Coordinating multiple ordnance targeting via optical inter-ordnance communications

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10012477-B1
Application number	US-201715452295-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Mar 7, 2017
Priority date	Mar 7, 2017
Publication date	Jul 3, 2018
Grant date	Jul 3, 2018

Abstract

Apparatus and associated methods relate to coordinating targeting among multiple guided ordnances using inter-ordnance optical communications. An inter-ordnance communications channel is optically established between leading and trailing guided ordnances travelling in substantially the same direction. The leading guided ordnance emits an optical beacon in a direction aft of the direction of ordnance travel, and a trailing guided ordnance captures images that contain the optical beacon emitted by the leading guided ordnance. The trailing guided ordnance is configured to chart a trajectory of the leading guided ordnance. The trailing guided ordnance is configured to predict which, among multiple targets identified in the captured images, is a first target consistent with the charted trajectory of and therefore selected by the leading ordnance. The trailing guided ordnance is further configured to select, based on the captured images, a second target that is within a navigable range of the trailing guided ordnance.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A system configured to be carried by a guided ordnance for in-flight target coordination with other guided ordnances, the system comprising:
a forward-pointing optical imager configured to capture in-flight images of a scene aligned with an ordnance axis in a forward direction of ordnance travel, each of the captured images comprising a two-dimensional array of pixel data;
an aft-pointing optical emitter configured to emit a first optical beacon in an aft direction of ordnance travel, thereby communicating to trailing guided ordnances;
an image processor configured to identify, within the captured images, a second optical beacon emitted by a leading guided ordnance; and
a Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC) module configured to chart a trajectory of the leading guided ordnance.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the trajectory of the leading guided ordnance is charted based on the identified optical beacon emitted by the leading guided ordnance.

3. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a target identifier configured to identify one or more image portions within the captured images, each image portion comprising a subset of the two-dimensional array of pixel data corresponding to a target in the aligned scene; and
a target selector configured to predict a first target selected by the leading guided ordnance, the first target corresponding to a first one of the one or more image portions, the first target based on the charted trajectory of the leading guided ordnance, the target selector further configured to select a second target corresponding to a second one of the one or more image portions, the second target located within a navigable range of the guided ordnance.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the GNC module is further configured to:
determine a direction of the second target relative to the ordnance axis; and
generate an output signal indicative of the determined direction of the selected target relative to the ordnance.

5. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a forward-pointing target illuminator configured to project an optical signal in a forward direction of ordnance travel.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the forward-pointing target illuminator is a Short Wave InfraRed (SWIR) laser.

7. The system of claim 6 , further comprising:
an image processor configured to identify, within the captured images, the optical signal projected by the leading guided ordnance.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the trajectory of the leading guided ordnance is charted based on the identified optical signal projected by the leading guidance ordnance.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the aft-pointing optical emitter is further configured to modulate the optical beacon to communicate information to the trailing guided ordnances.

10. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a synchronous timer configured to provide signals corresponding to timings of the first and second optical beacons.

11. A method for in-flight target coordination of at least a leading guided ordnance and an trailing guided ordnance, the method comprising:
capturing, by the trailing guided ordnance, images of a scene aligned with an ordnance axis of the trailing guided ordnance;
emitting, by a leading guided ordnance, an optical beacon in an aft direction of travel by the leading guided ordnance, thereby communicating to the trailing guided ordnance;
identifying, by the trailing guided ordnance, within the captured images, the optical beacon emitted by the leading guided ordnance; and
charting, by the trailing guided ordnance, a trajectory of the leading guided ordnance.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the trajectory of the leading guided ordnance is charted based on the identified optical beacon emitted by the leading guided ordnance.

13. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
identifying, by the trailing guided ordnance, a plurality of image portions within the captured images, each corresponding to one of a plurality of targets in the aligned scene;
predicting, by the trailing guided ordnance, a first target of the plurality of targets selected by the leading guided ordnance, the first target corresponding to a first one of the plurality of image portions, the first target predicted based on the charted trajectory of the leading guided ordnance; and
selecting, by the trailing guided ordnance, a second target corresponding to a second one of the plurality of image portions, the second target located within a navigable range of the trailing guided ordnance.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
determining, by the trailing guided ordnance, a direction of the second target relative to the ordnance axis; and
generating, by the trailing guided ordnance, an output signal indicative of the determined direction of the selected target relative to the ordnance axis.

15. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
projecting, by the leading guided ordnance, within the captured images, the optical signal projected by the leading guided ordnance.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
identifying, by the trailing guided ordnance, within the captured images, the optical signal projected by the leading guided ordnance.

17. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
modulating, by the leading guided ordnance, the optical beacon to communicate information to the trailing guided ordnance.

18. A system configured to be carried by a guided ordnance for in-flight target coordination with other guided ordnances, the system comprising:
a microprocessor; and
computer-readable memory encoded with instructions that, when executed by the microprocessor, cause the system to:
capture images of a scene aligned with an ordnance axis;
emit a first optical beacon in an aft direction of ordnance travel, thereby communicating to trailing guided ordnances;
identify, within the captured images, a second optical beacon emitted by a leading guided ordnance; and
chart a trajectory of the leading guided ordnance.

Assignees

• Rosemount Aerospace Inc

Inventors

• Ell Todd Anthony
• Krucinski Martin

Classifications

• F41G7/2293

  using electromagnetic waves other than radio waves · CPC title

• F41G7/2233 Primary

  Multimissile systems · CPC title

• F41G7/2253

  Passive homing systems, i.e. comprising a receiver and do not requiring an active illumination of the target · CPC title

• F41G7/2246

  Active homing systems, i.e. comprising both a transmitter and a receiver · CPC title

• F41G7/008

  Combinations of different guidance systems · CPC title