EP2449334B1 - Adaptive camouflage - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an arrangement for the adaptive camouflage of objects such as in particular of mobile vehicle-mounted objects according to the preamble of claim 1 and a method for adaptive camouflage.

The multispectral camouflage for modern warfare must keep up with the technical development of the sensors and at the same time meet the demand for high mobility.

On the one hand, today's armies make high demands on mobility. On the other hand, the technical possibilities of multispectral reconnaissance and target assignment with the miniaturization of sensors and the emergence of new platforms such as the cost-effective mini-drones have greatly expanded. In order for camouflage to remain a serious means in the future and to be able to fulfill its task, this technology must also keep pace with modern means and use state-of-the-art technologies. Of particular interest today is the camouflage against all-weather radar sensors or sensors in the thermal infrared, which allow a reconnaissance even at night.

Today, mobile camouflage kits, which are precisely tailored to the vehicle surface, are developed and commercially offered. These camouflage kits made of different textile materials show effect in the visual Camouflage by a suitable coloring, as well as in RADAR, by scattering or absorbing materials. In the thermal infrared, an effect is achieved by the fact that the textile upper receives a leaf cut, which assumes the air temperature in the airstream. The upper material is sewn onto an insulating layer or other textile material which insulates the surface temperature of the vehicle from the upper. In addition to the convective effect of adapting the signature to the environment, the textile upper material can additionally have the property of reduced thermal emissivity, which ensures that parts of the cold sky are reflected. The system so described, already shows a reasonable effect, especially compared to an ungetarten vehicle. With regard to the technological development on the sensor side, however, it is desirable that the signature of the vehicle follows the background as exactly as possible. This does not always necessarily follow the air temperature. Especially in deserts or other environments with little vegetation, larger deviations of the soil temperature from the air temperature are observed in both directions.

Another solution will be in the EP 1 574 809 sketched by a metal foam is used here as a heat exchanger and serving as a heat carrier air.

The publication US 5,080,165 discloses an arrangement according to the preamble of claim 1 and a method according to the preamble of claim 9. It shows a camouflage material with a heat protection layer, which is placed on the object to be camouflaged.

The publication DE 38 04 991 C1 discloses a device for protecting active armor against anti-tank projectiles using inflatable hollow bodies.

The publication DE 10 2005 018 844 A1 discloses an apparatus for multispectral camouflaging of objects comprising air channels as camouflage elements.

The object of the present invention is to provide a multispectral camouflage which, on the one hand, takes account of the improved sensor technology and, on the other hand, meets the requirements for high mobility.

According to the invention, a camouflage arrangement according to the wording of claim 1 is proposed.

It is proposed that in the arrangement at least one panel-like layer is used, which is air-permeable, wherein the air sucked by the environment, before or during the feeding into the layer, on a at least almost determined from the background to the object temperature is adjustable, and wherein the layer are provided with air-permeable upholstery, it being possible for each upholstery to be controlled individually with respect to temperature, and the air-throughflowable layer being covered by a further layer which is IR-transparent.

The solution developed in the present invention relies on adaptive thermal camouflage for mobile, vehicle-mounted platforms, optionally in combination with flexible radar absorbers. The core is through Infrared sensors, for example, the entire environment (360 °) of the object to be camouflaged or the vehicle / platform to continuously measure and segment the information obtained in real time and use it as a donor signal. As the adaptive camouflage material, various panels are used, such as the above-mentioned air-permeable panel-like layer, which are individually dynamically brought to the corresponding temperature according to the background signal.

Each panel can be connected to a Radarabsorber and tailored to fit the object shape as the vehicle shape. The generated infrared signature is independent of the object surface temperature and the ambient air temperature and dynamically follows the background temperature.

In order to achieve an optimal camouflage effect, the background is measured by means of a radiometrically calibrated IR camera and the image is segmented or mean values from individual image sections are continuously calculated. These temperatures serve as sensors for active camouflage.

