Covert Identification via Spectral Hopping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current Friendly Forces Identification (FFI) technologies are not reconfigurable and can be detected by enemy forces using advanced night vision and electro-optic sensors, making it difficult for covert military units to identify friendly forces without revealing their location, especially in chaotic and ill-defined war zones.
Innovation Solution
A covert identification system utilizing a marker with a liquid crystal tunable filter or conformal filter that reflects interacted photons, combined with a spectroscopic imaging device, which operates in a pattern to distinguish between interacted and non-interacted light, and employs wavelength hopping and encryption to remain undetectable to broadband sensors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional FFI equipment uses fixed frequencies with IR LEDs, chemiluminescence, or retroreflective patches, then friendly forces can be identified, but the equipment cannot adapt if enemy forces discover the FFI techniques and becomes detectable by advanced sensors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic frequency hopping in the FFI equipment, allowing the system to continuously change operating frequencies according to a predetermined sequence. This dynamic adaptation prevents enemy forces from detecting and exploiting fixed-frequency FFI signals, while maintaining reliable friendly force identification through synchronized reception at the same frequencies.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes physical parameters by hopping between multiple frequency bands and wavelengths. The FFI equipment can operate across different electromagnetic spectrum regions (visible, infrared, etc.) and adjust intensity levels, making it difficult for enemy sensors to detect across all possible parameters while maintaining effective identification capability.
2Measurement precision
If covert forces use FFI devices to identify friendly forces, then identification is possible, but the location of covert forces is revealed to enemy forces
Solution Approach 1:
The FFI equipment employs periodic transmission of identification signals at specific frequencies and intermittent operation patterns. This allows covert forces to identify friendly forces during brief activation periods while minimizing detection probability, as the signals are not continuously present for enemy sensors to detect.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses highly directional and localized signal transmission with narrow beam patterns. The FFI signals are concentrated in specific spatial directions rather than omnidirectional broadcast, allowing precise identification of friendly forces in the local area while reducing the spatial footprint that enemy sensors can detect.
3Duration of action of moving object
If FFI equipment operates in reduced visibility conditions, then identification can occur at night, but detection by enemy night vision and electro-optic sensors increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extends FFI operation into multiple spectral dimensions beyond the visible range, utilizing infrared, ultraviolet, and other electromagnetic bands that are less accessible to conventional enemy sensors. By operating in these alternative spectral dimensions, the system maintains identification capability in low-light conditions while reducing detectability by standard night vision equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The FFI equipment employs composite signaling that combines multiple wavelengths and modalities (visible light, infrared, ultraviolet) in coordinated patterns. This multi-component approach allows the system to maintain robust identification functionality across varying lighting conditions while making detection more difficult, as enemy sensors would need to detect across multiple spectral bands simultaneously.
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
Enables accurate and covert identification of friendly forces while remaining resilient and adaptable, avoiding detection by enemy sensors, even in low-light conditions, by presenting a unique spectral profile that can be decrypted by friendly forces.
Implementation Method 1
a marker that includes at least one of a liquid crystal tunable filter (LCTF) and a conformal filter and which reflects interacted photons that have interacted with the LCTF or the conformal filter
Implementation Method 2
a marker that includes at least one of a liquid crystal tunable filter (LCTF) and a conformal filter and which reflects interacted photons that have interacted with the LCTF or the conformal filter
Implementation Method 3
a spectroscopic imaging device that includes at least one of a LCTF and a conformal filter and which is configured to receive the interacted photons
Data Source
AI summary
In order to avoid friendly fire incidents in the combat theater, novel covert identification systems and methods of identifying friendly forces are provided. The systems include at least a spectroscopic imaging device and a marker that interact with each other by using a synchronized, predetermined filter tuning sequence. The filter tuning sequence enables interacted photons to wavelength hop according to the predetermined tuning sequence. As a result, the covert identification system allows friendly forces to clearly identify each while avoiding detection by enemy forces that employ conventional broadband and night vision sensors.