DE102006032402B3 - Military surveillance system, employs aerial vehicle to deploy discrete liquid-filled spheres containing self-powered floating mobile camera telephones - Google Patents

Abstract

The spherical casing (1) is transparent to electromagnetic waves. It is liquid-filled (8) and contains a float (2) housing a functional unit (3). The float surfaces and the inner wall of the sphere, include hydrodynamically-active structures. The float or casing have external or internal resilient thickenings. The functional unit is effectively a state-of-the-art mobile camera telephone, powered by a miniature fuel cell (4). The liquid filling is the fuel, being e.g. ethanol, methanol, propane, diesel or other hydrocarbons. The functional unit includes one or more imaging systems. A multi-patch antenna is attached internally or externally to the outer casing. The sphere is fitted with a pressure relief valve. For deployment, numbers of the spheres are loaded into a flying vehicle such as a rocket, an aircraft or a catapult canister. A flight trajectory is executed and the spheres are thrown out or dropped, to land on the earth's surface. On settling, the float adopts a set floating position. Suitable equipment is used to communicate with the device. An independent claim IS INCLUDED FOR the method of deployment.

Description

The The invention relates to a device and a method which make it possible to while a confrontation with an opponent, knowledge of his Resources and his physical location-based presence to his spying out effective defense.

In As a rule, an attacker acts on this need for enlightenment through cover, camouflage or unpredictable presence.

So are currently military Fields of application by an unsteady front course, as after the Guerrilla tactics, characterized. Decisive feature of Guerrilla is showing its high mobility, flexibility and superior Local knowledge. Guerrilla units are making an effort in their warfare, the decision about that to keep, at what place and at what time and under what Conditions a confrontation takes place.

Around To counteract this threat, it needs an adapted Clarification, clearing up of something.

So far stand for clarification well-known educational means such as: satellites, drones, other aircraft or the ones on foot.

Special Disadvantages of this information are, a little flexibility at high expense. Often is therefore no explanation as Basis for a military Act available, because timely and resolution-related no use possible is.

With the inventive solution, should be a momentary and as needed, a permanent enlightenment, in Defensive positions and also spread over a larger territorial extension, achieved become.

The solution The object is achieved with a device according to claims 1 to 9 and a method as indicated in claim 10.

The Inventive device is to a larger number on a aufzuklärendes Object or area spent to get together or individually to be dropped.

to Moving the sensors are missiles, missiles, aircraft such as drones, Aircraft or engine-powered remote bombs suitable. Above that elucidated Object or a terrain section The facilities are discarded and land directly in an enemy Cover or random or distributed regularly on a terrain area.

The Facilities are essentially provided with functional means, as they are made of e.g. the mobile phone are known forth. The facilities are about a selective radio connection achievable and interrogated.

With the subject of the invention can as quickly locally or widely a economic and safe in the longer term designed enlightenment or monitoring be set up.

The Invention will be described below with reference to drawings Embodiments explained in more detail.

It demonstrate:

the 1 - A schematic representation of an inventive device

the 2 - A combined use of several devices according to the invention

The 1 shows the inventive device in cross section; a ball-sheath-shaped outer casing 1 which is a functional body 2 encloses, in a, in the ball-shaped housing 1 with enclosed, fluidic filling 8th , is swimming. The functional body 2 takes the essential functional agent 3 the device 11 , which are preferably designed to allow a mapping of the device environment in the visible range of the electromagnetic wave spectrum. In addition to a sensitivity for the visible wavelength range, a special sensitivity for the IR wavelength range is feasible. For practical execution of the functional means 3 It is proposed to borrow these as completely as possible of commercial mobile technology. With regard to the application in the device according to the invention 11 , This technique already has an optimally lowest mass. All subfunctions required for image acquisition and communication are already perfectly designed. As required, depending on the desired angle of view and the magnification of the device 11 , but can also do more than just an imaging system with corresponding lenses 6 be provided, which should be advantageously designed as a mirror or lens optics.

The Size of the facility results from the smallest possible technical feasibility of their functional components. Because preferably already executed Miniature technology should find application, as it already in the mobile phones is present, the dimensional parameters are determined therefrom.

To power the functional means 3 the traditional battery power supply can be maintained. However, it is proposed to be particularly advantageous, instead of an exclusive battery power supply, either completely or in addition, a micro-fuel cell 4 to provide their fuel supply from the fluidic filling 8th can be done. Suitable fuels for this purpose are generally hydrocarbons in liquid form. The primary task of fluidic filling 8th but it consists in the functional body 2 to allow a specific orientation related to the geoid of the earth and to provide hydrodynamic damping for the moment of the impact of the earth. This is the buoyancy of the functional body 2 adjusted so that it is normal in the fluidic filling 8th floating, above, in the ball-shaped housing 1 located. A suitable adjustment of the buoyancy can be achieved, for example, in the fuel cell variant, by a storage tank with its content for the necessary oxidant. When hitting the ball-shaped housing 1 on the floor, the volume will be below the functional body 2 located fluidic filling 8th past its contour, into the opposite part of the ball-shaped housing 1 pressed. The effective damping moment can be determined once by the material's own flow behavior of the selected fluidic filling 8th determine - so are also non-proportional flowable substances in question - as well as through flow-effective structures 9 on the surfaces of the functional body 2 , as well as on the inner wall of the ball-sheath-shaped outer housing 1 can be arranged. The choice of materials and the design of these damping elements depends on the design expertise familiar to the competent expert. The hydrodynamic damping can additionally through, on the functional body 2 attached elastic body - as abutment elements on the ball-sheath-shaped outer housing 1 - get supported. The abutment elements or the hydrodynamically active structures are also suitable, during the sinking of the fuel supply, the functional body 2 in his position to fix. To a possibly occurring overpressure of the fluidic filling 8th in the outer housing 1 or on the functional body 2 acting to break down, a pressure relief valve can be provided, which is the pressure in the environment or in the interior of the functional body 2 dismisses. To supplement the aforementioned measures for impact attenuation, it is possible to allow a further deformation acting for elastic deformation of the housing in that it has additional special deformations, such as that of a concertina ring or deviates from the pure spherical shape, whereby an at least temporary expansion of the volume of the ball-shaped outer housing 1 is possible or a reduction in volume of the functional body 2 is effected.

