U.S. patent application number 09/745264 was filed with the patent office on 2001-07-05 for friend or foe detection system and method and expert system military action advisory system and method.
Invention is credited to Lemelson, Dorothy, Lemelson, Jerome H., Pedersen, Robert D., Pedersen, Steven R..
Application Number | 20010006372 09/745264 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 22868752 |
Filed Date | 2001-07-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010006372 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lemelson, Jerome H. ; et
al. |
July 5, 2001 |
Friend or foe detection system and method and expert system
military action advisory system and method
Abstract
A friend or foe detection system and method is disclosed. Friend
or foe warning unit 20 has a geographic locating system, a
communication system for communicating with each of the warning
units, and a military force detection system for detecting military
forces in a combat area and has a signal routing and control
circuitry 50 for controlling operations. A number of components,
devices, or sub-systems, such as a transmitter/receiver radio 28,
an antenna 26, a microphone 30, a speaker 32, a battery 34, a
display 36, a microprocessor 38, a memory 40, a camera 56, a
radar/lidar input 54, on/off switch 52, a GPS location system 45
that includes a GPS processor 46, a GPS receiver 42, a GPS antenna
44, are coupled to the circuitry 50. Display 36 provides a display
to the user of the unit 20 and shows the location of friendly
forces as well as unfriendly or unidentified forces in the area.
Display 36 displays text messages for the user of the warning unit
20. The microprocessor 38 together with memory 40 provide
microprocessor control of the operations of the warning unit 20.
The geographic locating system includes GPS processor 46, GPS
receiver 42, and GPS antenna 44, and it is used to determine the
exact location of the warning unit 20. The unit 20 is able to
broadcast and receive military force information, such as location
and status (i.e. friendly, unfriendly, unidentified statuses). An
expert system military action advisory system and method for
advising military troops or personnel of firing decisions is also
disclosed. A firing index is determined based on the membership
variables, and the firing index is used to help make the firing
decisions. The membership variables and the firing index are
defined for an expert system or fuzzy logic system, and the expert
system or fuzzy logic system helps determine making the firing
decisions. The system and method operate by transmitting target and
friendly force GPS coordinate information to determine danger.
Alternatively, only target coordinates are transmitted with fire
danger indices calculated on a distributed basis by individual
warning units and transmitted to the source of fire without
friendly force location coordinates to assist in making final
firing decisions.
Inventors: |
Lemelson, Jerome H.;
(Incline Village, NV) ; Pedersen, Robert D.;
(Dallas, TX) ; Pedersen, Steven R.; (Dallas,
TX) ; Lemelson, Dorothy; (Incline Village,
NV) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DOUGLAS W. RUDY
Suite 300
14614 North Kierland Boulevard
Scottsdale
AZ
85254
US
|
Family ID: |
22868752 |
Appl. No.: |
09/745264 |
Filed: |
December 20, 2000 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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09745264 |
Dec 20, 2000 |
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09231326 |
Jan 13, 1999 |
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6166679 |
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09745264 |
Dec 20, 2000 |
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09558176 |
Apr 26, 2000 |
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6201495 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
342/45 ;
342/357.59 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G01S 19/18 20130101;
G01S 5/0009 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
342/45 ;
342/357.06; 342/357.17 |
International
Class: |
G01S 013/78; G01S
015/74; H04B 007/185 |
Claims
We claim:
1. A method for assisting military troops or personnel in making
firing decisions based on friend or foe troop identification
comprising the steps of: defining friendly force and target
variables with membership functions affecting the firing decisions,
determining a firing index based on the variable membership
functions, and using the firing index to help make the firing
decisions.
2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the variables and the
firing index are defined for an expert system wherein the expert
system helps determine making the firing decisions.
3. The method according to claim 2 wherein the firing index is
calculated by individual warning units in a vicinity of the target
and the firing index is transmitted to a source of fire to assist
in making firing decisions without disclosing exact locations of
friendly forces.
4. The method according to claim 2 wherein the variables and the
firing index are defined for a fuzzy logic system wherein the fuzzy
logic system helps determine making the firing decisions.
5. The method according to claim 4 wherein each warning unit
comprises: a fuzzy logic processor that uses fuzzy logic to
calculate the firing index for each individual warning unit wherein
the firing index is transmitted to a source of fire to assist in
making firing decisions without disclosing exact location of
friendly forces.
6. The method according to claim 1 wherein one of the variable
membership operations defines target priority membership.
7. The method according to claim 1 wherein one of the variable
membership operations defines a friend distance-to-target
membership.
8. The method according to claim 1 wherein one of the variable
membership operations defines ordinance radius membership.
9. A method for implementing and operating warning units to locate
military forces and to detect friend or foe status of the military
forces comprising the steps of: determining whether a user of one
of the warning units is about to execute an aggressive military
action, calculating geographic location coordinates of at least one
anticipated enemy target if the user is about to execute the
aggressive military action, transmitting from the one of the
warning units to each of the other warning units warning
information relating to the aggressive military action to warn the
military forces of friendly status that are in vicinity of the at
least one anticipated target, waiting a predetermined time for
response information to be sent from each of the other warning
units to the one of the warning units, determining if the one of
the warning units received the response information from each of
the other warning units, executing the aggressive military action
if none of the response information was received by the one of the
warning units, performing expert analysis in determining execution
of the aggressive military action if the response information was
received by the one of the warning units, aborting the aggressive
military action if the expert analysis results in determining
abortion of the aggressive military action and executing the
aggressive military action if the expert analysis results in
determining execution of the military action, determining if each
of the other warning units is transmitting other warning
information to the one of the warning units when the user of the
one of the warning units is not about to execute an aggressive
military action and determining whether the user of the one of the
warning units is in danger based on the geographic location
coordinates if the other warning information is received by the one
of the warning units, warning the user of the one of the warning
units of the danger, and advising the user of the one of the
warning units of a route to safety.
