Airborne RF Beam Redirection for Indirect Target Illumination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing RF radiation systems face challenges in illuminating targets when a direct line of transmission is not possible or is disadvantageous, limiting their ability to access and maintain illumination of targets effectively.
Innovation Solution
An airborne redirection unit (ARU) comprising a canopy and a steerable beam director, which can focus and redirect RF energy beams, allowing for indirect illumination of targets by providing a larger target area and maintaining constant illumination through position adjustments and sensor-driven reconfiguration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a direct line of transmission is used between RF source and target, then transmission efficiency is improved, but the system cannot illuminate targets behind obstacles or in inaccessible positions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an airborne redirection unit (ARU) as an intermediary device between the RF source and the target. The ARU comprises a canopy for receiving the RF energy beam and a beam director for redirecting the beam to illuminate targets that are not directly accessible from the RF source position, thus solving the contradiction between transmission efficiency and target accessibility.
2Illumination intensity
If the RF source is manoeuvred to achieve direct line of transmission, then illumination quality is improved, but the system becomes less adaptable when manoeuvring is not possible or disadvantageous
Solution Approach 1:
The ARU serves as a movable intermediary platform that can be positioned in the airspace to redirect RF beams. This eliminates the need for the RF source to manoeuvre while maintaining the ability to illuminate various targets, thus preserving illumination quality while enhancing system flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The beam director on the ARU is designed to be steerable, allowing dynamic adjustment of the redirected beam direction. This dynamic capability enables the system to adapt to different target positions and maintain optimal illumination without requiring the RF source to manoeuvre.
3Ease of operation
If a canopy with large surface area is used to slow descent rate, then deployment ease is improved, but the target area for RF illumination increases requiring more precise aiming
Solution Approach 1:
The ARU canopy is designed with a relatively large surface area to provide sufficient drag for easy deployment and stable airborne operation. The beam director on the ARU then precisely redirects the RF beam to the target, compensating for the larger illumination area and maintaining effective precision without requiring extremely precise initial aiming of the RF source.
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 the illumination of otherwise inaccessible targets by providing a more intense and stable RF energy beam, allowing for illumination around obstacles and maintaining focus despite changes in the positions of the ARU, target, and RF source.
Implementation Method 1
a canopy comprising a surface for slowing the rate of descent
Implementation Method 2
The beam director may be for reflecting the RF energy beam
Implementation Method 3
the ARU being configured to focus the RF energy beam
Data Source
AI summary
An airborne redirection unit (ARU), for deflecting an RF energy beam, the ARU comprising: A canopy comprising a surface for slowing the rate of descent, A beam director supported at the canopy, the ARU being configured to focus the RF energy beam.