U.S. patent application number 10/627630 was filed with the patent office on 2005-02-03 for system and method for munition impact assessment.
Invention is credited to Even-Zur, Dan, Ovadia, Yehuda, Shnaps, Moshe.
Application Number | 20050023409 10/627630 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 33541448 |
Filed Date | 2005-02-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050023409 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Shnaps, Moshe ; et
al. |
February 3, 2005 |
System and method for munition impact assessment
Abstract
An impact assessment unit and method, including an interface
connector operably connectable to a connector of a platform
electronic system, a resource allocation unit to negotiate access
to resources associated with the platform electronic system, and a
controller to regulate communication with a smart munition using a
receiver associated with the platform electronic system.
Inventors: |
Shnaps, Moshe; (Elad,
IL) ; Even-Zur, Dan; (Yavne, IL) ; Ovadia,
Yehuda; (Hod Hasharon, IL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
EITAN, PEARL, LATZER & COHEN ZEDEK LLP
10 ROCKEFELLER PLAZA, SUITE 1001
NEW YORK
NY
10020
US
|
Family ID: |
33541448 |
Appl. No.: |
10/627630 |
Filed: |
July 28, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
244/3.15 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41G 3/142 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
244/003.15 |
International
Class: |
F41G 007/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An impact assessment unit comprising: an interface connector
operably connectable to a connector of a platform electronic
system; a resource allocation unit to negotiate access to resources
associated with the platform electronic system; and a controller to
regulate communication with a smart munition using a receiver
associated with the platform electronic system.
2. The unit according to claim 1, wherein said resource allocation
unit negotiates access to a human interface unit.
3. The unit according to claim 2, wherein said human interface unit
is an audio system.
4. The unit according to claim 2, wherein said human interface unit
is a visual display system.
5. The unit according to claim 1, further comprising a processing
unit for receiving and processing information from an onboard
guidance system of said smart munition.
6. The unit according to claim 5, wherein said processing unit is
an external unit to said impact assessment unit.
7. The unit according to claim 6, wherein said resource allocation
unit negotiates access to said external processing unit.
8. The unit according to claim 1, wherein said resource allocation
unit negotiates access to a transmitter to transmit a signal
generated by said impact assessment unit in a manner receivable by
a receiving device of said smart munition;
9. The unit according to claim 1, wherein said resource allocation
unit negotiates access to a receiver to receive a signal generated
by said smart munition.
10. The unit according to claim 9, wherein said receiver is a
radiofrequency receiver.
11. The unit according to claim 10, wherein said radiofrequency
receiver is inherent to an electronic warfare system of the
platform.
12. The unit according to claim 9, wherein said radiofrequency
signal is a frequency radio signal of between 2 gigahertz and 2.6
gigahertz.
13. The unit according to claim 1, wherein said resource allocation
unit negotiates access to resources associated with the platform
electronic system through a resource allocation controller on the
platform.
14. The unit according to claim 1, wherein said unit is placed on a
monitoring unit.
15. The unit according to claim 1, wherein said resource allocation
unit negotiates access to an information recordation unit to record
the information received to said unit.
16. The unit according to claim 1, wherein said resource allocation
unit negotiates access to a transmitter associated with the
platform electronic system to transmit the information received to
said unit.
17. A method for impact assessment, the method comprising:
connecting an impact assessment unit with a platform electronic
system; negotiating access to resources associated with the
platform electronic system; and regulating communication with a
smart munition through a transceiver/receiver(s) associated with
the platform electronics system.
18. The method according to claim 17, wherein said negotiation is
to access to a human interface unit.
19. The method according to claim 17, wherein said negotiation is
to access to an audio system.
20. The method according to claim 17, wherein said negotiation is
to access a visual display system.
21. The method according to claim 17, further comprising processing
information for receiving and processing from an onboard guidance
system of said smart munition.
22. The method according to claim 17, wherein said negotiation is
to provide access to a transmitter to transmit a signal generated
by said impact assessment unit in a manner receivable by a
receiving device of said smart munition;
22. The method according to claim 17, wherein said negotiation is
to provide access to a receiver to receive a signal generated by
said smart munition.
