Battlefield personnel threat detection system and operating method therefor

• US 5,867,257 A
• Filed: 07/29/1997
• Issued: 02/02/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mcdonnell Douglas Corporation (The Boeing Co.)
• Original Assignee: Mcdonnell Douglas Corporation (The Boeing Co.)
• Inventors: Rice, Robert R., Zediker, Mark S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hellner, Mark
• Application Number:
  US08/902,070
• Time in Patent Office: 553 Days
• Field of Search: 356/28.5, 356/5.09, 342/192
• US Class Current: 356/28.5
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 11/00 Defence installations; Defence devices constructional aspects see Section E, e.g. air-raid shelters E04H9/04; protective arrangements for buildings E04B1/92; extinguishing or preventing the spread of fire from, incendiary bombs A62C3/06; dynamic armour F41H5/007; ballistically deployed systems for restraining persons or animals F41H13/0006; electronic countermeasures G01S
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/50 Systems of measurement based on relative movement of target
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/89 for mapping or imaging
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4802 using analysis of echo signal for target characterisation; Target signature; Target cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/495 Counter-measures or counter-counter-measures using electronic or electro-optical means

Abstract

A battlefield personnel threat detection system for identifying and analyzing vibrations corresponding to an immutable characteristic of a target of interest includes a transmitter for producing a transmit laser beam by amplification of a primary coherent laser signal, a coherent receiver responsive to backscattered light produced by interaction of the transmit laser beam with the target of interest and generating data corresponding to the immutable characteristic of the target of interest, and a control and display module for analyzing the data to thereby detect the presence of the target of interest and for controlling operation of the transmitter and the receiver. The target of interest can be an enemy soldier. In the battlefield personnel threat detection system, the control and display module permits the transmitter and the receiver to operate in an agile search mode of operation in which spectra indicative of the enemy soldier are produced and a signature classification mode of operation in which the spectra are analyzed for the immutable characteristic of the enemy soldier, by which the enemy soldier can be located. A method for operating a battlefield personnel threat detection system including a micro-doppler ladar system and a signal processor is also described.

Claims

1. A battlefield personnel threat detection system for identifying and analyzing vibrations corresponding to an immutable characteristic of a target of interest, comprising:

a transmitter for producing a transmit laser beam by amplification of a primary coherent laser signal;

a coherent receiver responsive to backscattered light produced by interaction of said transmit laser beam with the target of interest and generating data corresponding to the immutable characteristic of the target of interest; and

a control and display module for processing said data to thereby detect the presence of the target of interest and for controlling operation of said transmitter and said receiver,

wherein said control and display module permits said transmitter and said receiver to operate in an agile search mode of operation in which spectra indicative of the target of interest are produced and a signature classification mode of operation in which said immutable characteristic of the target of interest is analyzed.

2. The battlefield personnel threat detection system as recited in claim 1, wherein the target of interest is an enemy soldier.

3. The battlefield personnel threat detection system as recited in claim 2, wherein said spectra correspond to vibrations generated by said enemy soldier and wherein said immutable characteristic corresponds to the heartbeat of said enemy soldier.

4. The battlefield personnel threat detection system as recited in claim 2, wherein said spectra correspond to vibrations generated by said enemy soldier and wherein said immutable characteristic corresponds to the heartbeat and respiration process of said enemy soldier.

5. The battlefield personnel threat detection system as recited in claim 2, wherein said transmit laser beam generated during said agile search mode of operation is a chirped frequency transmit laser beam and wherein said transmit laser beam generated during said signature classification mode of operation is a mono-frequency transmit laser beam.

6. The battlefield personnel threat detection system as recited in claim 1, wherein said control and display module permits said transmitter and said receiver to operate in an agile search mode of operation in which spectra indicative of a non-living hazard to the deployed personnel are produced and a signature classification mode of operation in which said immutable characteristic of the target of interest is analyzed, seriatum.

7. The battlefield personnel threat detection system as recited in claim 6, wherein said immutable characteristic of the target of interest corresponds to the heartbeat and respiration process of an enemy soldier.

8. The battlefield personnel threat detection system as recited in claim 6, wherein said immutable characteristic of the target of interest corresponds to vibrations produced by footsteps of an enemy soldier.

