Patent Publication Number: US-10330450-B1

Title: Scalable mine deployment system

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit under 35 USC § 119(e) of U.S. provisional patent application 62/481,341 filed on Apr. 4, 2017. 
    
    
     STATEMENT OF GOVERNMENT INTEREST 
     The inventions described herein may be manufactured, used and licensed by or for the United States Government. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates in general to munitions and in particular to deployment systems for munitions. 
     Anti-vehicle minefields serve as an effective obstacle to military vehicles on a battlefield. These minefields are formed from munitions designed to be triggered by a vehicle and with sufficient effects to damage or disable the vehicle. Anti-vehicle minefields may serve many tactical purposes depending on the shape and density of the minefield. For example, the minefield may serve to fix, turn, block or delay. 
     International treaties and current landmine policies have restricted the use of munitions which have been employed in the past to create these anti-vehicle minefields. Accordingly, a need exists for a system which produces anti-vehicle minefields which are not persistent and therefore consistent with modern land mine policies and international treaties. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     One aspect of the invention is a scalable mine deployment system for forming a non-persistent anti-vehicle minefield. The scalable mine deployment system comprises one or more hand emplaced deployment pods, one or more munitions control units and a remote control station. 
     The one or more hand emplaced deployment pods store one or more anti-vehicle munitions and deploy the one or more anti-vehicle munition to form a non-persistent minefield in response to a control signal. The one or more hand emplaced deployment pods are arranged according to a desired minefield area. 
     The remote control station receives a command from an operator and transmits a control signal corresponding to the command. 
     Each of the one or more munitions control units is in electric communication with one or more deployment pods. The munitions control units receive the control signal from the remote control station and transmit the control signal to the deployment pods. 
     A second aspect of the invention is a munition deployment pod for deploying one or more anti-vehicle munitions to form a non-persistent minefield at a desired density in response to a received remote control signal. The munition deployment pod further comprises a frame and one or more canisters removably attached to the frame. The frame houses electronic components. The one or more canisters are arranged symmetrically opposed to each other around the frame. The one or more canisters store and deploy the one or more anti-vehicle munitions. 
     A third aspect of the invention is a method for deploying a non-persistent anti-vehicle minefield scaled to a desired area. The method includes the steps of: arranging one or more deployment pods for storing and deploying one or more anti-vehicle munitions to form a non-persistent minefield in response to a control signal, the one or more hand emplaced deployment pods arranged according to a desired minefield area; receiving at a remote control station, a user input comprising a desired density for a portion of the non-persistent anti-vehicle minefield; transmitting a wireless control signal corresponding to the desired density to a munitions control unit; transmitting a control signal corresponding to the desired density to one or more deployment pods in the portion of the non-persistent anti-vehicle minefield; and adjusting an elevation angle of a canister according to the control signal. 
     The invention will be better understood, and further objects, features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In the drawings, which are not necessarily to scale, like or corresponding parts are denoted by like or corresponding reference numerals. 
         FIG. 1  is an illustration showing an operator employing a scalable mine deployment system to create a scalable minefield, in accordance with one illustrative embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is an illustration showing multiple scalable mine deployment systems creating a minefield, in accordance with one illustrative embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  is a top perspective view of a pod of the scalable mine deployment system with attached canisters, in accordance with one illustrative embodiment. 
         FIG. 4  is a top perspective view of a pod of the scalable mine deployment system, in accordance with one illustrative embodiment. 
         FIG. 5  is a front perspective view of a pod of the scalable mine deployment system with a cutout showing internal components of the pod, in accordance with one illustrative embodiment. 
         FIG. 6  is a top perspective view of a trainer pod of the scalable mine deployment system, in accordance with one illustrative embodiment. 
         FIG. 7  is a front perspective view of a trainer pod of the scalable mine deployment system with a cutout showing internal components of the pod, in accordance with one illustrative embodiment. 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic flowchart illustrating a method for deploying a deploying a non-persistent anti-vehicle minefield scaled to a desired area, in accordance with one illustrative embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     A scalable mine deployment system allows the establishment of a close range tactical obstacle gap. The scalable mine deployment system provides a system which creates an anti-vehicle minefield. Importantly, the anti-vehicle minefield is not persistent and therefore consistent with current land mine policies and international treaties. 
     The scalable mine deployment system employs hand emplaced devices to create a block of area coverage. The scalable mine deployment system creates a versatile coverage area which may be used as a building block to form any size obstacle desired. This coverage area is created to contain the required mine density of an anti-vehicle minefield. 
