to monitor the light in one optical fiber and positioned in a second area of the projectile. A method for operating a circuit in response to a shockwave of ultra-high velocity, includes the steps of deploying at least one optical fiber in a first area in the path of an ultra-high velocity shockwave; coupling a light source to the optical fiber, the light source supplying a light into the optical fiber; and deploying a monitor coupled to the optical fiber to: monitor the light in the optical fiber to detect a change in the light; and positioned in a second area further along the path of the shockwave.

Abstract: A highly-filled paste, and a method and device of de-aerating and injecting the paste, the paste including: (a) a solid filler; (b) an organic binder, and (c) a residual gas, wherein the paste contains at least 80 volume-% of the solid filler and has a viscosity exceeding 100 kilopascal·seconds, wherein the filler, binder, and residual gas are intimately mixed so as to form a substantially homogeneous paste, and wherein a composition of the solid filler, binder, and residual gas is selected such that the homogeneous paste has: an average density greater than 98.5% of a Theoretical Maximum Density (TMD).

Abstract: A method for navigating a remote control vehicle carrying a video camera which produces a sequence of images, the method comprising tracking a current position of the vehicle as the vehicle moves along a path of motion, determining a location of the current position within a prior image, the prior image having been acquired by the video camera at a previously visited point along the path of motion, and displaying to the operator a graphic display including a representation of the vehicle shown at the location within the prior image.

Abstract: A method and system are for measuring and correcting shifts in the boresight, effective focal length, and focus of an optical system that are caused by temperature variations. The method can be used for systems which can be expected to operate in situations where the temperature variations are large, e.g. a FLIR system of a fighter plane, and also where the temperature variations can be very small however high accuracy is needed. The invention is based on placing radiation emitting sources before and as close as possible to the first optical element of the optical system and measuring the thermally induced shifts of the locations of the images of the radiation emitting sources on the surface of the detector of the optical system.

Abstract: A method to provide feedback to an operator of a device having feedback delay. The method includes the steps of displaying a first image of a view from the device, the device being at a first position, issuing a movement command to cause a desired movement of the device to a second position, and displaying a second image of a predicted view from the device at the second position prior to the operator receiving real feedback of the movement command.

Abstract: A method of monitoring a target, which includes tracking the target using a tracking modality, thereby obtaining an estimated track of the target, imaging the target using an imaging modality, thereby obtaining an image of the target, associating the estimated track with the image, and displaying at least one datum related to the image along with the estimated track.

Abstract: A method for displaying digital images on a display device. The method includes obtaining an input image set including one or more input image, processing the input image set to generate an output image set including a number of output images, displaying the output image set in a sequence on the display device at a frame rate in excess of five frames per second. The first and second image-processing transformations and the sequence are chosen such that a time-integrated average luminance in each region of the display over successive frames approximates to the luminance distribution of a corresponding region of the input image set.

Abstract: A system and method for protection of aircraft against surface-to-air missiles deploys sensors to provide coverage around an airport The use of a fixed (or slow moving) set of sensors around the airport allows detection of missile threats to all aircraft using the airport without requiring each individual aircraft to be provided with a threat detection system. Information about a detected threat is then typically transmitted in real time directly to the aircraft under threat to allow timely deployment of aircraft-based countermeasures. The detection system and method preferably employ spaced-apart sensors with overlapping fields of view to provide enhanced tracking through triangulation and reduced false alarm rates by redundancy of information. Airborne systems with overlapping coverage may be also used.

Abstract: A method for implementing a system and a device for enhancing the starting process of a turbine engine by use of at least one solid mass of oxidizing-species-releasing material, ORM, selected as a solid oxidizer, or SO, and/or as an oxidizing-species-releasing burning substance, or ORBS. The ORM is introduced into the combustion chamber of the turbine engine and the starting process of the turbine engine is initiated, by help of the igniter and in association with the mass of ORM, to enhance the starting process. In operation, an ORM selected as an SO releases gaseous oxygen when heated to decompose, while an ORM chosen as an ORBS discharges oxidizing species when ignited to burn. An ORM such as an SO or an ORBS may operate alone or in various combinations of both. The ORM is configured to release a predetermined mass flow rate of oxidizing species or of gaseous oxygen.

Abstract: A kit for upgrading a non-guidable shell to an airborne guidable shell includes a device to couple the kit to the body of the non-guidable shell. A fastener provides for fastening the resulting airborne shell to an aircraft and for detaching it there from. The kit also provides for causing the trajectory of the shell to change once detached from the aircraft according to instructions received in the kit; for determining the position of the shell; and for transferring data from the carrying platform to the guidance kit.

Abstract: A system for automatically acquiring a target with a narrow field-of-view gimbaled imaging sensor. The system includes a target-detection subsystem including one or more target-detection imaging sensor with a first field-of-view, a target-tracking subsystem and a processing system in communication with the target-detection subsystem and the target-tracking imaging subsystem. The target-tracking subsystem includes a target-tracking imaging sensor with a second field-of-view smaller than the first field-of-view, and a gimbal mechanism for controlling a viewing direction of the target-tracking imaging sensor.

Abstract: A method for detection the presence of a man-made object partially occluded in a natural environment. The method includes the steps of providing an image segment from three dimensional ladar data, grouping one or more coplanar portion of the pixels into a cluster of planar sections, each planar section including three or more pixels, classifying the cluster based on one or more criterion selected from a group of criteria.