9. The battlefield personnel threat detection system as recited in claim 1, wherein said immutable characteristic of the target of interest corresponds to at least one of the heartbeat and the respiration process of an enemy soldier.

10. The battlefield personnel threat detection system as recited in claim 1, wherein said control and display module comprises:

a signal processing electronic portion for analyzing said data corresponding to the immutable characteristic of the target of interest; and

a display for displaying indications of targets of interest identified by said signal processing electronic portion.

11. A battlefield personnel threat detection system for identifying and analyzing vibrations corresponding to an immutable characteristic of a target of interest, comprising:

first means for producing a transmit laser beam by amplification of a primary coherent laser signal;

second means responsive to backscattered light produced by interaction of said transmit laser beam with an intervening structure for generating data corresponding to the immutable characteristic of the target of interest; and

third means for processing said data to thereby detect the target of interest and for controlling operation of said first and second means.

12. The battlefield personnel threat detection system as recited in claim 11, wherein the target of interest is an enemy soldier, wherein said intervening structure comprises foliage, and wherein said third means controls said first and second means to operate in an agile search mode of operation in which spectra indicative of said enemy soldier are produced and a signature classification mode of operation in which the immutable characteristic corresponding to said enemy soldier is detected within said foliage.

13. The battlefield personnel threat detection system as recited in claim 11, wherein the target of interest is an enemy soldier, wherein said intervening structure comprises a building, and wherein said third means controls said first and second means to operate in an agile search mode of operation in which spectra indicative of said enemy soldier are produced and a signature classification mode of operation in which the immutable characteristic of said enemy soldier is analyzed responsive to vibrations in a least one element of said building.

14. The battlefield personnel threat detection system as recited in claim 11, wherein the target of interest is an enemy soldier, wherein said intervening structure comprises a rigid natural object, and wherein said third means controls said first and second means to operate in an agile search mode of operation in which spectra indicative of said enemy soldier are produced and a signature classification mode of operation in which the immutable characteristic of said enemy soldier responsive to vibrations in said rigid natural object.

15. The battlefield personnel threat detection system as recited in claim 11, wherein said intervening structure comprises foliage and wherein said third means controls said first and second means to operate in an agile search mode of operation in which spectra indicative of a hazard to deployed personnel are produced and a signature classification mode of operation in which said spectra are analyzed for the immutable characteristic corresponding to an enemy soldier within said foliage.

16. The battlefield personnel threat detection system as recited in claim 11, wherein said intervening structure comprises a building and wherein said third means controls said first and second means to operate in an agile search mode of operation in which spectra indicative of a hazard to deployed personnel are produced and a signature classification mode of operation in which said spectra are analyzed for the immutable characteristic corresponding to an enemy soldier induced in vibrations in a least one element of said building.

17. The battlefield personnel threat detection system as recited in claim 11, wherein said intervening structure comprises a rigid natural object, and wherein said third means controls said first and second means to operate in an agile search mode of operation in which spectra indicative of a hazard to deployed personnel are produced and a signature classification mode of operation in which said spectra are analyzed for the vibrations characteristic of footsteps of an enemy soldier.

18. The micro-doppler ladar system as recited in claim 11, wherein the immutable characteristic of the target of interest corresponds to at least one of the heartbeat and the respiration process of an enemy soldier.

19. The battlefield personnel threat detection system as recited in claim 11, wherein said first means comprises a transmitter for producing said transmit laser beam by amplification of said primary coherent laser signal in an optical fiber amplifier and wherein said second means comprises an optical fiber pre-amplifier for amplifying said backscattered light.

20. The battlefield personnel threat detection system as recited in claim 11, wherein said third means comprises:

fourth means for analyzing said data corresponding to the immutable characteristic of the target of interest; and

fifth means for displaying indications of any targets of interest identified by said fourth means.

21. A battlefield personnel threat detection system for identifying and analyzing the potential threat of a target of interest, comprising:

first means for generating a primary coherent laser signal;

second means for amplifying said primary coherent laser signal in an optical fiber amplifier means so as to generate a transmit laser beam;

third means for transmitting said transmit laser beam towards the target of interest;

fourth means for receiving backscattered light produced by interaction between said transmit laser beam and the target of interest and for generating an electrical signal indicative of the target of interest;

fifth means for determining range of the target of interest responsive to said electrical signal;

sixth means for determining a physiological characteristic signature of the target of interest different from range;

seventh means for analyzing said physiological characteristic signature to thereby evaluate said target of interest; and

eighth means for displaying data regarding said target of interest.