23. The method of claim 17, wherein said negotiation is to access
to resources associated with the platform electronic system through
a resource allocation controller on the platform.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a unit and method for
munition impact assessment. More particularly, the present
invention relates to an impact assessment unit, which is added to
an electronic system of a platform that monitors smart
munitions.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The use of platform launched or dropped munitions in warfare
is well known. The use of such munitions has provided a substantial
advance in the art of warfare by facilitating the destruction of
enemy targets while mitigating undesirable loss of life and/or
destruction of civil and military equipment.
[0003] An additional substantial advance in the art of warfare is
the use of units to monitor the battlefield. Such units provide a
complete centralized picture of the battlefield, and enable
commanders to make decisions based on the results in the
battlefield.
[0004] However, conventional un-guided munitions dropped or
launched by, for example, airplanes or by unmanned aircraft
vehicles ("UVA"), must generally either be released with very high
accuracy or in very large numbers in order to effectively destroy a
desired target. Thus, it is frequently necessary to either drop
such munitions from an undesirably low altitude or to fly an
undesirably large number of sorties. Dropping conventional
munitions from a lower than desirable altitude exposes the aircraft
and crew to hazardous anti-aircraft artillery and ground-to-air
missiles. For this reason, low altitude bombing is extremely
dangerous and is very rarely performed. Also, flying an undesirably
large number of sorties is expensive and time consuming.
[0005] In an attempt to overcome the deficiencies of conventional
munitions in reliably destroying ground targets, particularly when
dropped from a high altitude and far away in ground distance from
the target, smart munitions have been developed. Such smart
munitions utilize a guidance and flight control system to
accurately maneuver the munition to the desired target. The
guidance system provides control signals to the control surfaces
based upon the present position of a munition and the position of
the target, so that the control surfaces maneuver the munition
toward the target. Such guidance systems operate according to
well-known principles and typically utilize technologies such as TV
guidance, laser guidance, infrared guidance, radar guidance and/or
satellite (GPS) guidance.
[0006] Such smart munitions can be either self guided, wherein a
bomb or a missile is launched and self guides to the target, or
alternatively such smart munitions can be a bomb or a missile
guided or monitored by an operator, in which case the operator
ensures and/or verifies that the smart munitions has reached the
target. The smart munitions can be either launched or dropped from
ground, air or from water.
[0007] An inherent limitation to smart munitions is the inability
to verify if the munition hit the target. Thus, an aircraft pilot
launching smart munitions cannot verify successful impact other
than by flying over the target, thus risking exposing the aircraft
to anti aircraft fire.
[0008] To overcome this limitation, smart munitions systems have
been devised by which a likely hit coordinate signal or any other
signal that informs about a hit is transmitted from the smart
munitions to an impact assessment system that may be located in a
monitoring station just prior to detonation. Such a signal is then
processed by the impact assessment system and compared to the
intended target coordinate or to any other intended target result
to yield accuracy results.
[0009] An inherent limitation to the impact assessment system is
the need, for example, for a radio frequency receiver and an impact
assessment unit on the monitoring platform. Integration of an
impact assessment unit into a monitoring platform previously
required substantial modifications to the plafform's electrical and
avionic systems. In addition, a variety of interface software and
hardware integration may also be required and therefore, numerous
test flights may be required.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] There is thus provided, in accordance with an embodiment of
the present invention, an impact assessment unit. The impact
assessment unit may include an interface connector to interface
with an external slot of a platform electronic system, a resource
allocation unit to negotiate access to resources associated with
the platform electronic system, and a controller to regulate
communication with a smart munition through a receiver associated
with the platform electronics system.
[0011] Furthermore, in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention, the resource allocation unit may negotiate access to a
human interface unit. In accordance with an embodiment of the
present invention, the human interface unit is an audio system. In
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the human
interface unit may be a visual display system.
[0012] Moreover, in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention, the impact assessment unit may further include a
processing unit for receiving and processing information from a
monitoring unit of the smart munition. In an embodiment of the
present invention, the processing unit may be an external unit to
the impact assessment unit. In an embodiment of the present
invention, the resource allocation unit may negotiate access to the
external processing unit. In an embodiment of the present
invention, the resource allocation unit may negotiate access to a
transmitter to transmit a signal generated by the impact assessment
unit in a manner receivable by a receiving device of the smart
munition. In an embodiment of the present invention, the resource
allocation unit may negotiate access to a receiver to receive a
signal generated by the smart munition.
