Abstract: A drive arrangement for manipulating a vehicle control surface, comprises: a first drive; a second drive; an output member for connecting to the vehicle control surface; first engaging means for selectively engaging and disengaging the first drive and the output member; and second engaging means for selectively engaging and disengaging the second drive and the output member, wherein the first drive and the second drive are mounted on bearings.

Abstract: A strain wave-type gearbox comprises: a flex spline component; an outer circular spline component; and a wave generator component, wherein the wave generator component is configured for adjustment of at least one dimension of the wave generator component, to cause engagement and disengagement of the flex spline component and the outer circular spline component. A drive arrangement for manipulating a vehicle control surface comprises: a first drive; a second drive; an output member for connecting to the vehicle control surface; first engaging means for selectively engaging and disengaging the first drive and the output member; and second engaging means for selectively engaging and disengaging the second drive and the output member, wherein the first engaging means comprises a strain wave-type gearbox.

Abstract: A drive arrangement for manipulating a vehicle control surface, comprises: a first drive; a second drive; an output member for connecting to the vehicle control surface; first engaging means for selectively engaging and disengaging the first drive and the output member, and second engaging means for selectively engaging and disengaging the second drive and the output member.

Abstract: A drive arrangement for manipulating a vehicle control surface, comprises: a first drive; a second drive; an output member for connecting to the vehicle control surface; first engaging means for selectively engaging and disengaging the first drive and the output member; and second engaging means for selectively engaging and disengaging the second drive and the output member, wherein the first engaging means comprises a first epicyclic gearbox.

Abstract: A mount for adjusting a mounting plane is disclosed. The mount comprises a first adjustable device, a second adjustable device and a third adjustable device. A first intersection between the first adjustable device and the second adjustable device forming a first principal axis and a second intersection between the second adjustable device and the third adjustable device forming a second principal axis substantially perpendicular to the first principal axis. The first adjustable device, second adjustable device and third adjustable device rigidly coupled together. The first adjustable device is configurable to be adjusted in a first translational degree of freedom, and substantially constrain the first adjustable device in remaining translational degrees of freedom, wherein adjustment of the first adjustable device in the first translational degree of freedom causes a rotation of the mounting plane about the second principal axis.

Abstract: A helmet mounting for optical combiner (50) for a HMD has a pivoted mounting arm (60) for the optical combiner to be movable between an operational position in a line of sight, and a retracted position displaced out of the line of sight. A translation mechanism (100) provides translation of the optical combiner along the line of sight. A driving lever (30) causes the displacement of the mounting arm between the line of sight and the retracted position, and with a second motion of the lever, causes the translation of the optical combiner. By having the same lever coupled to both the mounting arm and the translation mechanism, the relatively complex combination of displacement and translation movements of the optical combiner can be reduced to a simpler movement, easier for a user such as a pilot to use even when under stress in a busy and cramped cockpit environment.

Abstract: A mount for adjusting a mounting plane is disclosed. The mount comprises a first adjustable device, a second adjustable device and a third adjustable device. A first intersection between the first adjustable device and the second adjustable device forming a first principal axis and a second intersection between the second adjustable device and the third adjustable device forming a second principal axis substantially perpendicular to the first principal axis. The first adjustable device, second adjustable device and third adjustable device rigidly coupled together. The first adjustable device is configurable to be adjusted in a first translational degree of freedom, and substantially constrain the first adjustable device in remaining translational degrees of freedom, wherein adjustment of the first adjustable device in the first translational degree of freedom causes a rotation of the mounting plane about the second principal axis.

Abstract: A helmet mounting for optical combiner (50) for a HMD has a pivoted mounting arm (60) for the optical combiner to be movable between an operational position in a line of sight, and a retracted position displaced out of the line of sight. A translation mechanism (100) provides translation of the optical combiner along the line of sight. A driving lever (30) causes the displacement of the mounting arm between the line of sight and the retracted position, and with a second motion of the lever, causes the translation of the optical combiner. By having the same lever coupled to both the mounting arm and the translation mechanism, the relatively complex combination of displacement and translation movements of the optical combiner can be reduced to a simpler movement, easier for a user such as a pilot to use even when under stress in a busy and cramped cockpit environment.