10. A system for locating military forces and detecting friend or
foe status of the military forces comprising: warning units each
having a geographic locating system, a communication system for
communicating with each of the warning units, and a military force
detection system for detecting military forces in a combat area,
wherein the military force detection system determines status of
the military forces, the geographic locating system calculates
geographic location position, and the communication system
transmits at least the status to each of the other warning units,
and wherein each of the warning units receives the status from each
of the other warning units and displays locations of the military
forces and indicates the military force status.
11. The system according to claim 10 wherein each of the warning
units further comprises: a signal routing and control circuitry for
controlling operations of each of the warning units.
12. The system according to claim 11 further comprising: a
microprocessor and a memory device that are coupled to the signal
routing and control circuitry to provide computer controls and
operations for each of the warning units.
13. The system according to claim 11 wherein the communication
system further comprises: a radio transmitter and receiver, a
speaker, and a microphone that are coupled to the signal routing
and control circuitry, a communications antenna coupled to the
radio transmitter and receiver, and wherein the communications
system transmits and receives warning unit information.
14. The system according to claim 11 further comprising: a display
coupled to the signal routing and control circuitry.
15. The system according to claim 14 wherein the display shows
location of the military forces.
16. The system according to claim 14 wherein the display shows user
information.
17. The system according to claim 16 wherein the user information
is text messages.
18. The system according to claim 14 wherein the display shows the
status of the military forces.
19. The system according to claim 14 wherein the display further
comprises a grid having latitudinal and longitudinal lines wherein
the grid is divided into various location sectors and wherein the
location and the status of the military forces are able to be shown
on the grid.
20. The system according to claim 10 wherein the status of the
military forces is a friendly status.
21. The system according to claim 10 wherein the status of the
military forces is an unfriendly status.
22. The system according to claim 10 wherein the status of the
military forces is an unidentified status.
23. The system according to claim 11 further comprising: a camera
coupled to the signal routing and control circuitry for providing
visual information relating to the combat area.
24. The system according to claim 11 further comprising: a radar
coupled to the signal routing and control circuitry for providing
visual information relating to the combat area.
25. The system according to claim 11 further comprising: a lidar
coupled to the signal routing and control circuitry for providing
visual information relating to the combat area.
26. The system according to claim 11 further comprising: a power
source coupled to the signal routing and control circuitry for
providing power to each of the warning units.
27. The system according to claim 26 wherein the power source is a
battery.
28. The system according to claim 11 further comprising: a switch
coupled to the signal routing and control circuitry for activating
and deactivating each of the warning units.
29. The system according to claim 11 wherein the geographic
locating system is a global positioning system locating device
coupled to the signal routing and control circuitry.
30. The system according to claim 29 wherein the global positioning
system locating device further comprises: a global positioning
system processor, global positioning system receiver coupled to the
global positioning system processor, a global positioning system
antenna coupled to the global positioning system processor, and
wherein the global positioning system locating device calculates
the geographic location position and determines warning unit
location.
31. The system according to claim 10 further comprising: an
advisory system for advising military troops or personnel of firing
decisions wherein the advisory system defines variables with
membership functions affecting the firing decisions, determines a
firing index based on the variable membership functions, and uses
the firing index to help determine making the firing decisions.
32. The system according to claim 31 wherein the advisory system is
an advisory expert system that helps make the firing decisions and
wherein the membership variables and the firing index are defined
for the advisory expert system.
33. The system according to claim 32 wherein the advisory expert
system is an advisory fuzzy logic system and wherein the variable
membership functions and the firing index are defined for the
advisory fuzzy logic system.
34. A method for implementing and operating warning units to locate
military forces and to detect friend or foe status of the military
forces comprising the steps of: determining geographic location of
each of the warning units by calculating geographic coordinates,
broadcasting the geographic location to each of the other warning
units, broadcasting the status of the military forces to each of
the other warning units, receiving transmitted information from
each of the other warning units, scanning the combat area in
obtaining military forces location and status information,
processing the geographic location, the transmitted information,
and the military forces location and status information in order to
display the location and status of the military forces, and
displaying the location and status of the military forces on a
display.
35. The method according to claim 34 further comprising the steps
of: continuously repeating the method steps and updating
information until deactivation of the warning units occurs.
36. The method according to claim 34 wherein the warning units each
use a geographic locating system for determining the geographic
location, a communication system for communicating with each of the
warning units, and a military force detection system for detecting
the military forces in the combat area.
37. The method according to claim 34 wherein the status of the
military forces is a friendly status.
38. The method according to claim 34 wherein the status of the
military forces is an unfriendly status.
39. The method according to claim 34 wherein the status of the
military forces is an unidentified status.
