Vehicle Weapon Line-of-Sight Control for Full Spherical Coverage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing weapon systems on vehicles face challenges in achieving complete 4π steradian coverage due to obscuration by vehicle components, making it impractical to use multiple gimballed apertures for full coverage.
Innovation Solution
A control system that alters the vehicle's configuration to maintain a clear line-of-sight to targets, overriding existing vehicle commands if necessary, and employing a directed-energy weapon with gimballed apertures to ensure continuous engagement without obscuration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple gimballed apertures are used to provide full 4π steradian coverage, then coverage is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The vehicle itself is made dynamic by altering its configuration (attitude, position, or shape) to enable the weapon system to achieve full 4π steradian coverage. Instead of using multiple gimballed apertures, a single aperture is combined with vehicle movement to dynamically adjust the line-of-sight and cover all directions.
Solution Approach 2:
The vehicle's configuration alteration capability serves multiple functions: it enables the single-aperture weapon system to achieve full spherical coverage, replaces the need for multiple gimballed apertures, and maintains structural integrity while providing directional flexibility.
2Reliability
If vehicle configuration is altered to maintain clear line-of-sight, then target engagement is improved, but vehicle control complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system continuously monitors the line-of-sight status between the weapon aperture and the target. When obscuration is detected or predicted, the system triggers configuration alterations to restore clear line-of-sight, creating a closed-loop feedback mechanism that ensures reliable target engagement.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system predicts when the line-of-sight might become obscured and triggers configuration alterations in advance. This preliminary action prevents obscuration before it occurs, ensuring continuous target engagement capability without requiring complex real-time adjustments.
3Reliability
If line-of-sight is maintained clear by altering vehicle configuration, then unintentional damage to vehicle is prevented, but speed of engagement decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system predicts potential line-of-sight obscuration and triggers configuration alterations before the weapon needs to be fired. This preliminary action prevents the need for last-minute maneuvers that would slow engagement, allowing the weapon to maintain ready-to-fire status while ensuring safe firing conditions.
Data Source
AI summary
According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a weapon system for use on a vehicle, comprising: a control system, the control system configured to, in response to a determination that a line-of-sight from the weapon system to a target of the weapon system is currently, or going to be obscured, trigger an alteration of a configuration of the vehicle such that the line-of-sight to the target is not obscured. Thus, the weapon system can ensure a line-of-sight of the target, allowing it to be successfully engaged.