Vehicle equipped with an active camouflage system

Abstract

The vehicle (1) is equipped with an active camouflage system comprising: - an electrochromic coating (2) fixed to at least one part to be camouflaged of an outer surface of said vehicle (1), and configured to selectively reduce the thermal detectability of said part to be camouflaged; said electrochromic coating (2) comprising an active layer (4) comprising nano structured material having a thermal emissivity value (s) that can be variably determined; and - a control unit (5) configured to generate a potential difference (V) and apply it to said electrochromic coating (2), so as to determine said thermal emissivity value (s) as a function of said potential difference (V).

Description

[0001] TITLE: " Vehicle equipped with an active camouflage system

[0002] DESCRIPTION

[0003] Technical field

[0004] The present invention relates to a vehicle, in particular a military vehicle, equipped with an active camouflage system.

[0005] Technical background

[0006] Camouflage systems are known which utilize various combinations of different techniques exploiting, for example, materials, colours or lighting to hide, or anyway make less easily detectable, obj ects or people.

[0007] More specifically, within the field of military vehicles, the goal of camouflaging is to provide reduced visibility to enemy detection systems, e. g. infrared electro-optical surveillance systems. In this regard, active camouflage systems have been developed which, unlike techniques based on static materials and colour schemes for vehicles, utilizes technologies for dynamically adapting an obj ect' s exterior appearance to the surrounding environment. In particular, camouflage systems are known which employ active coatings through which it is possible to vary the properties exhibited by the vehicle' s outer surface.

[0008] However, vehicles equipped with active camouflage systems currently known in the art suffer from a few drawbacks that should be remedied.

[0009] Summary of the invention

[0010] It is one obj ect of the present invention to provide a vehicle equipped with an active camouflage system which can overcome the drawbacks of the prior art. According to one aspect of the present invention, a vehicle is provided which is equipped with an active camouflage system offering better performance in comparison with prior-art ones, and which can be manufactured in a reliable manner.

[0011] According to the present invention, this and other obj ects are achieved through a vehicle made in accordance with the appended independent claim.

[0012] It is understood that the appended claims are an integral part of the technical teachings provided in the following detailed description of the present invention. In particular, the appended dependent claims define some preferred embodiments of the present invention that include some optional technical features.

[0013] Further features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in light of the following detailed description, provided herein merely as a nonlimiting example and referring, in particular, to the annexed drawings as summarized below.

[0014] Brief description of the drawings

[0015] Figure 1 is a diagram of an active camouflage system intended for use in a vehicle made in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention.

[0016] Figure 2 is a schematic view showing an example of thermal detection, wherein the active camouflage system of the vehicle shown in Figure 1 is in a deactivated condition, in which condition the thermal signature of the vehicle is essentially unchanged from the actual one.

[0017] Figure 3 is a schematic view showing an example of thermal detection, wherein the active camouflage system of the vehicle shown in Figure 1 is in an activated condition, in which condition the altered thermal signature of the vehicle reproduces the thermal signature of the surrounding environment.

[0018] Figure 4 is a schematic view similar to Figure 3, wherein the active camouflage system is in a different activated condition, in which condition the altered thermal signature of the vehicle is changed from the actual one.

[0019] For completeness' sake, the following is a list of alphanumerical references, along with corresponding names used in the following detailed description, which identify the parts, elements and components illustrated in the abovesummarized drawings.

[0020] 1. Vehicle

[0021] 2. Electrochromic coating

[0022] 4. Active layer

[0023] 5. Control unit

[0024] 6. Electrolytic layer

[0025] 8. Electrode

[0026] 10. Electric generator

[0027] 11. Adjuster device

[0028] 12. Ground

[0029] 20. Altered thermal signature

[0030] 21. Thermal sensor

[0031] Detailed description of the invention

[0032] With reference to the accompanying drawings, numeral 1 designates as a whole a vehicle, in particular a military vehicle, equipped with an active camouflage system. While a military vehicle is depicted in the drawings, it will be clear to a person skilled in the art that such vehicle type is merely an example, and should not be understood to limit the protection scope of the present invention. In the description and in the appended claims, in fact, the term "vehicle" will be used generically to refer to any means of transport, including - as non-limiting examples - means for road circulation (such as, for example, vehicles with internal combustion engine, electric vehicles, and hybrid vehicles), boats or crafts, aircraft, and drones (whether terrestrial, aerial, submarine, or amphibious).

