Abstract: A sensor housing is provided that is configured to be mounted to a roof of a vehicle. The sensor housing includes a frame defining a plurality of cavities and a plurality of windows opening into respective cavities. The sensor housing also includes a plurality of sensors, at least some of which are disposed within the respective cavities defined by the frame. The sensors disposed within the respective cavities are oriented relative to the frame such that fields of view of the sensors that are disposed within the respective cavities defined by the frame are directed through the windows that open into the respective cavities. At least one of the plurality of sensors may include a camera mounted to the frame so as to be exterior to the vehicle and oriented such that a field of view of the camera is directed into a cabin of the vehicle.

Abstract: Systems and methods for deploying emergency roadside signaling devices are disclosed. In one aspect, a control system for an object placing device of an autonomous vehicle includes a processor, and a computer-readable memory in communication with the processor and having stored thereon computer-executable instructions to cause the processor to: receive a signal comprising instructions to activate the object placing device; and provide instructions to the object placing device to place a plurality of signaling devices in accordance with predetermined criteria.

Abstract: An electrical raft assembly for a gas turbine engine is provided. The raft assembly comprises a rigid electrical raft formed of a rigid material that includes an electrical system comprising electrical conductors embedded in the rigid material. The raft assembly further comprises an engine component that is mounted to the electrical raft. The electrical raft includes one or more integral cooling passages which guide a coolant fluid through the raft to cool the engine component.

Abstract: An electrical raft 200 comprising electrical conductors 252 embedded in a rigid material are provided to a gas turbine engine. The raft 200 is used to transport electrical signals (which may be, for example power and/or control signals) around a gas turbine engine. The electrical raft 200 has an electrical connector 700 embedded therein which is used to connect the electrical raft to an electrical unit, such as an EEC of a gas turbine engine The electrical connector 700 is resiliently biased so as to ensure a reliable electrical connection.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine 10 comprises at least one rigid raft assembly that has a fluid passageway 210 at least partially embedded therein. The fluid passageway 210 is at least a part of a fluid system. In addition to the fluid passageway 210, the rigid raft assembly 200 also has at least a part of another system. For example, the rigid raft assembly may also include electrical conductors 252, which are part of an electrical system. The rigid raft assembly 200 may be lighter, easier to assemble, more robust and more compact than conventional solutions for providing systems to gas turbine engines.

Abstract: The present invention provides a gas turbine engine part which has a primary purpose in the engine which is structural and/or aerodynamic. The part is formed of rigid composite material, and has an electrical system comprising electrical conductors permanently embedded in the composite material. This provides advantages in terms of weight, complexity, and build time.

Abstract: An electrical assembly 600 comprising an electrical raft 200 and an electronic unit 300 is provided to a gas turbine engine 10. The electrical raft 200 has electrical conductors 252 embedded in a rigid material 220, which may be a rigid composite material. The electrical conductors 252 are in electrical contact with the electronic unit 300. When the electronic unit 300 is installed, at least a part 310 of it forms a part of a gas-washed surface of the engine 10. The electronic unit 300 is then easily accessible from the engine 10, and potentially complex and/or heavy access doors/panels may not be required.

Abstract: The present invention provides a rigid raft formed of rigid composite material. The raft has an electrical system and/or a fluid system embedded therein. The raft further has a tank for containing liquid integrally formed therewith. The tank can be formed of the rigid composite material. The tank can be for a gas turbine engine.

Abstract: An electrical raft (200) is provided that has electrical conductors (252) embedded in a rigid material (220). The electrical raft is provided with an electrical connector (700). The electrical connector (700) is mounted in the electrical raft (200) at a mounting angle (730). The mounting angle is set such that the electrical conductors (252) can be connected to the electrical connector without having to turn through an angle or a radius of curvature that would subject them to excessive bending stress. Similarly, the mounting angle means that any conductors (766) that may be connected to the electrical connector (700) do not have to turn through an angle or a radius of curvature that would subject them to excessive bending stress. Furthermore, mounting the electrical connector (700) at the mounting angle (730) may allow the assembled electrical raft (200) to be more compact.

Abstract: An electrical raft 200 is provided that has electrical conductors 252 embedded in a rigid material 220. The electrical raft 200 may have other embedded components, such as embedded fluid pipes 210. The electrical raft 200 is provided with a raft map 400 that indicates the location and/or path of components embedded in the electrical raft 200. The raft map 400 can be used to identify the positions of the embedded components, and may also be provided with active elements, such as LEDs, which may be used to indicate an operating state of the systems/components embedded in the electrical raft 200. The raft map 400 may be useful in assembly, repair and fault diagnosis, for example.

