Automated intel data radio

• US 20040030463A1
• Filed: 06/11/2003
• Published: 02/12/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Inventors: Bodenhorn, Chris A., Botzenhart, Mark P., Stockdale, Sandra Erich
• Granted Patent: US 7,243,008 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/3
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0202 specially adapted to aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/12 Overlay of images, i.e. displayed pixel being the result of switching between the corresponding input pixels
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2380/12 Avionics applications

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a system for automating mission related tasks in a tactical environment. The system includes a receiver component configured to receive intelligence data. The intelligence data describes the tactical environment in real-time, or in near real-time. A computer is coupled to the receiver component. The computer is programmed to process the intelligence data, identify mission adjustments based on the processed intelligence data, and to effect the mission adjustments by automatically implementing the mission related tasks. A display component is coupled to the computer. The display component is configured to display at least a portion of the tactical environment and provide at least one visual indicator corresponding to the mission adjustments and/or the mission related tasks.

Claims

1. A system disposed in a platform operating in a tactical environment, the system being configured to automate mission related tasks performed by the platform, the system comprising:

a receiver component configured to receive intelligence data, the intelligence data describing the tactical environment in real-time, or in near real-time;

a computer coupled to the receiver component, the computer being programmed to process the intelligence data, identify mission adjustments based on the processed intelligence data, and to effect the mission adjustments by automatically implementing the mission related tasks; and

a display component coupled to the computer, the display component being configured to display at least a portion of the tactical environment and provide at least one visual indicator corresponding to the mission adjustments and/or the mission related tasks.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the receiver component is configured to receive broadcast data from a satellite intelligence source, a ground-based intelligence source, an air-based intelligence source, and/or an intelligence source disposed on an under-sea platform.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer is coupled to at least one vehicle sensor system.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

an avionics system configured to provide the computer with aircraft state data and provide the aircraft with route implementation commands; and

the computer further programmed to,

calculate a new route in response to the intelligence data and the aircraft state data, and

provide the avionics system with the new route.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the intelligence data includes threat track data.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the threat track data includes identification data, location data, threat detection radius, weapons status data, heading data, and speed data.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the display component displays the threat track data and at least a portion of the tactical environment on a digital map.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein the intelligence data includes targeting data, such that the new route is calculated to engage a threat.

9. The system of claim 4, wherein the intelligence data includes friendly forces track data.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the friendly forces track data includes identification data, location data, weapons status data, heading data, and speed data.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the display component displays the friendly forces track data and at least a portion of the tactical environment on a digital map.

12. The system of claim 4, wherein the intelligence data includes combat survivor data.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the display component displays combat survivor locations and at least a portion of the tactical environment on a digital map.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the new route intercepts a combat survivor location.

15. The system of claim 4, wherein the intelligence data includes threat track data, friendly forces track data, combat survivor location data.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the avionics system includes at least one electromagnetic sensor detection system configured to detect contact entities in the tactical environment.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the electromagnetic sensor detection system includes a radar.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the computer is further programmed to:

receive an initial electronic order of battle (EOB) data and initial route data from an external source;

fuse threat track data, friendly track data, and combat survivor location data with electromagnetic sensor detection system track data and operator entered track data; and

calculate a new threat scenario and a new route in response to the initial EOB, initial route data, and the fused threat track data, friendly track data, combat survivor location data, electromagnetic sensor detection system track data, and operator entered track data.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the display component is configured to display in real-time, or in near real-time, the new route and the correlated threat track data, friendly track data, and combat survivor location data.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the computer is programmed to filter the correlated threat track data, friendly track data, and combat survivor location data based on filter parameters such that correlated threat track data, friendly track data, and combat survivor location data excluded by the filter are not provided to the display component.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the filter parameters include geographic filter parameters, pop-up threat filter parameters, moving filter parameters, and corridor filter parameters.

22. The system of claim 4, wherein the computer is programmed to calculate threat intervisibility based on aircraft position data, threat position data, threat detection radius, and terrain data.

23. The system of claim 4, further comprising a computer readable medium having instructions disposed thereon, the instructions being executable by the computer, the instructions including a set of modular application programs comprising:

a receiver management application configured to manage receiver parameters in response to aircraft state data, threats, and electronic order of battle (EOB);

a mission plan monitor application configured to compare aircraft state data with the EOB and the threats;

a route planning application configured to compute the new route in response to the intelligence data, the EOB, and aircraft state data; and

a digital mapping application configured to provide the display component with a digital map that overlays a graphical depiction of the intelligence data, aircraft state data, new route data on a digital representation of the tactical environment.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the receiver parameters include receiver tuning data.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the tuning data include broadcast satellite channel data.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the digital representation of the tactical environment includes digitized terrain elevation data.

