Abstract: A terrestrial imaging device includes an objective lens which accepts light within an intrinsic angular field of view onto a focal plane and two pairs of plane mirrors. The first pair of plane mirrors reflects a first light incoming ray sequentially to produce first and second reflected light rays within a roughly horizontal plane, the second reflected ray being focused by the objective lens on the focal plane. The second pair of plane mirrors reflects a second incoming ray sequentially to produce third and fourth reflected light rays within a roughly vertical plane, the fourth reflected light ray being focused by the objective lens on the focal plane.

Abstract: The present invention provides a simulant material comprising a primary explosive and a carrier.

Abstract: A coherent range measurement system includes a detector optical arrangement defining a current optical field of view and an illumination subsystem configured for transmitting pulses of coherent illumination at different times along each of a plurality of directions within the current optical field of view without moving parts. A detection arrangement is configured to direct part of the transmitted pulses and a reflected signal from each of the directions onto a common detector. The output of the detector is processed by a processing system to derive range data associated with each of the directions by coherent detection of the reflected signals employing the part of the transmitted pulses as a local oscillator.

Abstract: The pylon of the present invention provides damping of vibrations transferred in both directions between the aircraft and the payload. That is, the pylon of the present invention damps the effects of aircraft vibrations on the payload as well as the effects of payload vibrations on the aircraft. This is accomplished in the present invention by substantially eliminating any rigid connection between the aircraft and the payload under normal operational conditions. Support of the payload is provided by a plurality of resilient suspension elements that are attached to both a base element and a payload interface element. The attachment is such that the payload element is suspended below the base element. Thus configured, the resilient suspension elements dampen the transmission of vibrations between the payload interface element and the base element.

Abstract: A method for improving nighttime visual awareness of a pilot flying an aircraft carrying an air-to-air missile including one or more one gimbaled imaging sensor. The method includes providing a helmet for the pilot, a helmet tracking system for determining the attitude of the helmet relative to the aircraft, and a helmet-mounted display. The method also includes determining a current imaging sensor viewing direction of the imaging sensor of the air-to-air missile, sampling an image from the imaging sensor of the air-to-air missile and displaying the image on the helmet-mounted display. The determining and the displaying are performed so that the image displayed on the helmet-mounted display viewed by the pilot is spatially aligned with the scene viewed by the imaging sensor.

Abstract: An optical detection system for detecting launch of an offensive projectile. The detection system includes an image detector array, an optical arrangement for focusing on to the image detector array, and a processing system associated with the image detector array. The processing system is configured to derive a series of frames from the image detector, to process the series of frames to identify a flash event and to generate and output that indicates a direction of the flash event.

Abstract: A LADAR system includes a detector optical arrangement defining a current optical field of view. An illumination subsystem without moving parts transmits pulsed illumination at different times to each of a number of illumination sub-regions of the current optical field of view, and a detection subsystem, including one or more detectors, detects reflected illumination from a corresponding one or more detection sub-region of the current optical field of view. Each of the detection sub-regions overlaps illumination sub-regions so that an overlap of each of the illumination sub-regions with the detection sub-region defines a LADAR image pixel of resolution finer than the detection sub-region.

Abstract: A method for identifying bad pixels in a matrix imaging sensor comprises moving the matrix sensor in a prescribed motion with respect to a background landscape (FIG. 1, 10), acquiring a combined image of the landscape, and identifying bad pixels (16) in the matrix sensor from the combined image. The identification is aided by preferably applying filtering to the combined image. The prescribed motion is preferably rotation of the sensor or translation of the sensor around a circle, and the combined image includes a plurality of preferably similar landscape images. The identification of the bad pixels is performed on-line, in real-time, without requiring the use of a black body.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system for pumping of fluid by a single pump from a plurality of storage tanks in situations where some of the tanks should be pumped simultaneously at predefined, equal or unequal flow rates, and where some of the tanks should be pumped sequentially, in an orderly manner. The system needs no restrictors or valves to determine the flow rate or the sequence of pumping. In some embodiments, the rate of flow out of the pump does not change when one tank becomes empty before another.

Abstract: A method and system for providing a platform with pseudo-autonomous correlation between a perspective view generated by a platform-based imaging sensor and an orthogonal photographic representation includes storing on the platform a reference perspective view and parameters of a primary mapping transformation corresponding to a mapping between the orthogonal photographic representation and the reference perspective image. The platform then derives a mapping of equivalent points between a current perspective view and the orthogonal photographic representation by onboard processing of the current perspective view relative to the reference perspective view.

Abstract: The present invention provides elements for making a protective reactive armor to be fitted on the outside of an enclosure liable to be exposed to attack by shaped-charge warheads and other threats, such as kinetic energy projectiles and fragments, to thereby enhance survivability of the enclosure and its contents. The invention further provides a non-explosive energetic material useful for such reactive armor elements.

Abstract: The present invention provides elements for making a protective reactive armor to be fitted on the outside of an enclosure liable to be exposed to attack by shaped-charge warheads and other threats, such as kinetic energy projectiles and fragments, to thereby enhance survivability of the enclosure and its contents. The invention further provides a non-explosive energetic material useful for such reactive armor elements.

Abstract: A short arc lamp with two transparent apertures. The lamp includes a sealed transparent arc chamber with an internal integral light reflector, and an external light reflecting element positioned external to the sealed arc transparent chamber.

Abstract: A solid anode composite material for use in thermal batteries that comprises about 65-85% by weight (about 34 to 40 atom percent) particulate iron, about 15-35% by weight (50 to 70 atom percent) lithium, and about 0.1-10% by weight (1.7 to 2.3 atom percent) aluminum. Lithium and Aluminum are only slightly or not alloyed with the particulate iron. The iron and/or the aluminum may be in the form of a powder. The aluminum may be in the form of lithium-aluminum alloy.

Abstract: A system for automatic mapping of a walled structure includes at least one mobile unit, preferably worn by a user. The mobile unit has a position tracking system for tracking a current position of the mobile unit, a wall detection system including a sensor arrangement for measuring range data from the mobile unit to at least four points, and a mapping processor associated with both the position tracking system and the wall detection system. The mapping processor processes the range data and, if the at least four points lie on a common plane according to a defined criterion, maps a wall in corresponding spatial relation to the current position. The mobile unit preferably also includes a wireless communication link for transmitting and receiving data indicative of the mapped walls to other mobile units and to a remote command control unit.

Abstract: A method of operating an arc lamp. The method includes introducing a primary voltage pulse into the arc lamp, thereby inducing a primary flow of electrical current in the arc lamp. The method also includes introducing at least one secondary voltage pulse into the arc lamp, before the current flow has substantially decayed, thereby inducing a respective secondary flow of electrical current in the arc lamp.

Abstract: A method of designing a terrain-following flight profile for an air vehicle. The method includes providing a terrain profile, and transforming the terrain profile into the terrain-following flight profile according to one or more performance parameter of the air vehicle.