[0013] Moreover, in an embodiment of the present invention, the
receiver may be a radiofrequency receiver. In an embodiment of the
present invention, the radiofrequency receiver may be inherent to
an electronic warfare system of the monitoring unit. In an
embodiment of the present invention, the radiofrequency signal may
be a frequency radio signal of between 2 gigahertz and 2.6
gigahertz.
[0014] Additionally, in an embodiment of the present invention, the
resource allocation unit may negotiate access to resources
associated with the platform electronic system through a resource
allocation controller on the platform.
[0015] In addition, in an embodiment of the present invention, the
impact ass ssment unit may be placed on a monitoring unit.
[0016] Furthermore, in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention, the resource allocation unit may negotiate access to an
information recordation unit to record the information received to
the impact assessment unit.
[0017] Moreover, in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention, the resource allocation unit may negotiate access to a
transmitter associated with the platform electronic system to
transmit the information received to the impact assessment
unit.
[0018] There is also provided, in an embodiment of the present
invention, a method for impact assessment. The method may include
connecting to an interface of a platform electronic system,
negotiating access to resources associated with the platform
electronic system, and regulating communication with a smart
munition through a transceiver associated with the platform
electronics system.
[0019] In an embodiment of the present invention, the negotiation
may be to access a human interface unit. In an embodiment of the
present invention, the negotiation may be to access an audio
system. In an embodiment of the present invention, the negotiation
may be to access a visual display system. In an embodiment of the
present invention, the negotiation may be to access a transmitter
to transmit a signal generated by the impact assessment unit in a
manner receivable by a receiving device of the smart munition. In
an embodiment of the present invention, the negotiation may be to
access to a receiver to receive a signal generated by the smart
munition. In an embodiment of the present invention, the
negotiation may be to access resources associated with the platform
electronic system through a resource allocation controller on the
platform.
[0020] Furthermore, in an embodiment of the present invention, the
method for impact assessment may further include processing
information for receiving and processing from an onboard guidance
system/platform of the smart munition.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021] The present invention will be understood and appreciated
more fully from the following detailed description taken in
conjunction with the appended drawings in which:
[0022] FIG. 1a is a cut away view of a smart munition including an
impact assessment assembly according to the teachings of the
present invention;
[0023] FIG. 1b is a perspective illustration of an impact
assessment unit added to the existing electronic system of a
platform for mounting a smart munition in accordance with some
embodiments of the present invention;
[0024] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the Impact Assessment unit of
FIG. 1 operably connected to the Platform Electric System in
accordance with some embodiments of the present invention;
[0025] FIG. 3 is a black box diagram depicting one embodiment of a
transmitter of the impact assessment assembly of the present
invention;
[0026] FIG. 4 is a diagram depicting transmission patterns over a
time period of three munitions according to the present invention;
and
[0027] FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustration of a method for Impact
Assessment operative in accordance with some embodiments of the
present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
[0028] The present invention is of a method and system and a smart
munition employing same, which may be used to determine an impact
success or failure of the smart munition. Specifically, the present
invention may be used to assess impact success or failure of a
smart munition by providing an operator of a platform from which
the smart munition was deployed, or of an operator of a monitoring
unit from which the smart munition is being monitored, with
information pertaining to the position and orientation thereof with
respect to a targ t, just prior to impact.
[0029] The principles and operation of a smart munition according
to the present invention may be better understood with reference to
the drawings and accompanying descriptions.
[0030] Before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention
in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited
in its application to the details of construction and the
arrangement of the components set forth in the following
description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is
capable of other embodiments or of being practiced or carried out
in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology
and terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description
and should not be regarded as limiting.
[0031] As used herein, the term "munition" refers to perishable
military weapons such as bombs, rockets and missiles which are
typically dropped or launched on specific targets from a variety of
platforms such as airplanes, UVA's, helicopters, ships, ground
vehicles such as for example tanks, and personal platform launchers
such as shoulder missile launchers and the like.
