Uniquely Coded Signal Guidance for Low-Latency Target Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional command guidance fire control systems face significant time delays due to processing overhead and information sharing requirements between the fire control sensor station and the interceptor platform, as well as increased complexity and cost from onboard seeker systems, which complicate the alignment of coordinate frames and introduce errors in position and motion tracking.
Innovation Solution
A spatially-distributed architecture (SDA) of antenna arrays transmits uniquely coded signals, allowing a platform to self-determine its position, motion, and orientation in a common coordinate system, eliminating the need for jink maneuvers and reducing time delays by tracking the target in the same coordinate frame as the platform's self-determination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional command guidance fire control systems are used to track target and compute guidance solutions, then guidance accuracy can be maintained, but excessive time delays are introduced due to processing overhead and communication between fire control sensor station and interceptor platform
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the target tracking and guidance solution computation functions from the fire control sensor station and relocates them to the interceptor platform. The interceptor platform independently receives radar signals, tracks the target, computes guidance solutions, and executes commands without requiring continuous communication with the fire control sensor station, thereby eliminating processing and communication time delays while maintaining guidance accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The interceptor platform performs self-service by independently executing target tracking and guidance computation without external assistance. The platform uses its onboard processor to receive radar signals, determine target position and velocity, compute guidance solutions in its own coordinate frame, and control its flight path autonomously, removing the time delays associated with external processing and communication
2Measurement precision
If fire control sensor station tracks interceptor platform to determine orientation and compute guidance commands, then coordinate alignment can be achieved, but system complexity and processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of having the fire control sensor station track the interceptor platform to determine its orientation and compute guidance commands in the platform's coordinate frame, the patent inverts the approach: the interceptor platform tracks the target in its own coordinate frame and independently computes guidance solutions without requiring the fire control sensor station to provide orientation data or perform coordinate transformations, thereby simplifying the system
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the coordinate transformation and orientation determination functions from the fire control sensor station. The interceptor platform independently establishes its own coordinate frame using its onboard sensors and computes guidance solutions directly in that frame, removing the need for complex coordinate alignment procedures and reducing system complexity
3Loss of time
If active or semi-active seekers are installed on interceptor platform to compute target position and motion, then time delays are reduced, but hardware complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the interceptor platform multi-functional by enabling it to perform both interception and target tracking functions using the same onboard radar receiver and processor. The platform receives radar signals reflected from the target, extracts target position and velocity information, and uses this data for both navigation and guidance, eliminating the need for separate active or semi-active seeker hardware while reducing time delays
Data Source
AI summary
A spatially-distributed architecture (SDA) of antennas transmits a set of uniquely coded signals. A first receiver having a known position in a coordinate system defined by the SDA receives reflected versions of the uniquely coded signals. A first processor receives the reflected versions of the uniquely coded signals and identifies a position of a non-cooperative object in the coordinate system. A platform having a second receiver receives non-reflected versions of the uniquely coded signals. The platform determines a position of the platform in the coordinate system. In an example, the platform uses a self-determined position and a position of the non-cooperative object communicated from the SDA to navigate or guide the platform relative to the non-cooperative object. In another example, the platform uses a self-determined position and information from an alternative signal source in a second coordinate system to guide the platform after a coordinate conversion.