System and method for decoy management

Abstract

System and method for determining which decoys should not be deployed based on the locations of the nearby high value units and other considerations. The system and method can visualize and manage the employment of decoys in a multi-platform environment by plotting the predicted path of decoys relative to high value unit (HVU) motion, and highlighting any situations that exist where the decoys (both air-drifting and self-propelled) launched from a platform can direct an incoming threat towards a high value unit. The system and method can develop, display, and automatically transmit a recommendation to launch or not launch a specific decoy.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computer method for managing a decoy comprising:
 (a) determining a decoy-minimum-distance threshold for the decoy;   (b) determining a high value unit (HVU) location of an HVU relative to a launch platform of the decoy;   (c) automatically calculating, by a specially-programmed computer, line extending from a threat through the HVU location, and continuing beyond the HVU location;   (d) automatically calculating, by said or another specially-programmed computer, a decoy trajectory of the decoy;   (e) automatically calculating, by one of said or another specially-programmed computer, an HVU minimum distance from the decoy trajectory to the HVU location;   (f) automatically calculating, by one of said or another specially-programmed computer, a line minimum distance from the decoy trajectory to the line; and   (g) automatically determining, by one of said or another specially-programmed computer, whether or not the HVU minimum distance and/or the line minimum distance are smaller than the decoy-minimum-distance threshold.   
     
     
         2 . The method as in  claim 1  further comprising:
 providing a recommendation based on the determining. 
 
     
     
         3 . The method as in  claim 2  wherein the recommendation comprises a decoy launch recommendation. 
     
     
         4 . The method as in  claim 1  wherein the decoy comprises an air-drifting decoy, the air-drifting decoy having decoy characteristics including the lifetime of the air-drifting decoy, and time of flight of the air-drifting decoy. 
     
     
         5 . The method as in  claim 1  wherein the decoy comprises a self-propelled decoy, the self-propelled decoy having decoy characteristics including a separation velocity of the self-propelled decoy. 
     
     
         6 . The method as in  claim 5  further comprising:
 automatically calculating the decoy trajectory based on flight trajectory of the self-propelled decoy. 
 
     
     
         7 . The method as in  claim 1  further comprising:
 determining a threat bearing of the threat. 
 
     
     
         8 . The method as in  claim 1  further comprising:
 providing values of the decoy trajectory at pre-selected time intervals. 
 
     
     
         9 . The method as in  claim 1  wherein the indication comprises a notification to an operator. 
     
     
         10 . The method as in  claim 9  wherein the notification comprises a display including highlighting the decoy launch platform having the HVU minimum distance below the decoy-minimum-distance threshold. 
     
     
         11 . The method as in  claim 1  wherein the indication comprises an electronic message to decoy launch platform of the decoy, the decoy launch platform being associated with the HVU minimum distance below the decoy-minimum-distance threshold. 
     
     
         12 . A computer system for managing decoy comprising:
 a decoy characteristics processor, executing on a specially-programmed computer, determining decoy characteristics and a decoy-minimum-distance threshold for the decoy;   an HVU characteristics processor, executing on said or another specially-programmed computer, determining an HVU location of an HVU relative to a decoy launch platform of the decoy;   a trajectory processor automatically calculating, by one of said or another specially-programmed computer, a decoy trajectory of the decoy,   a threat processor automatically calculating, by one of said or another specially-programmed computer, a set of lines extending from a direction of a threat through the HVU location, and continuing beyond the HVU location, the threat processor automatically calculating, by one of said or another computer, an HVU minimum distance from the decoy trajectory to the HVU location, the threat processor automatically calculating, by one of said or another computer, a line minimum distance from the decoy trajectory to each line of the set of lines; and   a threshold processor automatically determining, by one of said or another specially-programmed computer, an indication whether any of the HVU minimum distance and the line minimum distance are smaller than the decoy-minimum-distance threshold.   
     
     
         13 . The system as in  claim 12  wherein the threshold processor comprises:
 providing a recommendation based on the determining. 
 
     
     
         14 . The system as in  claim 13  wherein the recommendation comprises a decoy launch recommendation. 
     
     
         15 . The system as in  claim 12  wherein the decoy comprises an air-drifting decoy, the air-drifting decoy being associated with a lifetime and a time of flight. 
     
     
         16 . The system as in  claim 12  wherein the decoy comprises a self-propelled decoy, the self-propelled decoy being associated with a separation velocity. 
     
     
         17 . The system as in  claim 12  wherein the trajectory processor comprises:
 automatically calculating the decoy trajectory based on a flight trajectory of the self-propelled decoy; 
 automatically determining a threat bearing of the threat; and 
 providing values of a decoy trajectory at pre-selected time intervals. 
 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . The system as in  claim 12  wherein the indication comprises:
 a display including highlighting the decoy launch platform having the HVU minimum distance below the decoy-minimum-distance threshold. 
 
     
     
         20 . The system as in  claim 12  wherein the indication comprises:
 an electronic message to the decoy launch platform of the decoy, the decoy launch platform being associated with the HVU minimum distance below the decoy-minimum-distance threshold. 
 
     
     
         21 . The system as in  claim 12 , wherein the decoy trajectory of the decoy is calculated based on the direction and launch time of the decoy, bearing from the HVU at a decoy launch time of the decoy, course and speed of the HVU, course, range, and speed of the decoy launch platform, wind direction and speed at the decoy launch platform, and decoy characteristics.