[0032] The phrase "smart munition" refers to any munition capable
of self guiding to target and as such once it is launched or
dropped from a platform it self guides to a predetermined target
and to any munition guided or monitored by an operator, in which
case the operator may ensure and/or verify that the munition has
detonated on target. The target can be a stationary target such as
a building a bunker and the like, or a moving target such as a
ship, a train, an airplane or a tank.
[0033] Referring now to the drawings, FIGS. 1a-7 illustrate the
smart munition according to the present invention, which is
referred to hereinunder as munition 10.
[0034] Munition 10 may include a body 12, which may be cylindrical
and aerodynamic, and a flight control mechanism, e.g., at least one
translatable flight control surface 14 (two are shown) disposed
along an outer surface of the body 12. It will be appreciated that
although surfaces 14 are shown to be disposed on the outer surface
of the tail section of body 12, attachment of surfaces 14 on the
outer surfaces of the mid and/or forward sections of body 12 can
also be realized.
[0035] Munition 10 may further include attachment elements 15
positioned on an outer surface of body 12. Attachment elements 15
may serve for attaching munition 10 to a platform 27, which can be,
for example, an airplane as specifically shown in FIG. 1b.
[0036] Body 12 may house a warhead 16 which may serve to destroy a
target by detonating either prior to, during or following impact of
munition 10 on the target. Warhead 16 may be a hollow cylindrical
shaped casing, inside of which is placed the explosive charge. The
ignition fuse which is designed to be set off at the proper moment,
either prior to, during or following impact on target may lie at
the rear or front end of warhead 16. Many warhead configuration and
detonation mechanisms which may be utilized by warhead 16 of the
present invention are known in the art, and as such no further
detail to the construction and function of warhead 16 is given
herein.
[0037] Body 12 may further house an onboard guidance system 18.
Guidance system 18 may serve to guide munition 10 to a target by
controlling control surfaces 14. Several types of guidance systems
are known in the art, which systems may utilize technologies such
as, but not limited to, laser guidance, infrared guidance, radar
guidance and/or satellite (GPS) guidance. Guidance system may be
housed in a front section 20 of munition 10 and may include one or
more sensors 22, such as a Forward Looking Infrared (FLIR) sensors
in the case of infrared guidance, and the various electronic
systems which may control the sensors, analyze and interpret the
signals received by the sensors, and control surfaces 14 which may
determine the trajectory and the roll position of the missile.
[0038] It will be appreciated that in the case of a self propelled
munition 10 such as a missile or a rocket, body 12 may further
house an engine 23 such as a solid or liquid fuel rocket engine
which may serve to propel munition 10 to the target.
[0039] Body 12 of munition 10 according to the present invention
may further house an impact verification assembly 24. Assembly 24
may be powered by an internal power supply 21, or alternatively by
a power supply contained within, for example, guidance system 18 of
munition 10.
[0040] Assembly 24 may include a processing unit 26 which may be in
data communication with guidance system 18 (indicated by 19). Unit
26 may serve to process information received from onboard guidance
system 18, such information may include positional coordinates of
munition 10 and the target (which are typically fed into the
guidance system prior to deployment) and orientation of munition 10
with respect to the target. It will be appreciated that depending
on the processing abilities of guidance system 18 this information
may be provided either as processed data which may include a
calculated positional relationship between munition 10 and the
target or alternatively as unprocessed data which may include
simple coordinate data for munition 10 and target and orientation
of munition 10 with respect to the horizon. In any case processing
unit 26 may process the information received from guidance system
18 to yield information pertaining to an accuracy, with respect to
the target, of the in-flight trajectory position of munition 10,
just prior to impact. Processor 26 may generate a signal including
this information and may relay this signal to a transmitter 28
forming a part of assembly 24.
[0041] Transmitter 28 may transmit this signal, via an antenna
provided therewith, to a platform 27 (FIG. 1b) from which munition
10 was dropped or launched, or which may be a monitoring unit of
the battle-field, such that an impact assessment of munition 10 may
be determined by an operator of platform 27.
