Integrated maritime portable acoustic scoring and simulator control and improvements

• US 6,995,707 B2
• Filed: 03/18/2004
• Issued: 02/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: United States Secretary of the Navy
• Original Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Inventors: Karabin, Christopher R., Smith, Stephen A., Padgett, Joseph E. Jr., Theisen, James, Pastorious, Joseph M., Rice, Christopher L., Chandler, Bruce P., Nial, John A. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Issing, Gregory C.
• Application Number:
  US10/807,574
• Publication Number:
  US 20050206560A1
• Time in Patent Office: 691 Days
• Field of Search: 342/357.09, 342/357.1, 367/3, 367/5, 434/9, 434/17, 434/25
• US Class Current: 342/357.31
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0081 Transmission between base stations
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/30 Determining absolute distances from a plurality of spaced points of known location

Abstract

The invention, as embodied herein, comprises an improved portable maritime scoring and simulation system that comprises three or more buoys that are deployed in an area of water selected for maritime combat training. Attached to each buoy are a global positioning system receiver, an RF radio system, an acoustic analysis system, and a microprocessor. The acoustic analysis system is designed to capture an acoustic signature of ordnance impacting the water with predetermined characteristics. The system includes an RF radio repeater system linked to a system controller to control and monitor the elements of the system. In operation, when an acoustic signature is captured by the acoustic analysis system, the RF radio system, in one embodiment, transmits the time of the capture along with the GPS location of the buoy to the RF radio repeater system linked to the system controller. When three or more buoys transmit a captured acoustic signature, the system controller computes the location of impact using a location process. The invention also includes an improved method of controlling the system.

Claims

1. A portable maritime scoring and simulation system, comprising:

at least four buoys placed in a body of water;

a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver attached to each buoy to provide a GPS location of the buoys;

an radio frequency (RF) radio system attached to said each buoy;

an acoustic analysis system attached to said each buoy to capture an acoustic signature of ordnance impacting the water;

a microprocessor attached to said each buoy, wherein the microprocessor monitors and controls the GPS receiver, the RF radio system, and the acoustic analysis system;

a system controller to control and monitor the microprocessor; and

,

an RF radio repeater system linking the RF radio system with the system controller,

wherein when the acoustic signature is captured by the acoustic analysis system, the RF radio system transmits a time of capture and the GPS location of said each buoy to the system controller through the RF radio repeater system,

wherein when said at least four buoys transmit the acoustic signature, which is captured, the system controller computes a location of impact using a location process, and

wherein the location process comprises a calculated accumulated error computed by summing residuals, each of said residuals is an output generated from a calculated impact location and said GPS location of said each buoy.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising five buoys.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the five buoys comprise locations in a substantially pentagonal shape.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the location process comprises a derived non-linear equation for an unknown vertical position within a two dimensional plane, an unknown horizontal position within the two dimensional plane, and an unknown time of the impact N-simultaneous equations solved for the unknowns.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the location process employs a least squares method.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising an automated capability for the system controller to determine the GPS location of the buoys with respect to a ship for buoy recovery,

wherein the RF repeater system marks the position of the ship for range and bearing calculations to the buoys.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the calculated accumulated error comprises a calculation of accumulated error in determining an ordnance impact location in relation to each said acoustic signature, which is captured.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the RF radio repeater system comprises a digital signal processor, an RF radio, a GPS receiver, and a microphone.

9. A method of controlling a portable maritime scoring and simulation system, comprising:

commanding buoys to report acoustic signature captures;

selecting a fire mission type;

entering fire mission data;

waiting for messages from the buoys regarding the acoustic signature captures;

calculating through a system controller and an acoustic analysis system an impact location from the acoustic signature captures using a location process;

updating the fire mission data with the impact location;

determining a requirement of the fire mission type for further impacts and returning the portable maritime scoring and simulation system to a ready state, otherwise ending a fire mission; and

,

recovering the buoys when the portable maritime scoring and simulation system use is completed,

wherein when an acoustic signature is captured by said acoustic analysis system, an RF radio system transmits a time of capture and a GPS location of each of said buoys to the system controller through an RF radio repeater system, and

wherein the location process comprises a calculated accumulated error computed by summing residuals, each of said residuals is an output generated from a calculated impact location and said GPS location of each of said buoys.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising selecting live or simulation communication with the buoys before arming the buoys.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising loading and displaying a combat chart on a system controller display;

and,

entering buoy identification numbers for each of the buoys to facilitate radio communication between the buoys and the system controller.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising displaying buoy positions on a combat chart to graphically depict buoy locations.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein calculating the calculated impact location includes messages received from at least four buoys indicating an impact;

linear approximation equations are derived for two-dimensional location and time variables for each of the buoys, which sends a message; and

, the linear approximation equations are solved.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein said messages are received from more than three buoys.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the linear approximation equations are solved by a least squares method.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein said accumulated error is calculated using each of the linear approximation equations.

17. The method of claim 9, wherein said recovering the buoys includes the system controller calculates a distance and position of each of the buoys from a vessel.