Remotely Guided Gun-Fired Rounds with Live Video Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gun-fired and mortar rounds lack the capability for real-time decision-making and are complex and costly, making them ineffective for intercepting moving targets and minimizing collateral damage and unexploded ordnance.
Innovation Solution
A remotely guided system that uses an onboard camera to capture and transmit image data to a control platform, allowing a user to manually identify and stabilize features for guiding the round, incorporating control surfaces and propulsion systems for precise targeting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If GPS signal and inertial sensors are used for guidance, then the round can arrive at a preprogrammed target position, but the system becomes complex and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the decision-making function from the automated GPS/inertial system and places it in the human operator's loop. The operator views live video feed and manually guides the round to the target, eliminating complex automated navigation systems while maintaining targeting accuracy through human judgment and real-time visual feedback.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a video transmission system as an intermediary between the round and the operator. Live video feed acts as a mediator that provides real-time visual information to the operator, enabling manual guidance without requiring complex automated sensing and processing systems.
2Reliability
If radar and complex sensory systems are used, then moving targets can be intercepted, but the system becomes complex and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The round carries its own video camera and transmission equipment, making it self-sufficient for providing visual feedback. This eliminates the need for external radar or sensory systems on the launching platform, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining the ability to track and intercept moving targets through real-time video monitoring.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from traditional radar-based detection (electromagnetic dimension) to visual dimension detection using a camera. This dimensional change provides sufficient information for tracking moving targets while using simpler, less costly equipment.
3Productivity
If automated guidance systems are used, then target interception can occur without human intervention, but the ability to minimize collateral damage and UXO is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements real-time video feedback from the round's perspective to the operator. This allows the operator to continuously monitor the round's approach to the target and make real-time decisions to adjust the trajectory, ensuring precise targeting and minimizing the risk of collateral damage or unexploded ordnance through human judgment and control.
Solution Approach 2:
The operator has the opportunity to verify target identification and make final authorization decisions before the round impacts. This preliminary human action ensures that the correct target is engaged and reduces the risk of misidentification that could lead to collateral damage or unexploded ordnance.
4Device complexity
If simple guidance systems are used, then the system is low cost and easy to operate, but real-time target adjustment and feedback capability is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The video transmission system serves as an intermediary that provides real-time visual feedback from the round to the operator without requiring complex automated processing. This simple yet effective intermediary maintains the operator's situational awareness and enables real-time decision-making while keeping the overall system simple and cost-effective.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for guiding a gun-fired or mortared round towards an intended target. The method including: capturing image data from an image pick-up device during a descent of the round; transmitting the image data to a control platform remotely located from the round; receiving the image date at the control platform; displaying the image data to a user at the control platform; manually identifying one or more features in the image data on the monitor; and stabilizing the image on the monitor based on the one or more identified features.