Description
FIELD OF INVENTION
[0001] These inventions relate to the detection of soldiers,
transportation devices or combative devices and determination of
friend or foe status of said people or objects, and, more
particularly, the detection of said persons or objects and
determination of friend or foe status in a combat area.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
[0002] It is a tragedy when lives are lost in combat. It is even
more tragic when soldiers are killed by forces originating from
their own army. The present invention attempts to prevent such
tragedies from occurring. The invention creates a system of
communication for combat troops that enables them to locate and
identify friendly forces. The invention also warns troops that they
are in a dangerous location because of an imminent military action.
The invention makes use of advanced expert system, fuzzy logic, GPS
satellite location technology, radar, lidar battle field
communication systems.
[0003] Several prior art patents address different aspects of
friend or foe identification systems. For example, it is known to
provide a community of aircraft with a tactical navigation and
communication system. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 4,232,313.
[0004] It is also known to selectively distribute generally
broadcasted information based upon location. See, e.g., U.S. Pat.
No. 5,636,245.
[0005] It is also known to create a paging or messaging system
using GPS satellites. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,625,363.
[0006] It is also known to create a sighting system for helicopter
aircraft. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,483,865.
[0007] It is also known to analyze images using optical correlation
and opto-electronic feedback. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No.
5,323,472.
[0008] It is also known to use a lidar system from an aircraft.
See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,231,401.
[0009] It is also known to image a scene having targets via a laser
scanner. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,638,164.
[0010] It is also known to detect a target within a scene using
visual radar sensors. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,644,386.
[0011] It is also known to perform optical signal processing
including target recognition and filtering. See, e.g., U.S. Pat.
No. 5,329,595.
[0012] It is also known to detect and recognize objects by video
image means. See e., U.S. Pat. No. 5,341,435.
[0013] It is also known to detect missiles using a medium wave
infrared sensor or TV sensor. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No.
5,332,176.
[0014] It is also known to detect targets using vision systems.
See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,335,297.
[0015] It is also known to precisely deliver weapons using
synthetic array radar. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,260,709.
[0016] It is also known to remotely guide cannon-launched
projectiles. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,131,602.
[0017] It is also known precisely guide aircraft-launched bombs via
GPS technology. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,657,947.
[0018] It is also known to create an all weather target detection
and ranging system which does not actively transmit detectable
radio pulses or waves. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 3,171,126.
[0019] It is also known to create a three dimensional millimeter
wave tracking and guidance system. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No.
5,455,587.
[0020] It is also known to create an automatic target acquisition
and tracking system for a focal plane array seeker. See, e.g., U.S.
Pat. No. 5,341,142.
[0021] It is also known to guide a vehicle to a target using the
global positioning system. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,344,105.
[0022] It is also known to link global positioning satellites and
missile communication systems. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No.
5,594,454.
[0023] It is also known to accurately determine the location of a
target by an observer that is spaced apart from the object via the
use of a satellite positioning system. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos.
5,568,152; 4,949,089.
[0024] It is also known to create a self-surveying relative GPS
weapon guidance system. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,554,994.
[0025] It is also known to aim artillery with GPS navstar. See,
e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 4,741,245.
[0026] It is also known to create a passive ranging system through
a global positioning system. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No.
5,187,485.
[0027] It is also known to precisely target and deliver guided
weapons by determining the GPS locations of aircraft and targets.
See, e.g., European Patent No. 0 583 972 A1.
[0028] It is also known to create an apparatus and method for
providing pointing information. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No.
4,384,293.
[0029] All of the above mentioned patents are incorporated by
reference herein. However, none of the above mentioned patents
disclose a system and method for detecting the friend or foe status
of a military force. On the other hand, some systems and methods
for detecting friend or foe status of a military force do exist in
the prior art.
[0030] For example, it is also known to identify military forces as
a friend or a foe. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,280,287. U.S. Pat.
No. 5,280,277 does not, however, use GPS technology to accurately
locate and determine friend or foe status. Furthermore, it is also
known to determine friend or foe status of military forces using
lasers and coded words. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,814,769 and
4,837,575. However, neither of these patents use GPS technology to
accurately locate and determine friend or foe status of military
forces. Additionally, it is also known to determine friend or foe
status of military forces by using identification codes that are
transmitted between an interrogator and responder. See, e.g., U.S.
Pat. No. 4,862,176. U.S. Pat. No. 4,862,176 also does not, however,
use GPS technology to accurately locate and determine friend or foe
status of military forces. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,280,287, 4,814,769,
4,837,575, 4,862,176 are incorporated by reference herein.
[0031] None of the prior art approaches use GPS technology to
accurately locate and determine friend or foe status of military
forces. Furthermore, none of the prior art approaches use expert
systems or fuzzy logic to provide recommendations for execution of
military actions. Also, none of the prior art approaches disclose
or teach a combination system and method for determining friend or
foe status of military forces and recommending execution of
military actions. Importantly, none of these prior art approaches
to teach a system or method for identifying the presence of
friendly forces that may be harmed by firing without disclosing the
exact location of those friendly forces.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
[0032] Making firing decision in combat is a difficult process.