     The system allows for the operator to emplace a variety of densities of a field with the same device and without having to change the position of the system components in the field. The operator can remotely deploy from a single emplaced component of the system a variety of densities which allows for the ability to deploy various purpose minefields, such as fix, turn, block or delay fields. 
     Further, the scalable mine system may deploy a protective anti-personnel minefield to protect the anti-vehicle minefield by making it difficult to breech. The scalable mine deployment system is interoperable with other anti-personnel munitions such as the M7 Spider Networked Munition. The Spider Networked Munition is a hand-emplaced remotely controlled man-in-the-loop antipersonnel munition system. Spider Networked Munitions may he deployed with the scalable mine deployment system for anti-personnel effects and centrally controlled. 
     The scalable mine deployment system is hand emplaced thereby negating reliance on aging vehicle based system. While the embodiment of the scalable mine deployment system described throughout the specification is hand emplaced, the scalable mine deployment system may he emplaced roboticalty or through other automated means. 
     Further, the scalable mine deployment system may be emplaced and left in emplace until deployment is required, unlike vehicle deployed systems. The operator can remotely control the minefield and can rapidly emplace ground based counter mobility and protection capability. Advantageously, an anti-vehicle minefield can be established in a “just in time” employment. The mines can be command deployed at any time. 
     If the mines are not deployed, the system is recoverable and reusable. Operators may preposition the system for a duration of time and only deploy if the need arises. If the system is not deployed, the operator remotely safes the system and retrieves the components for subsequent reuse. 
     The munition deployed in an embodiment of the invention is a mine and in particular an anti-vehicle mine, and throughout the specification, the terms mine and munition are used interchangeably. However, the munition deployed by the system is not limited to mines or anti-vehicle mines and may be any munition capable of being deployed by the system for establishing an anti-vehicle barrier. 
       FIG. 1  is an illustration showing an operator employing a scalable mine deployment system to create a scalable minefield, in accordance with one illustrative embodiment.  FIG. 2  is an illustration showing multiple scalable mine deployment systems creating a minefield, in accordance with one illustrative embodiment. 
     The scalable mine deployment system  2  comprises a remote control station  10 , one or more munition control units  20  and one or more deployment pods  30  (also referred to as pods  30 ). Each deployment pod  30  stores anti-vehicle munitions (also referred to as mines  302 ) for future deployment to create a minefield  4 . The one or more deployment pods  30  are pre-deployed throughout an area in a desired pattern for achieving the desired effect of the minefield  4 . The pods  30  may be manually placed by an operator  102 , placed via a ground vehicle or aircraft or remotely placed such as via a robot or drone, either as a separate component or integral to the pod  30 . The desired pattern may be chosen based on terrain, area of coverage and purpose of minefield  4 . 
     The munition control unit  20  is in communication with the one or more deployment pods  30 . The remote control station  10  is in communication with the munition control units. In the embodiment shown, each munition control unit  20  is in electrical communication via a wired interface  202  with up to three pods  30 . However, the munition control unit  20  is not limited to wired communication or three pods  30 . Multiple munition control units  20  with associated pods  30  may be deployed in a desired scale to create a minefield  4  with desired coverage, as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
     An operator  102  enters a deploy command to the remote control station  10 . The remote control station  10  transmits the deploy command to each of the munition control units  20 . The munition control units  20  in turn transmit the command to each of their corresponding pods  30  to deploy the munitions  302  housed in their containers. In addition to a deploy command, an operator  102  may remotely set the elevation angle of the canisters (and thereby the minefield  4  density and area) via the remote control station  10  and munition control unit. 
     In one embodiment of the invention, the scalable mine deployment system  2  leverages the communication capabilities of the M7 Spider Networked Munition system and in certain applications may serve as an addition to the Spider Networked Munition. The Spider Networked Munition is a hand-emplaced, remotely controlled, Man-In-The-Loop antipersonnel munition system comprising a remote control station  10  in communication with munition control units  20  and various sensors. Spider provides equivalent munition field effectiveness when compared to capabilities provided by antipersonnel landmines, but does so without the residual life threatening risks after hostilities end or when warring factions depart. 
     Each munition is controlled by a remotely stationed soldier who monitors its sensors, allowing for more precise (non-lethal to lethal) responses—a significant advancement and advantage. The system&#39;s design allows for safe and rapid deployment, reinforcement, and recovery as well as safe passage of friendly forces. Spider eliminates the possibility of an unintended detonation through early warning and selective engagement of enemy forces. Spider is designed for storage, transport, rough handling, and use in worldwide military environments. 