Abstract: A raft assembly for a gas turbine engine is provided. The raft assembly includes a rigid raft formed of a rigid material that has an electrical system and/or a fluid system embedded therein. The raft assembly further includes one or more clamps for mounting tubular members to the raft. The or each clamp has a first clamp block and a second clamp block which, in use, clamp together to grip a tubular member between the blocks. The first block is fixed to the raft. The or each clamp further has a fastener operatively extending between the blocks. The fastener is tightenable to apply a clamping load between the blocks, and releasable to remove the clamping load such that the second block can be moved relative to the first block to allow the tubular member to be received between or removed from between the blocks.

Abstract: An electrical assembly including electrical raft having electrical conductors embedded in a rigid material is provided. The electrical assembly has an electrically conductive screen layer. The electrically conductive screen layer provides electromagnetic protection to the electrical conductors. The electrically conductive screen layer is electrically connected to a mounting fixture, which in turn may be electrically connected to an apparatus on which the electrical assembly may be mounted. The electrical raft is used to transport electrical signals (which may be, for example power and/or control signals), for example around a gas turbine engine.

Abstract: An electrical raft 200 is provided that has electrical conductors 252 embedded in a rigid material 220. The electrical raft 200 may have other embedded components, such as embedded fluid pipes 210. The electrical raft 200 is provided with a raft map 400 that indicates the location and/or path of components embedded in the electrical raft 200. The raft map 400 can be used to identify the positions of the embedded components, and may also be provided with active elements, such as LEDs, which may be used to indicate an operating state of the systems/components embedded in the electrical raft 200. The raft map 400 may be useful in assembly, repair and fault diagnosis, for example.

Abstract: A document handling apparatus is disclosed which is particularly well adapted for counting documents of value, such as banknotes. The document handling apparatus comprises an input module for receiving a stack of documents and feeding them one by one into the apparatus, a detector box which houses a series of detectors for detecting characteristics of the documents, a transport system for conveying documents within the apparatus, a doubles detector for sensing the passage of each document therethrough and a stacker module for stacking the output documents and presenting them to the user. The apparatus is based on a metal framework in a plastics housing.

Abstract: A method of detecting a coded magnetic thread is provided that includes sensing the response of a magnetic field detector as a thread passes the detector, the response varying from an initial magnitude in first and second senses to exhibit a first peak, and then in the first sense to exhibit a second peak; comparing the response with first and second thresholds disposed about the initial magnitude in the first and second senses respectively; and indicating the passage of a code element of the thread when the response passes the second threshold and then the first threshold in a predetermined manner characterized in that the first threshold is adjusted in accordance with a first predetermined algorithm based on the magnitude of the first peak. The first predetermined algorithm adjusts the first threshold so that the magnitude of the first threshold is the average of a predetermined number of preceding first peaks.

Abstract: Systems and methods for identifying a coded magnetic thread comprise generating a digital representation of the thread and comparing the digital representation with one or more known digital representations; scanning the digital representation to locate a predetermined code sequence; and rotating the digital representation to locate the predetermined code sequence in a predetermined position corresponding to the position of the predetermined code sequence in a stored version of the or each known digital representation prior to carrying out the comparison.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for identifying a document (55). The method comprises exposing the document (55), such as a banknote, to infrared radiation; detecting infrared radiation reflected from a plurality of regions of the document (55) to generate at least one test pattern; determining if the or each test pattern satisfies a predetermined relationship with a predetermined pattern or patterns corresponding to a known document; and, if the predetermined relationship is satisfied, identifying the document (55) as being the same as the known document.

Abstract: A method of detecting a magnetic thread comprises causing relative movement between the thread and an array of magnetic heads, each head generates a signal upon detecting a portion of the thread. The arrival of a thread at one of the heads is detected, that head being denoted a primary head, and the head on each side a secondary head. Output signals from the primary and secondary heads are monitored to generate a representation of the thread, and the magnitude of the signals from the primary and secondary heads are compared such that if the magnitude of the output signal from a secondary head exceeds that from the primary head, the primary and secondary heads are reallocated accordingly.

Abstract: A document handling machine comprised a detector system (110) for detecting one or more characteristic features of documents. A control system (100) performs a number of functions related to information obtained from the detector system (110) and/or the manner in which documents are handled. The control system (100) includes a memory (6) for storing a set of codes, each code corresponding to a respective one of the functions, and is adapted to enable a function to be performed if a supplied enabling code corresponds in a valid manner with one of the stored function codes.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for identifying a document (55). The method comprises exposing the document (55), such as a banknote, to infrared radiation; detecting infrared radiation reflected from a plurality of regions of the document (55) to generate at least one test pattern; determining if the or each test pattern satisfies a predetermined relationship with a predetermined pattern or patterns corresponding to a known document; and, if the predetermined relationship is satisfied, identifying the document (55) as being the same as the known document.