Emotions such as considerable fear, anger, sense of urgency, panic,
etc. may intervene and result in mistakes of judgement. Yet,
decisions must be made, and often quickly. Many times the
circumstances presented to the decision maker are complex without
clear-cut answers to difficult scenarios. Frequently, it would be
helpful to decision makers to have some automatic assessment of the
situation prior to making final decisions to fire. In its most
useful form, that assistance will not be advice to fire or not to
fire. Indeed, such advice may tend to remove the all important
rationale provided by the people actually involved who can assess
many factors that a purely automatic system would not necessarily
take into account.
[0033] It is therefore an object of this invention to create a
system and method for locating and identifying friendly forces in a
combat area.
[0034] It is a further object of this invention to warn friendly
troops in specific geographic locations that they may be in danger
due to imminent military action.
[0035] It is a further object of the invention to use GPS
technology to determine the exact location of armed forces on the
earth.
[0036] It is a further object of the invention to transmit GPS
information between armed forces via short-wave radio.
[0037] It is a further object of the invention to transmit friendly
force information between armed forces via short-wave radio.
[0038] It is a further object of the invention to detect
surrounding armed forces via camera, radar, and lidar
technology.
[0039] It is a further object of the invention to use expert
systems to advise troops when making combat decisions.
[0040] It is another object of the invention to use fuzzy logic
expert systems to advise troops when making combat decisions.
[0041] It is a further object of the invention for the short-wave
radio, GPS receiver and display to be contained in a compact,
hand-held device.
[0042] It is a further object of the invention to identify friendly
forces in an area to be subjected to aggressive force without
broadcasting the exact location of the friendly forces.
[0043] Further objects of the invention are apparent from reviewing
the summary of the invention, detailed description, and claims set
forth below.
[0044] The above objects and advantages of the invention are
achieved by using expert systems or fuzzy logic to calculate a fire
decision index at each warning unit. The fire decision index is
then transmitted to the source of fire without disclosing the
location of friendly forces. The source then decides whether or not
to fire. The invention allows operation without disclosing the
exact location of the friendly forces. All forces do not have to
transmit their individual GPS coordinates.
[0045] The above objects and advantages of the invention are
achieved by a system for locating military forces and detecting
friend or foe status of the military forces that includes warning
units each having a geographic locating system, a communication
system for communicating with each of the warning units, and a
military force detection system for detecting military forces in a
combat area. The military force detection system determines status
of the military forces. The geographic locating system calculates
geographic location position, and the communication system
transmits at least the geographic location position and the status
to each of the other warning units. Each of the warning units
receives the geographic location position and the status from each
of the other warning units and displays locations of the military
forces and indicates the military forces with the status. Each of
the warning units further have signal routing and control circuitry
for controlling operations of each of the warning units. A
microprocessor and a memory device are coupled to the signal
routing and control circuitry to provide computer control and
operation for each of the warning units. Also, a radio transmitter
and receiver, a speaker, and a microphone are coupled to the signal
routing and control circuitry, and a communications antenna is
coupled to the radio transmitter and receiver. The communication
system transmits and receives warning unit information.
[0046] A display is further coupled to the signal routing and
control circuitry to show location of the military forces, user
information, text messages, status of the military forces. The
display further has a grid with latitudinal and longitudinal lines.
The grid is divided into various location sectors, and the location
and the status of the military forces may be shown on the grid. The
status of the military forces may be friendly, unfriendly, or
unidentified. A camera or radar/lidar is/are coupled to the signal
routing and control circuitry for providing visual information
relating to the combat area. A power source or battery is coupled
to the signal routing and control circuitry for providing power to
each of the warning units. A switch is coupled to the signal
routing and control circuitry for activating and deactivating each
of the warning units.
[0047] The geographic locating system is a global positioning
system locating device coupled to the signal routing and control
circuitry. The global positioning system locating device further
has a global positioning system processor, a global positioning
system receiver coupled to the global positioning system processor,
and a global positioning system antenna coupled to the global
positioning system processor. The global positioning system
locating device calculates the geographic location position and
determines warning unit location. An advisory system for advising
military troops or personnel of firing decisions is made part of
each of the warning units. The advisory system defines membership
variables affecting the firing decisions. The advisory system also
determines a firing index based on the membership variables and
uses the firing index to assist in making firing decisions. The
advisory system may be an expert system or fuzzy logic system.
[0048] The above objects and advantages of the invention are
further achieved by a method for implementing and operating warning
units to locate military forces and to detect friend or foe status
of the military forces. Geographic location of each of the warning
units is determined by calculating geographic coordinates. The
geographic location is broadcast to each of the other warning
units. The status of the military forces is broadcast to each of
the other warning units. Transmitted information is received from
each of the other warning units, and the combat area is scanned to
obtain military forces location and status information. The
geographic location, the transmitted information, and the military
forces location and status information are processed in order to
display the location and status of the military forces. The
location and status of the military forces are displayed on a
display of each of the warning units.
[0049] The above objects and advantages of the invention are also
achieved by a method for implementing and operating warning units
to locate military forces and to detect friend or foe status of the
military forces. The method determines whether a user of one of the
warning units is about to execute an aggressive military action.
Geographic location coordinates of at least one anticipated enemy
target are calculated if the user is about to execute the
aggressive military action. Warning information relating to the
aggressive military action is transmitted from one of the warning
units to each of the other warning units to warn the friendly
military forces that are in the vicinity of the at least one
anticipated target. The one warning unit waits a predetermined time
for response information to be sent from each of the other warning
units. Response information may indicate that friendly forces are
in an area to be fired upon without disclosing the exact location
of those friendly forces. The method determines whether the one
warning unit has received response information from each of the
other warning units.
