Reflexive response system for popup threat survival

• US 8,791,836 B2
• Filed: 03/07/2012
• Issued: 07/29/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Inventors: Herman, Carl R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lim, Steven
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fan, Hongmin
• Application Number:
  US13/414,347
• Publication Number:
  US 20130234864A1
• Time in Patent Office: 874 Days
• Field of Search: 340/901, 340/945, 340/961, 701/302, 701/3.14, 701/3, 701/14
• US Class Current: 340/901
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 9/00 Systems for controlling missiles or projectiles, not provided for elsewhere
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/00 Control of position, course, altitude or attitude of land, water, air or space vehicles, e.g. using automatic pilots drive control systems specially adapted for autonomous road vehicles B60W60/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0011 associated with a remote control arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0055 with safety arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0088 characterized by the autonomous decision making process, e.g. artificial intelligence, predefined behaviours using knowledge based models G06N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/00 Traffic control systems for road vehicles arrangement of road signs or traffic signals E01F9/00 ; automatic vehicle control B62D

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for assessing threats to a vehicle to facilitate a reflexive response. Threat timeline parameters for a detected threat to the vehicle including a threat mode and a time progression of the threat in the threat mode is determined based, at least in part, on a plurality of information sources. One or more candidate solutions for facilitating the reflexive response to the threat are determined based, at least in part, on the threat mode and the time progression and one or more of the candidate solutions are presented to an operator of the vehicle to enable the operator to mediate the threat.

Claims

1. A method of assessing threats to a vehicle to facilitate a reflexive response, the method comprising:

determining based, at least in part, on a plurality of information sources, a plurality of threat timeline parameters for a detected threat to the vehicle, wherein the plurality of threat timeline parameters includes a first threat mode and a time progression of the threat in the first threat mode;

determining, with at least one processor, one or more candidate solutions based, at least in part, on the first threat mode and the time progression;

providing at least one of the one or more candidate solutions to an operator of the vehicle to enable the operator to mediate the threat;

determining based, at least in part, on the plurality of information sources, a time to transition to a second threat mode; and

determining based, at least in part, on the time to transition to the second threat mode, whether at least one first solution exists to mediate the threat within the first threat mode.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of information sources comprises stored information about the vehicle.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the stored information comprises at least one vehicle signature that describes a spatial profile of a particular characteristic as it relates to the vehicle.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving current status information for the vehicle; and

wherein determining the plurality of threat timeline parameters comprises determining the first threat mode and the time progression based, at least in part, on the current status information and at least some historical information related to the current status information.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the plurality of threat timeline parameters comprises:

selecting at least one off-line simulation data parameter based, at least in part, on a current vehicle-to-threat geometry and the first threat mode.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing, in response to determining that at least one first solution exists, information related to the at least one first solution.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether at least one first solution exists comprises:

determining, for one or more possible first solutions, a SNR value and/or a JSR value;

determining for each of the one or more possible first solutions whether the corresponding SNR value and/or the JSR value is less than a first stored SNR threshold value and/or a first stored JSR threshold value; and

determining that at least one first solution exists in response to determining that the SNR value and/or JSR value for at least one of the one or more possible solutions is less than the first stored SNR threshold value and/or the first stored JSR threshold value.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining, in response to determining that at least one first solution does not exist, whether at least one second solution exists to prevent progress to the second threat mode.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein determining whether the at least one second solution exists comprises:

determining, for one or more possible second solutions, a SNR value and/or a JSR value;

determining for each of the one or more possible second solutions whether the corresponding SNR value and/or the JSR value is less than a second stored SNR threshold value and/or a second stored JSR threshold value; and

determining that at least one second solution exists in response to determining that the SNR value and/or JSR value for at least one of the one or more possible solutions is less than the second stored SNR threshold value and/or the second stored JSR threshold value.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

storing, in response to determining that at least one second solution exists, information related to the at least one second solution.

11. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium encoded with a plurality of instructions that when executed by at least one processor perform a method comprising:

determining based, at least in part, on a plurality of information sources, a plurality of threat timeline parameters for a detected threat to a vehicle, wherein the threat timeline parameters include a first threat mode and a time progression of the threat in the first threat mode;

determining one or more candidate solutions based, at least in part, on the first threat mode and the time progression;

providing at least one of the one or more candidate solutions to an operator of the vehicle to enable the operator to mediate the threat;

determining based, at least in part, on the plurality of information sources, a time to transition to a second threat mode; and

determining based, at least in part, on the time to transition to the second threat mode, whether at least one first solution exists to mediate the threat within the first threat mode.

12. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving current status information for the vehicle; and

wherein determining the threat timeline parameters comprises determining the first threat mode and the time progression based, at least in part, on the current status information and at least some historical information related to the current status information.

13. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein determining the threat timeline parameters comprises:

selecting at least one off-line simulation data parameter based, at least in part, on a current vehicle-to-threat geometry and the first threat mode.

19. The computer readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the method further comprises determining, in response to determining that at least one first solution does not exist, whether at least one second solution exists to prevent progress to the second threat mode.

14. A vehicle comprising:

at least one storage device configured to store information regarding at least one signature of the vehicle; and

at least one processor programmed to;

determine based, at least in part, on the stored information, a plurality of threat timeline parameters for a detected threat to the vehicle, wherein the threat timeline parameters include a first threat mode and a time progression of the threat in the first threat mode;

determine one or more candidate solutions based, at least in part, on the first threat mode and the time progression;

provide at least one of the one or more candidate solutions to an operator of the vehicle to enable the operator to mediate the threat

determine based, at least in part, on the plurality of information sources, a time to transition to a second threat mode; and

determine based, at least in part, on the time to transition to the second threat mode, whether at least one first solution exists to mediate the threat within the first threat mode.

15. The vehicle of claim 14, wherein the vehicle is an aircraft.

16. The vehicle of claim 14, wherein the operator of the vehicle is located outside of the vehicle.

17. The vehicle of claim 14, wherein the vehicle is an unmanned vehicle and wherein the at least one processor is programmed to perform at least one action to mediate the threat in response to determining the one or more candidate solutions.

18. The vehicle of claim 17, wherein the at least one processor is programmed to perform the at least one action without receiving an instruction from the operator of the vehicle.

20. The vehicle of claim 14, wherein the at least one processor is further programmed to determine, in response to determining that at least one first solution does not exist, whether at least one second solution exists to prevent progress to the second threat mode.