System and method for defending a vehicle

• US 6,231,002 B1
• Filed: 03/12/1990
• Issued: 05/15/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Hibma, Richard A., Park, Edward C., Yim, Kitae, Hilscher, Richard W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Carone, Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US07/491,798
• Time in Patent Office: 4,082 Days
• Field of Search: 244/3.22, 244/3.15, 244/3.1, 89/11.1
• US Class Current: 244/3.22
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 7/08 Arrangements of rocket launchers or releasing meansrocket launchers per se, e.g. rocket pods, F41F3/06
• 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: F41J 2/00 Reflecting targets, e.g. radar-reflector targets; Active targets transmitting electromagnetic or acoustic waves
• CPC Class Codes: F41J 2/02 Active targets transmitting infrared radiation
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 10/663 using a plurality of transversally acting auxiliary nozzles, which are opened or closed by valves
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/205 for attacking aerial targets
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/36 for dispensing materials; for producing chemical or physical reaction; for signalling ; for transmitting information
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/70 for dispensing radar chaff or infrared material radar-reflector targets, active targets transmitting infrared radiation F41J2/00; radar-reflecting surfaces H01Q15/14
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 4/20 characterised by having holder or support other than casing, e.g. whirler or spike support supports for flares or torches F42B4/26

Abstract

A system and method for defending a vehicle against an approaching threat, is disclosed. A threat approaching the vehicle is identified. A rigid body is then deployed from the vehicle. Means associated with the body are provided for allowing controlled, guided propulsion of the body to position a reference axis of the body to a desired orientation relative to the threat and to translate the body substantially perpendicular to the reference axis, so as to eliminate the threat.

Claims

1. A system for defending a vehicle traveling at a substantial velocity, comprising:

(a) means for identifying a threat approaching said vehicle;

(b) means for deploying a rigid body from said vehicle, said means for deploying the body being separate from said rigid body, said means for deploying providing a force sufficient to provide separation from said vehicle but being insufficient to generate an intercept trajectory, primarily; and

(c) means associated with said body for providing controlled, guided propulsion of said body to position a reference axis of said body to a desired angular orientation relative to the threat and to translate said body substantially perpendicular to said reference axis so as to eliminate said threat, the intercept velocity of said rigid body being primarily provided by aerodynamic drag acting on said rigid body upon deployment from said vehicle.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said means for identifying said threat includes means for analyzing information received regarding the threat'"'"'s location and closure rate.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said means for deploying includes means for positioning said reference axis, to a desired position relative to the threat prior to deployment.

4. The system of claim 1 where said means for deploying includes means for transferring information from said vehicle to said rigid body regarding the threat position and trajectory prior to said deployment.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein said means for providing controlled, guided propulsion include s means for tracking said threat to maneuver said body for a collision with the threat, thereby providing a kinetic kill and elimination of the threat.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein said means for providing controlled, guided propulsion includes means for emitting a signal for diverting the threat away from the vehicle, thereby eliminating said threat.

7. A method of defending a vehicle traveling at a substantial velocity, comprising the steps of:

(a) identifying a threat approaching said vehicle;

(b) controllably deploying a body from said vehicle, the deployment being provided by deployment means being separate from said body, said body having an outer surface thereon with a substantially circular cross section about at least one reference axis thereon,

a plurality of spaced divert thruster means associated with said body, said thruster means for translating said body relative to said threat upon deployment from said vehicle,

a plurality of spaced attitude control thruster means associated with said body for providing roll, pitch and yaw to orient said reference axis to a desired orientation relative to said threat, and

a guidance system associated with said reference axis for communicating electronic signals to said attitude control thruster means and divert thruster means; and

(c) controlling the position of said body relative to the threat by utilization of said divert thruster means, attitude control thruster means and said guidance system, thereby eliminating said threat, the intercept velocity of said rigid body being primarily provided by aerodynamic drag acting on said rigid body upon deployment from said vehicle.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said step of identifying said threat includes analyzing information received regarding the threat'"'"'s location and closure rate.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein said step of controllably deploying includes positioning said reference axis to a desired position relative to the threat prior to deployment.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein said step of controllably deploying includes the steps of:

(a) transferring information from said vehicle to said rigid body regarding the threat position and trajectory prior to said deployment, and

(b) utilizing said information to position said reference axis to a desired position relative to the threat after deployment.

11. The method of claim 7 wherein said step of controlling the position includes the step of tracking said threat to maneuver said body for a collision with the threat, thereby providing a kinetic kill and elimination of the threat.

