Gridless Hypervelocity Impact Detection via RF Pulse TOA
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for detecting hypervelocity impacts and damage propagation in structures face challenges due to the transitory nature of high-frequency signals, requiring large numbers of sensors and excessive power consumption, and are often limited by the size and complexity of the necessary electronics, making them unsuitable for operational vehicles or structures.
Innovation Solution
A gridless detection system utilizing a conductive surface that generates and measures radio frequency pulses from hypervelocity impacts, employing multiple sensors and time-of-arrival measurements to determine precise impact locations, which reduces size, cost, and power requirements compared to conventional grid-based systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a grid-based detection system is used to detect hypervelocity impacts, then impact location can be determined, but the system requires excessive power, mass, and volume resources
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential function of impact detection from the complex grid-based system. Instead of using a complete wire grid that requires extensive power and processing, the invention uses minimal sensor elements that detect impact events and transmit location data, dramatically reducing power consumption while maintaining impact location determination capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a simplified copy of the detection function using minimal sensor elements rather than the full grid. These sparse sensors replicate the essential detection capability without the computational burden of processing the entire grid, enabling impact location determination with reduced power and processing requirements
2Measurement precision
If a grid-based detection system is used to detect hypervelocity impacts, then impact location can be determined, but the system becomes too large and complex for operational vehicles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential detection function from the complex grid system. Instead of implementing a complete wire grid with extensive electronics, the invention uses minimal sensor elements that perform impact detection and location determination with significantly reduced system complexity, making the system suitable for operational vehicles
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the detection system into minimal functional elements rather than using a continuous grid. By dividing the detection function into discrete, simple sensor elements that can independently detect and report impacts, the system achieves the same measurement precision with much lower complexity and better suitability for operational platforms
3Measurement precision
If a grid-based detection system is used to detect hypervelocity impacts, then impact location can be determined, but the system requires large numbers of sensors distributed throughout the structure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential detection capability from the dense sensor grid. By using minimal sensor elements strategically positioned to detect impact events and determine location, the system achieves accurate impact location determination with a much smaller number of sensors, reducing the quantity of components required
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a two-dimensional grid of sensors to a minimal set of strategically positioned detection elements. By changing the spatial arrangement from a complete grid to a sparse distribution, the system maintains impact location determination capability while significantly reducing the total number of sensors required
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
The system achieves precise impact location determination with commercially available components, providing significant size, cost, and performance improvements by using a gridless detection surface that emits and captures radio frequency pulses for impact detection, enabling accurate and efficient hypervelocity impact detection.
Implementation Method 1
a hypervelocity impact detection method and system that utilizes multiple sensors that directly measure electrical pulse emissions generated by hypervelocity impacts
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system for detecting hypervelocity impacts on a detection surface utilizes multiple sensors that directly measure electrical pulse radio frequency (RF) emissions generated by hypervelocity impacts on a detection surface and time of arrival (TOA) position measurements for determining the precise impact location on the detection surface. The detection surface material is compressed differentially in such a way that the inherent equalization of the compressed electron density in one area of the impact is directed to the uncompressed area of the material causing an electrical current that flows until the redistribution of the electrical charge has been completed and the rapid redistribution of charge and inherent current that results emits the radio frequency pulse that is induced into the detection surface.