Aircraft Surface Optical Code Transmission System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Confidential information transmitted via wireless communication between aircrafts in a combat zone is vulnerable to being stolen and decoded by third parties, necessitating a secure method for transmitting passwords and encoded information.
Innovation Solution
An information transmission system comprising an encoder on one aircraft to create a secret code, a display to make it nearly indistinguishable on the aircraft's surface, and an imaging apparatus and decoder on another aircraft to capture and decode the image-based secret code, ensuring confidentiality without using wireless communication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If wireless communication is used to transmit confidential information between aircrafts, then communication speed and convenience are improved, but security and confidentiality deteriorate due to vulnerability to interception by third parties
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces wireless electromagnetic communication with an optical/mechanical system. Confidential information is encoded into visual patterns (secret codes) that are displayed on the aircraft's surface and captured by imaging apparatuses. This substitution of communication medium from wireless signals to visual patterns fundamentally eliminates the vulnerability to wireless interception while maintaining information transmission capability.
2Reliability
If a secret code is displayed on the aircraft surface for visual transmission, then confidentiality is improved by avoiding wireless interception, but detectability by third parties may worsen if the code is visible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes color and luminance variations to encode information in the secret code patterns. The display apparatus modifies the optical properties (color, brightness) of regions on the aircraft surface to represent encoded data. This allows the secret code to be detectable by friendly aircraft with imaging apparatuses while potentially blending with or differing from enemy camouflage patterns, thus balancing confidentiality with controlled detectability.
3Loss of information
If the secret code is made visible for capture by imaging apparatus, then information transmission capability is improved, but the code may become distinguishable from the aircraft surface pattern at a distance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different visual properties to different local regions of the aircraft surface to encode information. The secret code consists of localized patterns with specific color, luminance, or texture characteristics that differ from the surrounding surface. This local differentiation allows imaging apparatuses to capture and distinguish the encoded information while the overall appearance maintains integration with the aircraft's surface pattern when viewed from a distance.
Data Source
AI summary
An information transmission system includes an encoder, a display, an imaging apparatus, and a decoder. The encoder is mounted on a first aircraft and is configured to encode information to create a secret code. The display is mounted on the first aircraft and is configured to display the secret code created by the encoder at a predetermined position on a surface of a body of the first aircraft. The imaging apparatus is mounted on a second aircraft and is configured to capture an image of the first aircraft. The decoder is mounted on the second aircraft and is configured to detect an image region including the secret code from the image captured by the imaging apparatus, decode the secret code by performing image processing on the detected image region, and read the information.