Vehicle Protection System Using Infrared Sensors for RPG Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing protection systems for vehicles against RPGs are expensive to acquire and operate, and often launch unnecessary countermeasures, reducing mission time and increasing costs due to inefficiency.
Innovation Solution
A protection system comprising multi-band infrared sensors and a processor that determines the alignment of a projectile's firing location with a vehicle, calculating a time window for defense deployment and launching countermeasures only when necessary, thereby reducing costs and improving efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If protection systems launch countermeasures in response to detected RPG firing, then the vehicle is protected from projectile damage, but unnecessary countermeasures are launched reducing mission time and increasing operational costs
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary alignment determination between the vehicle and detected projectile trajectory before launching countermeasures. The processor calculates whether the vehicle is aligned with the projectile's path of travel, and only launches countermeasures when alignment is confirmed, preventing unnecessary launches and optimizing mission time.
2Measurement precision
If protection systems use radar and advanced sensors to detect and track projectiles, then detection accuracy is improved, but acquisition and installation costs increase to hundreds of thousands of dollars
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces complex radar-based detection with an optical sensor that detects the optical signature of RPG firing. The processor then performs geometric calculations using trigonometric relationships to determine alignment and calculate time-to-impact, achieving accurate projectile tracking without requiring expensive radar systems.
3Reliability
If all vehicles in a convoy launch countermeasures upon detecting an RPG, then comprehensive protection is achieved, but resource expenditure increases and operational efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies local quality by determining whether each individual vehicle is aligned with the detected projectile trajectory before activating its protection system. Only vehicles in the path of the projectile launch countermeasures, while vehicles not in the path conserve resources, achieving efficient resource allocation throughout the convoy.
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
The system is less expensive to acquire and operate, expending defenses more efficiently by launching countermeasures only when aligned with the projectile's trajectory, enhancing the vehicle's defensive capabilities and reducing unnecessary resource expenditure.
Implementation Method 1
Each protection system includes multi-band infrared sensors... each sensor is operable to detect a respective angle between the sensor and a location from which a project is fired
Data Source
AI summary
An embodiment of a protection system for an object includes first and second sensors and a processor coupled to the sensors. The sensors are mountable to a side of the object a predetermined distance apart, and each sensor is operable to detect a respective angle between the sensor and a location from which a projectile is fired toward the side. The processor is operable to determine from the detected angles whether the firing location is aligned with the object. If the firing location is aligned with the object, then the processor is operable to calculate from the detected angles and the predetermined distance a time window during which the processor estimates that the projectile will strike the object, and is operable to cause a protection unit to defend against the projectile for the duration of the time window. Such a protection system may be less expensive to acquire, install, or operate than prior protection systems, and may expand defenses more efficiently than prior protection systems.