Method and System for Using Enhanced Location-Based Information to Guide Munitions

• US 20170328679A1
• Filed: 05/10/2017
• Published: 11/16/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2016
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Rivada Networks, LLC
• Original Assignee: Rivada Research, Llc (Rivada Networks, LLC)
• Inventors: Smith, Clint
• Application Number:
  US15/591,575
• Publication Number:
  US 20170328679A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 3/02 using an independent line of sight
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 3/04 for dispersing fire from a battery ; for controlling spread of shots; for coordinating fire from spaced weapons
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 7/2206 using a remote control station
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 7/2233 Multimissile systems
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 7/2286 using radio waves
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 7/308 for guiding a plurality of missiles
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 7/346 using global navigation satellite systems, e.g. GPS, GALILEO, GLONASS
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 7/36 using inertial references
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 11/026 using moving transmitters
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0072 Transmission between mobile stations, e.g. anti-collision systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0263 by combining or switching between positions derived from two or more separate positioning systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0289 of multiple transceivers, e.g. in ad hoc networks
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/104 involving a plurality of aircrafts, e.g. formation flying traffic control systems for aircraft G08G5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/107 specially adapted for missiles
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/12 Target-seeking control

Abstract

An ordnance munition is included in an intelligent ordnance projectile delivery system and equipped with targeting and/or guidance systems that allow the ordnance munition to collaborate with other devices to intelligently select targets and/or to guide the ordnance munition to its selected target. The ordnance munition may be configured to determine its rough location, generate first location information based on the rough location, and send the generated location information to a wireless transceiver that is in close proximity to the ordnance munition. The ordnance munition may receive and use location information from the wireless transceiver to determine its more precise location, generate second location information based on the determined more precise location, and alter its flight path based on the generated second location information.

Claims

1. A method of guiding a first ordnance munition, comprising:

determining, via a processor of the first ordnance munition, an approximate location of the first ordnance munition and generating first location information based on the determined approximate location;

sending the generated first location information to a wireless transceiver in proximity to the first ordnance munition;

receiving, in the first ordnance munition, location information from the wireless transceiver;

determining, via the processor of the first ordnance munition, a more precise location of the first ordnance munition based on the location information received from the wireless transceiver and generating second location information based on the determined more precise location; and

altering a flight path of the first ordnance munition based on the generated second location information.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein a first confidence value associated with the first location information is less than a second confidence value associated with the second location information.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein a first precision value associated with the first location information is less than a second precision value associated with the second location information.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first ordnance munition is a rocket, mortar or missile.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the more precise location of the first ordnance munition based on the location information received from the wireless transceiver and generating second location information based on the determined more precise location comprises generating location information that corrects for microbursts or wind shear.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein sending the generated first location information to the wireless transceiver in proximity to the first ordnance munition comprises sending the generated first location information to a transceiver included in a second ordnance munition.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein altering the flight path of the first ordnance munition based on the second location information comprises the first ordnance munition self-correcting its flight path, the method further comprising the second ordnance munition self-correcting its flight path based on information received from the first ordnance munition.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising grouping the first ordnance munition with the wireless transceiver to form a coordinated attack group in response to determining that the wireless transceiver is within proximity of the first ordnance munition.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein:

the coordinated attack group comprises a plurality of ordnance munitions; and

each ordnance munition in the plurality of ordnance munitions has a respective flight path and a known target location at a time of launch;

the flight paths for two or more of the ordnance munitions in the plurality of ordnance munitions are altered after the time of launch based on the second location information and communications received from one of a central command device or a forward observer device.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein:

the coordinated attack group comprises a plurality of ordnance munitions;

each of the plurality of ordnance munitions are launched at a time of launch; and

target locations for the two or more of the ordnance munitions in the plurality of ordnance munitions are not known at the time of launch, and

the method further comprises each of the ordnance munitions in the plurality of ordnance munitions;

determining a new target location after the time of launch; and

altering the flight path after launch and in response to determining the new target location.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the two or more of the ordnance munitions in the plurality of ordnance munitions for which the target locations are not known at the time of launch are configured to determine their respective target locations based on information received from:

an ordnance munition in the plurality of ordnances that stores the target location at the time of launch;

a remote location of a central command;

a remote location of a forward observer using a targeting device;

or an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).

12. The method of claim 1, wherein altering a flight path of the first ordnance munition based on the second location information comprises guiding the first ordnance munition inside a tunnel, a building, or a below grade location.

13. An ordnance munition, comprising:

a memory; and

a processor coupled to the memory, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations comprising;

determining an approximate location of the ordnance munition and generating first location information based on the determined approximate location;

sending the generated first location information to a wireless transceiver in proximity to the ordnance munition;

receiving location information from the wireless transceiver;

determining a more precise location of the ordnance munition based on the location information received from the wireless transceiver and generating second location information based on the determined more precise location; and

altering a flight path of the ordnance munition based on the generated second location information.

14. The ordnance munition of claim 13, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that determining the more precise location of the first ordnance munition based on the location information received from the wireless transceiver and generating second location information based on the determined more precise location comprises generating location information that corrects for microbursts or wind shear.

15. The ordnance munition of claim 13, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that sending the generated first location information to the wireless transceiver in proximity to the first ordnance munition comprises sending the generated first location information to a transceiver included in a second ordnance munition.

16. The ordnance munition of claim 15, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that altering the flight path of the first ordnance munition based on the second location information comprises the first ordnance munition self-correcting its flight path.

17. The ordnance munition of claim 13, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations further comprising grouping the first ordnance munition with the wireless transceiver to form a coordinated attack group in response to determining that the wireless transceiver is within proximity of the first ordnance munition.

18. The ordnance munition of claim 13, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that altering a flight path of the first ordnance munition based on the second location information comprises guiding the first ordnance munition inside a tunnel, a building, or a below grade location.

19. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having stored thereon processor-executable software instructions configured to cause a processor in an ordnance munition to perform operations comprising:

determining an approximate location of the ordnance munition and generating first location information based on the determined approximate location;

sending the generated first location information to a wireless transceiver in proximity to the ordnance munition;

receiving location information from the wireless transceiver;

determining a more precise location of the ordnance munition based on the location information received from the wireless transceiver and generating second location information based on the determined more precise location; and

altering a flight path of the ordnance munition based on the generated second location information.

20. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause a processor to perform operations such that determining the more precise location of the first ordnance munition based on the location information received from the wireless transceiver and generating second location information based on the determined more precise location comprises generating location information that corrects for microbursts or wind shear.