Spatially-Distributed Antenna Architecture for Platform Guidance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional command guidance fire control systems face significant time delays due to processing overhead and information sharing requirements between the fire control sensor station and the interceptor platform, as well as increased complexity and cost from onboard seeker systems, which complicate the alignment of coordinate frames and introduce errors in position and motion tracking.
Innovation Solution
A spatially-distributed architecture of antenna arrays transmits uniquely coded signals, allowing a receiver to determine the position and motion of a non-cooperative object and the platform to self-determine its position and orientation in a common coordinate system, eliminating the need for jink maneuvers and reducing system resources and time delays by using a common coordinate system for both the target and the platform.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the fire control sensor station tracks the interceptor platform to determine accurate guidance commands, then guidance accuracy is improved, but processing time and system complexity increase due to coordinate frame alignment requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The interceptor platform autonomously determines its own position, motion, and orientation using onboard sensors and processing, eliminating the need for the fire control sensor station to track it. This self-service approach removes coordinate frame alignment requirements and reduces processing time while maintaining guidance accuracy through independent platform-based determination
2Measurement precision
If the fire control sensor station tracks the interceptor platform, then guidance accuracy is improved, but system complexity increases due to coordinate frame alignment and information sharing requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The interceptor platform independently determines its own state parameters using onboard sensors and processing, eliminating the need for complex tracking and coordinate frame alignment systems at the fire control sensor station. This reduces information sharing requirements and simplifies the overall system architecture while maintaining guidance accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The position and motion determination functions are extracted from the fire control sensor station and relocated to the interceptor platform itself. This extraction eliminates the need for complex tracking systems and coordinate frame transformations at the sensor station, reducing system complexity while preserving measurement accuracy
3Measurement precision
If conventional tracking methods are used to align coordinate frames, then guidance accuracy is improved, but processing overhead and time delays increase
Solution Approach 1:
The interceptor platform autonomously determines its own position, motion, and orientation in an Earth-fixed coordinate system using onboard sensors and processing. This eliminates the need for the fire control sensor station to perform coordinate frame alignment calculations, reducing processing overhead and time delays while maintaining guidance accuracy through independent platform-based determination
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 reduces time delays and system complexity by allowing the platform to self-determine its position and orientation in the same coordinate system as the target, enhancing the efficiency and accuracy of guidance and navigation processes.
Implementation Method 1
A spatially-distributed architecture of antenna arrays transmits uniquely coded signals
Implementation Method 2
allowing a receiver to determine the position and motion of a non-cooperative object
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A
Figure 2B
AI summary
A spatially-distributed architecture (SDA) of antennas transmits a set of uniquely coded signals. A first receiver having a known position in a coordinate system defined by the SDA receives reflected versions of the uniquely coded signals. A first processor receives the reflected versions of the uniquely coded signals and identifies a position of a non-cooperative object in the coordinate system. A platform having a second receiver receives non-reflected versions of the uniquely coded signals. The platform determines a position of the platform in the coordinate system. In an example, the platform uses a self-determined position and a position of the non-cooperative object communicated from the SDA to navigate or guide the platform relative to the non-cooperative object. In another example, the platform uses a self-determined position and information from an alternative signal source in a second coordinate system to guide the platform after a coordinate conversion.