To communicate the device 11 The user preferably uses a radio link, as is already sufficiently known for mobile telephony. A necessary antenna 7 should do so as a planar Multipatchantenne on the functional body 2 - Or, the one of the surfaces of the ball envelope-shaped outer casing 1 be spread out. In order to provide energy for a longer service life, a lauer and alarm function can be provided, which turns on the task operation only after the request of the user or after the action of another influence. To further optimize the device 11 it is possible to store sensor data sporadically, taken over a certain period of time, to retrieve it collected as needed. Furthermore, should the functional body 2 for geodetic orientation by means of satellite navigation, be associated with a corresponding function level. It is also possible to provide controllability of the functional body in order to be able to align it or to effect a sensor alignment. This measure would increase the usability of the facility 11 improve significantly. In addition to optical sensors are of course also acoustic or seismic designed sensors, even in combination, possible.

To increase the range, the facilities 11 build together a radio link, which also has an airborne relay station 10 can be guided. The resources required to operate a fuel cell can be used after consumption both in the device 11 in a tank in the functional body 2 remain or outside the facility 11 be delivered.

The inventive device becomes its use in a larger number, which is at the current reconnaissance task measured over an enlightening Object or area spent to get together or one after another to be dropped individually.

to Shipments of the facility are missiles, missiles, aircraft such as drones, Aircraft or engine-powered remote bombs suitable. The above the elucidated Object or a terrain section Discarded facilities end up directly in an enemy Cover or random or distributed regularly on the earth's surface.

To the sensors have reached a stable situation, they become activated in different modes. Conceivably, e.g. current, sporadically, timed or after a wake-up.

On the ground, the sensors of the device "see" their surroundings, and this "visual impression" can then be transmitted via the intended communication technology as it is well known eg from the field of radio telephony, be accessed by a reconnaissance. Here is an earthbound or flying relay station to increase the range in question.

1

ball-sheath-shaped outer housing

2

function body

3

Working medium

4

fuel cell

5

gas volume

6

lens

7

antenna

8th

fluidic filling

9

hydrodynamic structure

 10

relay station (Balloon)

11

Facility

Claims (10)

Device for observing an environment, comprising a housing, sensors, communication means and a power supply, characterized by a ball-sheath-shaped outer housing ( 1 ), which is permeable to electromagnetic waves in whole or in large areas of its surface, a fluidic filling ( 8th ), one, in the fluidic filling ( 8th ) floating functional body ( 2 ), for the partial or complete uptake of the functional agents ( 3 ) of the institution ( 11 ). Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the functional body ( 2 ) on its surface hydrodynamically active structures ( 9 ) having. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the ball-sheath-shaped outer housing ( 1 ) on its inner wall hydrodynamic structures ( 9 ) having. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the ball-sheath-shaped outer housing ( 1 ) inside or the functional body ( 2 ) outside, on their surfaces have material thickening elastic behavior. Device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that in the fluidic filling ( 8th ) floating functional bodies ( 2 ), Functional agents ( 3 ), which correspond substantially to the technology of a wireless telephone, wherein a miniature fuel cell ( 4 ) may be present. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the fluidic filling ( 8th ) represents a nutrient for miniature fuel cells, such as: ethanol, methanol, propane, diesel or other hydrocarbons. Device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that in the fluidic filling ( 8th ) floating functional bodies ( 2 ) Functional agent ( 3 ), which correspond to the technology of a wireless telephone, wherein at least one imaging system should be present. Device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that for the in the fluidic filling ( 8th ) of the ballhüllenformigen outer housing ( 1 ) floating functional body ( 2 ), a multipatch antenna ( 7 ) inside or outside on the outer housing ( 1 ) is attached. Device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the ball-sheath-shaped outer housing ( 1 ), has a pressure relief valve. Method for deploying a device according to one of Claims 1 to 9, in which, a) the device ( 11 ) are brought in variable numbers into an air transportable means of transport, such as a rocket, airplane or catapult vessel, (b) a flight path is carried out with them, (c) the facilities ( 11 ) are ejected to the surface for disposal, d) the facilities ( 11 ) impinge on the earth's surface, where in the fluidic filling ( 8th ) floating functional body ( 2 ) occupies a certain swimming position, e) with the facilities ( 11 ) is communicated by means of a suitable communication device as needed.