[0042] It will be appreciated that an impact assessment may depend
on the extent of target destruction which may be dependent on the
accuracy of munition 10, its warhead type, warhead size and
penetration ability. Thus, impact success may also be achieved when
near target impact occurs, providing the explosive potential of
munition 10 may be such, that total or sufficient target
destruction is achieved. Thus impact success may be specific to
each type of munition 10 deployed. Prior to deployment a threshold
for impact success may be programmed into processing unit 26 for
each type of munition deployed, considering parameters such as, but
not limited to, the munition warhead size, warhead type and
penetration ability.
[0043] It will be appreciated that smart munitions including
systems which may transmit a position and orientation of the
munition to a monitoring unit exist in the art. Such systems may
transmit a signal pertaining to the position and orientation of the
munition prior to impact, which signal may be correlated to a
position of a target targeted by the munition, thus yielding
probable impact accuracy of the munition. Since accuracy assessment
in this case may be performed by a monitoring unit and not a
platform from which the munition was launched or dropped, real-time
analysis of impact results may not be enabled, and as such these
prior art systems may be used only to verify success and not to
adjust deployment of additional munitions.
[0044] These prior art systems may require the use of bulky and
dedicated processing and receiving units in the monitoring unit and
as such, incorporation of such units into space-limited platforms
such as for example, UVA's or airplanes, is a virtual
impossibility. In addition, such monitoring unit processing and
receiving units may be expensive to fabricate and operate and as
such incorporation into a multiplicity of platforms is not feasible
economically.
[0045] To overcome the limitations of prior art systems the present
invention makes use of the abundant space available within a
munition body, to place the processing and transmitting functions
therein such that a position and orientation of a munition with
respect to a target, may be calculated on board the munition and
relayed to the platform or to the monitoring unit. Performing the
processing on board overcomes the space limitation imposed on the
platform or on the monitoring unit, thus enabling, by utilizing a
platform or a monitoring unit mounted receiver such as the
electronic warfare system inherent to the platform or to the
monitoring unit, to receive signals directly from the munition and
as such to assess in real time the impact success or failure of a
munition. Another way to overcome limitations of prior art systems
may be by sending data from the munition to the platform or to the
monitoring unit, thus enabling an existing processor or processors
of a platform or a monitoring unit to process the data received
from the munition.
[0046] Reference is now made to FIG. 1B which is a perspective
illustration of an impact assessment unit 100 added to the existing
platform electronic system 200 of a platform 27 for mounting a
smart munition in accordance with some embodiments of the present
invention. It will be appreciated that impact assessment unit 100
may be added to an existing electronic system of a monitoring unit
which may monitor the battlefield. As used herein, the term
"platform electronic system" refers to the electronic system of the
platform from which smart munition was deployed, or to the
electronic unit of a monitoring unit from which the smart munition
is being monitored.
[0047] Thus, according to an embodiment of the present invention
and with reference to FIG. 2, the impact assessment unit 100 may
include an interface connector 110 to interface with an external
slot of the platform electronic system 200, a resource allocation
unit 120 to negotiate access to resources associated with the
platform electronic system 200, and a controller 130 to regulate
communication with a smart munition through a receiver associated
with the platform electronics system 200.
[0048] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the
impact assessment unit 100 may further include a data processor
unit 140 for receiving and processing information from the platform
from which the smart munition was deployed, or of an operator of a
monitoring unit from which the smart munition is being monitored.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the data processor unit
140 may be an external unit to the impact assessment unit 100.
[0049] The resource allocation unit 120 may negotiate access to
resources associated with the platform electronic system 200
through a resource allocation controller 250 on the platform
electronic system 200.
[0050] According to an embodiment of the present invention the
signal transmitted by transmitter 28 is an electronic warfare
signal which is receivable by a radiofrequency receiver 210 of the
platform electronic system 200. The receiver 210 may be inherent to
an electronic warfare system of the platform electronic system 200.
The electronic warfare may be an example of a communication unit
220 which may exist on the platform electronic system 200.
[0051] According to another embodiment of the present invention the
electronic warfare signal transmitted by transmitter 28 is of a
frequency selected between 2 gigahertz and 2.6 gigahertz with a
bandwidth of 5-10 MHz.
