Countermeasure threat emulator and method

• US 20040228213A1
• Filed: 02/13/2001
• Published: 11/18/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Original Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Inventors: Dutton, C. Ray, Lopes, Joseph B., Potter, Lynn A.
• Granted Patent: US 6,934,217 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 367/1
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 7/002 target simulators
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 7/224 Deceiving or protecting means jamming or anti-jamming of radio-wave systems in general G01S7/36, G01S7/38; defense installations in general F41H11/02; chaff dispensers F42B12/70
• CPC Class Codes: F41J 2/00 Reflecting targets, e.g. radar-reflector targets; Active targets transmitting electromagnetic or acoustic waves
• CPC Class Codes: F41J 9/04 Seagoing targets
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/537 Counter-measures or counter-counter-measures, e.g. jamming, anti-jamming

Abstract

A system and method is disclosed for a countermeasure threat emulator. The countermeasure threat emulator is provided in a tubular housing that may be launched from a submarine or ship. The electronics of the countermeasure threat emulator include a CPU board for running software, communicating with a computer external to the tubular housing, and data recording. The computer external to the tubular housing preferably incorporates a database that includes data representative of a plurality of foreign countermeasures as well as domestic countermeasures. The data may be downloaded to the CPU board as well as updated for reprogramming of the CPU board. A digital signal processing board preferably utilizes a plurality of DSP processors for running the main software that is capable of producing a wide range of acoustic signal outputs. A neural network may be used for analyzing acoustic sounds from incoming threats for identification thereof and for subsequent notification to the CPU board for selection of a preprogrammed response. Power amplifiers and filters are provided for converting digital streams of digital signals to analog signals for transmission by a transducer stack.

Claims

1. A method for testing with a torpedo and a countermeasure threat emulation system, comprising:

selectively programming said countermeasure threat emulation system for producing at least one of a plurality of foreign countermeasures using a database of foreign countermeasures; and

launching said torpedo for interactive operation with said countermeasure threat emulation system.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising analyzing sounds produced by said torpedo with a neural network within said countermeasure threat emulation system.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising providing an identification of said torpedo using said neural network.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising responding to said torpedo based on said identification.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein said responding further comprises choosing and producing one of said plurality of foreign countermeasures corresponding to said identification.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising operating said countermeasure threat emulation system in duplex mode by simultaneously sending and receiving acoustic signals.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising using a digital signal processing unit within said countermeasure threat emulation system for selectively producing a wideband acoustic signal or a band limited acoustic signal.

8. A programmable countermeasure threat emulation system, comprising:

a tubular housing suitable for launching from a submarine;

a power supply within said tubular housing, said power supply including controls for selectively operating remotely or connected to an external power source;

a hovering system for said tubular housing for controlling mobility of said tubular housing within water;

a transmitter for transmitting acoustic signals;

a digital signal processing unit for producing waveforms to be transmitted by said transmitter; and

a central processing unit for storing digital information related one or more countermeasure threats and supplying said digital information to said digital signal processing unit.

9. The system of claim 8 further comprising a receiver hydrophone.

10. The system of claim 9 further comprising a neural network analyzing signals from said receiver hydrophone.

11. The system of claim 8 further comprising a plurality of field programmable gate arrays for said digital signal processing unit.

12. The system of claim 8 further comprising a plurality of digital signal processing integrated circuits for said digital signal processing unit.

13. The system of claim 12 further comprising a signal conditioner operable for converting a stream of digital signals into analog signal for broadcast by said transmitter.

14. The system of claim 8 further comprising a database stored in a computer external to said housing, said database containing a plurality of foreign countermeasure threats.

15. A method for emulating a countermeasure threat, said method comprising:

maintaining a database having a plurality of foreign countermeasure threats;

downloading data for at least one of said plurality of foreign countermeasure threats into a computer within a housing;

launching said housing for underwater operation; and

transmitting an emulation of at least one of said plurality of foreign countermeasure threats into water through an acoustic transducer.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising processing said data utilizing one or more digital signal processing integrated circuits.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising providing a plurality of field programmable gate arrays for reprogramming said digital signal processing circuits.

18. The method of claim 15 further comprising utilizing a receiver hydrophone in said countermeasure threat emulator for receiving acoustic signals produced by an incoming torpedo.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising identifying said incoming torpedo from said received acoustic signals.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising utilizing a neural network within said countermeasure threat emulator for said identifying.

21. The method of claim 19 further comprising responding to said incoming threat based on said identification and a preprogrammed response for said identification.

22. The method of claim 21 further comprising simultaneously broadcasting acoustic signals and receiving acoustic signals.