Tactical surveillance sensor projectile system

Abstract

A tactical surveillance sensor projectile system includes a propellant and primer chamber, a firing device, a sensor device, a signal processor, and a fiber optic cable; the firing device fires the primer and propellant to establish a powered phase of flight followed by a ballistic phase of flight to clear an obstacle; the sensor device generates surveillance signals representative of ambient characteristics beyond the obstacle at least during the ballistic phase of flight; the signal processor is responsive to the sensor device for converting the signals representative of ambient conditions to an optical data stream; and the fiber optic cable delivers the optical data stream to a ground station at least during the ballistic phase of flight.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A tactical surveillance sensor projectile system comprising: 
 a propellant and primer chamber;    a firing device for firing said primer and said propellant to establish a powered phase of flight followed by a ballistic phase of flight to clear an obstacle;    a sensor device for generating surveillance signals representative of ambient characteristics beyond the obstacle at least during the ballistic phase of flight;    a signal processor responsive to said sensor device for converting said signals representative of ambient conditions to an optical data stream; and    a fiber optic cable for delivering said optical data stream to a ground station at least during a ballistic phase of flight.    
     
     
         2 . The tactical surveillance sensor projectile system of  claim 1  further including a personal portable launcher.  
     
     
         3 . The tactical surveillance sensor projectile system of  claim 2  wherein the launcher is integral with the ground station.  
     
     
         4 . The tactical surveillance sensor projectile system of  claim 2  in which said launcher includes an integral passive connector for engaging said fiber optic cable with the launcher.  
     
     
         5 . The tactical surveillance sensor projectile system of  claim 3  in which said ground station includes an integral passive connector for engaging said fiber optic cable with the ground station.  
     
     
         6 . The tactical surveillance sensor projectile system of  claim 2  in which said fiber optic cable is fixedly connected to said signal processor at the proximate end and releasably interconnected with the launcher at the remote end for separating the fiber optic cable from the launcher.  
     
     
         7 . The tactical surveillance sensor projectile system of  claim 3  in which said fiber optic able is fixedly connected to said signal processor at the proximate end and releasably connected with the ground station at the remote end for separating the fiber optic cable from the ground station.  
     
     
         8 . The tactical surveillance sensor projectile system of  claim 1  in which said propellant and primer chamber, firing device, sensor device, and fiber optic cable are housed in a standard existing projectile body.  
     
     
         9 . The tactical surveillance sensor projectile system of  claim 8  in which said projectile body includes a M127A1 flare.  
     
     
         10 . The tactical surveillance sensor projectile system of  claim 1  further including a spool for holding the fiber optic cable.  
     
     
         11 . The tactical surveillance sensor projectile system of  claim 10  further including a fiber optic cable payout tube extending from the spool through the propellant and primer chamber.  
     
     
         12 . The tactical surveillance sensor projectile system of  claim 1  in which the sensor device includes a camera.  
     
     
         13 . The tactical surveillance sensor projectile system of  claim 12  in which the camera is a visible light camera.  
     
     
         14 . The tactical surveillance sensor projectile system of  claim 12  in which the camera is an infrared camera.  
     
     
         15 . The tactical surveillance sensor projectile system of  claim 12  further including a battery.  
     
     
         16 . The tactical surveillance sensor projectile system of  claim 1  in which the sensor device includes a radiation detector.  
     
     
         17 . The tactical surveillance sensor projectile system of  claim 1  in which the sensor device includes an audio detector.  
     
     
         18 . The tactical surveillance sensor projectile system of  claim 1  in which the sensor device includes a chemical/biological agent detector.  
     
     
         19 . The tactical surveillance sensor projectile system of  claim 1  in which the sensor device includes a temperature detector.  
     
     
         20 . The tactical surveillance sensor projectile system of  claim 4  wherein the fiber optic cable disconnects from the launcher at a predetermined distance.  
     
     
         21 . The tactical surveillance sensor projectile system of  claim 5  wherein the fiber optic cable disconnects from the ground station at a predetermined distance.  
     
     
         22 . The tactical surveillance sensor projectile system of  claim 4  wherein the fiber optic cable disconnects from the launcher when the entire length of fiber optic cable has been payed out.  
     
     
         23 . The tactical surveillance sensor projectile system of  claim 5  wherein the fiber optic cable disconnects from the ground station when the entire length of fiber optic cable has been payed out.  
     
     
         24 . The tactical surveillance sensor projectile system of  claim 1  further including markers on said fiber optic cable and a second sensor device for generating a signal representative of the number of markers ejected wherein said signal processor is responsive to the second sensor device for converting said marker signals to length of fiber optic cable payed out.  
     
