Automated Missile Aimpoint Computation from Seeker Video
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current Man-In-The-Loop (MITL) missile systems require manual and repetitive pilot intervention for aimpoint updates, leading to suboptimal target impact and increased workload, as the process is time-consuming and lacks precision.
Innovation Solution
An automated system that processes in-flight seeker video to compute and suggest a precise optimized aimpoint, allowing the pilot to receive autonomous target aim point updates through software-generated cursor positioning, which can be accepted or overridden, without requiring extensive recertification of aircraft or missile systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual aimpoint update process is used, then pilot control is maintained, but workload increases and accuracy decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically processes seeker video feeds to identify targets and compute optimized aimpoints without requiring pilot intervention for each update. The automated target recognition and aimpoint calculation performs the service that would otherwise require continuous manual input, reducing workload while improving precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously receives feedback from the seeker video feed, automatically identifies targets, and updates aimpoints in real-time. This closed-loop feedback mechanism allows the system to adapt to changing target positions and conditions, maintaining high accuracy without increasing pilot workload.
2Productivity
If manual aimpoint update process is used, then system simplicity is maintained, but time consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary processing of the seeker video feed continuously, pre-identifying targets and computing optimized aimpoints before the pilot needs to update the aimpoint. This advance preparation eliminates the need for real-time manual calculation and reduces update time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical manual control process with an automated computational system that uses image processing algorithms to identify targets and calculate aimpoints. This substitution of mechanical manual operation with automated computation dramatically increases productivity.
3Measurement precision
If automated aimpoint suggestion is implemented, then accuracy improves, but recertification requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the existing seeker video feed and standard aircraft display infrastructure to provide automated aimpoint suggestions. By leveraging existing multi-functional components rather than adding dedicated hardware, the system achieves improved precision without requiring extensive new recertification.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a virtual overlay of the automated aimpoint suggestion on top of the existing seeker video feed display. This copying approach allows the automated system to operate within the existing display framework without requiring physical modifications or extensive recertification of the underlying hardware systems.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems are disclosed that automatically display an optimized aimpoint on a target image in received seeker data. In one embodiment, a method receives missile seeker target data. A seeker mode data is extracted from the received missile seeker target data. The location of a most vulnerable spot on a target is identified based on a comparison of target library data with seeker image data. A marker is generated at the location of the optimized aimpoint and output to a display.