Aerial Smoke Generator System for Ground Force Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Close air ground support technologies allow enemy aircraft to visually locate and target friendly ground forces, making traditional smoke screen deployment methods ineffective and unavailable when needed.
Innovation Solution
A portable aerial smoke generator system that includes a pilotless aircraft, altimeter, smoke dispensing container, and rotating impulse-smoke-dispenser, allowing soldiers to deploy a circular, spiraling smoke screen at a designated altitude to obscure visual lines from enemy gunships.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If smoke pots are pre-deployed on the battlefield, then smoke screen coverage is available, but deployment flexibility and timeliness are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The smoke screen system is divided into multiple portable smoke generators that can be independently deployed by individual soldiers or small units, rather than requiring pre-deployed fixed smoke pots. This segmentation enables flexible, on-demand deployment while maintaining reliable smoke coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The smoke generators are equipped with automatic ignition and control systems that allow them to self-activate without requiring complex external deployment infrastructure. Soldiers can simply deploy the portable units and they automatically function, eliminating the need for pre-coordination and manual activation of pre-deployed smoke pots.
2Productivity
If aircraft are used to drop smoke bombs, then smoke screen deployment is achieved, but air-ground coordination complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The smoke generation capability is extracted from the aerial domain and placed directly in the ground domain. Portable smoke generators are deployed by ground forces themselves, eliminating the need for aerial delivery systems and the complex air-ground coordination required for synchronized smoke screen deployment.
Solution Approach 2:
Smoke generators are pre-positioned with ground forces and pre-prepared for immediate activation. When smoke screen coverage is needed, soldiers can instantly activate the devices without waiting for aerial delivery, achieving rapid deployment independent of air support coordination.
3Power
If close air ground support is used to target ground forces, then firepower effectiveness is improved, but friendly force vulnerability increases
Solution Approach 1:
The smoke screen acts as an intermediary barrier between friendly ground forces and enemy aerial firepower. By deploying smoke generators around troop positions, the system creates a visual遮蔽 layer that blocks enemy aircraft sensors and pilots' lines of sight, preventing accurate targeting while allowing friendly forces to operate under the cover of smoke.
Solution Approach 2:
Smoke screens are deployed in advance of enemy aerial attacks to pre-establish protective coverage. By having portable smoke generators ready for immediate activation, friendly forces can create the protective smoke barrier before enemy aircraft arrive, neutralizing the threat of close air support before it can be effectively applied.
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
The system effectively protects ground forces by creating a large, vision-blocking smoke blanket, enabling them to regroup, change formation, and coordinate attacks while preventing enemy aircraft from targeting them.
Implementation Method 1
The rotating impulse-smoke-dispenser has tubular arms extending radially outward and configured to eject smoke under pressure in a direction promoting rotation of the rotating impulse-smoke-dispenser
Implementation Method 2
Artificial clouds or smoke-screens are forms of camouflage that serve to disrupt the line of sight between a sensor and a target for military purposes. A smoke screen can be an effective shield against ultraviolet, visible and infrared sensors.
Data Source
AI summary
An aerial smoke generator system includes a pilotless aircraft, an altimeter, a smoke dispensing container, a rotating impulse-smoke-dispenser, and a processor. The altimeter is mounted to the pilotless aircraft. The smoke dispensing container is connected to the pilotless aircraft and has a smoke-producing chemical under pressure and a nozzle valved to release smoke from the smoke dispensing container. The rotating impulse-smoke-dispenser connected to the nozzle so as to release smoke produced by the smoke dispensing container. The rotating impulse-smoke-dispenser has tubular arms extending radially outward and configured to eject smoke under pressure in a direction promoting rotation of the rotating impulse-smoke-dispenser. The processor is connected to the altimeter and the smoke dispensing container so as to initiate a release of smoke when the pilotless aircraft arrives at a designated height.