22. The battlefield personnel threat detection system as recited in claim 21, wherein at least one parameter of said transmit laser beam varies so as to permit said first through sixth means to operate in a target acquisition mode of operation wherein range data and hazard spectra are produced by said fifth means and a signature classification mode of operation wherein said physiological characteristic signature is determined by said sixth means.

23. The battlefield personnel threat detection system as recited in claim 22, wherein said seventh means analyzes said hazard spectra for heartbeat induced vibrations indicative of enemy soldiers.

24. The battlefield personnel threat detection system as recited in claim 22, wherein said seventh means analyzes said hazard spectra for vibrations indicative of walking enemy soldiers.

25. The battlefield personnel threat detection system as recited in claim 22, wherein said seventh means analyzes said hazard spectra for vibrations indicative of enemy vehicular traffic.

26. The battlefield personnel threat detection system as recited in claim 22, wherein said seventh means analyzes said hazard spectra for heartbeat induced vibrations indicative of enemy soldiers, for vibrations indicative of walking enemy soldiers, and for vibrations indicative of enemy vehicular traffic, simultaneously.

27. The battlefield personnel threat detection system as recited in claim 22, wherein said seventh means analyzes said physiological characteristic signature for vibration patterns indicative of a plurality of enemy soldiers.

28. The battlefield personnel threat detection system as recited in claim 21, wherein said seventh means analyzes said physiological characteristic signature for vibration patterns indicative of at least one of the heartbeat and the respiration process of an enemy soldier.

29. The battlefield personnel threat detection system as recited in claim 21, wherein said seventh means comprises a neural network.

30. A method of operating a battlefield personnel threat detection system including a micro-doppler ladar system having a transmitter and coherent receiver and a controller having a signal processor and a display for identifying and analyzing a target of interest, the method comprising the steps of:

generating a primary coherent laser signal;

amplifying said primary coherent laser signal in an optical fiber amplifier so as to generate a transmit laser beam;

transmitting said transmit laser beam towards the target of interest;

receiving backscattered light produced by interaction between said transmit laser beam and the target of interest and for generating an electrical signal indicative of the target of interest;

determining range responsive to said electrical signal;

ascertaining a characteristic signature of the target of interest different from range;

analyzing said characteristic signature to thereby detect the presence of said target of interest; and

displaying information regarding said target of interest detected during said analyzing step.

31. The method for operating a battlefield personnel threat detection system as recited in claim 30, wherein:

the generating step comprises the step of generating said primary coherent laser signal and switching repeatedly between first and second frequency characteristics;

the determining step further comprises the step of determining range and at least one hazard spectrum responsive to said electrical signal;

the determining step is performed while said primary coherent laser signal exhibits said first frequency characteristic; and

the ascertaining step is performed while said primary coherent laser signal exhibits said second frequency characteristic.

32. The method for operating a battlefield personnel threat detection system as recited in claim 31, wherein said characteristic signature is a heartbeat.

33. The method for operating a battlefield personnel threat detection system as recited in claim 31, wherein said hazard spectrum corresponds to a vibration signature of a known hazard with respect to deployed soldiers.

34. The method for operating a battlefield personnel threat detection system as recited in claim 30, wherein said characteristic signature is a heartbeat.

35. A battlefield personnel threat detection system comprising:

first means for scanning a predetermined area and for generating a first signal responsive to a vibration signature indicative of a hazard to deployed personnel within said predetermined area;

second means for scanning fixed points within the predetermined area and for generating a second signal indicative of a second hazard to the deployed personnel within the predetermined area; and

third means for alerting said deployed personnel when one of said first and second signals is generated.

36. The battlefield personnel threat detection system as recited in claim 35, wherein said first and said second means simultaneously scan said predetermined area.

37. The battlefield personnel threat detection system as recited in claim 35, wherein said predetermined area comprises an annular ring and wherein the interior edge of said annular ring corresponds to a perimeter surrounding said deployed personnel.