     
         25 . The tactical surveillance sensor projectile system of  claim 24  wherein the markers are optically sensed markers.  
     
     
         26 . The tactical surveillance sensor projectile system of  claim 25  wherein the optically sensed markers are reflective markers.  
     
     
         27 . The tactical surveillance sensor projectile system of  claim 24  wherein the markers are magnetic markers.  
     
     
         28 . The tactical surveillance sensor projectile system of  claim 2  wherein the launcher includes a processor for determining azimuth and elevation data for angle of launch of the projectile.  
     
     
         29 . The tactical surveillance sensor projectile system of  claim 2  wherein the launcher includes a processor for determining target coordinates.  
     
     
         30 . The tactical surveillance sensor projectile system of  claim 1  wherein the optical data stream consists of a one-way flow of data from the signal processor to the ground station.  
     
     
         31 . The tactical surveillance sensor projectile system of  claim 30  in which the one-way flow of data is storable on a computer.  
     
     
         32 . The tactical surveillance sensor projectile system of  claim 30  in which the one-way flow of data is storable on a computer disc.  
     
     
         33 . A tactical surveillance sensor projectile system comprising: 
 a propellant and primer chamber;    a firing device for firing said primer and said propellant to establish a powered phase of flight followed by a ballistic phase of flight to clear an obstacle;    a sensor device for generating surveillance signals representative of ambient characteristics beyond the obstacle at least during the ballistic phase of flight;    a signal processor responsive to said sensor device for converting said signals representative of ambient conditions to an optical data stream;    a fiber optic cable for delivering said optical data stream to a ground station at least during a ballistic phase of flight; and    a personal portable launcher.    
     
     
         34 . A tactical surveillance sensor projectile system comprising: 
 a propellant and primer chamber;    a firing device for firing said primer and said propellant to establish a powered phase of flight followed by a ballistic phase of flight to clear an obstacle;    a sensor device for generating surveillance signals representative of ambient characteristics beyond the obstacle at least during the ballistic phase of flight;    a signal processor responsive to said sensor device for converting said signals representative of ambient conditions to an optical data stream; and    a fiber optic cable for delivering said optical data stream to a ground station at least during a ballistic phase of flight,    wherein the propellant and primer chamber, firing device, sensor device, and fiber optic cable are housed in a standard existing projectile body.    
     
     
         35 . A tactical surveillance sensor projectile system comprising: 
 a propellant and primer chamber;    a firing device for firing said primer and said propellant to establish a powered phase of flight followed by a ballistic phase of flight to clear an obstacle;    a sensor device for generating surveillance signals representative of ambient characteristics beyond the obstacle at least during the ballistic phase of flight;    a signal processor responsive to said sensor device for converting said signals representative of ambient conditions to an optical data stream;    a fiber optic cable for delivering said optical data stream to a ground station at least during a ballistic phase of flight; and    a fiber optic cable payout tube extending from the spool through the propellant and primer chamber.    
     
     
         36 . A tactical surveillance sensor projectile system comprising: 
 a propellant and primer chamber;    a firing device for firing said primer and said propellant to establish a powered phase of flight followed by a ballistic phase of flight to clear an obstacle;    a sensor device for generating surveillance signals representative of ambient characteristics beyond the obstacle at least during the ballistic phase of flight;    a signal processor responsive to said sensor device for converting said signals representative of ambient conditions to an optical data stream; and    a fiber optic cable for delivering said optical data stream to a ground station at least during a ballistic phase of flight,    wherein the optical data stream consists of a one-way flow of data from the signal processor to the ground station.    
     
     
         37 . A tactical surveillance sensor projectile system comprising: 
 a chamber including means for propelling and means for priming;    means for firing said means for priming and said means for propelling to establish a powered phase of flight followed by a ballistic phase of flight to clear an obstacle;    means for generating surveillance signals representative of ambient characteristics beyond the obstacle at least during the ballistic phase of flight;    means responsive to said means for generating surveillance signals for converting said signals representative of ambient conditions to an optical data stream; and    means for delivering said optical data stream to a ground station at least during a ballistic phase of flight.    
     
     
         38 . The tactical surveillance sensor projectile system of  claim 37  further including a personal portable launcher.  
     
     
         39 . The tactical surveillance sensor projectile system of  claim 38  wherein the launcher is integral with the ground station.  
     
     
         40 . The tactical surveillance sensor projectile system of  claim 38  in which said launcher includes means for engaging said means for delivering said optical data stream with the launcher.  
     