[0050] The aggressive military action is executed if no response
information was received by the one warning unit. Expert analysis
is performed in determining whether the aggressive military action
should be executed if the response information was received by the
one warning unit. The aggressive military action is aborted if the
expert analysis results in determining abortion of the aggressive
military action. The aggressive military action, on the other hand,
may be executed depending on the results of the expert analysis.
The method determines if each of the other warning units is
transmitting other warning information to the one warning unit when
the user of the one warning unit is not about to execute an
aggressive military action. The method determines whether the user
of the one warning unit is in danger based on the determined
geographic location coordinates if other warning information has
been received by the one warning unit. The user is warned of any
danger if other warning information has been received, and the user
is advised of a route to safety.
[0051] The above objects and advantages of the invention are
further achieved by an expert system or fuzzy logic calculation
method for advising military troops or personnel of firing
decisions. Membership variables affecting the firing decisions are
defined. A firing index is determined based on the membership
variables, and the firing index is used to help make the firing
decisions. The membership variables and the firing index are
defined for an expert system or fuzzy logic system, and the expert
system or fuzzy logic system assists in determining the firing
decisions. The membership variables may be a target priority
membership variable (low, medium, high), a friend
distance-to-target membership variable (close, medium, far), an
ordinance radius membership variable (short, medium, far). The
firing index may be defined as a low firing index, a medium firing
index, or a high firing index.
[0052] The above objects and advantages of the invention are
further achieved by a method of transmitting warning signals to all
units in an area to be fired upon. The transmitted message includes
the GPS coordinates of the target. All warning units in the area of
the target receive the warning message, and each unit calculates a
fire decision index corresponding to its location, the coordinates
of the target, the priority of the target and the radius of
destruction of the ordinance. These calculations are made on a
distributed basis by individual warning units. The fire decision
index is then transmitted to the originator of the warning message
without disclosing the location of friendly forces. Having received
the fire decision indices from friendly forces, the originating
units decide whether or not to commence firing.
[0053] The preferred embodiments of the inventions are described
below in the Figures and Detailed Description. Unless specifically
noted, it is intended that the words and phrases in the
specification and claims be given the ordinary and accustomed
meaning to those of ordinary skill in the applicable art or arts.
If any other meaning is intended, the specification will
specifically state that a special meaning is being applied to a
word or phrase. Likewise, the use of the words "function" or
"means" in the Detailed Description is not intended to indicate a
desire to invoke the special provisions of 35 U.S.C. Section 112,
paragraph 6 to define the invention. To the contrary, if the
provisions of 35 U.S.C. Section 112, paragraph 6, are sought to be
invoked to define the inventions, the claims will specifically
state the phrases "means for" or "step for" and a function, without
also reciting in such phrases any structure, material, or act in
support of the function. Even when the claims recite a "means for"
or "step for" performing a function, if they also recite any
structure, material or acts in support of that means of step, then
the intention is not to invoke the provisions of 35 U.S.C. Section
112, paragraph 6. Moreover, even if the provisions of 35 U.S.C.
Section 112, paragraph 6, are invoked to define the inventions, it
is intended that the inventions not be limited only to the specific
structure, material or acts that are described in the preferred
embodiments, but in addition, include any and all structures,
materials or acts that perform the claimed function, along with any
and all known or later-developed equivalent structures, materials
or acts for performing the claimed function.
[0054] For example, the disclosed system and method makes use of
GPS communication satellites and GPS receivers to determine
locations throughout the system. Other navigation or location
tracking systems could likewise be used. Thus, GPS technology is
shown and referenced generally throughout this disclosure, and
unless specifically noted, is intended to represent any and all
devices/technologies appropriate to determine locations.
[0055] Likewise, there are disclosed several computers or
controllers that perform various control operations. The specific
form of computer is not important to the invention. In its
preferred form, applicant divides the computing and analysis
operations into several cooperating computers or microprocessors.
However, with appropriate programming well known to those of
ordinary skill in the art, the inventions can be implemented using
a single, high power computer. Thus, it is not applicant's
intention to limit his invention to any particular form of
computer.
[0056] Applicant recognizes that many of the disclosed
communications described herein will be encrypted while in a
military setting. However, it is not applicants intention to
disclose military secret code. All communications described herein
are designed to be used in conjunction with any type of encryption
practice.
[0057] Also, the use of transmitter/receivers, antennas,
microphone, speaker, camera, radar/lidar, display have also been
disclosed in this specification. However, the present invention is
not in any way limited to being used with these specific
components, devices, or apparatuses, and any and all suitable
components, devices, or apparatuses that provide or perform the
respective or corresponding operation may be used in conjunction
with the present invention.
[0058] Further examples exist throughout the disclosure, and it is
not applicant's intention to exclude from the scope of his
invention the use of structures, materials, or acts that are not
expressly identified in the specification, but nonetheless are
capable of performing a claimed function.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0059] FIG. 1 is an illustration of the present friend or foe
detection system and method used in a combat zone.
[0060] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the present invention friend or
foe detection warning unit.
[0061] FIG. 3 is an front view of the visual display of the friend
or foe detection warning unit.
