A system and method associated with decoys

Abstract

A System and Method Associated with Decoys Cradle apparatus for holding a round comprising an active RF decoy countermeasure. The cradle apparatus configured to transfer mission data to the round prior to loading of the round onto a platform the decoy is to protect.

Description

[0001] A System and Method Associated with Decoys

[0002] The present invention relates to a radio frequency (RF) decoy countermeasure (decoy). It relates to a system and method associated with transferring mission data onto a round comprising said decoy prior to loading of the round onto a platform from which the decoy will be deployed.

[0003] GB2516077 describes an active RF decoy to protect an aerial platform. In use, a launch tube, holding the active decoy payload, is pre-loaded with mission data before being fitted to the aircraft, this information is then transferred to volatile memory in the active decoy pay load immediately prior to ejection of the decoy from the launch tube.

[0004] The present invention concerns the manner and means of pre-loading the mission data prior to loading the decoy onto a platform.

[0005] According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a system comprising a cradle apparatus for holding a round including an active RF decoy countermeasure, and for transferring mission data to the round prior to loading of the round into a dispenser of a platform the RF decoy countermeasure is to protect; wherein the cradle comprises a first electrical interface to connect with an electrical interface of the round when held by the cradle, to transfer the mission data from the cradle to the round.

[0006] According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a system comprising an active RF decoy countermeasure, and a cradle apparatus for holding a round comprising the decoy and for transferring mission data to the round prior to loading of the round onto a platform the active RF decoy countermeasure is to protect; the decoy comprising: electrical circuitry, including a computer readable memory, adapted, when the decoy is deployed, to use the mission data to generate a radio frequency (RF) decoy signal; and an antenna for transmitting the RF decoy signal; wherein the round comprises: an electrical interface through which the round is configured to receive the mission data, the round adapted to store the received mission data or information derived therefrom in a non-volatile computer readable memory; and wherein a first electrical interface of the cradle apparatus is provided to connect with the electrical interface of the round to transfer the mission data from the cradle to the round.

[0007] The cradle may have a mass less than or equal to 20Kg and / or the cradle may have a maximum outer dimension less than or equal to 550mm. These dimensions ensure the cradle is relatively man portable.

[0008] The cradle may comprise a second electrical interface to connect with a computer to receive the mission data from the computer.

[0009] According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a system comprising a cradle apparatus for holding a round comprising an active RF decoy countermeasure, and for transferring mission data to the round prior to loading of the round into a dispenser of a platform the active RF decoy countermeasure is to protect; wherein the cradle comprises: a first electrical interface to connect with the electrical interface of the round to transfer the mission data from the cradle to the round, and a second electrical interface to connect with a computer to receive the mission data; and wherein one or more apply:

[0010] (i) the cradle a mass less or equal to 20Kg

[0011] (ii) the cradle has a maximum outer dimension less than or equal to 550mm; (iii) the second electrical interface of the cradle is of a type conforming to a standard selected from any one of: Ethernet; USB; Firewire; CANbus; Bluetooth, WiFi and Zigbee.

[0012] According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a system comprising an active RF decoy countermeasure, and cradle apparatus for holding a round comprising the active RF decoy countermeasure and for transferring mission data to the round prior to loading of the round into a dispenser of a platform the active RF decoy countermeasure is to protect; the active RF decoy countermeasure comprising: electrical circuitry, including a computer readable memory, adapted, when the active RF decoy countermeasure is deployed, to use the mission data to generate a radio frequency (RF) decoy signal; and an antenna for transmitting the RF decoy signal; wherein the round comprises: an electrical interface through which the round is configured to receive the mission data, the round adapted to store the received mission data or information derived therefrom in a non-volatile computer readable memory; and wherein a first electrical interface of the cradle apparatus is provided to connect with the electrical interface of the round to transfer the mission data from the cradle to the round; wherein the cradle apparatus comprises a second electrical interface to connect with a computer to receive the mission data, and wherein one or more apply:

[0013] (ii) the cradle has a mass less than or equal to 20Kg

[0014] (iii) the cradle has a maximum outer dimension less than or equal to 550mm, preferably less than 300mm;

[0015] (iii) the second electrical interface of the cradle is of a type conforming to a standard selected from any one of: Ethernet; USB; Firewire; CANbus; Bluetooth, WiFi and Zigbee. Favourably any one of Ethernet; USB; Firewire; CANbus and Bluetooth. Most favourably any one of Ethernet; USB; Firewire and CANbus.

