Unmanned Training Missile Navigation Data Capture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current training and test systems for unmanned missiles lack the ability to realistically validate mission plans and train personnel effectively, as they cannot simulate the actual operational conditions of a real missile flight, limiting the realism and effectiveness of the training process.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a carrier aircraft coupled with an unmanned training and test missile that captures and stores navigation data, image data, and command data during training flights, allowing for the evaluation of mission plan quality and personnel performance by comparing recorded navigation events with pre-defined mission plans, and simulating errors for training purposes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a live missile is used for training, then training realism is improved, but safety risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a training missile that is a copy of the live missile, equipped with identical navigation systems, sensors, and mission planning software. This allows personnel to train on a realistic platform without the safety risks of using an actual combat missile. The training missile replicates all operational characteristics while being inherently safe.
Solution Approach 2:
The training system separates the training function from the combat function by creating a dedicated training missile platform. This segmentation allows the training missile to focus solely on training capabilities while the live missile remains reserved for operational use, eliminating safety risks while maintaining training realism.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If training missile differs from real missile, then safety is improved, but training effectiveness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The training missile maintains identical critical systems (navigation computer, sensors, mission planning software) to the live missile while only modifying non-critical areas. This local quality approach ensures that the portions of the system relevant to training effectiveness remain unchanged, preserving training realism while implementing safety modifications elsewhere.
Solution Approach 2:
The training missile is designed to perform multiple functions: it can execute real mission plans, simulate various operational scenarios, and provide comprehensive training feedback. This multi-functionality ensures that despite being a training platform, it maintains high training effectiveness by replicating real operational characteristics.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If external computer is used for fault simulation, then missile safety is improved, but training realism deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a service device as an intermediary between the external computer and the training missile. This service device interfaces with the missile's actual systems, allowing fault simulation to be performed through the intermediary rather than directly from external computer. This maintains safety while preserving training realism by keeping the connection to real missile systems.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of simulating faults externally, the system copies the fault simulation capability into the training missile itself through the service device. This allows actual fault conditions to be reproduced within the missile's own systems, maintaining training realism while the missile remains safe due to its training-only designation.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If mission plan validation is performed externally, then safety is improved, but validation accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The training missile performs self-validation of mission plans by executing them and automatically recording navigation events. The missile's own navigation computer and sensors validate the mission plan from within the system, ensuring high accuracy. This self-service approach maintains safety because the validation occurs in a controlled training environment.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback loops where the training missile executes mission plans and automatically records navigation events for evaluation. This feedback mechanism provides accurate validation by comparing actual navigation performance against planned routes, maintaining high validation accuracy while occurring in a safe training environment.
Data Source
AI summary
The missile (1) has a flight on-board computer (14) that is provided with a mission data memory (140). A navigation computer (13) generates control signals for actuating control surface actuators mounted in a payload hull. An image processing computer (17) is connected to a seeker head (16) and the navigation computer for exchanging mission data for controlling navigation of the missile. An event storage device (143) is provided for storing detected navigation events during training of carrier aircraft with missile. An independent claim is included for method for checking mission plan data.