Fine-Tracking Sensor Display Coupling for Missile Threat Awareness
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing missile warning systems on vehicles, particularly aircraft, suffer from low angular resolution due to limited sensors, which limits detection, recognition, and identification ranges, making them inadequate for reconnaissance and requiring additional equipment that is costly and cumbersome for pilots or drivers.
Innovation Solution
A control appliance that couples a fine tracking sensor (FTS) with a display to provide high-resolution images for tracking approaching missiles, enhancing situational awareness by directing its line of sight to improve the depiction of vehicle surroundings, and integrating it with a DIRCM appliance for precise counter measures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If missile warner sensors cover a large solid angle to achieve complete sphere coverage, then the coverage area is improved, but the angular resolution deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the monitoring function into two segments: missile warner sensors cover the complete sphere with low resolution for detection, while a separate directed sensor provides high-resolution imaging for a specific region of interest. This segmentation allows each sensor to be optimized for its specific function without compromise.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies different quality levels to different regions: low-resolution coverage across the entire sphere for missile detection, and high-resolution local imaging for reconnaissance and identification. This local quality approach ensures adequate performance in both detection and identification without requiring uniformly high resolution everywhere.
2Measurement precision
If additional sensors are added to improve resolution, then the measurement precision is improved, but the device complexity and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The directed sensor is designed to serve multiple functions: it provides high-resolution imaging for reconnaissance, supports identification of detected threats, and can be directed to specific regions of interest. This multi-functionality reduces the need for multiple specialized sensors, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.
3Measurement precision
If the FTS is continuously directed to track missiles, then the tracking precision is improved, but the availability for reconnaissance purposes deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The directed sensor's line of sight is dynamically adjustable, allowing it to be pointed at missile threats when needed for tracking and countermeasures, and redirected to other regions for reconnaissance purposes. This dynamic repositioning capability enables the system to adapt to different operational requirements without being permanently dedicated to a single function.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
An apparatus to improve a situational awareness of a pilot or driver controlling a vehicle by means of a control appliance (200). The control appliance (200) comprises a display (210) for depicting surroundings of the vehicle, and the vehicle comprises a missile warner (300) and a sensor for fine tracking (FTS) (410), wherein the FTS (410) is configured to provide high-resolution images for a tracking of an approaching missile detected by the missile warner (300). The apparatus comprises a control unit (100), configured to couple a directable line of sight of the FTS (410) with the display (210), and to employ the high-resolution images of the FTS (410) to improve the depiction of the surroundings of the vehicle on the display.