The physical realization is based on air-filled upholstery, such as the above-mentioned air-permeable, panel-like layer. In this case, cold air is sucked in and electrically heated in the feed to the respective air cushions in the flow. Each air cushion is regulated individually. A thermometer in the air cushions measures the respective temperature, which is then compared with the sensor for this cushion and serves as feedback for the control of the heater.

Of course, the supply air can be done in a cooled state, either by using its own air conditioning for the air cushion or in the case of camouflaging a vehicle, by using a cold air duct of the vehicle air conditioning.

The structure of the camouflage arrangement was realized as follows: On the vehicle side, first, for example, a 2 cm thick insulating mat is covered with tarpaulin material. This serves to partition off the active side from the surface temperature of the vehicle (eg engine compartment, etc.). This insulating mat is followed by the layer in which the air is blown. This is allowed to escape through a thin textile material, which is permeable to air, upwards. This air-permeable material then shows outward in the thermal image the new signature. So that the airstream can not influence the surface temperature of this material, the air cushion receives a third layer: An air gap of about 2 cm separated from the air-permeable material, for example, a thin polyethylene film is attached, which is designed so thin that they are transparent in the IR is and thus does not show its own signature. A warm-up by the sun or the influence of the wind should have no influence on the signature of the pad. The air escapes the panel through louvers in the film.

In order to achieve a radar camouflage in addition to the IR camouflage, the insulating mat can be replaced or supplemented by a radar absorber.

Particular attention must be given to the optimal air flow within the panel: the incoming air must be distributed homogeneously as quickly as possible. This is achieved by air distributors of flexible plastic hoses, which have lateral openings so as to quickly distribute the air throughout the panel.

As outlined above, the solution of today commercially available mobile stealth kits differs in that it actively adapts to the environment.

The proposed solution is distinguished from that in the US 5 080 165 characterized solution, that the use of an IR-transparent film, the influence of the wind and the temperature of the wind is prevented and can be effectively achieved so that the apparent temperature or signature of the panels can be adapted to the measured apparent ambient temperature.

The invention will now be explained in more detail by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1

schematisch im Schnitt den Aufbau einer erfindungsgemässen adaptiven Tarnanordnung und

Fig. 2

schematisch in Draufsicht die luftdurchflutbare paneelenartige Schicht der Anordnung aus Figur 1.

Showing:

Fig. 1

schematically in section the structure of an inventive camouflage camouflage and

Fig. 2

schematically in plan view, the air-permeable panel-like layer of the arrangement FIG. 1 ,

Fig. 1 schematically shows a section through an inventive adaptive Tarnanordung, which is arranged on an object 1 to their camouflage. The object 1 is, for example, a mobile object such as a vehicle. First of all, an insulating mat 3 is arranged directly on the object, which is sheathed, for example, with a tarpaulin material such as a PVC-coated polyester fabric. Typically, the weight is 500 to 700 grams per m ^2. On the example, 2cm thick insulating mat, the air-permeable panel-like layer 5 is arranged, which has spacers 7 for generating the air cushion, which spacers can for example consist of 3D knitted fabric. Laterally, an air supply 11 is provided. The sucked from the outside and by means of a Heizagregat (not shown) heated air is blown into the air cushion. Based on FIG. 2 will be discussed in detail below the air-through layer 5. So that the air can escape from this layer, it is covered with a thin textile material 6, which is permeable to air. This air-permeable fabric preferably has high strength and may be made of, for example, an aromatic polyamide fiber such as an aramid. Known aramid fibers are, for example, Nomex and Kevlar from DuPont.

This air-permeable material then points outwards in the thermal image the new signature. So that, for example, the airstream can not influence the surface temperature of this material, the arrangement contains a third layer. Separated from the air-permeable material via an air gap 8 of approximately 2 cm, a thin infrared-transient-separated film 9 is arranged, which may be, for example, a thin polyethylene film. This is therefore designed thin so that it is transparent in the infrared and thus does not show its own signature. Preferably, it is UV stabilized and has a thickness of the order of 50 to 100 microns.

