Emergency Radar Reflector with Hydrodynamic Wings
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing emergency position indicating devices using radar cross section (RCS) face challenges in operation without a life jacket, in low seawater temperatures, and in preventing device malfunction or wind-induced lowering of the radar reflector, which can hinder effective emergency position indication.
Innovation Solution
A radar reflector operating device with a pull or press switch mechanism, a compressed air container, and hydrodynamic wings, allowing easy activation and maintaining operation without power sustenance, and preventing wind-induced lowering, enabling use as a life buoy for non-swimmers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a victim operates a radar reflector device in low seawater temperature, then the emergency position indication can be activated, but the victim's consciousness and finger senses dull causing difficulty in operation
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into separate functional modules: a radar reflector unit, a gas injection unit, and a control unit. This segmentation allows the operation to be simplified to a single triggering action that initiates a sequence of automated operations, reducing the physical dexterity required in cold conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The device incorporates an automated gas injection mechanism that automatically inflates the radar reflector after the victim activates the trigger. This self-service feature eliminates the need for the victim to perform multiple manual operations (such as manually inflating the reflector), thereby overcoming the limitation of dulled finger senses in cold water.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a victim is dropped into seawater without wearing a life jacket, then the victim may not be able to swim or stay afloat, but the related art device requires attachment to a life jacket to operate
Solution Approach 1:
The device is designed to function independently without requiring attachment to a life jacket. The radar reflector unit itself serves as both the signaling device and the floating platform, making it universally applicable whether the victim is wearing a life jacket or not. The integrated design allows the device to be activated simply by falling into the water and triggering the mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The device automatically activates and inflates upon water contact or trigger activation, requiring no manual assembly or attachment to life-saving equipment. This self-service capability ensures the device can be used by anyone regardless of whether they have a life jacket, removing the operational constraint.
3Measurement precision
If the radar reflector is floated at appropriate height for proper reflection section, then distant recognition is achieved, but wind may cause the device to be floated lower than desired height
Solution Approach 1:
The device incorporates a ballast system that provides downward force to counteract the lifting effect of wind on the inflated radar reflector. By adjusting the ballast weight, the system maintains the reflector at the optimal height for radar reflection despite wind conditions, ensuring both distant recognition and reflection accuracy.
4Speed
If a compressed air container is used to inflate the radar reflector, then quick deployment is achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device extracts only the essential function of quick inflation by using a pre-charged compressed air container with a simple valve mechanism. This approach achieves rapid deployment while minimizing complexity by eliminating the need for electric pumps, batteries, or complex control systems. The compressed air system is a passive, mechanically-simple solution that provides fast inflation.
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
Enables victims to easily indicate their position by inflating and floating a radar reflector, even without a life jacket, maintaining operation in adverse conditions and ensuring recognition over distance.
Implementation Method 1
a compressed air container configured to store a compressed gas and include a gas jet, and accommodated in the inside of the pull trigger, the gas jet being connected to a gas ejection nozzle that is installed at a through hole of the pull trigger
Implementation Method 2
A radar reflector on which a di-hedral or tri-hedral metal films, a tri-hedral radar reflector having one side of 1 for a radar wave of a conventional 3GHz band is equipped with an RCS over 3500 times of a spherical metal reflective surface
Implementation Method 3
allowing an appropriate reflection section and distant recognition by preventing the radar reflector, to which hydrodynamic wings is attached, from being lowered due to wind
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the inventive concept provide a radar reflector operating device for indicating an emergency position, capable of permitting a victim to indicate his location by means of a radar reflector even when he is dropped into seawater without a life jacket, easily actuating the radar reflector by simply pulling or pressing a switch even when low seawater temperature dulls a victim's consciousness and senses of fingers, arms, etc., maintaining an operation of the radar reflector due to safety means even without sustenance of power by a victim once the victim applies power in a predetermined level to operate the radar reflector, allowing an appropriate reflection section and distant recognition by preventing the radar reflector, to which hydrodynamic wings is attached, from being lowered due to wind, etc., and securing a victim, who cannot swim, against dangerous environments by rendering him to use the radar reflector as a life buoy and hold the wings by hands to float on the sea.