[0033] The drawings show, by way of example, an active camouflage system intended for application to vehicle 1. The camouflage system comprises an electrochromic coating 2 fixed to at least one part to be camouflaged of an outer surface of vehicle 1. Electrochromic coating 2 is configured to selectively reduce the thermal detectability of the part to be camouflaged of the outer surface of the vehicle to which it is intended to be fixed.

[0034] Moreover, electrochromic coating 2 comprises - or consists of - an active layer 4 comprising nanostructured material having a thermal emissivity s that can be variably determined as a function of a potential difference to which electrochromic coating 2 is to be subj ected.

[0035] The camouflage system further comprises a control unit 5 configured to generate a potential difference V and apply it to electrochromic coating 2. The thermal emissivity value s for active layer 4 is thus determined as a function of the applied potential difference V. The thermal signature of the part to be camouflaged of the outer surface of vehicle 1 to which electrochromic coating 2 has been applied is then determined and / or reconfigured.

[0036] In particular, active layer 4 faces towards the outside of vehicle 1.

[0037] Preferably, the nanostructured material of active layer 4 comprises - or consists of - graphene, which may include additive or doping substances.

[0038] According to some possible embodiments of the present invention, active layer 4 is laminar and includes a plurality of graphene-based thin films overlapping each other.

[0039] According to an illustrative embodiment of the present invention, the nanostructured graphene of active layer 4 comprises, or consists of, graphene nanoparticles. Preferably, the graphene nanoparticles comprise graphene nanoplatelets. More preferably, active layer 4 comprises one or more thin films comprising said graphene nanoplatelets. Even more preferably, the thin film (s) is of the Van der Waals type. Optionally, the graphene nanoplatelets may include additive or doping substances.

[0040] Said graphene nanoplatelets and said thin films can be used to obtain an active layer 4 that allows adjusting and reducing the thermal emissivity s of said layer in a particularly effective manner, while also lowering production costs.

[0041] According to an illustrative embodiment of the present invention, the graphene nanoparticles comprise - or consist of - graphene nanoflakes.

[0042] Optionally, the nanostructured material of active layer 4 comprises - or consists of - MXene.

[0043] Optionally, the nanostructured material of active layer 4 comprises - or consists of - a mixture of a conductive polymer and nanoparticles, the nanoparticles being, in particular, metal and / or graphene nanoparticles. As an alternative, the nanostructured material comprises - or consists of - one or more metallic thin films.

[0044] In the illustrated embodiment, electrochromic coating 2 comprises an electrode 8 and an electrolytic layer 6 interposed between and, in particular, in contact with active layer 4 and electrode 8. In particular, the potential difference V is intended to be applied between active layer 4 and electrode 8. This leads to ionic separation in electrolytic layer 6, wherein the positive ions in contact with active layer 4 cause a variation in the latter' s thermal emissivity s, in particular through a doping process.

[0045] Electrode 8 is preferably made of an electrically conductive material, e. g. copper.

[0046] Electrolytic layer 6 may be an electrolytic liquid or, as an alternative, a solid-state electrolyte (SSE).

[0047] According to the embodiment of the present invention illustrated herein by way of example, the elements belonging to electrochromic coating 2 (e. g. including active layer 4, electrode 8 and electrolytic layer 6) are in the form of layers, being in particular prevalently two-dimensional.

[0048] Preferably, control unit 5 comprises an electric generator 10 configured to generate potential the difference V to be applied to electrochromic coating 2. In particular, control unit 5 further comprises an adjuster device 11 configured to adjust the value of the potential difference V generated by electric generator 10 and intended to be applied to electrochromic coating 2.