[0062] FIG. 4 is a flow chart diagram of one preferred embodiment
algorithm for implementation of the operation of the friend or foe
detection warning unit.
[0063] FIG. 5 is a flow chart diagram of another preferred
embodiment algorithm for implementation of the operation of the
friend or foe detection warning unit.
[0064] FIG. 6A is a diagram graph illustrating the fuzzy logic
target priority membership.
[0065] FIG. 6B is a diagram graph illustrating the fuzzy logic
friend distance from target membership.
[0066] FIG. 6C is a diagram graph illustrating the fuzzy logic
target priority ordinance radius membership.
[0067] FIG. 6D is a diagram graph illustrating the fuzzy logic
target priority fire decision index membership.
[0068] FIG. 7A is a chart for the fuzzy logic decision rules that
determine the fire decision index when the target priority is
low.
[0069] FIG. 7B is a chart for the fuzzy logic decision rules that
determine the fire decision index when the target priority is
medium.
[0070] FIG. 7C is a chart for the fuzzy logic decision rules that
determine the fire decision index when the target priority is
high.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0071] FIG. 1 depicts an overall combat situation 1. The present
invention involves systems and methods for detecting persons or
objects and determining whether those persons or objects are of
friend or foe status in a combat area. FIG. 1 shows friend or foe
warning units 20 of the present invention that are located in
airplanes 12, helicopters 14 and land vehicles 16. The warning
units 20 are also carried by land based troops 18 and air-to-ground
paratroopers 17. Global positioning satellites (GPS) satellites 10
are used to determine the exact location of the friend or foe
warning units 20. The combat situation 1 illustrated in FIG. 1
depicts a friendly army of armed forces surrounding unfriendly
forces 24. The friendly army uses the friend or foe detection
system and method to detect their foe forces and to further detect
and aid in the prevention of attacking their own troops (i.e. their
own friendly forces).
[0072] FIG. 2 depicts a block diagram of the friend or foe warning
unit 20. The friend or foe warning unit 20 comprises a combination
of modern communication technology and precise geographic location
capability derived from GPS satellites, which are all implemented
with advanced low cost compact electronics. The unit 20 generally
has a signal routing and control circuitry 50 for controlling
operations of the unit 20. A number of components, devices, or
sub-systems, such as a transmitter/receiver radio 28, an antenna
26, a microphone 30, a speaker 32, a battery 34, a display 36, a
microprocessor 38, a memory 40, a camera 56, a radar/lidar input
54, on/off switch 52, a GPS location system 45 that includes a GPS
processor 46, a GPS receiver 42, a GPS antenna 44, are coupled to
the circuitry 50.
[0073] The unit 20 is controlled and activated/deactivated by the
on/off switch 52. The warning unit 20 transmits and receives
information via the transmit/receive (TX/RX) radio 28 and antenna
26. The microphone 30 allows the user to communicate speech
messages to other users of the friend or foe detection system and
method. The speaker 32 enables the user(s) of the warning unit 20
to hear audible messages therefrom. The camera input 56 is used to
provide visual information about the observed combat zone. The
radar/lidar input 54 is also used to provide visual information
about the observed combat zone. Camera 56 and/or radar/lidar 54 may
be made integral with the unit 20 or may be detachable and attached
via cable or via other such communication facilities. The warning
unit 20 is powered by battery 34. Warning units 20 may also be
powered by other power sources such as batteries, conventional AC
power sources, or other such sources. The display 36 provides a
display to the user of the unit 20, showing the location of
friendly forces as well as unfriendly or unidentified forces in the
area. In addition, the display 36 is capable of displaying text
messages for the user of the warning unit 20. Text messages are
especially useful for users of the warning unit 20 when silence
must be observed in a combat zone. The microprocessor 38 together
with memory 40 provide control of the operations of the warning
unit 20. The GPS processor 46, GPS receiver 42, and GPS antenna 44
are used to determine the exact location of the warning unit 20 on
the earth. All of the components of the warning unit 20 are coupled
to the signal routing and control circuitry 50.
[0074] FIG. 3 depicts the display 36 of the warning unit 20. The
display 36 in FIG. 3 shows the combat situation 1 on grid screen 37
wherein a friendly army of helicopters 14, troops 18, and tanks 16
are surrounding unfriendly forces 24. The display 36 shows the
information on the grid screen 37 that is representative of the
latitude and longitude lines that are used by the GPS location
system 45. The users of the warning units 20 survey the combat zone
of combat situation 1 and compare their observations to the display
36 of the warning unit 20. FIG. 3 shows that the troops 24 located
in sector D4 are unfriendly troops and that all other forces have
been determined to be friendly forces. Thus, the tank 16 located in
sector B2 knows not to fire upon troops 18 located in sector B3.
Likewise, all other friendly forces know not to fire upon forces
which are detected to be friendly forces. However, all friendly
forces know that the troops located in sector D4 are unfriendly and
that it is permissible to take aggressive action upon the
unfriendly troops located in sector D4.
[0075] Figure 4 shows an algorithm 57 in flow chart form for
implementation and operation of the warning unit 20. The flow chart
algorithm 57 begins at start block 58. The warning unit 20
determines its location by calculating its GPS coordinates at block
60. The warning unit 20 next broadcasts a message to all other
warning units 20 in the area that informs other troops of the
troop's location associated with the broadcasting warning unit 20
and further informs that the troop is a friendly force at block 62.
