Interceptor Missile Selection Using Weather-Based Seeker Switching

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing interceptor systems face high costs due to the reliance on radio frequency seekers, which are expensive, and are affected by weather conditions, particularly rainfall, when using infrared seekers for guiding missiles.

Innovation Solution

A command control system that determines the type of guided missile to launch based on weather data, using either an infrared seeker or a radio frequency seeker, depending on rainfall thresholds, to optimize the interceptor system's performance and reduce costs by selecting the appropriate missile for the conditions at the predicted intercept point.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If an infrared seeker is used for guiding a flying object, then the running cost is reduced, but the guiding ability is significantly influenced by weather conditions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverunning costVSAvoidguiding ability

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically selects between infrared seeker and radio frequency seeker based on real-time weather conditions (rainfall amount). The command control system acquires weather data and generates launching instructions to switch between missile types, making the system adaptive to environmental changes rather than static

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the detection method parameter of the guided missile based on weather conditions. When rainfall is below a threshold, infrared detection is used; when rainfall exceeds the threshold, radio frequency detection is used. This parameter change resolves the contradiction by optimizing both cost and reliability under different conditions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If a radio frequency seeker is used for guiding a flying object, then the guiding ability is maintained in adverse weather, but the running cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveguiding abilityVSAvoidrunning cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses inexpensive infrared seeker missiles during favorable weather conditions (when rainfall is below threshold), reserving expensive radio frequency seeker missiles only for adverse weather conditions. This selective usage reduces overall running cost while maintaining reliability when needed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Data Source

PatentUS11340042B2Command control system, interceptor system, and command control method

Publication Date: 2022.05.24 MITSUBISHI HEAVY IND LTD

AI summary

A command control system includes an interception predicting section and an assigning section. The interception predicting section calculates a predicted intercept point of a target to be shot down and a guided missile to shoot down the target. The assigning section acquires first weather data of the predicted intercept point, and generates a launching instruction based on the first weather data so as to launch one of a first guided missile and a second guided missile as the guided missile. A method by which the first guided missile detects the target and a method by which the second guided missile detects the target are different.