Gun-Launched Reconnaissance Payload with Water-Expulsion Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modern warfare communication and reconnaissance operations face challenges in effectively communicating between different domains and locating enemy targets at increased distances, particularly across aerial, naval, and land-based environments, due to the limitations of existing technologies.
Innovation Solution
A communication and reconnaissance assembly is launched from a gun barrel, comprising a carrier and a payload with transmitters and receivers that can be expelled into water, equipped with deployable configurations like parachutes or fins for controlled descent and directional control, enabling accurate targeting and data transmission across multiple domains.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If complex guidance systems are used to achieve precise targeting and communication across domains, then communication reliability and reconnaissance precision are improved, but device complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the communication and reconnaissance function into multiple independent payload units that can be dispersed and deployed independently. Each payload contains its own transmitter and receiver capabilities, allowing the system to achieve reliable multi-domain communication without requiring a single complex guidance system. The segmentation of functions across multiple simple units resolves the contradiction between reliability and complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces water as an intermediary medium for signal transmission between aerial and underwater domains. By launching payloads that can operate in both air and water environments, the system enables communication across domains without requiring complex cross-domain guidance systems. The natural propagation of electromagnetic and acoustic signals through water and air serves as the intermediary mechanism, simplifying the overall system architecture.
2Adaptability or versatility
If advanced communication systems are deployed to communicate across different domains and increased distances, then communication range and domain versatility are improved, but system complexity and resource requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The payload units are designed with universal functionality to operate across multiple domains (aerial and underwater) using the same basic hardware platform. Each payload contains transmitters and receivers that can function in both air and water environments, eliminating the need for separate specialized systems for each domain. This multi-functionality achieves domain versatility while keeping individual unit complexity low.
Solution Approach 2:
The payloads are designed to be self-sufficient units that can independently perform reconnaissance and communication functions once deployed. Each unit carries its own power source, signaling equipment, and operational autonomy, allowing them to service themselves in the deployed environment without requiring complex external support systems. This self-service capability enables domain versatility while minimizing overall system complexity.
3Device complexity
If gun-launched projectile approach is used to launch communication assembly, then cost and complexity are reduced, but precision targeting and controlled deployment become more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from static, pre-programmed guidance to dynamic, adaptive deployment. The payloads are designed to be expelled from the carrier at the target location and then actively deployed into the water or air as needed. This dynamic deployment approach allows simple gun-launched projectiles to achieve precise targeting by combining initial ballistic delivery with secondary active deployment mechanisms that adjust positioning in real-time.
Solution Approach 2:
The carrier is designed to deliver the payloads to the general target area using simple ballistic trajectory, and then the payloads are expelled and deployed in advance of the final operational position. This preliminary action by the carrier followed by secondary deployment of individual payloads allows the system to achieve precise targeting without requiring the gun system itself to be highly complex or precision-guided.
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 assembly allows for precise and efficient communication and reconnaissance across different domains, enabling effective targeting and increased range without the need for complex guidance systems, while minimizing costs and complexity by using a simple, gun-launched projectile approach.
Implementation Method 1
The carrier may comprise a carrier expulsion charge, and carrier fuze adapted to trigger the carrier expulsion charge to controllably expel the payload from the carrier
Implementation Method 2
The deployable configuration is arranged, when deployed, to slow the payload in the air as it descends after expulsion from the carrier
Implementation Method 3
The at least one receiver is may be a hydrographic sensor adapted to detect at least one of magnetic signatures, electromagnetic signals
Implementation Method 4
The at least one receiver may also be a sensor adapted to detect sonar/acoustic signals, and also comprise a sonar emitter
Implementation Method 5
the transmitter is adapted to be at least one of an electromagnetic pulse device, an electromagnetic decoy and/or an electromagnetic jamming device
Implementation Method 6
The payload may comprise a single body, buoyant at or near the surface of the water after being expelled from the carrier
Data Source
AI summary
According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a reconnaissance and communication assembly, adapted to be launched from a gun barrel into the air over a body of water. The assembly comprises a carrier (with a cavity) and a payload (within the cavity). The payload is arranged to be controllably expelled from the carrier and once expelled from the carrier, the payload is adapted to enter the water; and the payload transmits a signal after entering the water.