12. The method of claim 7 wherein said step of controlling the position includes the step of emitting a signal for diverting the threat away from the vehicle, thereby eliminating said threat.

13. The method of claim 7 wherein said body is controllably deployed from said moving vehicle in the atmosphere from a location on said vehicle which allows sufficient drag forces to separate the body from the vehicle while the body translates in a plane perpendicular to said reference axis.

14. The method of claim 7 wherein said body is controllably deployed from a location on said vehicle which allows said divert thruster means to separate the body from the vehicle while the body translates in a plane perpendicular to said reference axis.

15. A system for defending an atmospheric vehicle traveling at a substantial velocity, comprising:

(a) means for identifying a threat approaching said vehicle;

(b) means for deploying a rigid, spherical body from said vehicle, said means for deploying the body being separate from said rigid body, said means for deploying providing a force sufficient to provide separation from said vehicle but being insufficient to generate an intercept trajectory; and

(c) means, associated with said body, for providing controlled, guided propulsion thereof to position a reference axis of said body to a desired angular orientation relative to the threat and to translate said body substantially perpendicular to said reference axis so as to eliminate said threat, the intercept velocity of said rigid body being primarily provided by aerodynamic drag acting on said rigid body upon deployment from said vehicle.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein said means for identifying said threat includes means for analyzing information received regarding the threat'"'"'s location and closure rate.

17. The system of claim 15 wherein said means for deploying includes means for positioning a reference axis which is associated with said body, to a desired position relative to the threat prior to deployment.

18. The system of claim 15 wherein said means for deploying includes:

means for transferring information from said vehicle to said rigid body regarding the threat position and trajectory prior to said deployment.

19. The system of claim 15 wherein said means for providing controlled, guided propulsion includes means for tracking said threat to maneuver said body for a collision with the threat, thereby providing a kinetic kill and elimination of the threat.

20. The system of claim 15 wherein said means for providing controlled, guided propulsion includes means for emitting a signal for diverting the threat away from the vehicle, thereby eliminating said threat.

21. The system of claim 15 wherein said means for deploying includes means for deploying from said moving vehicle in the atmosphere from a location on said vehicle which allows sufficient drag forces to separate the body from the vehicle while the body translated in a plane perpendicular to said reference axis.

22. A system for defending a vehicle traveling at a substantial velocity, comprising:

(a) means for identifying a threat approaching said vehicle;

(b) means for controllably deploying a body from said vehicle, the deployment being provided by deployment means being separate from said body, said body having an outer surface thereon with a substantially circular cross section about at least one reference axis thereon,

a plurality of spaced divert thruster means associated with said body, said thruster means for translating said body relative to said threat upon deployment from said vehicle,

a plurality of spaced attitude control thruster means associated with said body for providing roll, pitch and yaw to orient said reference axis to a desired orientation relative to said threat, and

a guidance system associated with said reference axis for communicating electronic signals to said attitude control thruster means and divert thruster means; and

(c) means for controlling the position of said body relative to the threat by utilization of said divert thruster means, attitude control thruster means and said guidance system, thereby eliminating said threat, the intercept velocity of said rigid body being primarily provided by aerodynamic drag acting on said rigid body upon deployment from said vehicle.

23. The system of claim 22 wherein said means for identifying said threat includes means for analyzing information received regarding the threat'"'"'s location and closure rate.

24. The system of claim 22 wherein said means for controllably deploying includes means for positioning said reference axis to a desired position relative to the threat prior to deployment.

25. The system of claim 22 wherein said means for controllably deploying includes means for transferring information from said vehicle to said rigid body regarding the threat position and trajectory prior to said deployment.

26. The system of claim 22 wherein said means for controlling the position includes means for tracking said threat to maneuver said body for a collision with the threat, thereby providing a kinetic kill and elimination of the threat.

27. The system of claim 22 wherein said means for controlling the position includes means for emitting a signal for diverting the threat away from the vehicle, thereby eliminating said threat.

28. The system of claim 22 wherein said means for controllably deploying includes means for deploying from said moving vehicle in the atmosphere from a location on said vehicle which allows sufficient drag forces to separate the body from the vehicle while the body translates in a plane perpendicular to said reference axis.

29. The system of claim 22 wherein said body is controllably deployed from a location on said vehicle which allows said divert thruster means to separate the body from the vehicle while the body translates in a plane perpendicular to said reference axis.