Remote monitoring of munition assets

• US 20030058130A1
• Filed: 09/26/2001
• Published: 03/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Keith Fosen, Leslie Kramer
• Original Assignee: Keith Fosen, Leslie Kramer
• Inventors: Kramer, Leslie, Fosen, Keith
• Granted Patent: US 8,009,060 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/870.07
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 17/06 Electric or electromechanical safeties F41A17/04, F41A17/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 35/00 Testing or checking of ammunition apparatus for measuring the energy of projectiles G01L5/14
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 39/14 Explosion or fire protection arrangements on packages or ammunition F42B39/20 and F42B39/24 take precedence; wall or panel structure of fireproof safes or storage containers E05G1/024
• CPC Class Codes: F42C 17/04 for electric fuzes

Abstract

Remote monitoring of the munition assets is directed to providing a munitions monitoring system and method for monitoring the environment approximate to a munition and transferring data of the environment to a location remote from the munition for storage or processing. A local monitoring device communicates directly with a remote device at a location remote from the munition, the monitoring device being proximate to a munition with a plurality of sensors that monitor the environment of the munition. The local monitoring device can communicate directly with a centralized relay system that is located in the general proximity to a munitions stock pile and/or with a mobile remote device, such as mounted on a vehicle or a hand-held device. The data can be correlated with the operability of the munition.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring a munition comprising:

a sensor means, associated with a given munition, for detecting status information regarding the environment proximate to the munition; and

means for wirelessly communicating the status information from the sensor means to a remote device at a location remote from the munition.

2. A system for monitoring a munition according to claim 1, wherein the means for wirelessly communicating status information is, at least in part, a network of radio frequency links.

3. A system for monitoring a munition according to claim 1, wherein the means for wirelessly communicating status information is, at least in part, a cellular phone network.

4. A system for monitoring a munition according to claim 1, wherein the means for wirelessly communicating status information is, at least in part, an infrared data link.

5. A system for monitoring a munition according to claim 1, wherein the mean for wirelessly communicating status information comprises:

a centralized relay that receives status information from the sensor means by a first subcommunication means and relays status information to the remote device by a second subcommunication means.

6. A system for monitoring a munition according to claim 5, wherein the first and second subcommunication means comprise:

a radio frequency link, a cellular phone link, an infrared link and/or a combination thereof.

7. A system for monitoring a munition according to claim 1, wherein the remote device is located on a vehicle.

8. A system for monitoring a munition according to claim 1, wherein the sensor means is adapted to be attached to a storage container.

9. A system for monitoring a munition according to claim 1, wherein the sensor means is adapted to be attached to the munition.

10. A system for monitoring a munition according to claim 1, wherein the sensor means comprises at least a chemical sensor.

11. A system for monitoring a munition according to claim 1, wherein the sensor means comprises at least one of an accelerometer, a temperature sensor, and a humidity sensor.

12. A method for monitoring a munition comprising the steps of:

sensing status information regarding an environment proximate to a given munition with a local monitoring device;

transmitting the status information to a remote device at a location remote from the munition;

storing the status information at the remote device; and

,

comparing the status information with a set of predetermined conditions.

13. A method for monitoring a munition according to claim 12, wherein the transmitting step is accomplished by wireless means.

14. A method for monitoring a munition according to claim 12, wherein the step of transmitting the status information includes the steps of:

storing the status information at the local monitoring device prior to transmitting;

sending a request signal from the remote device, to a receiver associated with the local monitoring device;

replying to the request signal by transmitting stored status information from the local monitoring device to the remote device; and

,

clearing the memory of the storage.

15. A method for monitoring a munition according to claim 12, wherein the step of transmitting the status information includes the steps of:

storing the status information at the local monitoring device prior to transmitting;

transmitting from the local monitoring device, at predetermined periods, stored status information to the remote device; and

,

clearing a memory of the storage.

16. A method for monitoring a munition according to claim 12, wherein the step of transmitting the status information includes the steps of:

comparing, at the local monitoring device, the status information to a set of predetermined conditions;

determining if the fault conditions have been exceeded; and

, if exceeded, transmitting the status information to the remote device.

17. A method for monitoring a munition according to claim 12, wherein the step of transmitting the status information includes the steps of:

storing the status information at the local monitoring device, prior to transmitting;

sending a request signal from a centralized relay, to a receiver connected to status sensors;

replying to the request signal by transmitting stored status information from the local monitoring device to the centralized relay;

clearing a memory of the storage;

storing in the centralized relay, status information associated with at least one given munition; and

,

transmitting from the centralized relay to the remote device, status information stored in the centralized relay.

18. A method for monitoring ammunition according to claim 17, wherein the step of transmitting from the centralized relay to a remote device, is conducted periodically, upon request of the remote location, or upon the occurrence of a fault condition.

19. A method for monitoring a munition according to claim 12, wherein the step of transmitting the status information includes the steps of:

storing the status information at the local monitoring device, prior to transmitting;

transmitting, at predetermined periods, stored status information to a centralized relay;

clearing a memory of the storage;

storing at the centralized relay, status information associated with at least one given munition; and

,

transmitting from the centralized relay to a remote device, status information stored at the centralized relay.

20. A method for monitoring ammunition according to claim 19, wherein the step of transmitting from the centralized relay to a remote device, is conducted periodically, upon request of the remote location, or upon the occurrence of a fault condition.

21. A method for monitoring a munition according to claim 12, wherein the step of transmitting the status information includes the steps of:

comparing, at the local monitoring device, the status information to a set of predetermined fault condition;

determining if the fault conditions have be exceeded; and

if exceeded, transmitting the status information to the centralized relay;

storing at the centralized relay system, status information associated with at least one given munition; and

,

transmitting from the centralized relay system to a remote device, status information stored at the centralized relay system.

22. A method for monitoring ammunition according to claim 21 wherein the step of transmitting from the centralized relay to a remote device, is conducted periodically, upon request of the remote location, or upon the occurrence of a fault condition.

23. A system for monitoring a munition comprising:

a status sensor located in an environment proximate to and associated with a given munition;

a transmitter connected to the status sensor;

a receiver configured to receive status information from the status sensor; and

,

a memory connected to the receiver to store status information.

24. A system for monitoring a munition according to claim 23, wherein the status sensor comprises at least one of a chemical sensor, an acceleration sensor and a temperature sensor.

25. A system for monitoring a munition according to claim 23, further comprising, a centralized relay, comprising a relay transmitter and a relay receiver, wherein the relay transmitter communicates with the receiver and the relay receiver communicates with the transmitter.

26. A system for monitoring a munition according to claim 23, further comprising another receiver connected to the status sensor and another transmitter connected to the receiver, wherein, the another transmitter communicates with the another receiver.

27. A system for monitoring a munition according to claim 26, further comprising a centralized relay, wherein the transmitters communicate with their respective receivers through the centralized relay.

28. A method for managing a warranty of a munition comprising the steps of:

sensing status information associated with the environment proximate to a given munition;

storing the status information;

comparing the status information to warranty storage requirements;

comparing the status information to warranty performance requirements; and

exercising warranty provisions if warranty storage requirements were met and warranty performance requirements were not met.