[0016] According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a method of preparing a round comprising an active RF decoy countermeasure (decoy) for use on a platform, the decoy comprising, electrical circuitry, including a memory, for generating a RF decoy signal; an antenna for transmitting the RF decoy signal; an electrical interface through which the round is configured to receive the mission data, the round adapted to store the received mission data or information derived therefrom in a non-volatile computer readable memory; the method comprising: mounting the round to a cradle so as to connect an electrical interface of the cradle with the electrical interface of the active decoy to establish a data link between the cradle and round; transferring mission data from the cradle to the round through the data link; and following transfer of the mission data, removing the round from the cradle and loading the round onto the platform.

[0017] The following may relate to any one or more of the aspects of invention mentioned above.

[0018] The computer may comprise a computer readable store holding the mission data.

[0019] The system may comprise a wired data connection between the computer and the second electrical interface of the cradle for transferring the mission data from the computer to the cradle.

[0020] The cradle may provide a housing defining a cavity to house the round whilst the round receives the mission data. The housing may include an openable lid to allow the round to be placed into and removed from the cavity. The housing may provide electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding to the round whilst in the cavity.

[0021] The cradle may comprise a third electrical interface configured to connect with and receive electrical power from an electrical power supply. The cradle may comprise circuitry configured to power the round through the electrical interconnection.

[0022] The round may comprise a casing defining an aperture configured to receive an ignition cartridge including a charge that when the decoy is deployed is detonated to propel the decoy out from the round and away from the aircraft. The electrical interface of the round may face into the aperture, and wherein the first electrical interface of the cradle comprises contacts arranged on a projection adapted to he in the aperture to electrically connect with the electrical interface of the round.

[0023] The non-volatile computer readable memory maybe external to the decoy and in which the round comprises an electrical connector means through which the mission data is transferred from the non-volatile computer readable memory to the computer readable memory of the decoy.

[0024] The mission data may comprise parameters of threat systems, e.g. RF waveforms associated with the threat system, that the decoy might encounter, and / or RF waveforms to be used against these possible threats. The decoy may use the mission data to identify the presence of a threat. The mission data may be used to select and / or generate a suitable RF decoy to jam or lure away a threat.

[0025] The decoy may comprise a volatile memory to hold the mission data. This ensures that the mission data cannot be recovered from the decoy once a power source of the decoy is depleted.

[0026] The invention is now described by way of example with reference to the following figures in which:

[0027] Figure 1 is a schematic of a system comprising a round including an active RF decoy and apparatus for loading mission data onto said round; Figure 2 is a perspective right front view of the cradle with cover closed;

[0028] Figure 3 is a perspective left front view of the cradle with cover open;

[0029] Figure 4 is a perspective rear view of the cradle with cover closed; and

[0030] Figure 5 is a perspective view of the round with ignition unit positioned for insertion.

[0031] Figure 1 is a schematic of a system comprising a round 2 which carries an active RF decoy 200, and apparatus for loading mission data onto said round 2 prior to being loaded onto a platform (not shown).

[0032] The apparatus for loading mission data onto the round 2 comprises a computer 3 holding mission data, and a cradle 4 which holds the round 2 during the transfer of the mission data to the round 2, and which provides a data connection through which the mission data is transferred from the computer 3 to the round 2.

