System for controlling activation of remotely located device

• US 20040112238A1
• Filed: 12/13/2002
• Published: 06/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sandia National Laboratories (Government of the United States of America)
• Original Assignee: Sandia National Laboratories (Government of the United States of America)
• Inventors: Talbot, Edward B.
• Application Number:
  US10/318,140
• Publication Number:
  US 20040112238A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 102/200
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 17/08 for inhibiting firing in a specified direction, e.g. at a friendly person or at a protected area F41A27/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F42C 15/42 from a remote location, e.g. for controlled mines or mine fields
• CPC Class Codes: F42C 15/44 Arrangements for disarming, or for rendering harmless, fuzes after arming, e.g. after launch

Abstract

A system for controlling activation of a payload, particularly a high value, high consequence payload, such as a weapon of mass destruction, cannot be activated until it confirms that it has arrived at the correct destination. The system stores information that sufficiently identifies the location where the system should be activated or detonated. Sensors identify characteristics of the current location of the payload. A correlation is performed between the measured characteristics of the current location and the information stored that identifies the desired activation location. When the information sufficiently correlates, the system is allowed to activate.

Claims

1. A system for controlling activation of a device at a remote location, comprising:

a memory having a location for storing a representation of externally generated intent to deploy information in said device;

a memory having a location for storing within said device information identifying an activation location in said device;

a processor within said device responsive to stored program indicia to process information indicative of a current location of said device;

stored program indicia directing said processor to correlate said information indicative of a current location with said information identifying an activation location to determine a correlation; and

stored program indicia directing said processor to command activation of said device when said correlation indicates said device is present at said activation location.

2. A system as recited in claim 1, further comprising stored program indicia directing said processor to predict an arrival of said device at said activation location.

3. A system as recited in claim 2, further comprising stored program indicia to direct said processor to disable activation of said device if said correlation fails to indicate said device is present at said activation location upon a predicted arrival.

4. A system as recited in claim 1, said device comprising location sensors.

5. A system as recited in claim 4, comprising stored program indicia directing said processor to retrieve said location information from said location sensors.

6. A system as recited in claim 1, comprising a receiver for reading said location information from a external system to said device.

7. A system as recited in claim 6, said receiver comprising a receiver for reading information generated by a satellite based system.

8. A system as recited in claim 6, said receiver comprising a receiver for reading location information generated by a global positioning system.

9. A system as recited in claim 1, said device comprising a system to provide location information based upon inertial navigation parameters.

10. A system as recited in claim 1, said device comprising a radar fuze system to provide said location information.

11. A system as recited in claim 1, said device comprising an image generating system to provide said location information.

12. A system as recited in claim 11, said correlation comprising a correlation of an image map stored in said device with an image map generated by said image generating system.

13. A system as recited in claim 12, said image generating system comprising image sensors.

14. A system as recited in claim 1, comprising a lock out component, said lock out component preventing said activation of said device until said lock out component receives an signal affirming said correlation indicates said device is present at said activation location.

15. A system as recited in claim 14, said lock out device comprising a strong link.

16. A system as recited in claim 14, said device comprising an explosive device.

17. A system as recited in claim 1, said device comprising a weapon.

18. A system as recited in claim 17, said weapon comprising a nuclear explosive device.

19. A system as recited in claim 18, said activation comprising initiation of detonation of said nuclear explosive device.

20. A system for controlling activation of a device at a remote location, comprising:

a memory having a location for storing a representation of externally generated intent to deploy information in said device;

a memory having a location for storing within said device information identifying an activation location in said device;

a location sensing system for generating location information;

a processor within said device responsive to stored program indicia to process said location information to determine a current location of said device;

stored program indicia directing said processor to correlate said current location of said device with said information identifying an activation location to determine a correlation; and

stored program indicia directing said processor to command activation of said device when said correlation indicates said device is present at said activation location.

21. A system as recited in claim 20 wherein said location sensing system comprises at least one of a radar fuze system, a global positioning system receiver, an inertial navigation system;

and a target imaging system.

22. A system for controlling activation of a device at a remote location, comprising:

a memory having a location for storing a representation of externally generated intent to deploy information in said device;

a memory having a location for storing within said device information identifying a plurality of points along a path to an activation location of said device;

a location sensing system for generating location information;

a processor within said device responsive to stored program indicia to process said location information to determine a current location of said device;

stored program indicia directing said processor to correlate said current location of said device with said information identifying said plurality of points along a path to an activation location to determine a correlation at ones of said plurality of points; and

stored program indicia directing said processor to command activation of said device when said correlation indicates said device is present at said activation location.

23. A system for controlling activation of a device at a remote location, comprising:

a memory having a location for storing a representation of externally generated intent to deploy information in said device;

a memory having a location for storing within said device information identifying a plurality of points along a path to an activation location of said device;

a location sensing system for generating location information;

a processor within said device responsive to stored program indicia to process said location information to determine a current location of said device;

stored program indicia directing said processor to correlate said current location of said device with said information identifying said plurality of points along a path to an activation location to determine a correlation at ones of said plurality of points; and

stored program indicia directing said processor to command adjustment of a path of travel of said device when said correlation at ones of said plurality of points indicates said device fails to travel along a prescribed path.

24. An apparatus as recited in claim 23, further comprising stored program indicia directing said processor to command activation of said device when said correlation at said ones of said plurality of points indicates said device is present at said activation location.

25. A method of controlling activation of a device at a remote location, comprising:

storing a representation of externally generated intent to deploy information in said device;

storing within said device information identifying a plurality of points along a path to an activation location of said device;

generating location information of said device;

processing in a processor said location information to determine a current location of said device;

processing in said processor to correlate said current location of said device with said information identifying said plurality of points along a path to an activation location to determine a correlation at ones of said plurality of points; and

processing in said processor to command activation of said device when said correlation indicates said device is present at said activation location.

26. A method of controlling activation of a device at a remote location, comprising:

storing a representation of externally generated intent to deploy information in said device;

storing within said device information identifying an activation location in said device;

generating location information of said device;

processing in a processor said location information to determine a current location of said device;

processing in said processor to correlate said current location of said device with said information identifying an activation location to determine a correlation; and

processing in said processor to command activation of said device when said correlation indicates said device is present at said activation location.