     
         41 . The tactical surveillance sensor projectile system of  claim 39  in which said ground station includes means for engaging said means for delivering said optical data stream with the ground station.  
     
     
         42 . The tactical surveillance sensor projectile system of  claim 38  in which said means for delivering said optical data stream is fixedly connected to said means responsive to said sensor device at the proximate end and releasably interconnected with the launcher at the remote end for separating the means for delivering said optical data stream from the launcher.  
     
     
         43 . The tactical surveillance sensor projectile system of  claim 39  in which said means for delivering said optical data stream is fixedly connected to said means responsive to said sensor device at the proximate end and releasably connected with the ground station at the remote end for separating the means for delivering said optical data stream from the ground station.  
     
     
         44 . The tactical surveillance sensor projectile system of  claim 37  in which said chamber, said means for firing said primer and said propellant, said means for generating surveillance signals, and said means for delivering said optical data stream are housed in a standard existing projectile body.  
     
     
         45 . The tactical surveillance sensor projectile system of  claim 44  in which said projectile body includes a M127A1 flare.  
     
     
         46 . The tactical surveillance sensor projectile system of  claim 37  further including a means for holding the means for delivering said optical data stream.  
     
     
         47 . The tactical surveillance sensor projectile system of  claim 37  further including protecting means extending from the spool through the chamber to protect the means for delivering said optical data stream.  
     
     
         48 . The tactical surveillance sensor projectile system of  claim 37  in which the means for generating surveillance signals includes a camera.  
     
     
         49 . The tactical surveillance sensor projectile system of  claim 48  in which the camera is a visible light camera.  
     
     
         50 . The tactical surveillance sensor projectile system of  claim 48  in which the camera is an infrared camera.  
     
     
         51 . The tactical surveillance sensor projectile system of  claim 48  further including a battery.  
     
     
         52 . The tactical surveillance sensor projectile system of  claim 37  in which the means for generating surveillance signals includes a radiation detector.  
     
     
         53 . The tactical surveillance sensor projectile system of  claim 37  in which the means for generating surveillance signals includes an audio detector.  
     
     
         54 . The tactical surveillance sensor projectile system of  claim 37  in which the means for generating surveillance signals includes a chemical/biological agent detector.  
     
     
         55 . The tactical surveillance sensor projectile system of  claim 37  in which the means for generating surveillance signals includes a temperature detector.  
     
     
         56 . The tactical surveillance sensor projectile system of  claim 40  wherein the means for delivering the optical data stream disconnects from the launcher at a predetermined distance.  
     
     
         57 . The tactical surveillance sensor projectile system of  claim 41  wherein the means for delivering the optical data stream disconnects from the ground station at a predetermined distance.  
     
     
         58 . The tactical surveillance sensor projectile system of  claim 40  wherein the means for delivering the optical data stream disconnects from the launcher when the entirety of the means for delivering the optical data stream has been payed out.  
     
     
         59 . The tactical surveillance sensor projectile system of  claim 41  wherein the means for delivering the optical data stream disconnects from the ground station when the entirety of the means for delivering the optical data stream has been payed out.  
     
     
         60 . The tactical surveillance sensor projectile system of  claim 37  further including markers on said means for delivering said optical data and means for generating a signal representative of the number of markers ejected wherein said means responsive to said means for generating surveillance signals responsive to the means for generating a signal representative of the number of markers ejected for converting said marker signals to amount of means for delivering the optical data stream payed out.  
     
     
         61 . The tactical surveillance sensor projectile system of  claim 60  wherein the markers are optically sensed markers.  
     
     
         62 . The tactical surveillance sensor projectile system of  claim 61  wherein the optically sensed markers are reflective markers.  
     
     
         63 . The tactical surveillance sensor projectile system of  claim 60  wherein the markers are magnetic markers.  
     
     
         64 . The tactical surveillance sensor projectile system of  claim 38  wherein the launcher includes means for determining azimuth and elevation data for angle of launch of the projectile.  
     
     
         65 . The tactical surveillance sensor projectile system of  claim 38  wherein the launcher includes means for determining target coordinates.  
     
     
         66 . The tactical surveillance sensor projectile system of  claim 37  wherein the optical data stream consists of a one-way flow of data from the means responsive to said means for generating surveillance signals to the ground station.  
     
     
         67 . The tactical surveillance sensor projectile system of  claim 66  in which the one-way flow of data is storable on a computer.  
     
     
         68 . The tactical surveillance sensor projectile system of  claim 66  in which the one-way flow of data is storable on a means for storing data.