At block 64, the warning unit 20 receives transmitted messages from
other units 20 in the area. At block 66, the warning unit 20 scans
the combat area via cameras, radar, or lidar for other troops or
military equipment. The warning unit 20 processes all the data
collected at blocks 64 and 66 and determines friend or foe status
for all detected military forces in said area. At block 68, the
warning unit 20 displays the location of military forces and
determined friend or foe status for all military forces in the
combat area, and any text messages for the users of the warning
unit 20. At decision block 67, the algorithm 57 determines whether
the unit 20 is still "on" or activated. If the unit is still "on"
or activated, then the logic flow chart algorithm 57 then returns
to block 60 to calculate updated or current GPS coordinates. If the
unit 20 is no longer "on" or activated, the algorithm 57 ends at
block 69.
[0076] If a military force or troop is confident that their radio
communications are most likely not able to be decoded by enemy
forces, the above operation of the invention may be used. However,
if there is concern or fear of the enemy decoding communications
between friendly forces, applicant also discloses in FIG. 5 an
alternative operation of the present invention. This alternative
operation does not divulge the location of any military forces.
[0077] FIG. 5 is a logic flow chart algorithm 73 for operation of
the warning unit 20 that does not require broadcasting of exact
friendly force location information. The logic flow chart algorithm
begins at start block 70. The algorithm 73 determines at decision
block 71 if the user of the warning unit 20 is about to execute an
aggressive military action (i.e. gun fire, launch missile, etc). If
the user is about to execute an aggressive military action, the
warning unit 20 calculates the GPS coordinates of the anticipated
enemy target that is about to fired upon, bombed, or attacked at
block 72. The warning unit 20 then transmits at block 74 a message
to warn all friendly troops in vicinity of the anticipated enemy
target that they may be in the line of fire or some other type of
danger that would be a result of the imminent military action. The
transmitted message may include the GPS coordinates of the target
or coordinates defining an area of danger. At block 76, the warning
unit 20 waits a predetermined time T for response messages from
friendly forces that may be in danger due to the imminent military
action. The decision time T is selected to be long enough to
receive messages from friendly forces, but short enough to preclude
enemy escape if the message is intercepted. The algorithm 73
determines at decision block 78 if the warning unit 20 received any
response messages from friendly forces. If no response messages are
received from friendly forces, the anticipated aggressive military
action or commencement of firing is executed at block 80. If a
response message from friendly forces is received, expert system
analysis is performed at block 82. At block 84, the algorithm 73
determines if the imminent military action or firing should be
aborted due to the presence of friendly forces in the target area.
If the military action is not aborted, the action is executed at
block 80, and, after the action or firing is executed, control of
warning unit 20 by algorithm 73 is returned to block 71. If the
imminent military action or firing is aborted at decision block 84,
then control of warning unit 20 by algorithm 73 returns to block
71.
[0078] On the other hand, if the algorithm 73 determines at block
71 that the user of the warning unit 20 is not about to execute an
aggressive military action or firing, the warning unit 20
determines if any other warning units 20 are transmitting warning
messages indicating that they are about to execute military actions
or firings at block 86. If no warning messages are detected,
control of the unit 20 by algorithm 73 is sent back to block 71. If
a warning message from another warning unit 20 is received, the
algorithm 73 determines at block 88 if the troop(s) associated with
the present receiving warning unit 20 is/are in danger based upon
their geographic location. If the troop(s) is/are not in danger,
control of unit 20 by algorithm 73 is sent back to decision block
71. If it is determined that the troop(s) is/are in danger, the
warning unit 20 transmits a response to alert the warning unit 20
of the aggressing troop(s) that they will be in danger if the said
military action or firing is executed at block 90, and the warning
unit 20 uses GPS technology and mapping systems to plan the most
efficient escape route or route to safety for the troop(s) that
is/are in danger at block 92.
[0079] The present invention further includes a system and method
for advising military troops or personnel of firing decisions. The
herein disclosed system of advising firing decisions is based on
the generation of indices indicating the target priority. The
factors involved in making such computations are many and complex
requiring a structured and logical approach in organizing large
amounts of data and information. From that information, the present
invention generates indices indicative of actual target priority
levels in different areas based upon multiple inputs. Problems of
this type generally benefit from the use of expert system
technology with preprogrammed decision rules based upon expert
experience reflecting proper response to various situations.
Various such expert system methodologies exist and are used in the
friend or foe detection systems and methods herein disclosed.
Indeed, it is the intent that the invention herein described not be
limited to any particular data analysis and organization methods.
However, a particularly attractive method and one which
demonstrates the interrelationship of the various variables and the
logical operations necessary to generate the desired indices and
corresponding firing advice is that of fuzzy logic processes. The
complexities and range of options in the friend or foe detection
system herein described makes fuzzy logic applications an ideal
methodology to optimize the firing decision process according to
properly weighted parameters.
[0080] Decisions are made based on received messages from source of
fire and calculated GPS coordinates of warning unit 20. Transmitted
source of fire information includes coordinates of target, priority
of target, and radius of destruction of ordinance to be used.
Warning units 20 calculate a fire index decision based on the
received message and GPS coordinates of the warning unit 20.