27. The system of claim 24, wherein the graphical depiction of the intelligence data includes at least one graphical symbol depicting hostile force entities, at least one graphical symbol depicting friendly force entities, and at least one graphical symbol depicting combat survivors.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the graphical symbols depicting hostile force entities and friendly force entities are configured to provide identification data, location data, threat detection radius, weapons status data, heading data, and/or speed data.

29. The system of claim 23, wherein the digital mapping application is configured to provide the display component with route waypoints and flight plans.

30. The system of claim 23, wherein the digital mapping application is configured to provide the display component with avionic system status data.

31. The system of claim 23, wherein the digital mapping application is configured to provide the display component with aircraft location data, threat detection radius, weapons status data, heading data, and speed data.

44. The system of claim 20, wherein the filter parameters include geographic filter parameters, pop-up threat filter parameters, moving filter parameters, and corridor filter parameters.

32. A method for automating mission related tasks for a vehicle operating in a tactical environment, the method comprising:

receiving intelligence data from a intelligence broadcast, the intelligence data describing the tactical environment in real-time, or in near real-time;

processing the intelligence data to thereby identify mission adjustments required to respond to the tactical environment;

performing the mission related tasks to effect the mission adjustments; and

displaying at least one visual indicator corresponding to either the mission adjustments and/or the mission related tasks.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the step of receiving includes receiving the intelligence data from a satellite intelligence source, a ground-based intelligence source, an air-based intelligence source, and/or an intelligence source disposed on an under-sea platform.

34. The method of claim 32, further comprising the steps of:

providing vehicle state data;

calculating a new route for the vehicle based on vehicle state data and the intelligence data; and

implementing the new route.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the vehicle is an aircraft, and the step of implementing includes changing course, speed, and/or altitude.

36. The system of claim 34, wherein the intelligence data includes targeting data, such that the new route is calculated to engage a threat.

37. The method of claim 32, wherein the intelligence data includes threat track data, friendly forces track data, and combat survivor location data.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein the track data includes identification data, location data, threat detection radius, weapons status data, heading data, and speed data.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein the step of displaying includes displaying threat track data, friendly forces track data, combat survivor location data, and/or at least a portion of the tactical environment on a digital map.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein the at least a portion of the tactical environment includes terrain data.

41. The method of claim 32, further comprising:

receiving an initial electronic order of battle plan and initial route data from an external command entity;

obtaining contact data from user entered reports and/or at least one electromagnetic sensor detection system;

fusing threat track data, friendly track data, and combat survivor location data with the contact data; and

calculating a new threat scenario and a new route in response to the initial EOB, initial route data, and the fused threat track data, friendly track data, combat survivor location data, and the contact data.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein the display component is configured to display in real-time, or in near real-time, the new route and the correlated threat track data, friendly track data, and combat survivor location data.

43. The method of claim 42, further comprising the step of filtering the correlated threat track data, friendly track data, and combat survivor location data based on filter parameters such that correlated threat track data, friendly track data, and combat survivor location data excluded by the filter are not provided to the display component.

45. The method of claim 32, further comprising the step of calculating threat intervisibility based on aircraft position data, threat position data, threat detection radius, and terrain data.

46. The method of claim 32, wherein the step of displaying includes providing a digital representation of the tactical environment.

47. The method of claim 46, wherein the digital representation of the tactical environment includes digitized terrain elevation data.

48. The method of claim 32, wherein the step of displaying further comprises providing a graphical depiction of the intelligence data.

49. The method of claim 48, wherein the graphical depiction of the intelligence data includes at least one graphical symbol depicting hostile force entities, at least one graphical symbol depicting friendly force entities, and at least one graphical symbol depicting combat survivors.

50. The method of claim 49, wherein the graphical symbols depicting hostile force entities and friendly force entities are configured to provide identification data, location data, threat detection radius, weapons status data, heading data, and/or speed data.

51. The method of claim 32, wherein the step of displaying further comprises the step of displaying route waypoints and flight plans.

52. The method of claim 32, wherein the step of displaying further comprises the step of displaying avionic system status data.