[0049] In particular, electric generator 10 is operatively, preferably electrically, connected to electrochromic coating 2, e. g. through at least one electric conductor (e. g. an electric wire). Preferably, electrochromic coating 2, and particularly electrode 8, is connected to ground 12.

[0050] Control unit 5 may include, for example, a processor (not shown in the drawings), e. g. in the form of a CPU. Control unit 5 may be the same control unit governing other functions of the vehicle, or may be a system exclusively dedicated to controlling electrochromic coating 2. Control unit 5, electric generator 10 and adjuster device 11 are of per se known types, and will not therefore be described any further.

[0051] According to an illustrative embodiment of the present invention, control unit 5 is configured to receive commands (e. g. through an input interface - not shown) from a user. Furthermore, control unit 5 is configured to control electric generator 10 and / or adjuster device 11 in such a way as to supply to active layer 4 of electrochromic coating 2 a potential difference V determined as a function of the received commands. The potential difference V thus determined is then applied to electrochromic coating 2, thereby determining the thermal emissivity s of active layer 4, and hence the thermal signature of the part to be camouflaged of the outer surface of the vehicle to which electrochromic coating 2 has been applied.

[0052] Preferably, control unit 5 is configured to adjust the thermal emissivity s of active layer 4, or of zones thereof, according to one or more camouflage schemes associated with electrochromic coating 2. For example, each camouflage scheme may correspond to a specific combination of thermal emissivity values £1 1(

[0053]

[0054] — >£m,n assumed by respective partitions 411(..., 4ij,..., 4m ninto which active layer 4 has been divided by control unit 5.

[0055] According to one possible embodiment of the present invention, each one of the camouflage schemes can be selectively activated by a user issuing commands to control unit 5 through an input interface.

[0056] According to an alternative embodiment, the camouflage system may include a thermal sensor 21, e. g. an infrared sensor, configured to acquire thermal information about the surrounding environment, and control unit 5 may be configured to select or determine one camouflage scheme as a function of such thermal information. For example, the camouflage scheme may be selected or determined to adaptively imitate the thermal signature of the surrounding environment as estimated by control unit 5 based on the acquired thermal information (in particular, with assistance from an artificial intelligence system). Alternatively, each camouflage scheme may be predetermined and selectable to generate a predefined thermal signature imitating that of an obj ect other than vehicle 1 on which the camouflage system has been installed; in particular, each camouflage scheme may be stored in a memory included in control unit 5.

[0057] The following will describe some illustrative embodiments of the invention, wherein electrochromic coating 2 can change the thermal detectability of camouflaged parts of vehicle 1 in accordance with one or more camouflage schemes.

[0058] According to an illustrative embodiment of the present invention, electrochromic coating 2 comprises a plurality of electrochromic panels 2l lt...,2 j,..., 2mn, which are separate and distinct from, and laterally adj acent to, one another. For example, electrochromic panels 2l lt...,2i j,..., 2mnare so arranged as to form a matrix of m rows and n columns; in particular, the position of each electrochromic panel

[0059]

[0060] in the matrix is defined by the pair i, j, where i = 1,...,m and j = 1,...,n, which represent the i-th row and the j -th column in which that active panel is located. Furthermore, each electrochromic panel

[0061]

[0062] comprises a respective active layer 4j, and preferably also a respective electrode

[0063]

[0064] and a respective electrolytic element

[0065]

[0066] . In this case, control unit 5 is configured to supply to each one of the electrochromic panels 2j a respective electric voltage or current, which will then flow through the respective active layer so as to determine, for each active layer 4j, a respective thermal emissivity value E. Electrochromic panels 21 1(..., 2^,..., 2mnmay have different shapes (e. g. square, rectangular, triangular, hexagonal, etc. ), and may be either planar or curved.

