System and method for asymmetric missile defense

• US 9,726,460 B2
• Filed: 01/20/2015
• Issued: 08/08/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Raytheon Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Raytheon Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Dehnert, Jr., Robert E., Williams, John J., Hershey, Paul C., Wisniewski, David J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Starks, Wilbert L
• Application Number:
  US14/600,920
• Publication Number:
  US 20160253590A1
• Time in Patent Office: 931 Days
• Field of Search: None
• 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: G06N 5/04 Inference or reasoning models

Abstract

A method for accurately determining whether a response tool will be effective for responding to a given enemy threat object. Embodiments described herein provide a method and system for responding to a threat object, for example, negating missile threats. Embodiments may include validating effectiveness of a response to the threat object. Other embodiments may include verifying the continued effectiveness of a response to the threat object. Further embodiments may include providing feedback to re-perform the method for responding to the threat object. The system may include a mathematical method, and associated algorithms, to assess, in an automated fashion, the performance of non-kinetic techniques with respect to negating the threat object.

Claims

1. A method of responding to a threat object, the method comprising:

a method for selecting a response tool comprising;

detecting with a sensor a phase and an identification of a threat object based on a detected portion of the threat object and/or a second object operatively connectable with the portion of the threat object;

determining a model of a lifecycle of the threat object based on the detected portion and/or the second object;

searching for a first set of vulnerabilities of the modeled lifecycle;

choosing a first response tool to impair the performance of the threat object and the detected portion of the threat object and/or the second object; and

storing the identification of the threat object, the model of the lifecycle, and the first response tool;

a method for iteratively selecting a response tool during a first phase comprising;

performing the method for selecting the response tool; and

updating the identification of the threat object, the modeled lifecycle, the first set of vulnerabilities, and the first response tool based on the modeled lifecycle, vulnerabilities, the first response tool, and the first phase; and

a method for iteratively selecting a response tool during a second phase comprising;

detecting with the sensor a second phase;

performing the method for selecting the response tool; and

updating the identification of the threat object, the modeled lifecycle, the first set of vulnerabilities, and the first response tool based on the modeled lifecycle, vulnerabilities, the first response tool, and the second phase; and

implementing the first response tool against the threat object and/or the second object.

2. The method of responding to a threat object of claim 1, further comprising:

validating that the implemented first response tool deployed against the threat object and/or the second object.

3. The method of responding to a threat object of claim 2, further comprising:

verifying that the validated first response tool mitigated the threat object and/or the second object.

4. The method of responding to a threat object of claim 1, wherein the method is repeated to update the stored identification of the threat object, the model of the lifecycle, and/or the first response tool, in response to identifying less than a first amount of vulnerabilities during the searching for a first set of vulnerabilities step.

5. The method of responding to a threat object of claim 4, wherein the first amount is one.

6. The method of responding to a threat object of claim 1, further comprising:

searching for a first set of viable response tools for implementing against one or more of the vulnerabilities of the first set of vulnerabilities.

7. The method of responding to a threat object of claim 6, wherein the method is repeated to update stored identification of the threat object, the model of the lifecycle, and/or the first response tool, in response to identifying less than a first amount of viable response tools during the searching for a first set of viable response tools step.

8. The method of responding to a threat object of claim 7, wherein the first amount is one.

9. The method of responding to a threat object of claim 1, wherein the first response tool is chosen from a plurality of response tools provided in a database.

10. The method of responding to a threat object of claim 1, wherein the choosing a first response tool step comprises:

choosing plurality of response tools.

11. The method of responding to a threat object of claim 1, wherein the method is repeated to update the stored identification of the threat object, the model of the lifecycle, and/or the first response tool, in response to determining that the first response tool was not implemented.

12. The method of responding to a threat object of claim 1, wherein the method is repeated to update the stored identification of the threat object, the model of the lifecycle, and/or the first response tool, in response to determining that the first response tool was mitigated.

13. The method of responding to a threat object of claim 1, wherein the threat object includes a kinetic weapon.

14. The method of responding to a threat object of claim 1, wherein the threat object includes a plurality of kinetic weapons.

15. The method of responding to a threat object of claim 1, wherein the threat object includes a vehicle.

16. The method of responding to a threat object of claim 1, wherein the first response tool includes a non-kinetic response tool.

17. The method of responding to a threat object of claim 1, wherein the first response tool includes a plurality of tools.

18. The method of responding to a threat object of claim 1, wherein the first response tool includes a kinetic tool.

19. The method of responding to a threat object of claim 1 further comprising:

determining a number of kinetic response tools that are required to negate the threat object based on an effectiveness of the first response tool.

20. A system for responding to a threat object, the system comprising:

a selector module for selecting a response tool, comprising;

a detection module with a sensor for detecting a phase and an identification of a threat object based on a detected portion of the threat object and/or a second object operatively connectable with the portion of the threat object;

a determination module for determining a model of a lifecycle of the threat object based on the detected portion and/or the second object;

a search module for searching a first set of vulnerabilities of the modeled lifecycle;

a choice module for choosing a first response tool to impair the performance of the threat object and the detected portion of the threat object and/or the second object; and

a storage module for storing the identification of the threat object, the model of the lifecycle, and the first response tool;

an iterative selection module for iteratively selecting a response tool during a first phase comprising;

a feedback loop for communication with the selector module for selecting the response tool; and

an update module for updating in the storage module the identification of the threat object, the modeled lifecycle, the first set of vulnerabilities, and the first response tool based on the modeled lifecycle, vulnerabilities, the first response tool, and the first phase; and

an iterative selection module for iteratively selecting a response tool during a second phase comprising;

a detection module for detecting with the sensor a second phase;

a feedback loop for communication with the selector module for selecting the response tool; and

an update module for updating in the storage module the identification of the threat object, the modeled lifecycle, the first set of vulnerabilities, and the first response tool based on the modeled lifecycle, vulnerabilities, the first response tool, and the second phase; and

an implementation module for implementing the first response tool against the threat object and/or the second object.