Multi-Aircraft Targeting With Positive ID Through Video Handoff
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) face challenges in maintaining positive identification of targets from initial identification to final contact, particularly in coordinating multiple aircraft for effective targeting and impact.
Innovation Solution
A method and system where a first aircraft captures and transmits video streams and targeting coordinates to a Ground Control System (GCS), allowing operators to select and guide a second aircraft towards the target, maintaining positive identification through simultaneous video feeds and enabling terminal homing modes for impact or marking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple aircraft are coordinated for target engagement, then targeting effectiveness is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A Ground Control System acts as an intermediary between multiple aircraft, receiving video feeds and targeting data from first aircraft, processing target identification, and guiding second aircraft to the target. This centralized mediation simplifies the coordination complexity while maintaining effective multi-aircraft engagement.
Solution Approach 2:
The system merges video feeds and targeting data from multiple aircraft into a unified Ground Control System interface, allowing operators to view and process all information in one location. This consolidation reduces the operational complexity of coordinating multiple aircraft while preserving targeting effectiveness.
2Measurement precision
If video streams are transmitted from multiple aircraft, then target identification accuracy is improved, but data transmission requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The Ground Control System extracts only the essential targeting coordinates and key video feed information from multiple aircraft, processing and prioritizing data transmission. This extraction approach maintains accurate target identification while reducing the overall volume of data that must be transmitted and processed.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a second aircraft is guided to the target, then engagement capability is improved, but coordination difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The second aircraft operates in a semi-autonomous manner, receiving guidance commands from the Ground Control System based on target coordinates identified from the first aircraft's video feed. The aircraft autonomously navigates to and engages the target, reducing the real-time coordination burden on operators while maintaining versatile engagement capability.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of targeting, which involves capturing a first video of a scene about a potential targeting coordinate by a first video sensor on a first aircraft; transmitting the first video and associated potential targeting coordinate by the first aircraft; receiving the first video on a first display in communication with a processor, the processor also receiving the potential targeting coordinate; selecting the potential targeting coordinate to be an actual targeting coordinate for a second aircraft in response to viewing the first video on the first display; and guiding a second aircraft toward the actual targeting coordinate; where positive identification of a target corresponding to the actual targeting coordinate is maintained from selection of the actual targeting coordinate.