[0067] According to an embodiment which is alternative to the preceding one, electrochromic coating 2 may include a single active layer 4 divided into a plurality of adj acent electrochromic regions 41 1(...,4£,...,4mndefining a matrix, wherein each electrochromic region 4£co-operates with a respective electrode 8£and / or with a respective electrolytic element 6i. In this case as well, each electrochromic region 4£is configured to have a respective thermal emissivity value E depending on the electric voltage or current being supplied through the respective electrode 8£;- and / or the respective electrolytic element 6£;-. In this manner, electrochromic coating 2 can, as a whole, produce a desired camouflage scheme, wherein a specific combination (or matrix) of thermal emissivity values £11, —> i j,..., Emncan be selected for

[0068] the active layers 4l lt...,4^,...,4mnof adj acent electrochromic panels 2l lt...,2^,..., 2mn, or

[0069] the adj acent active regions 4l lt...,4^,...,4mnof the single electrochromic coating 2.

[0070] In more general terms, active layer 4 of electrochromic coating 2 is divided into a plurality of adj acent portions (whether active layers or active regions) 4l lt...,4^,...,4mn, while each camouflage scheme is provided by a specific combination of thermal emissivity values El lt.... Eij,

[0071]

[0072] exhibited by said plurality of adj acent portions 4i,i 4£4mn. I n particular, the plurality of adj acent portions 4l lt...,4^,...,4mndefine a matrix.

[0073] Electrochromic coating 2 may be applied either to the whole outer surface of vehicle 1 or to just a part thereof. Preferably, it is at least applied to most of the outer surface of vehicle 1.

[0074] As mentioned above, vehicle 1 may be an aircraft (e. g. an airplane, a helicopter), a ship, a terrestrial vehicle (e. g. a tank), a drone (whether terrestrial, aerial, submarine, or amphibious), or the like. Vehicle 1 may be a military vehicle or a vehicle for use in the defence field. In particular, vehicle 1 is a motorized vehicle.

[0075] As will be apparent to a person skilled in the art in light of the above, a vehicle made in accordance with the present invention will allow adjusting the thermal emissivity s (with particular reference to electromagnetic waves in the infrared ( IR) range) of active layer 4 of electrochromic coating 2 fixed to a part to be camouflaged of the outer surface of vehicle 1. The detectability of vehicle 1 by thermal detection systems can thus be reduced. This is because the graphene-based active layer 4 makes it possible to adjust the thermal emissivity value s easily and with high electric efficiency. Furthermore, due to the use of graphene, it is also possible to reduce the costs incurred for producing electrochromic coating 2.

[0076] With reference to the illustrative embodiment of the present invention shown in Figure 1, as previously described, control unit 5 is configured to adjust the thermal emissivity s of active layer 4 of electrochromic coating 2, particularly as a function of the potential difference V.

[0077] For example, let us consider the mode of operation shown in Figure 2, wherein vehicle 1 is a tank, and wherein electrochromic coating 2 has been set by control unit 5 into a deactivated condition, i. e. no potential difference V is being applied to electrochromic coating 2. A thermal detection system acting upon vehicle 1 will be able to detect its actual thermal signature, i. e. the one of a tank, since electrochromic coating 2 is not producing any camouflage scheme.

[0078] Conversely, according to the modes of operation shown in Figures 3 and 4, electrochromic coating 2 has been set by control unit 5 into an activated condition, i. e. a potential difference V, corresponding to a modified thermal emissivity s, is being applied to electrochromic coating 2. The same thermal detection system acting upon vehicle 1 will thus detect an altered thermal signature not corresponding to the actual one, since electrochromic coating 2 is now producing a camouflage scheme. In more detail, according to the camouflage scheme shown in Figure 3, the modified thermal emissivity s is adaptively determined as a function of the thermal information acquired by thermal sensor 21 to generate an altered thermal signature imitating the thermal signature of the surrounding environment. On the other hand, according to the camouflage scheme shown in Figure 4, the modified thermal emissivity s is predetermined to generate a predefined altered thermal signature imitating the thermal signature of an object different from a tank, e. g. the thermal signature of a car 20.

