Network For Combat Control of Ground-Based Units

• US 20080246601A1
• Filed: 08/11/2006
• Published: 10/09/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BAE Systems Bofors AB (BAE Systems Plc)
• Original Assignee: BAE Systems Bofors AB (BAE Systems Plc)
• Inventors: Biel, Kristoffer
• Granted Patent: US 7,932,821 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/539.1
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0295 by at least one leading vehicle of the fleet
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

The invention relates to a network for combat control of ground-based units, such as combat vehicles, in real time, in which information is obtained concerning the units comprised in the network for the evaluation of threats and the calculation of a response. According to the invention, the units are divided into clusters (20; 26) with a central unit (21; 27) in each cluster and at least one client unit (22-25; 28-32) in each cluster, which client units are arranged to communicate with the associated central unit. Each unit comprises a control computer, radio, amplifier and antenna for communication with other units. The central unit is arranged to control units comprised in an associated cluster on the basis of the threat evaluation and the response calculation carried out in the central unit on the basis of information communicated from other units, comprising information about the current position, speed, orientation and status of the respective units, and on the basis of information obtained by means of its own equipment, such as active and passive sensors.

Claims

1. Network for combat control of ground-based units, such as combat vehicles, in real time, whereby information is obtained about units comprised in the network or the evaluation of threats and the calculation of a response, characterized in that the units are divided into clusters, with a central unit in each cluster and at least one client unit in each cluster that is arranged to communicate with the associated central unit, with each unit comprising a control computer, radio, amplifier and antenna for communication with other units, in that the central unit is arranged to control units comprised in an associated cluster on the basis of the threat evaluation and response calculation carried out in the central unit on the basis of information communicated from other units, comprising information about the current position, speed, orientation and status of the respective units and on the basis of information produced by its equipment, such as active and passive sensors.

2. Network for combat control according to claim 1, characterized in that the communication between the units is carried out by wireless means.

3. Network for combat control according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a clock is arranged in each unit'"'"'s radio, with the clocks being synchronized with the central unit.

4. Network according to claim 3, characterized in that the clocks are synchronized with the central unit by the communication between the central unit and the other units within the associated cluster.

5. Network according to claim 3, characterized in that the clocks are synchronized to GPS-time.

6. Network according to claim 1, characterized in that a unit that intends to transmit predicts the delay in the transmission to the other unit.

7. Network according to claim 1, characterized in that the central unit and the other units in an associated cluster are arranged to communicate bi-directionally and via several channels.

8. Network according to claim 1, characterized in that the central unit and the other units are arranged to communicate utilizing frequency hopping.

9. Network according to claim 1, characterized in that the central unit comprised in a cluster comprises a dedicated gun platform.

10. Network according to claim 2, characterized in that a unit that intends to transmit predicts the delay in the transmission to the other unit.

11. Network according to claim 3, characterized in that a unit that intends to transmit predicts the delay in the transmission to the other unit.

12. Network according to claim 4, characterized in that a unit that intends to transmit predicts the delay in the transmission to the other unit.

13. Network according to claim 5, characterized in that a unit that intends to transmit predicts the delay in the transmission to the other unit.

14. Network according to claim 2, characterized in that the central unit and the other units in an associated cluster are arranged to communicate bi-directionally and via several channels.

15. Network according to claim 3, characterized in that the central unit and the other units in an associated cluster are arranged to communicate bi-directionally and via several channels.

16. Network according to claim 4, characterized in that the central unit and the other units in an associated cluster are arranged to communicate bi-directionally and via several channels.

17. Network according to claim 5, characterized in that the central unit and the other units in an associated cluster are arranged to communicate bi-directionally and via several channels.

18. Network according to claim 6, characterized in that the central unit and the other units in an associated cluster are arranged to communicate bi-directionally and via several channels.

19. Network according to claim 2, characterized in that the central unit and the other units are arranged to communicate utilizing frequency hopping.

20. Network according to claim 2, characterized in that the central unit comprised in a cluster comprises a dedicated gun platform.