Concealed Vehicle Add-On Layout for Low-Signature Operation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicles equipped with additional systems, such as weapons and sensors, suffer from increased visibility and susceptibility to damage when traversing difficult terrain or operating in poor lighting conditions, leading to a compromised signature and increased risk of injury.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle design featuring movable walls or flaps that can transition between operational and camouflage positions, allowing additional systems to be fully concealed within the vehicle's contour, minimizing signature degradation and enabling secure operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If additional systems are mounted on the outside of the vehicle, then the additional systems are accessible and functional, but the vehicle's signature is degraded and the risk of damage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs movable walls and flaps that can dynamically transition between open and closed positions. The movable wall (2) can be opened to expose the additional system (6) for operation, then closed to conceal it, reducing the vehicle's signature and protecting the system from damage while maintaining accessibility when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The additional system (6) is nested within the vehicle's internal space behind movable walls and flaps. This nesting allows the system to be concealed within the vehicle's contour when not in use, eliminating external protrusions that would degrade the signature, while still being accessible for operation when required.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If additional systems are concealed within the vehicle, then the vehicle's signature is improved, but the systems become less accessible and harder to operate
Solution Approach 1:
The movable wall (2) and flap (5) create a dynamic access mechanism that opens to reveal the additional system (6) when operation is required, then closes to maintain the improved signature. This dynamic transition resolves the contradiction by providing both concealment and accessibility at different operational states.
Solution Approach 2:
The movable wall (2) and flap (5) act as intermediaries between the internal concealed space and the external environment. They mediate access to the additional system (6), allowing it to remain concealed while providing controlled access for operation, thus resolving the contradiction between signature improvement and operational accessibility.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If movable walls or flaps are used to conceal additional systems, then the vehicle's contour remains closed and signature is reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The movable wall (2) and flap (5) serve multiple functions: they conceal the additional system (6) to maintain the vehicle's closed contour and reduce signature, provide controlled access for operation, and can be integrated into the vehicle's existing structure. This multi-functionality justifies the added complexity by delivering multiple benefits from a single mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The movable wall (2) and flap (5) mechanism is merged with the vehicle's existing structure and contours. By integrating the concealment mechanism into the vehicle's design rather than adding separate systems, the overall complexity is minimized while still achieving the signature reduction goal.
4Ease of operation
If additional systems are mounted externally for easy access, then operational accessibility is improved, but the risk of injury or tripping in poor lighting conditions increases
Solution Approach 1:
The additional system (6) is nested within the vehicle's internal space, eliminating external protrusions that could cause tripping hazards in poor lighting. The system remains accessible through the movable wall (2) mechanism, maintaining operational ease while removing the physical tripping risk associated with external mounting.
Solution Approach 2:
The movable wall (2) and flap (5) mechanism serves as an intermediary that provides controlled access to the additional system (6) without requiring external mounting. This intermediary mechanism eliminates tripping hazards by keeping the system within the vehicle's boundary while still allowing operational access when needed.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a vehicle having a chassis (1) and at least one add-on system (6). In this case the add-on system (6) is arranged on the vehicle. Furthermore, at least one movable wall (2) and/or panel (5) is arranged on the vehicle. In this case the add-on system (6) as well as the movable wall (2) and/or panel (5) can assume an operating position and a rest position, wherein in the rest position the add-on system (6) is completely concealed by the movable wall (2) and/or panel (5). In the rest position the movable wall (2) and/or panel (5) is inserted into the contour of the vehicle in such a way that a continuously closed contour is present on the vehicle.