Abstract: An apparatus and method for communicating in a high noise, multiple-recipient environment, such as a convoy or other collection of vehicles or personnel operating in adverse conditions. A plurality of user terminals is provided. For example, each vehicle in a military convoy may be provided with a user terminal. The user terminals each comprise a commercial, off-the-shelf processor capable of running a commercially available operating system and at least one software program that uses predefined icons to communicate information to other users, as described further below. Users can select a message icon by which a message corresponding to the icon may be sent to all other users. The message is sent from the user terminal to a communications control unit associated with that user terminal via a communications link. The communications control unit, among other functions, compiles the message to be sent into a desired format for transmission.

Abstract: A system and a method for determining a satellite antenna attitude are disclosed. Radio signals from a satellite, such as a GPS satellite, are received by a plurality of coupled antenna elements forming an antenna array. Local attitude values of the antenna array and/or the antenna elements with respect to a reference plane are determined using a shaft encoder or gyro, whereas a carrier-phase antenna attitude is determined from the received radio signals. The array and/or array elements are rotated over a predetermined angle and a correction value of the antenna attitude is determined from a time-averaged difference between the local attitude values and the carrier-phase attitude values.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for removing a slurry having shear-thinning visco-plastic rheological properties from a reservoir containing a body of the slurry of such high viscosity that removal is impractical by conventional means, such as gravity flow or suction. The method comprises creating a flow of shear-thinned slurry in a submerged region of the body of slurry to entrain adjacent slurry of high viscosity, and then transferring some of the reduced viscosity slurry from the reservoir.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for removing a slurry having shear-thinning visco-plastic rheological properties from a reservoir containing a body of the slurry of such high viscosity that removal is impractical by conventional means, such as gravity flow or suction. The method comprises creating a flow of shear-thinned slurry in a submerged region of the body of slurry to entrain adjacent slurry of high viscosity, and then transferring some of the reduced viscosity slurry from the reservoir.