GB2403789A

GB2403789A - Autonomous smart store carrier

Info

Publication number: GB2403789A
Application number: GB0412765A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Eaton
Original assignee: Edo MBM Technology Ltd
Current assignee: L3Harris Release and Integrated Solutions Ltd
Priority date: 2003-07-07
Filing date: 2004-06-08
Publication date: 2005-01-12
Anticipated expiration: 2024-06-08
Also published as: FR2857329A1; GB0412765D0; GB0316074D0; FR2857329B1; GB2403789B

Abstract

A smart store carrier 10 for military aircraft comprises a store carriage and release system 18, and a carrier store management system 20 integrated into the store carrier so as to be installed or uninstalled as the store carrier is fitted to or removed from the aircraft. The store management system receives data from one or more sensors 22 comprising a satellite positioning system in the store carrier or store and is operatively arranged for safety management of the store. Changes of store types which necessitate changes in sensors in order to maintain store safety in flight can therefore be accommodated by changing or reconfiguring the store carrier 10 without the need for a major refit of the aircraft.

Description

BP-09-0449 2 4 0 37 8 9

AUTONOMOUS SMART STORE CARRIER

Invention Background

This invention relates to store carriers in military aircraft. Conventionally such carriers are attached to the airframe, for example beneath the wings. They are provided with a store release or ejection mechanism as well as electrical and possibly other interfaces for communication between the store and corresponding systems in the aircraft. The aircraft systems provide smart stores with electrical power and input information such as position, groundspeed, airspeed, altitude, proximity to other aircraft, etc. The interface may also lo communicate status information from the store to the pilot and programming and command information from the pilot to the store. The store input information is required for example to maintain the store in a safe condition until it is within range of a target, after which fazing or arming can take place. Different weapons systems require different input and output data so that changing or upgrading weapons systems will often require a major refit of the aircraft.

There is a tendency for smart stores to require ever more complex, diverse and comprehensive input information.

Summary of the Invention

According to the present invention, a smart store carrier comprises a store carriage and release system, a carrier store management system integrated into the store carrier so as to be installed or uninstalled as the store carrier is fitted to or removed from the aircraft, the carrier store management system receiving data from one or more sensors comprising a satellite positioning system in the store carrier or store and being operatively arranged for safety management of the store. Changes of store types which necessitate changes in sensors in order to maintain store safety in flight can therefore be accommodated by changing or reconfiguring the store carrier without the need for a major refit of the aircraft. In effect the "intelligence" required for safe carriage of the store, targeting and store launch/release is substantially removed from the aircraft airframe and integrated into the carrier. The interface between the store carrier and the aircraft is simplified and rendered relatively standard, but at the same time the interface between the store and the carrier can be relatively complex and adaptable, including a wide variety of possible sensor inputs.

BP-09-0449 Preferably the store carrier also comprises its own internal database of type-specific store safety" information for supply to the carrier store management system.

The carrier store management system may also receive data from sensors installed directly in the aircraft, i.e. external to the store carrier. For this purpose it may comprise a datalink module.

The carrier store management system may also supply store status information to the aircraft pilot, as well as receiving store arming/fuzing and/or release and/or programming lo information from the pilot. Alternatively, if desired, store arming/fuzing can be automatic, based on the sensor information received and processed by the carrier store management system.

The invention and its preferred features and advantages are further described below with reference to an illustrative embodiment shown in the single drawing figure.

Brief Description of the Drawing

Figure I is a schematic block diagram of an autonomous smart multiple store carrier (ASMSC) embodying the invention.

Description of the Preferred Embodiment

The ASMSC 10 is a multiple store carrier which provides a comprehensive electronic interface 12 to current and future carriage stores 14 whilst operating from a negligible aircraft interface 16. The ASMSC comprises three main components, these being the carriage and release system (CRS) 18 with a mechanical interface 26 for the stores 14, a central carrier stores management system (CSMS) 20 and internal carrier sensors/libraries 22.

The CSMS 20 is an aircraft equivalent flight safety critical stores management system. Its function is to take all external inputs from aircraft, stores and carrier borne sensors to provide safe communication and control of the carriage stores 14 and to provide the necessary outputs back to the aircraft.