[0079] Of course, without prejudice to the principle of the invention, the forms of embodiment and the implementation details may be extensively varied from those described and illustrated herein by way of non-limiting example, without however departing from the scope of the invention as set out in the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMS1. Vehicle ( 1 ), in particular a military vehicle, equipped with an active camouflage system comprising:an electrochromic coating (2 ) fixed to at least one part to be camouflaged of an outer surface of said vehicle ( 1), and configured to selectively reduce the thermal detectability of said part to be camouflaged; said electrochromic coating (2 ) comprising an active layer (4 ) comprising nanostructured material having a thermal emissivity value ( s ) that can be variably determined as a function of a potential difference (V) to which said electrochromic coating (2) is to be subjected; anda control unit (5) configured to generate said potential difference (V) and apply said potential difference (V) to said electrochromic coating (2 ), so as to determine said thermal emissivity value ( s ).

2. Vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said nanostructured material of said active layer (4 ) comprises graphene.

3. Vehicle according to claim 2, wherein said graphene comprises graphene nanoparticles.

4. Vehicle according to claim 3, wherein said graphene nanoparticles comprise graphene nanoplatelets.

5. Vehicle according to claim 4, wherein said active layer (4) comprises at least one thin film comprising said graphene nanoplatelets.

6. Vehicle according to claim 5, wherein said thin film is of the Van der Waals type.

7. Vehicle according to any one of claims 3 to 6, wherein said graphene nanoparticles comprise graphene nanoflakes.

8. Vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said nanostructured material comprises MXene.

9. Vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said nanostructured material comprises a mixture of a conductive polymer and metal nanoparticles.

10. Vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein said nanostructured material comprises a mixture of a conductive polymer and graphene nanoparticles.

11. Vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein said nanostructured material comprises at least one metallic thin film.

12. Vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the electrochromic coating (2 ) further comprises:an electrode ( 8 ), andan electrolytic layer ( 6) interposed between said active layer (4 ) and the electrode ( 8 ).

13. Vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the control unit (5) comprises an electric generator ( 10) configured to generate the potential difference (V) to be applied to the electrochromic coating (2 ).

14. Vehicle according to claim 13, wherein said control unit (5) further comprises an adjuster device (11) configured to adjust the value of the potential difference (V) generated by the electric generator ( 10) and intended to be applied to the electrochromic coating (2 ).

15. Vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said control unit (5) is configured to adjust the thermal emissivity ( s ) of the active layer (4 ) according to at least one camouflage scheme for the electrochromic coating (2).

16. Vehicle according to claim 15, wherein said at least one camouflage scheme can be selectively activated by a user issuing commands to said control unit (5) through an input interface.

17. Vehicle according to claim 15 or 16, wherein the camouflage system comprises a thermal sensor (21 ) configured to acquire thermal information about the surrounding environment.

18. Vehicle according to claim 17, wherein said control unit (5) is configured to select or determine said at least one camouflage scheme as a function of said thermal information.

19. Vehicle according to any one of claims 15 to 18, wherein said at least one camouflage scheme is predetermined.

20. Vehicle according to claim 19, wherein said at least one camouflage scheme is stored in a memory of said control unit ( 5 ).

21. Vehicle according to any one of claims 17 to 20, wherein said at least one camouflage scheme is adaptively determined to imitate, based on said thermal information, the thermal signature of said surrounding environment.

22. Vehicle according to any one of claims 15 to 21, wherein the active layer (4 ) of said electrochromic coating (2 ) is distributed among a plurality of adjacent portions (41,1,...,4i,j,...,4m,n), and said at least one camouflage scheme is produced by a specific combination of thermal emissivity values(ε1,1,...,εi,j,...,εm,n) exhibited by said plurality of adjacent portions (41,1,...,4i,j,...,4m,n).

23. Vehicle according to claim 22, wherein said plurality of adjacent portions (41,1,...,4i,j,...,4m,n) define a matrix.

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