Combat Aircraft Threat Zone Integration

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Solution Overview

Problem

In high-tempo combat situations, pilots face challenges in managing multiple sensors and tools with unique characteristics, leading to increased complexity and limited control possibilities, which can result in the pilot becoming overwhelmed and less effective in time-critical situations.

Innovation Solution

The method integrates the detection and shoot-down zones of multiple enemy aircraft and ground-based threats into a unified geographic zone, allowing for a comprehensive situation picture that summarizes the total sensor and weapons capacity of enemies, reducing pilot workload and stress by providing an integrated position evaluation and decision support.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If multiple sensors and tools are supplied to combat aircraft, then the information and decision support capability is improved, but the device complexity and pilot workload increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesituation picture completenessVSAvoidsensor and tool complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple sensor inputs and threat data sources into a single integrated situation picture displayed to the pilot. By combining radar, infrared, and other sensor data with threat intelligence into one unified display, the system improves information completeness without requiring the pilot to separately monitor multiple complex systems, thus resolving the contradiction between information quality and system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Measurement precision

If each sensor and tool has its own interface and control functions, then the measurement precision and control capability are improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesensor detection accuracyVSAvoidpilot control ease
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a universal control interface that can operate multiple different sensors and tools through a single standardized interaction paradigm. The situation picture display and control system allows the pilot to access and control radar, infrared, and other sensors using the same interface methods, eliminating the need to learn and switch between multiple specialized interfaces while preserving the precise control capabilities of each individual sensor.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If more tools and sensors are supplied to combat aircraft, then the detection and weapons capacity are improved, but the time available for pilot control is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecombat situation awarenessVSAvoidpilot response time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary processing and integration of sensor data and threat information automatically, preparing the situation picture in advance before the pilot needs to make decisions. By pre-integrating data from multiple sensors and pre-calculating threat assessments, the system reduces the time required for the pilot to process information and respond to combat situations, allowing more time for actual pilot response while maintaining comprehensive situational awareness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2815202B1A method for determining threat status for combat aircrafts
Publication Date: 2020.11.18 SAAB AB
  • EP2815202B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for decision support of a first combat aircraft (1) in a combat situation comprising the steps of: a) detecting (3) a second combat aircraft (2), wherein the second combat aircraft (2) is different from the first combat aircraft (1), b) analyzing (4) the second combat aircraft (2) to determine its type, its sensor capacity and its total weapons capacity, and c) recording (5) the sensor capacity and the total weapons capacity of the second combat aircraft (2) to determine a first geographic zone adapted for defining the detection limit of the second combat aircraft (2) and a second geographic zone adapted for defining a shoot-down limit of the second combat aircraft (2), respectively, wherein the first and the second geographic zone are adapted for decision support of the first combat aircraft (1) in the combat situation with the second combat aircraft (2). In this way, a possibility is provided to assist the pilot in decision support in complicated combat situations while being reliable, fast and easy to handle for the pilot in order to make a quick and efficient decision.