     The scalable mine deployment system  2  leverages the communication capabilities of the Spider Networked Munition system to remotely deploy anti-vehicle minefields in addition to (or in replacement of) the anti-personnel minefields created with the Spider Networked Munition system. In these embodiments, the remote control station  10  and munition control units  20  are Spider Networked Munition remote control station and munition control units communicating via the same or similar protocols as those employed in the Spider Networked Munition. A wired interface added to the munition control unit  20  facilitates remote communication with the pods  30  and extends the communications capabilities of the Spider Networked Munition system to the anti-vehicle deployment pods  30 . 
     Further, in embodiments, the mine deployment system may leverage components of the M87A1 Volcano Multiple Delivery Mine system. As will be described in further detail below, the pods  30  may employ canisters and munitions currently in use or similar to those currently in use in the Volcano Multiple Delivery Mine system. The Volcano Multiple Delivery Mine system is a mass scatterable mine delivery system that delivers mines by helicopter or ground vehicle. It enables tactical commanders to emplace anti-vehicle/antipersonnel or pure anti-vehicle minefields with a minimum of personnel. A Soldier-selectable, self-destruct mechanism destroys the mine  302  at the end of its active lifecycle 4 hours to 15 days—depending on the time selected. 
     The scalable mine deployment system  2  described herein, extends the canisters and munitions of the Volcano system to a hand-emplaced system. By providing a system for hand emplacing the munitions of the Volcano Multiple Delivery Mine system, operators  102  may create anti-vehicle minefields  4  without reliance on land or airborne vehicles. 
       FIG. 3  is a top perspective view of a pod of the scalable mine deployment system with attached canisters, in accordance with one illustrative embodiment. Each pod  30  comprises a baseplate and a plurality of canisters. Each canister  306  houses one or more Volcano mines  302  for deployment. For example, in an embodiment, the canisters are the same or similar to those employed on the M87A1 Volcano Multiple Delivery Mine system, each capable of holding six Volcano mines  302 . The canisters  306  are arranged symmetrically around the frame  310  such that the recoil forces generated when ejecting mines  302  is cancelled in the horizontal direction. By cancelling the horizontal component of recoil, the baseplate position is secure throughout deployment. Each pod  30  provides for 360 degrees of coverage. 
     The canisters are inserted into openings  308  defined by the baseplate  304 . The canisters are secured to the baseplate  304  such that the proximate end to the baseplate  304  may rotate with respect to a horizontal axis of the baseplate  304  and thereby change their elevation angle (Θ E  in  FIG. 1 ). By changing the elevation angle of the canister  306 , the density and coverage of the minefield  4  may be adjusted to suit the particular needs of the application, The canisters may be rotated manually or mechanically such via a hinge or latch mechanism or they may be rotated remotely such as via a servo motor or actuator. 
       FIG. 4  is a top perspective view of a pod of the scalable mine deployment system, in accordance with one illustrative embodiment. The baseplate  304  comprises a frame  310 , one or more handles  312  and one or more tube interfaces  314 . The baseplate  304  is emplaced on the ground and secured by driving one or more stakes through corresponding holes  316  formed in the frame  310 . Alternatively, spikes integral to the frame  310  may be either inserted into the ground or if conditions do not permit, laid horizontally to increase the area of the baseplate  304  and therefore the stability of the baseplate  314 . 
       FIG. 5  is a front perspective view of a pod of the scalable mine deployment system with a cutout showing internal components of the pod  30 , in accordance with one illustrative embodiment. The frame  310  serves as a central housing providing support and protection for electronic components  318  housed within. The electronic components  318  may comprise a power source such as a battery, communication interfaces, firing electronics, mine SD set circuitry and motor controls for the canisters. The frame  310  may be made of plastic material, metal material or any other material suitable for the purposes described above. 
     One or more handles  312  are attached to and extend from the sides of the frame  310  to provide a surface for carrying, as well as to increase the stability of the baseplate  304  when it is in a deployed state. Further, each of the handles  312  may provide a mounting surface for the tube interface modules  314 . The tube interface modules  314  secure each of the one or more canisters  306  to the frame  310 . A canister  306  is inserted into a corresponding opening  308  defined by a face of the tube interface module  314 . The canister  306  is then rotated to engage a locking mechanism and secure the canister  306  within the tube interface module  314 . In an embodiment of the invention, the canister  306  rotates within the tube interface module  314 . In another embodiment, the canister  306  and tube interface module  314  rotate together with respect to the baseplate  304 . 