[0052] As is specifically shown in FIG. 3, to enable generation and
transmission of an electronic warfare signal of this frequency
range and bandwidth transmitter 28 may include a control and
interface unit 30 which may serve to receive the signal (indicated
by 29) from processing unit 26. Transmitter 28 may also include a
modulator 32 which may serve to convert a voice information signal
or in addition digital data, such as image data, signal into a
radiofrequency signal (indicated by 31) and to relay the
radiofrequency signal to a power amplifier 34 such that the
electronic warfare signal may be amplified thereby prior to
transmission via the antenna 36.
[0053] The electronic warfare signal received by a receiver on
board platform 27 or on board the monitoring unit may then be
translated thereby to information indicating either success or
failure of impact, of munition 10.
[0054] Thus, the transmission of the electronic warfare signal may
be effected during the last minute of flight of munition 10,
preferably during the last few seconds of flight. Initiation of
transmission may be determined according to the proximity of
munition 10 to the target which may be determined according to
information from guidance system 18. It will be appreciated that
the electronic warfare signal may be transmitted from munition 10
from the moment of release until impact in which case an operator
of platform 27 or of the monitoring unit may choose to ignore the
signal until a minute or so prior to impact.
[0055] It will be appreciated that the ability to forecast impact
success may be inversely proportional to the distance between
munition 10 and the target. That is to say, the closer munition 10
is to target (i.e., the less time remaining to impact) the more
accurate the impact success or failure forecast is. It will further
be appreciated that if this forecast is effected on the basis of
information transmitted from munition 10 a few seconds prior to
impact such a forecast may be substantially 100% reliable.
[0056] Thus, by utilizing electronic warfare communication no
modifications or addition of hardware to the platform or to the
monitoring unit are necessary, greatly simplifying deployment of
munition 10 of the present invention. In addition, since the
electronic warfare system inherent to the platform electronic
system 200 may be utilized as a receiver, minimal operator training
and handling is required.
[0057] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the
resource allocation unit 120 may negotiate access to a human
interface unit 230 on the platform electronic system. The human
interface unit may be for example an audio system or a visual
display system.
[0058] According to another embodiment of the present invention the
electronic warfare signal may translate into audio information by
the communication unit 220 of the platform electronic system 200.
Such audio information may include uttered words (voice) or any
other form of audio information which may be indicative of impact
success or failure. For example, this information may include
either a "hit" or a "miss" message, which may indicate to the
operator of platform 27 or of the monitoring unit an impact success
or failure. It will be appreciated that through experimentation it
will be possible to determine which uttered words or combinations
of words and which voice frequencies and intonations may be best
suited for the relaying the munition impact success or failure
message to an operator of platform 27 or of the monitoring unit. It
will be appreciated in this respect that voices of male, female and
child are readily discernible and the content thereof identifiable
even if simultaneously transmitted through a multiple users
communication system.
[0059] As specifically shown in FIG. 2, the platform electronic
system 200 may include a communication unit 220, a human interface
unit 230, a processor unit 240, and a resource allocation unit 250.
As already mentioned above, communication unit 220 may be for
example a warfare electronic unit. In addition, the human interface
unit may be for example an audio system or a visual display system.
The incoming electronic warfare signal may be converted into audio
information, preferably voice, or to visual display, which may be
receivable and comprehended by an operator of platform 27 or of the
monitoring unit. In addition, the information, whether it is an
audio information, or a digital data information, such as image
data, can be recorded for later analysis. Digital data may be
transmitted, for example, by QPSK modulation.
[0060] According to another embodiment of the present invention
when the impact success of more than one munition 10 is to be
co-assessed, the signal generated and transmitted by impact
verification assembly 24 of each munition 10 may also include
information uniquely identifying each munition 10.
[0061] It will be appreciated that since in, for example, aerial
bombing runs more than one munition 10 may be deployed either by a
single or a plurality of airplanes targeting one or more targets,
individually tracking and assessing impact success of each munition
10 has to be enabled.
[0062] In such cases, each munition 10 may be preprogrammed to
transmit a signal including a unique identifier in addition to the
information pertaining to impact success or failure. The unique
identifier may be for example audio (e.g., voice) information
including, for example, a single word selected from the words
representing the international alphabet of radio communication
(Alpha, Bravo Charlie etc.). Thus munition 10 may transmit a signal
such as Alpha-"hit" which may identify the specific munition 10 and
the impact success or failure thereof.
