REMOTE DIGITAL FIRING SYSTEM

• US 20120011992A1
• Filed: 05/20/2009
• Published: 01/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Flir Detection, Inc. (Teledyne Technologies Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: iRobot Corporation
• Inventors: Rudakevych, Pavlo E., Ciholas, Mike E., Pack, Robert T.
• Granted Patent: US 8,109,191 B1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 89/28.05
• CPC Class Codes: F42C 15/42 from a remote location, e.g. for controlled mines or mine fields

Abstract

A remote digital firing system for selectively firing a plurality of remote mission payloads. The remote digital firing system includes a first set of firing circuits communicatively coupled to and operative to fire a corresponding first set of remote mission payloads and a second set of firing circuits communicatively coupled to and operative to fire a corresponding second set of remote mission payloads. The remote digital firing system includes a firing control panel communicatively linked to the first and second sets firing circuits, a first digital code plug configured to be integrated in communicative combination with each firing circuit of the first set and the firing control panel, a second digital code plug configured to be integrated in communicative combination with each firing circuit of the second set and the firing control panel, and a payload selector switch for selecting a remote mission payload.

Claims

1-10. -10. (canceled)

11. A remote digital firing system for selectively firing a plurality of remote mission payloads, the remote digital firing system comprising:

a remote controlled vehicle;

a first set of firing circuits communicatively coupled to and operative to fire a corresponding first set of remote mission payloads attached to the remote controlled vehicle and a second set of firing circuits communicatively coupled to and operative to fire a corresponding second set of remote mission payloads attached to the remote controlled vehicle;

a firing control panel communicatively linked by a communications link to the first and second sets of firing circuits and the remote controlled vehicle, wherein the communications link carries commands for the first and second sets of firing circuits and control commands for the remote controlled vehicle;

a first digital code plug configured to be integrated in communicative combination with each firing circuit of the first set of firing circuits and the firing control panel;

a second digital code plug configured to be integrated in communicative combination with each firing circuit of the second set of firing circuits and the firing control panel; and

a payload selector switch for selecting a remote mission payload.

12. The remote digital firing system of claim 11, wherein the first firing circuit of the first set is operative, with the first digital code plug integrated in communicative combination therewith to generate first one-time random session variables to the first digital code plug and to simultaneously store the first one-time random session variables internally in the firing circuit.

13. The remote digital firing system of claim 12, wherein the firing control panel is operative, with the first digital code plug integrated in communicative combination therewith and the payload selector switch configured to select the mission payload corresponding to the firing circuit, to generate and transmit first messages having the first one-time random session variables embodied therein to the firing circuit.

14. The remote digital firing system of claim 13, wherein the firing circuit validates the first messages by comparing the first one-time random session variables embodied in the first messages with the internally stored first one-time random session variables prior to firing the remote mission payload.

15. The remote digital firing system of claim 14, wherein the first one-time random session variables includes a first Safe/Disarm code for disarming the firing circuit.

16. The remote digital firing system of claim 11, wherein the second firing circuit is operative, with the second digital code plug integrated in communicative combination therewith to generate and write second one-time random session variables to the second digital code plug and to simultaneously store the second one-time random session variables internally in the second firing circuit.

17. The remote digital firing system of claim 16, wherein the firing control panel is operative, with the second digital code plug integrated in communicative combination therewith and the payload selector switch configured to select the second mission payload, to generate and transmit second messages having the second one-time random session variables embodied therein to the second firing circuit.

18. The remote digital firing system of claim 17, wherein the second firing circuit validates the second messages by comparing the second one-time random session variables embodied in the second messages with the internally stored second one-time random session variables prior to firing the second remote mission payload.

19. The remote digital firing system of claim 18, wherein the second onetime random session variables includes a second Safe/Dism code for disarming the second firing circuit.

20. A remote digital firing system for firing a remote mission payload, the remote digital firing system comprising:

a firing circuit communicatively coupled to and operative to fire a remote mission payload;

a firing control panel communicatively linked to the firing circuit;

a digital code plug configured to be integrated in communicative combination with the firing circuit and the firing control panel;

wherein the firing control panel is operative, with the digital code plug integrated in communicative combination therewith, to generate and transmit, at a random interval, a message having a status request encrypted therein; and

wherein the firing circuit is operative, upon receipt of message having a status request encrypted therein, to generate and transmit a message having status information encrypted therein.

21. The remote digital firing system of claim 20, wherein the firing circuit is operative to generate, encrypt, and transmit an information message having information about the firmware used by the firing circuit and wherein the firing control panel is operative to receive and decrypt the information message and to display the information about the firmware to a user.

22. The remote digital firing system of claim 20 wherein the random interval is substantially between about 1 and 5 seconds.

23-40. -40. (canceled)