Directed-Energy Weapon Assessment System for Collateral Damage Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
As directed-energy weapons increase in power, they pose a higher risk of collateral damage to non-target objects in the environment due to inadequate assessment and control of energy distribution, neglecting other critical components and functionalities.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus comprising an assessment system and a controller that evaluates the target environment to determine engagement efficiency, directing energy conditionally to minimize collateral damage by assessing parameters such as energy absorption, reflection, and line of sight, using the directed-energy weapon itself for assessment to avoid the need for a separate system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the power of directed-energy weapons is increased to improve engagement effectiveness, then the weapon's ability to engage targets more effectively is improved, but the risk of collateral damage to non-target objects increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary assessment of the target environment before engaging the target. The assessment system evaluates engagement efficiency and identifies potential collateral damage risks in advance, allowing the controller to adjust engagement parameters or select alternative targets before energy is directed, thereby preventing collateral damage before it occurs
Solution Approach 2:
The assessment system provides feedback to the controller about the target environment characteristics and potential collateral damage risks. This feedback loop enables the controller to adjust engagement parameters dynamically, selecting optimal power levels and engagement strategies that maximize target effectiveness while minimizing collateral damage to surrounding objects
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a separate assessment system is used to evaluate target environment and reduce collateral damage, then collateral damage risk is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The assessment system and directed-energy weapon are merged into a single integrated apparatus. The assessment system, controller, and weapon share common components and infrastructure, allowing the system to perform both assessment and engagement functions without requiring completely separate systems, thereby reducing overall device complexity while maintaining collateral damage reduction capabilities
Solution Approach 2:
The directed-energy weapon system is designed to perform multiple functions: it can both assess the target environment and engage targets. The same energy delivery mechanism is used for both assessment (at lower power) and engagement (at higher power), eliminating the need for separate dedicated assessment equipment and reducing system complexity
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatus for a Directed-Energy Weapon An apparatus for a directed-energy weapon comprises: an assessment system arranged to, during an assessment phase, perform an assessment of a target environment, wherein the target environment comprises a target, and the assessment comprises determining a possible engagement efficiency of the target by the directed-energy weapon; and a controller arranged to, during an engaging phase, control the directed-energy weapon to direct energy towards the target environment conditionally upon the possible engagement efficiency.