Warning units 20 transmit the fire index decisions to the source of
fire. This procedure avoids transmitting GPS coordinates of
friendly forces to possible foes or enemy forces. Calculations are
made on a distributed basis using the portable warning unit 20 with
internal GPS receivers and computers, and only decisions are
thereby transmitted.
[0081] The fuzzy logic controllers execute fuzzy logic inference
rules from a fuzzy rule base. Input and output variables are
defined as members of fuzzy sets with degrees of membership in the
respective fuzzy sets determined by specified membership functions.
The rule base defines the fuzzy inference system and is based on
expert knowledge for system control based on observed values of the
control variables. The input data defines the membership functions
used in the fuzzy rules. The reasoning mechanism executes the fuzzy
inference rules, converting the input data to output control values
using the data base membership functions.
[0082] FIGS. 6A-6D are diagrams of graphs illustrating the fuzzy
logic memberships used to calculate the firing decision index. FIG.
6A depicts the fuzzy memberships for Target Priority. FIG. 6B
depicts the fuzzy memberships for the distance friendly forces are
located from a target. FIG. 6C depicts the fuzzy memberships for
the ordinance radius. FIG. 6D depicts the fuzzy memberships for the
fire decision index.
[0083] To better understand the fuzzy logic compositional rules
applied to the fuzzy friend or foe detection system and method
herein disclosed, the Target Priority variable is first just
considered as shown in FIG. 6A. The fuzzy set corresponding to "Low
Target Priority" (LTP) is the set of all target priorities between
zero and an upper defined Low Target Priority distance LTP.sub.u.
Similarly, the fuzzy set corresponding to "Medium Target Priority"
(MTP) is the set of all target priorities between the lowest
defined Medium Target Priority MTP.sub.0 and the upper defined
Medium Target Priority distance MTP.sub.u. Furthermore, the fuzzy
set corresponding to "High Target Priority" (HTP) is the set of all
target priorities between the lowest defined High Target Priority
HTP.sub.0 and the upper defined High Target Priority distance
HTP.sub.u. Since the "Low" and "Medium" are defined in terms of
fuzzy logic variables, it will be true that MTP.sub.0<LTP.sub.u,
and the fuzzy sets will overlap. Likewise, the "Medium" and "High"
are defined in terms of fuzzy logic variables, it will be true that
HTP.sub.0<MTP.sub.u, and the fuzzy sets will overlap. Similarly,
overlap occurs between the other defined ranges. The nature of the
overlapping membership functions for several of the variables (i.e.
Target Priority, Friend Distance From Target, Ordinance Radius,
Fire Decision Index) involved in the disclosed friend or foe
detection system and method is illustrated in FIGS. 6A-6D. Similar
relationships would exist for other variables not shown.
[0084] FIGS. 7A-7C provides the fuzzy logic decision rules that
determine the fire decision index for a certain set of conditions
that the friend or foe detection system and method encounters. The
highlighted example 96 in FIG. 7A shows that when a LOW Target
Priority, a FAR friend distance, and a FAR ordinance radius occurs,
then a LOW fire decision index is assigned. The highlighted example
98 in FIG. 7B shows that when a MEDIUM target priority, MEDIUM
friend distance, and MEDIUM ordinance radius, then a MEDIUM fire
decision index is assigned. The highlighted example 100 in FIG. 7C
shows that when a HIGH target priority, FAR friend distance, and
FAR ordinance radius, then a HIGH fire decision index is
assigned.
[0085] More particularly, the membership functions of FIGS. 6A to
6D illustrate three possible membership classifications (i.e. low,
medium, high) for each variable. These respective memberships
overlap as indicated in FIGS. 6A to 6D in accordance with the
principles of fuzzy logic. In other words, a particular level of
target priority may not necessarily be considered just low or just
medium but may instead overlap with the indicated varying degree of
membership in the low and medium memberships. In this case, more
than one fuzzy logic rule from the appropriate tables of FIGS. 7A
to 7C will be applied and used. Indeed, with three fuzzy variables
for target priority, distance of friendly force from target, and
ordinance radius and with each variable having membership in two
overlapping regions as shown in FIGS. 6A to 6D, a total of eight
(2.sup.3=8) separate rules of FIGS. 7A to 7C may be provided for a
single set of variable inputs. Using the degrees of membership in
each of the respective categories for each of the variables, the
fire decision index may be determined using appropriate well known
defuzzification rules such as the centroid method. The result will
be a specific fire decision index, and the firing decision index is
used by the present invention or warning unit 20 to determine
whether the user should be advised to execute action/fire or not to
execute action/fire.
[0086] The inventions set forth above are subject to many
modifications and changes without departing from the spirit, scope
or essential characteristics thereof. Thus, the embodiments
explained above should be considered in all respect as being
illustrative rather than restrictive of the scope of the inventions
as defined in the appended claims. For example, the present
invention is not limited to the specific embodiments, apparatuses
and methods disclosed for locating the military troop(s) or for
communicating among troop(s). The present invention is also not
limited to the use of GPS communication satellites and GPS
receivers to determine locations throughout the system. The present
invention is also not limited to any particular form of computer or
computer algorithm. Furthermore, the present invention is not
limited to the transmitter/receivers, antennas, microphone,
speaker, camera, radar/lidar, display disclosed in this
specification.
* * * * *