Angled Reflective Panels for Thermal and Visual Camouflage
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing camouflage techniques are limited to static objects, fail to effectively change from stowed to deployed state quickly, and do not provide adequate infrared camouflage, as they lack reflectivity in the thermal radiation wavelength ranges, making objects visible to thermal imaging equipment and requiring significant energy for cooling systems that increase heat radiation.
Innovation Solution
A camouflage system comprising at least two frames with reflective elements positioned at a predefined angle to reflect visual and thermal radiation, allowing for rapid deployment and stowing, and utilizing materials with high reflectivity in the visual and thermal ranges of 3-5 and 8-14 microns, along with a mechanism for changing the relative position of frames to adjust overlapping areas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If reflective elements are used to camouflage an object in the visual range, then visual camouflage is improved, but infrared camouflage deteriorates because these elements fail to provide reflectivity in the MWIR and LWIR ranges
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by combining multiple reflective elements with different functional properties into a single camouflage structure. Specifically, it integrates visual reflective elements (for visible light) with thermal reflective elements (for infrared wavelengths), creating a multi-layered composite camouflage system that simultaneously addresses both visual and infrared detection threats.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If active cooling systems are used to reduce thermal fingerprint, then infrared camouflage is improved, but energy consumption increases and additional heat radiation is produced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful thermal radiation emitted by the vehicle into a beneficial camouflage effect by using thermal reflective elements that redirect this radiation away from detectors. Instead of actively cooling the vehicle to reduce thermal signature, the system passively reflects the existing thermal radiation, turning the vehicle's heat emission into a camouflage advantage that requires no additional energy input.
Solution Approach 2:
The camouflage system uses the vehicle's own thermal radiation as the camouflage source material. The thermal reflective elements are positioned to reflect the vehicle's self-emitted infrared radiation in directions away from thermal imaging detectors, allowing the vehicle to camouflage itself using its inherent thermal emissions without requiring external cooling systems or additional energy input.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If camouflage structure is designed for effective coverage, then camouflage performance is improved, but deployment speed deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the camouflage structure into multiple independent reflective elements (visual reflective elements and thermal reflective elements) that can be individually positioned and adjusted. This segmentation allows each element to be independently deployed and oriented, enabling faster assembly and configuration compared to a monolithic camouflage structure, while still achieving complete coverage when all elements are positioned.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a dynamic camouflage system where the reflective elements can be adjusted and repositioned during deployment to optimize camouflage performance for different operational conditions. The elements are designed to be movable and adjustable rather than fixed, allowing the system to adapt quickly to changing environmental conditions and threat scenarios, thereby improving both deployment speed and camouflage effectiveness.
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 provides effective thermal and visual camouflage for movable objects, maintaining reflection of the nearby ground while moving, minimizing thermal fingerprint, and allowing quick adaptation to battlefield conditions by enabling rapid deployment and stowing.
Implementation Method 1
The panels are connected to form a structure with the reflective faces of the panels facing outward of the structure and inclined toward the surface upon which the structure rests, so that the panels reflect an image of the immediate foreground to a distant observer
Implementation Method 2
Each of the reflective elements comprises reflective material disposed on at least one side of the reflective element and may have reflectivity of at least 85 percent in the visual range and preferably at least 95 percent, and reflectivity in the electromagnetic (EM) wave length range of 3-5 and 8-14 microns of at least 80 percent and preferably at least 90 percent
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3F
AI summary
A camouflage system for thermal and visual camouflage of a movable object comprising at least two frames and a plurality of reflective elements connected to each of the at least two frames, each of the reflective elements is made of a reflective material having a reflectivity of at least 90 percent in the electromagnetic (EM) wave length range of 3-12 microns and all of the reflective panels are positioned in a predefined angle with respect to a vertical axis, wherein the predefined angle is in the range of 6 to 25 degrees so that when installed on the object an upper part of each of the reflective panels is more distant from the camouflaged object than a lower part of the same reflective panel.