Sensor-Guided Conductive Energy Weapon for Proportional Charge Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing conductive energy weapons (CEWs) lack sensors to assess threat levels and adjust electric charge accordingly, leading to inconsistent and potentially dangerous responses to varying threats.
Innovation Solution
Incorporation of sensors and a controller in CEWs to determine threat levels and adjust electric charge delivery, including superplastic metal extrusion, dart-based contacts, and other delivery methods, allowing proportional response to threats.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If sensors and controllers are added to CEWs to enable threat assessment and proportional charge delivery, then the ability to deliver balanced and optimized electric charge is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The controller is designed to perform multiple functions: receiving signals from various sensors (accelerometer, gyroscope, microphone, camera), processing threat level information, and controlling the electric charge delivery parameters. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated components for each function, thereby managing complexity while achieving adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback loops where sensors continuously monitor environmental parameters and target responses, and the controller adjusts the electric charge delivery in real-time based on this feedback. This enables proportional response to threat levels while maintaining manageable complexity through iterative control rather than requiring overly complex pre-programmed systems.
2Reliability
If a rigid baton or probe is used as a CEW, then the structure is simple and reliable, but the range is limited to engagement distance and can be grasped by the target
Solution Approach 1:
The rigid baton is segmented into multiple sections that can telescope or extend, allowing the effective length and range to be increased while maintaining the structural reliability of the rigid material. The segmented structure can be compact for storage and deployment when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The CEW transitions from a purely linear rigid structure to one that can extend in multiple dimensions or configurations, such as telescoping sections or articulated joints, thereby increasing the effective range without compromising the fundamental structural reliability of the rigid material.
3Power
If molten metal alloys are used to form conductive beams, then high current capacity is achieved, but the beams break up by Rayleigh instability and require significant energy to maintain temperature
Solution Approach 1:
The system utilizes controlled phase transitions of metal alloys, transitioning from solid to molten state only during the brief moment of beam formation and delivery, then rapidly cooling and solidifying upon contact with the target or atmosphere. This eliminates the need for continuous energy input to maintain molten state while still achieving high current capacity during the critical delivery phase.
Solution Approach 2:
The molten metal beam is delivered in a rapid, continuous motion that minimizes the time the alloy spends in the high-energy molten state. The beam is extruded, delivered to target, and solidifies almost immediately, 'skipping' through the problematic intermediate state where energy loss and instability occur, thereby reducing overall energy requirements.
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 targeted and balanced electric charge delivery based on assessed threats, optimizing safety for both operator and target by incapacitating without causing harm.
Implementation Method 1
pressurizing a reservoir of metallic conductor initially at a temperature below its melting point, and flowing the metallic conductor through an orifice to form a continuous wire with axial velocity
Data Source
AI summary
A method of delivering an electric charge to a remote target with a CEW includes using one or more sensors in communication with the CEW to determine a threat level of a situation and contacting the target with at least one electrode wire discharged from the CEW. The method further includes applying an electric charge along the at least one electrode wire so that electrical charge flows between the CEW and the remote target based upon the determined threat level of the situation.