3D Safety Bounding Surfaces for Rapid Firing Trajectory Maps
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current firing safety trajectory map generation for ground- and marine-based launching systems is time-consuming, often produces 2D maps that restrict movement and firing, and fails to adapt quickly to changing shore- and land-based environments, lacking 3D capability and 'fire on the run' functionality.
Innovation Solution
Utilizing 3D virtual maps generated from LIDAR or other sensing technologies to autonomously create safety offset bounding surfaces around points of interest, segmenting objects, and determining projectile drift to generate safety bounding boxes, enabling 3D trajectory planning and real-time updates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional 2D firing safety trajectory maps are used, then movement and firing restrictions can be established, but the system cannot adapt quickly to changing environments and requires significant time to update
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from traditional 2D firing safety maps to 3D virtual maps with volumetric safety offset bounding surfaces. This dimensional enhancement enables the system to represent complex shore- and land-based environments more accurately, capturing spatial relationships and changes in three dimensions, which significantly improves adaptability to changing environments while reducing update time through automated processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements autonomous generation of 3D virtual maps and safety offset bounding surfaces using onboard sensors and processors. This self-service capability eliminates the need for manual map updating, allowing the launching system to automatically adapt to environmental changes in real-time, thereby resolving the contradiction between adaptability and update time.
2Ease of operation
If launching systems are placed close to objects of interest, then engagement capability is improved, but safety risks increase due to proximity to civilian or non-threat objects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent generates individualized safety offset bounding surfaces around each segmented object in the 3D virtual map. These localized safety zones are tailored to each object's specific geometry, position, and threat level, allowing the launching system to operate safely in close proximity to civilian objects while maintaining engagement capability with threats. The offset distances are calculated based on projectile drift characteristics, enabling precise local safety management.
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments the environment into distinct objects and surfaces in the 3D virtual map, then applies different safety offset treatments to each segmented object. This segmentation allows the launching system to differentiate between civilian objects requiring protection and threat objects requiring engagement, resolving the contradiction between operational ease and safety by treating different objects differently based on their segmented identification.
3Measurement precision
If 3D virtual maps with safety offset bounding surfaces are generated, then precise safety zones around objects can be defined, but computational complexity and processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
While the patent does move to 3D virtual maps for improved precision, it simplifies the representation of safety zones by using bounding surfaces (such as bounding boxes or simplified geometric envelopes) around segmented objects rather than complex volumetric models. This approach maintains measurement precision for safety zone definition while significantly reducing computational complexity compared to full 3D volumetric analysis.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the level of computational detail based on operational context. Safety offset bounding surfaces are generated with appropriate precision for each situation, and the 3D virtual map can be updated incrementally as new sensor data arrives. This dynamic approach allows high measurement precision when needed while managing computational complexity through adaptive processing.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables launchers to be placed anywhere safely, avoiding civilian or non-threat objects while engaging threats, supporting rapid map updates and 'fire on the run' capabilities, and allowing projectiles to be fired at low altitudes in close quarters.
Implementation Method 1
LIDAR or other sensing technologies to generate 3D virtual maps
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus includes at least one memory configured to store map data. The apparatus also includes at least one processor configured to segment one or more objects from one or more environment surfaces in the map data. The at least one processor is also configured to determine an offset based on a projectile drift. The at least one processor is further configured to generate a safety bounding box around each of the one or more objects using the offset.