[0033] The round 2 is configured to be carried in a dispenser of the platform. The round 2 is configured to be fired in response to determining the presence of a threat, whereupon the decoy 200 is ejected from the round 2 and the dispenser, away from the platform. Following its ejection, the decoy 200 generates and transmits a radio frequency decoy signal for the purpose of jamming, luring away or otherwise deceiving the threat. The mission data is used by the decoy to select and / or generate a suitable RF decoy to jam or lure away a threat. It will be appreciated that ‘used’ in this context includes use of data derived from the mission data, e.g. resulting from processing of the mission data by the decoy and / or round prior to transfer to the decoy.

[0034] The platform may be an aerial platform such as an aeroplane, helicopter, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) or other aircraft. Nevertheless, the decoy may be used to protect other types of platform including land or sea platforms.

[0035] The round 2 comprises a cartridge 20 housing, in addition to the decoy 200, a circuit board 21 and, when loaded onto the platform, an ignition unit 400 (see Fig 5) located and retained within an aperture 20B in a first side 20A of the cartridge 20. The decoy 200 comprises a power store 201, e.g. athermal battery, configured to power a volatile memory 202, and signal generation and processing circuitry 203. The signal generation and processing circuitry 203 is configured to use mission data (or data derived therefrom) held within the volatile memory 202 to generate RF decoy signals for transmission through an antenna 204. The signal generation and processing circuitry 203 may also be configured to process RF signals received from potential threats through the antenna 204 for the purpose of, and in conjunction with the mission data, generating suitable decoy signals.

[0036] The circuit board 21 comprises a computer readable non-volatile memory 22 and a set of electrical contacts 23 that face into aperture 20B. A cable 25 provides a data connection between the circuit board 21 and the decoy 200. In a variant, the round 2 may comprise an additional connector block that provides the electrical contacts that face into the aperture. This avoids the need for the contacts 23 of the circuit board may not need to face into the aperture.

[0037] The circuit board 21 is configured to store mission data received from the cradle 4 and transfer it to the decoy 200 at a later, appropriate, time, typically immediately before ejection of the decoy 200 from the platform.

[0038] Formed through the circuit board 21 is a through-aperture 24. The through-aperture 24 aligns with the aperture 20B to provide a passageway through the board 21 for propellent derived from detonation of ignition unit’s 400 charge, to the decoy 200 to propel the decoy 200 out from the casing 20 and away from the platform.

[0039] With reference Figs 2-4, the cradle 4 comprises a case 40 that provides a first housing 41 and a second housing 42, though the provision of two housings is not essential.

[0040] The first housing 41 comprises a base unit 43 to which is attached, through a hinge 44, a lid 45. With the lid 45 closed, the base unit 43 and lid 45 define between them an internal cavity 46 for holding the round 2 and by virtue of both being comprised from electrically conductive materials (e.g. metal), shields the round 2 from electromagnetic interference (EMI) and minimises unwanted propagation of any RF signals emanating from the decoy 200. The cradle 4 has a first electrical interface comprising an electrical connector 47 comprising electrical contacts 47 A. The electrical connector 47 is arranged to project into the cavity 46 and into the aperture 20B of a round 2 within the cavity 46 so that contacts 47 A can engage with the electrical contacts 23 of the board 21.

[0041] The weight of the cradle 4, without the round 2, is less than 5 Kg. Although it is preferred the cradle 4 is as light as possible, a weight less than 20Kg will allow for relatively convenient handling of the cradle 4 by a single person.

[0042] The case 40 has outer dimensions, namely, height H, length L and width W, that are each less or equal to 300mm. Although less preferred, one or more dimensions may be greater than this though a dimension exceeding 550mm is still less preferred as it renders the cradle 4 less man-portable.

[0043] As seen in Fig 4, the cradle 4 comprises a second electrical interface 48 and a third electrical interface 49 each providing an electrical connection to a circuit board 50 housed within the second housing 42. Each of the second and third electrical interfaces 48 49 include a respective EMI shield element 48 A 49A configured, in conjunction with a corresponding shield element of a cable configured to connect to the respective interface, to provide EMI shielding.