The air from the assembly can escape laterally through slots 13 from the infrared-transferred film.

Special attention is paid to the optimal air guidance within the air-permeable panel-like layer 5.

In Fig. 2 is shown how the blown from the outside via the air supply 11 temperature-controlled air in the layer 5 is distributed. This is done for example by means of flexible tubes 21, which have lateral openings 23. This can be achieved that the air from the flexible plastic tubing is quickly distributed throughout the panel. Also in FIG. 2 the spacers 7 are recognizable.

In the in the FIGS. 1 and 2 Of course, the arrangement shown is only an example to better explain the present invention. Of course, it is possible, the Tarnanordnung different from that shown in the FIGS. 1 and 2 be designed, modified or supplemented by further layers. Thus, it is possible, for example, to replace the insulating mat by a radar absorber or to supplement by such. Also with regard to the heating of the air a variety of solutions are possible. For example, the cool air at the entrance of the panel can be heated by an electric heating coil / coil. The air temperature in the panel is controlled by controlling the electrical power of the coil analogous to a hair dryer.

The supply air can of course also be done in a cooled state, either by using its own air conditioning in the arrangement for the air cushion or in the event that a vehicle is to be camouflaged by using the cold air duct of a vehicle air conditioning.

The structure of the insulating mat can be designed differently and in the case of a Radarabsorbers a foam can be used, filled or impregnated with graphite particles.

Claims (10)

1. An arrangement for adaptively camouflaging objects, comprising at least one panel-like layer (5), through which air can flow at least partially, wherein the arrangement is configured to regulate air which is taken in from the environment, before or during the supply into the layer, to a temperature which has at least already been ascertained from the background of the object, and wherein cushions, through which air can flow, are provided in the layer, wherein the temperature of each cushion is, if desired, individually regulatable, characterized in that the layer, through which air can flow, is covered by a further layer (9), which is IR-transparent.
2. The arrangement as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that a sensor system is provided, such as in particular at least one infrared sensor for measuring the temperature of the background of the object.
3. The arrangement as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the arrangement has multiple layers, wherein the air-cushion-containing panel-like layer is arranged on an insulating mat (3) in order to isolate the panel-like layer with respect to the object (1) from the surface temperature thereof.
4. The arrangement as claimed in one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the panel-like layer, through which air can flow, is covered with respect to the outside by an air-permeable layer (6).
5. The arrangement as claimed in one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the further layer is a thin polyethylene film, which is preferably UV-stabilized and has a thickness of about 50 to 100 micron.
6. The arrangement as claimed in one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that a radar-absorbing layer is provided instead of the insulating mat.
7. The arrangement as claimed in one of claims 3 to 6, characterized in that tarpaulin material, such as for example a PVC-coated polyester woven material, is wrapped around the insulating mat.
8. The arrangement as claimed in one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the air is electrically heatable and distributable as homogeneously as possible in the layer, through which air can flow, using flexible hoses (21), which have openings, in the layer.
9. A method for adaptively camouflaging objects such as in particular vehicles, wherein the object is covered using a multi-layered arrangement, wherein air flows through at least one panel-like layer of the arrangement, wherein the air that is taken in from the environment is regulated before or while it is blown into the panel-like layer to a temperature which has at least already been ascertained from the background of the object, wherein cushions, through which air can flow, are provided in the layer, characterized in that the temperature of each cushion is individually regulated, and in that the layer, through which air can flow, is covered by a further layer (9), which is IR-transparent.
10. The method as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that the temperature-regulated air is blown into the layer, through which air can flow, as homogeneously as possible using flexible hoses having openings, which air leaves the layer, through which air can flow, via an air-permeable layer that covers the layer to the outside in order to arrive in a further, IR-transparent layer which covers the layer, which IR-transparent layer has air-outlet openings at its edge.

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