Networked Military Vehicle Sensor Data Sharing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Coordination and information exchange between military emergency vehicles are hindered by linguistic ambiguities and the limitations of digital situation maps, leading to potential misunderstandings and increased risk for commanders who must physically relocate to assess situations accurately.

Innovation Solution

Enabling remote access and control of sensor data between emergency vehicles, allowing crew members to actively manage sensor settings and gain a comprehensive situational awareness without leaving their vehicles, through a networked communication system that includes real-time data links and decentralized data storage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If commanders use voice or text radio for information exchange, then direct communication is enabled, but linguistic ambiguities and misunderstandings occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication efficiencyVSAvoidlinguistic ambiguities
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the copying principle by transmitting actual sensor images and visual data from one vehicle to another, replacing verbal descriptions with direct visual copies of the situation. This eliminates linguistic ambiguities by showing rather than telling, allowing commanders to see the exact same visual information without interpretation errors.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The sensor system acts as an intermediary that translates the physical situation into transmittable data. Instead of commanders trying to describe complex visual situations through language, the sensor captures and transmits the actual visual information, serving as a mediator between the observed situation and the receiving commander's understanding.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If commanders go to the position of reporting vehicles to assess situations, then firsthand impression is obtained, but time is lost and commanders are exposed to danger

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesituation assessment accuracyVSAvoidexposure to danger
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The receiving vehicle obtains a copy of the sensor data from the reporting vehicle, allowing the commander to view the situation from the reporting vehicle's perspective without physically relocating. This provides firsthand visual access to the situation while keeping the commander safely in their protected position.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The sensor system and communication network serve as intermediaries that transport visual information from the reporting vehicle's location to the receiving vehicle's display, eliminating the need for physical movement while maintaining accurate situation awareness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Device complexity

If commanders rely on digital situation maps, then information is centralized, but the maps are time-consuming and imprecise

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation organizationVSAvoidtime to update maps
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of manually updating digital situation maps with abstract symbols and data entry, the system directly copies and transmits actual sensor images and real-time visual data between vehicles. This eliminates the time-consuming process of map updates while providing more detailed and accurate situational information.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

4Loss of information

If sensor data is transmitted between vehicles, then situational awareness is improved, but data transmission time and bandwidth are consumed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesituational awarenessVSAvoiddata transmission time
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system transmits only the specific sensor data and image portions that are relevant to the current situation and request, rather than transmitting all sensor data continuously. This partial transmission approach reduces bandwidth consumption and transmission time while still providing the necessary situational awareness information.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP3726178B1Method for operating a networked military system
Publication Date: 2023.08.23 KNDS DEUTSCHLAND GMBH & CO KG
  • EP3726178B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3726178B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3726178B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to a method for operating a networked military unit with at least two vehicles (1, 2) equipped with sensors (14), wherein at least one first vehicle (1) accesses sensor data of at least one sensor (14) of a second vehicle (2) and the at least one sensor (14) of the second vehicle (2) is remotely controlled from at least one first vehicle (1).