Dynamic optical countermeasures for ground level threats to an aircraft

• US 20110001062A1
• Filed: 12/01/2008
• Published: 01/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Inventors: Moraites, Stephen C., Herman, Carl R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,639,394 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 250/492.1
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 11/02 Anti-aircraft or anti-guided missile or anti-torpedo defence installations or systems cartridges or missiles for producing smoke or for dispensing radar chaff or infrared material F42B5/15, F42B12/48, F42B12/70; informative reference: details of radar or sonar systems G01S7/00; jamming or electronic countermeasures G01S7/38, G01S7/495, H04K3/00
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 13/0056 for blinding or dazzling, i.e. by overstimulating the opponent's eyes or the enemy's sensor equipment
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/495 Counter-measures or counter-counter-measures using electronic or electro-optical means

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for mitigating optically aimed threats to an aircraft from the ground. A laser beam, having sufficient intensity to interfere with the vision of a human being, is projected from the aircraft over a defined scan pattern at ground level. At least one flight parameter is received. Each flight parameter represents one of a current orientation, position, and motion of the aircraft. The defined scan pattern is adjusted according to at least one flight parameter.

Claims

1. A method for mitigating optically aimed threats to an aircraft that are located on the ground, comprising:

comprising;

projecting a laser beam, having sufficient intensity to interfere with targeting of a weapon system, from the aircraft over a defined scan pattern at ground level;

receiving at least one flight parameter, each flight parameter representing one of a current orientation, position, and motion of the aircraft; and

adjusting the defined scan pattern according to at least one flight parameter.

2. The method of claim 1, the at least one fight parameter comprising a velocity of the aircraft.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein adjusting the defined scan pattern comprises adjusting the width of the scan pattern according to the velocity of the aircraft.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the scan pattern is elliptical, and adjusting the width of the scan pattern comprises varying a semiminor axis of the elliptical scan pattern inversely with the velocity of the aircraft.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein adjusting the defined scan pattern comprises instructing at least one motor to alter a range of rotation of respective gimbals associated with each of the at least one motor, such that the rotational motion of a mirror mounted on the at least one gimbal is varied to progress the laser beam over the defined scan pattern.

6. The method of claim 1, the at least one flight parameter comprising the altitude of the aircraft.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein adjusting the defined scan pattern comprises varying a scan elevation angle associated with the scan pattern inversely with the altitude of the aircraft, such that the position of a reference point forward of the aircraft on the outer edge of the scan pattern remains at a predetermined distance from the aircraft.

8. The method of claim 1, the at least one flight parameter comprising the pitch of the aircraft.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein adjusting the defined scan pattern comprises varying a scan elevation angle associated with the scan pattern inversely with the pitch of the aircraft, such that the position of a reference point forward of the aircraft on the outer edge of the scan pattern remains at a predetermined distance from the aircraft.

10. An optical countermeasures system for an aircraft comprising:

a laser scanning system configured to project a laser beam, having sufficient intensity to interfere with targeting of a weapon system, from the aircraft to a point on the ground along respective ranges of azimuth and elevation angles to produce a scan pattern; and

a control system for the laser scanning system, comprising;

a scan pattern determination element configured to determine a desired scan pattern for the laser scanning system according to at least one flight parameter, each flight parameter representing one of a current orientation, position, and motion of the aircraft the scan pattern; and

a scanner control configured to instruct the laser scanning system to adjust its associated range of azimuth and elevation angles as to produce the desired scan pattern determined by the scan pattern determination element.

11. The system of claim 10, the scan pattern determination element comprising an elevation angle determination element configured to determine a maximum elevation angle defining the desired scan pattern according to the at least one flight parameter.

12. The system of claim 11, the at least one flight parameter comprising at least one of a pitch of the aircraft and an altitude of the aircraft.

13. The system of claim 10, the scan pattern determination element comprising a range parameter table that stores at least one of a maximum effective range of the laser scanning system and a maximum range of expected threats to the aircraft.

14. The system of claim 13, the scan pattern determination element being configured to determine the desired scan pattern such that the position of a reference point forward of the aircraft on the outer edge of the scan pattern remains substantially within a selected one of the maximum effective range of the laser scanning system and the maximum range of expected threats to the aircraft.

15. The system of claim 10, the scan pattern determination element comprising a scan shape determination element configured to determine a shape of the desired scan pattern.

16. The system of claim 15, the at least one flight parameter comprising a velocity of the aircraft

17. A computer readable medium containing executable instructions for controlling a scan pattern of an optical countermeasures device mounted on an aircraft, comprising:

an aircraft systems interface configured to receive at least one flight parameter, each flight parameter representing one of a current orientation, position, and motion of the aircraft;

a scan pattern determination element configured to determine a desired scan pattern for the optical countermeasures device; and

a scanner interface configured to provide appropriate instructions for a scanning element of the optical countermeasures system to generate the desired scan pattern.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 17, the at least one flight parameter comprising at least one of a pitch of the aircraft, an altitude of the aircraft, and a velocity of the aircraft.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 18, the scan parameter determination element being configured to calculate a scan elevation angle associated with the desired scan pattern as the arccosine of the ratio of the altitude of the aircraft to the lesser of a maximum effective range of the optical countermeasures device and a maximum range of expected threats to the aircraft.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 18, the scan parameter determination element being configured to determine a shape of the desired scan pattern according to the velocity of the aircraft.