[0044] The second interface 48 is of the form of an Ethernet port, in this case of an 8P8C form configured to receive a complementary jack of an Ethernet cable 350 (see Fig 1) to provide a data link between the computer 3 and round 2, through the cradle 4.

[0045] It will be appreciated that other types of wired or wireless data connection may be used instead of Ethernet to connect between the computer 3 and cradle 4 including those corresponding to the standards of: USB; Firewire; CANbus; Bluetooth, WiFi and Zigbee. Each of these provide reliable data transfer over short distances. Nevertheless, a wired connection is likely to be most preferred because of the likely sensitive nature of the mission data.

[0046] The third electrical interface 49 comprises an electrical socket configured to connect to an external power supply for powering the circuit board 50, and circuit board 21 through the electrical connector 47. It may optionally be used to power, via the electrical connector 47 and circuit board 21, the signal generation and processing circuitry 203 of the decoy 200 for the purpose of testing prior to deployment of the round.

[0047] The cradle 4 is configured to communicate to the round 2 through the Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI) standard, though this is not to be taken as limiting. The circuit board 50 comprises converter circuitry to convert between Ethernet and SPI.

[0048] The circuit board 50 also comprises circuitry that identifies status parameters of the cradle 4 and / or system, including for example, whether the cradle 4 has power through third electrical interface 49, whether a round 2 is correctly loaded into the cradle 4 so that contacts 47 and 23 are engaged, and whether data is being transferred between the cradle 4 and round 2. A visual indication of these may be provided through one or more lights 60.

[0049] The computer 3 comprises a processor 31, non-volatile computer readable memory 32 holding mission data 33, an electrical interface 34, in this example an Ethernet port, 8P8C female modular connector, and a user interface 35, e.g. a touch screen.

[0050] The mission data may, for example, comprise parameters of threat systems that the decoy 200 might encounter, and / or waveforms to be used against these possible threats.

[0051] To setup the apparatus, the computer 3, on which the mission data may have already been pre-loaded, is connected to the cradle 4 with an Ethernet cable 350. The cradle is also connected to a power supply through cable 360.

[0052] In use, a round 2 intended to be loaded onto a platform, is first programmed with the mission data relevant to the mission the platform is about to carry out. At this stage the ignition cartridge 400 has not yet been mounted into the aperture 20B meaning that the round 2 is intrinsically safe to handle as it contains no explosive charge.

[0053] The round 2 is located into the cavity 46 of the cradle 4 so that the contact 47A of the projecting first connector 47 passes into the aperture 20B of the round 2 to engage with the contacts 23. Using software run by the CPU 31, and operated via user interface 35, the mission data is transferred from the computer 3 to the cradle 4 through cable 350, and thence to the non-volatile memory 22 of the round 2 via the data connection established between the cradle 4 and round 2 through the first connector 47 and contact 23.

[0054] Following transfer of the mission data, the round 2 is removed from the cradle 4, and an ignition cartridge 400 inserted into the aperture 20B. The ignition cartridge 400 is retained in the aperture 20B by way of the threaded connection with a wall of the cartridge 20 facing into the aperture 20B, though alternative means to retain the cartridge may be provided, e.g. through a push fit connection Following insertion of the ignition cartridge 400, the round 2 is transferred to the dispenser of the platform.

[0055] Where the round 2 is to be carried on an aerial platform, the mission data is likely to be transferred to the round before the round 2 is mounted onto the platform as the round 2 is unlike to be physically accessible once on the platform. Where the round is to be deployed from a land or sea platform, again the mission data may be transferred before loading onto the platform, alternatively, the cradle 4 may also be carried on the platform, and the mission data transferred to the round 2 whilst on the platform but before being loaded into the dispenser.

Claims

Claims1. A system comprising a cradle apparatus for holding a round comprising an active RF decoy countermeasure, and for transferring mission data to the round prior to loading of the round into a dispenser of a platform the decoy is to protect; wherein the cradle comprises a first electrical interface to connect with an electrical interface of the round when held by the cradle, to transfer the mission data from the cradle to the round.