Br94449 The internal carrier position sensors 22 consist of for example a satellite positioning system antenna and data module which can take data from a GPS or like satellite constellation and then process the data into both position and velocity data. Other acceleration, speed, position and heading sensors, for example inertial systems such as gyroscopic/accelerometer based systems, may be used in addition or in the alternative. Further sensors providing additional information necessary for safety management of the stores (for example proximity sensors) may be integrated into the carrier. This information is then fed directly to the carriage stores through the CSMS 20 as the data. alternatively, some or all of these sensors may be located in the store itself. If the carriage store 14 is not itself capable of identifying that it is in range 0 then the CSMS 20 can compare the individual weapon algorithm stored in a generic weapon database or library 24 against its current position, speed and target co-ordinates to determine whether it is in range. Once this has occurred then the CSMS signals the pilot via a tone or other signal 28 that the store is in range. If the carrier has been fully integrated onto the aircraft then it may be possible to indicate this on a HUD or HDD.

The CRS 18 is a means for store retention during flight and safe store ejection during release.

The overall ASMSC 10 is not limited by number of stations, only by the aircraft and carriage store constraints. The invention can be used for the carriage of a single store; however it is preferred that the invention is used for multiple store applications.

The ASMSC differs from a standard multiple store carrier in that the standard multiple carriage system only duplicates the aircraft/store carrier interface at the store carrier/store interface. The ASMSC is deliberately designed to operate without an aircraft stores management system capable of handling the current MIL-STD-1760/Minature Munitions or other future/legacy weapon standards. The necessary additional stores management functions are provided from within the carrier itself. Any additional sensors are provided within the carrier and/or store. The benefit to the end user is that only the store carriage system requires upgrading and not the aircraft as new weapons are added to/substituted for the overall weapon system. To gain the maximum flexibility the initial integration of the store carrier should provide a series of generic functions to the aircraft depending on the store loaded; this state is determined by the carrier itself (thereby effectively driving the system). t.

BP-090449 The overall minimum base requirements for the illustrative ASMSC to function are as follows: Aircraft Power 32 (28V DC) Release Consent 34 Signal Lines 28 (min. 2 off) If a more comprehensive aircraft signal set is available, then it is possible to allow for the stores to be reprogrammed in flight by adding an additional set of datelines, e.g. interfacing with the CSMS via a datalink module 30. These can provide the pilot with a capability to lo communicate basic weapon targeting/fuzing data to the store during flight.

Additional data is taken from the GPS sensor 22 shown in this embodiment to be mounted in the carrier rather than in the stores 14. The GPS antenna provides the additional data to determine position and heading data to provide the stores 14 with an initial fix during weapon initialization. This sensor continues to be available for additional store updates as required depending on store type and external operating conditions (i.e. jamming and store antenna masking from the airframe).

The benefits of this invention are as follows: The invention allows the carriage of stores systems which have higher data requirements than the parent aircraft alone can support.

The invention allows additional stores systems to be integrated/substituted without having to upgrade the parent aircraft.

The carrier may effect all functions except for release consent through its own sensors and weapon data.

The invention may indicate to the aircraft when the store is both correctly prepared for launch and a target is within the reach of its commanded destination. Therefore the aircraft only relays the data to the cockpit for the pilot to make the decision to release the store.

It is also possible for this concept to be used for the multiplexing of more than two weapons (i.e. 3 or more) depending on the baseline weapon carrier design. The individual weapons . BP 090449 carried simultaneously may be the same as or different from each other, with the CSMS sensor and database inputs and data outputs being adapted to the weapons concerned.

Claims

BP-09-0449 CLAIMS

1. A smart store carrier for military aircraft, comprising a store carriage and release system, and a carrier store management system integrated into the store carrier so as to be installed or uninstalled as the store carrier is fitted to or removed from the aircraft, the store management system receiving data from one or more sensors comprising a satellite positioning system in the store carrier or store and being operatively arranged for safety management of the store.

2. A smart store carrier as defined in claim 1, in which the store carrier also comprises lo an internal database of type-specific store safety information for supply to the store management system.

3. A smart store carrier as defined in claim 1 or 2, in which the store management system also receives data from sensors installed directly in the aircraft.

4. A smart store carrier as defined in claim 3, comprising a datalink module.

5. A smart store carrier as defined in any preceding claim, in which the store management system may also supply store status information to the aircraft pilot.

6. A smart store carrier as defined in any preceding claim, in which the store management system receives store release and/or programming information from the pilot.

7. A smart store carrier as defined in any preceding claim, in which the store management system receives an arming/fuzing signal from the pilot.

8. A smart store carrier as defined in any of claims 1 to 6, in which store arming/fuxing is automatic, based on the sensor information received and processed by the store management system.

9. A smart store carrier for military aircraft, substantially as described with reference to or as shown in the drawing.