       FIG. 6  is a top perspective view of a trainer pod of the scalable mine deployment system, in accordance with one illustrative embodiment.  FIG. 7  is a front perspective view of a trainer pod of the scalable mine deployment system  2  with a cutout showing internal components of the pod, in accordance with one illustrative embodiment. Training pods  60  may be employed for training operators  102  in the storage, transport, setup and deployment of the scalable mine deployment system  2 . The training pods  60  are non-functional but are similar in size and shape to the tactical deployment pod  30  described above. 
     Each training pod  60  comprises a baseplate  604  and a plurality of training canisters. Each training canister is non-functional but similar in size and shape to the tactical canisters  306  describe above. The training canisters  306  are arranged symmetrically around a training frame  610 . 
     The training canisters are inserted into openings  608  defined by the training baseplate  304 . The training canisters are secured to the training baseplate  304  such that a proximate end to the training baseplate  604  may rotate with respect to a horizontal axis of the training baseplate  604  and thereby change their elevation angle. The training canisters may be rotated manually or mechanically such via a hinge or latch mechanism or they may he rotated remotely such as via a servo motor or actuator. 
     The training baseplate  604  comprises a frame  610 , one or more handles  612  and one or more tube interfaces  614 . The frame  610  comprises holes  616  for receiving one or more emplacement stakes. The frame  610  may be made of plastic material, metal material or any other material suitable for the purposes described above. One or more handles  612  are attached to and extend from the sides of the frame  610  to provide a surface for carrying, as well as to increase the stability of the baseplate when it is in a deployed state. Further, each of the handles  612  may provide a mounting surface for the tube interface modules  614 . The tube interface modules  614  secure each of the one or more canisters to the baseplate. 
       FIG. 8  is a schematic flowchart illustrating a method for deploying a non-persistent anti-vehicle minefield  4  scaled to a desired area, in accordance with one illustrative embodiment. The method  800  for deploying a non-persistent anti-vehicle minefield  4  scaled to a desired area comprises the steps of: arranging one or more deployment pods  30  for storing and deploying one or more anti-vehicle munitions  302  according to a desired minefield area  802 ; receiving at a remote control station  10 , a user input  804 ; transmitting a wireless control signal corresponding to the user input to a munitions control unit  806 ; transmitting a control signal corresponding to the user input to one or more deployment pods in the portion of the non-persistent anti-vehicle minefield  808 ; and the deployment pod  30  acting according to the control signal  810 . 
     At step  802 , one or more deployment pods  30  are arranged according to a desired minefield  4 . The desired minefield area and density determines the number of deployment pods  30  required. The deployment pods  30  may be arranged by hand by an operator  102  or may be deployed by autonomous vehicles such as robots or unmanned aerial vehicles. 
     At step  804 , a user input is received at the remote control station  10 . The user may input the command via a user interface such as a graphical user interface or textual user interface or may input the command via a separate device configured to communicate with the remote control station  10 . 
     A user may input a density command thereby inputting the desired density of the minefield  4 . The user may input variable densities for different portions of the minefield  4 . Accordingly, the minefield  4  may have variable density with portions of the minefield  4  having a greater density of mines  302  and portions of the minefield  4  having a lower density. 
     A user may input an arm command to arm the munitions  302  in the deployment pod  30 . The munitions  302  in the deployment pods may be armed for a set period of time. A user may input a deploy command to dispense the munitions  302  from the deployment pods  30 . Finally, should armed munitions  302  not be deployed, a user may input a safe command to safe the previously armed munitions  302  for safety purposes and to preserve the munitions  302  for later use. 
     At step  806 , the remote control station  10  transmits a wireless control signal corresponding to the user input to a munitions  302  control unit  804 . Depending on the intended recipient, the remote control station  10  may broadcast the wireless control signal to all munition control units  20  or may address the control signal to a subset of munition control units  20 . 
     At step  808 , the munition control unit  20  transmits a control signal corresponding to the user input to one or more deployment pods  30 . 
     At step  810 , the deployment pod  30  acts according to the control signal. For a control signal corresponding to a density input, the deployment pod  30  adjusts the angle of elevation of the canisters  306 . In an embodiment of the invention, the angle of elevation may be adjusted by a servo motor according to the control signal. For a control signal corresponding to an arm command, the munitions  302  are armed within the canisters  306 . For a control signal corresponding to a deploy input, the canister  306  deploys the munitions  302  from the canister  306  to the surrounding area. In situations in which the munitions  302  are armed but not deployed, for a control signal corresponding a safe input, the canister  306  safes the munitions  302  for safety and later retrieval for reuse. 
     While the invention has been described with reference to certain embodiments, numerous changes, alterations and modifications to the described embodiments are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims, and. equivalents thereof.