2. A system according to claim 1 wherein the cradle comprises a second electrical interface to connect with a computer to receive the mission data from the computer.

3. A system according to claim 2 comprising the computer of claim 2; the computer comprising a computer readable store holding the mission data.

4. A system according to claim 3 comprising a wired data connection between the computer and the second electrical interface of the cradle for transferring the mission data from the computer to the cradle.

5. A system according to any claim 1-4 wherein the cradle includes a housing defining a cavity to house the round whilst the round is receiving the mission data, the housing including an openable lid to allow the round to be placed into and removed from the cavity, and in which the housing provides electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding to the round whilst in the cavity.

6. A system according to any previous claim wherein the cradle comprises a third electrical interface configured to connect with and receive electrical power from an electrical power supply; the cradle apparatus comprising circuitry configured to power circuitry of the round via the electrical interconnection.

7. A system according to any previous claim wherein the round comprises a casing defining an aperture configured to receive an ignition cartridge including a charge that when the decoy is deployed is detonated to propel the decoy out from the round and away from the aircraft, andwherein the electrical interface of the round faces into the aperture, and wherein the first electrical interface of the cradle comprises a projection adapted to extend into the aperture to electrically connect with the electrical interface of the round.

8. A system according to any previous claim wherein the non-volatile computer readable memory is external to the decoy and in which the round comprises an electrical connector means through which the mission data is transferred from the nonvolatile computer readable memory in the round to the computer readable memory of the decoy.

9. A system according to any previous claim wherein the computer readable memory of the decoy is a volatile memory.

10. A system according to any previous claim wherein the cradle has a mass less than or equal to 20Kg and / or the cradle has maximum outer dimension less than or equal to 550mm.

11. A system comprising a cradle apparatus for holding a round comprising an active RF decoy countermeasure, and for transferring mission data to the round prior to loading of the round into a dispenser of a platform the decoy is to protect; wherein the cradle comprises: a first electrical interface to connect with the electrical interface of the round to transfer the mission data from the cradle to the round, and a second electrical interface to connect with a computer to receive the mission data; and wherein one or more apply:(iv) the cradle has a mass less than or equal to 20Kg(ii) the cradle has a maximum outer dimension less than or equal to 550mm;(iii) the second electrical interface of the cradle is of a type conforming to a standard selected from any one of: Ethernet; USB; Firewire; CANbus; Bluetooth, WiFi and Zigbee.

12. A system of any previous claim comprising the round held within the cradle; wherein the round comprises: an electrical interface connected to the first electrical interface of the cradle, through which the round is configured to receive the mission data from the cradle, and a non-volatile computer readable memory to store the received mission data or information derived therefrom; and wherein the decoy of the round comprises: electrical circuitry, including a computer readable memory, adapted, when the decoy is deployed from the platform, to use the received mission data to generate a radio frequency (RF) decoy signal; and an antenna for transmitting the RF decoy.

13. A method of preparing a round comprising a decoy for use on a platform, the decoy comprising, electrical circuitry, including a memory, for generating a RF decoy signal; an antenna for transmitting the RF decoy signal; an electrical interface through which the round is configured to receive the mission data, the round adapted to store the received mission data or information derived therefrom in a non-volatile computer readable memory; the method comprising: mounting the round to a cradle so as to connect an electrical interface of the cradle with the electrical interface of the active decoy to establish a data link between the cradle and round; transferring mission data from the cradle to the round through the data link; and following transferring the mission data, removing the round from the cradle and loading the round into a firing dispenser of the platform.

14. A method according to claim 13 wherein the round comprises a casing defining an aperture configured to receive an ignition cartridge, and the electrical interface of the round faces into the aperture; wherein establishing the data link comprises causing the first electrical interface of the cradle to pass into the aperture; and following removal of the round from the cradle but prior to loading of the round into the firing dispenser, the ignition cartridge is located and retained within the aperture.

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