Porous Sub-Munition Compartment for Payload Delivery
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing low lethality impact sub-munitions, particularly drag stabilized or 'bean bag' types, face inefficiencies in payload delivery as the entire sub-munition is coated with payload material, leading to significant loss and reduced target transfer efficiency, necessitating excess material usage.
Innovation Solution
The payload material is strategically located in the forward end of the main body within a closed, porous compartment of the sub-munition, minimizing waste and ensuring efficient transfer upon impact, with options for powder, liquid, or gel forms and encapsulation for ease of handling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the entire sub-munition is coated with payload material, then the payload material is distributed over the surface, but much of the payload material is not transferred to the target and is lost during firing and flight
Solution Approach 1:
The sub-munition is segmented into distinct functional zones: a forward end compartment containing payload material, a mid-section containing shot or pellets, and a trailing drag stabilization section. This segmentation allows the payload material to be concentrated in the forward end where it can be efficiently transferred to the target, rather than coating the entire surface where much would be lost.
Solution Approach 2:
Different parts of the sub-munition have different properties: the forward end contains payload material in a porous compartment for efficient transfer, the mid-section contains ballast material for momentum, and the trailing section provides drag stabilization. This local differentiation optimizes each section's function while minimizing overall payload loss.
2Quantity of substance
If more payload material is used to achieve acceptable delivery amount, then the target receives sufficient payload, but the excess material is wasted
Solution Approach 1:
The payload material is pre-positioned in the forward end compartment in a concentrated form before firing. This preliminary positioning ensures that the payload is delivered efficiently to the target without requiring excess material to be applied as a surface coating that would be lost during flight and firing.
3Stability of the object's composition
If drag stabilization features are added to stabilize flight, then the sub-munition maintains stable trajectory, but the design complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sub-munition uses a flexible fabric shell that can be easily formed into the required shape with integrated drag stabilization features. This flexible construction allows for stable flight characteristics without requiring complex rigid structures or multiple stabilization components, thus maintaining simplicity while achieving stability.
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
This approach maximizes payload delivery efficiency to the target while minimizing excess material usage, ensuring effective transfer of irritants, inflammatory agents, or marking agents with reduced waste and improved accuracy.
Implementation Method 1
a closed, porous compartment of the sub-munition
Implementation Method 2
drag stabilized or 'bean bag' types
Data Source
AI summary
A low lethality impact sub-munition and method of making same, the sub-munition including a closed compartment containing a concentration of payload material in close proximity to the forward end of the compartment and a charge of ballast material rearward of the payload material. At least the forward end of the compartment is sufficiently porous that at least some of the payload material will disperse through the forward end but not the ballast material upon impact of the sub-munition with a target.