Abstract: A coupling comprising a brake plate (70); a first friction pad (64) operable to be selectively biased against the brake plate (70). In a first mode of operation the first friction pad (64) is biased against the brake plate (70) by a first force. In a second mode of operation the first friction pad (64) is biased against the brake plate (70) by a second force. The second force is substantially greater than the first force.

Abstract: A method of generating a topographic map of a region of a body for the manufacture of a body fitting article to be fitted to the region of the body. The method allows for the resultant topographical map of the body feature to be coupled to an anatomical and functional datum on the body. The method involves use of a contact probe which is configured to generate positional data which defines the surface it is drawn across. The method comprises the steps of urging a contact probe towards the outer surface of the body such that the contact probe is touching the outer surface of the body or separated from the outer surface of the body only by a barrier layer which is flattened against the outer surface of the body by the probe. The contact probe is drawn over the region of the body where the body fitting article is to be located such that the contact probe generates 3D positional data of the surface of the outer surface of the body in the region of the body where the body fitting article is to be located.

Abstract: A coupling comprising a brake plate (70); a first friction pad (64) operable to be selectively biased against the brake plate (70). In a first mode of operation the first friction pad (64) is biased against the brake plate (70) by a first force. In a second mode of operation the first friction pad (64) is biased against the brake plate (70) by a second force. The second force is substantially greater than the first force.

Abstract: A method of generating a topographic map of a region of a body for the manufacture of a body fitting article to be fitted to the region of the body. The method allows for the resultant topographical map of the body feature to be coupled to an anatomical and functional datum on the body. The method involves use of a contact probe which is configured to generate positional data which defines the surface it is drawn across. The method comprises the steps of urging a contact probe towards the outer surface of the body such that the contact probe is touching the outer surface of the body or separated from the outer surface of the body only by a barrier layer which is flattened against the outer surface of the body by the probe. The contact probe is drawn over the region of the body where the body fitting article is to be located such that the contact probe generates 3D positional data of the surface of the outer surface of the body in the region of the body where the body fitting article is to be located.

Abstract: An active stick apparatus 40 includes a stick housing 41 and a stick control member 42 pivotally mounted to the stick housing 41 at a pivot point 43. The pivot point 43 acts to divide the stick control member 42 into a first member section 44 and a second member section 45. The pivot point 43 allows the stick control member 42 to pivot with respect to the stick housing 41, as indicated by directional arrows 46 and 47. An actuator 50 is attached to the first member section 44 at an end distal from the pivot point 43. The actuator 50 is arranged to act as a counterbalance to movement of the stick control member 42 about the pivot point 43 under acceleration forces asserted on the stick control member 42. The output axle drive 52 of the actuator 50 is fixedly coupled to a first section 53 of a drive link 54 and a second section 55 of the drive link 54 is pivotally coupled to a first section 56 of a mounting linkage 57. A second section 58 of the mounting linkage 57 is pivotally coupled to the stick housing 41.

Abstract: An active stick apparatus 40 includes a stick housing 41 and a stick control member 42 pivotally mounted to the stick housing 41 at a pivot point 43. The pivot point 43 acts to divide the stick control member 42 into a first member section 44 and a second member section 45. The pivot point 43 allows the stick control member 42 to pivot with respect to the stick housing 41, as indicated by directional arrows 46 and 47. An actuator 50 is attached to the first member section 44 at an end distal from the pivot point 43. The actuator 50 is arranged to act as a counterbalance to movement of the stick control member 42 about the pivot point 43 under acceleration forces asserted on the stick control member 42. The output axle drive 52 of the actuator 50 is fixedly coupled to a first section 53 of a drive link 54 and a second section 55 of the drive link 54 is pivotally coupled to a first section 56 of a mounting linkage 57. A second section 58 of the mounting linkage 57 is pivotally coupled to the stick housing 41.

Abstract: A helmet mounted display system comprising: a transparent visor; and an optical system which directs rays of light from a display produced by a display source onto a spherical region of the visor to provide by reflection at the visor, at a helmet wearer's eye position, a collimated virtual image of the display on a line of sight of a wearer of the helmet through the visor; the region of the visor being of a shape which is rotationally symmetric about a first axis and the optical system being mounted for rotation about the first axis, thereby to allow rotation of the eye position about the axis.