[0063] In order to discern between the signal transmitted from a
plurality of munitions 10 co-deployed the signal of each specific
munition 10 may be transmitted in a random manner over a time
period such that each signal is individually received at least once
over this time period by platform electronic system 200.
[0064] For example, when three munitions 10 are co-launched from an
airplane or airplanes a suitable transmission time window, a number
of time windows in a time period and a number of transmissions in
each time window, may be determined such that signals from
munitions 10 are individually received by platform electronic
system 200 at least once during this time period.
[0065] Thus, for three munitions, the probability of successful
transmissions non-overlapping) over a time period may be
represented as follows: P=nx(n-1).sup.2/n.sup.3, wherein n=the
number of time windows over a time period, n.sup.3=the number of
possible co-transmission for three munitions 10 in a time window,
and nx(n-1).sup.2 the number of possible non-overlapping
transmissions in a single time window.
[0066] Thus, 1-P is the probability of an unsuccessful transmission
(i.e., if two transmissions overlap and thus may not be
individually discerned) if Z is the number of time windows
necessary and if X is a successful transmission then
X=1-(1-P).sup.z. Extracting Z yields the following: Z=log
(1-x)/log(1-P).
[0067] Assuming a one second transmission time and applying the
above calculations for four munitions 10, yields an optimal time
period of 35 seconds which includes 5 time windows of 7 seconds
each, for obtaining probability of 95% of non-overlap. As
specifically shown in FIG. 4, if all four munitions (represented by
bomb 1, 2, 3 and 4) are transmitting (each transmission, i.e.,
transmit frame, is represented by a single rectangle) randomly over
this time period (time windows 1-4), each signal may be
individually received by the receiver of platform 27 or of the
monitoring unit at least one time during this time period (time
window 3). It will be appreciated that by increasing the number of
time windows or the number of optional transmissions per window one
may increase the non-overlap probability.
[0068] Thus the present invention may provides a smart munition
including an impact verification assembly which may enable the
operator of a platform from which the munition was dropped or
launched, or the operator of a monitoring unit which may monitor
the battlefield, to determine, in real time, an impact success or
failure of the munition.
[0069] The smart munition of the present invention may readily be
incorporated and deployed by existing platforms or monitoring units
without necessitating additional platform or monitoring unit
mounted hardware or extensive operator training. In addition the
smart munition of the present invention may enable the
co-assessment of impact success of a plurality of munitions which
may be targeted against one or more targets.
[0070] It will be appreciated that assembly 24 of the present
invention may be retrofitted into any existing smart munition,
providing suitable coupling conduits may be provided such that
communication with a guidance system can be established.
[0071] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a
method for impact assessment is presented. Reference is now made to
FIG. 5 which is a flow chart illustration of the method for Impact
Assessment operative in accordance with some embodiments of the
present invention. The method may include connecting to an
interface of a platform electronic system (step 1000), negotiating
access to resources associated with the platform electronic system
(step 2000), and regulating communication with a smart munition
through a transceiver associated with the platform electronics
system (step 3000).
[0072] In an embodiment of the present invention, the negotiation
(step 2000) may be to access a human interface unit. The
negotiation may be for example to access an audio system or to
access a visual display system. In an embodiment of the present
invention, the negotiation may be to access a transmitter to
transmit a signal generated by the impact assessment unit in a
manner receivable by a receiving device of the smart munition. The
negotiation may be to access to a receiver to receive a signal
generated by the smart munition. In an embodiment of the present
invention, the negotiation may be to access resources associated
with the platform electronic system through a resource allocation
controller on the platform.
[0073] Furthermore, in an embodiment of the present invention, the
method for impact assessment may further include processing
information for receiving and processing from an onboard guidance
system/platform of the smart munition (step 4000). The method for
impact assessment may further include presentation or recordation
of the information (step 5000), whether it is an audio information,
or a digital data information, such as image data.
[0074] Although the invention has been described in conjunction
with specific embodiments thereof, it is evident that many
alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to
those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace
all such alternatives, modifications and variations that fall
within the spirit and broad scope of the appended claims.
[0075] It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that
the present invention is not limited by what has been particularly
shown and described herein above. Rather the scope of the invention
is defined by the claims which follow:
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