Projectile and System for Providing Air-to-Surface Reconnaissance

Abstract

An aerial reconnaissance projectile, such as a mortar, is launched for viewing a battlefield scene. A reconnaissance section is released from the projectile and conveys back pictures of the battlefield scene taken by a camera and transmitted by radio to a ground position for viewing on a video screen. The reconnaissance section; may have an inertia measurement unit for determining its position over the battlefield scene. The projectile containing the reconnaissance equipment may be a convention mortar round or a rocket projectile. This aerial reconnaissance projectile is capable of carrying sensors for chemical, biological or nuclear activity on the surface area being traversed or intercepting radio signals from the ground and conveying this information by radio to a ground position with a radio receiver.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]This application claims priority to copending U.S. provisional application entitled, “Exiting Projectile Alternative Payload For Air-To-Ground Reconnaissance,” having ser. no. 60 / 553,177, filed Mar. 15, 2004, which is entirely incorporated herein by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]A projectile for providing air to surface reconnaissance with a camera or other type of sensor that conveys the images or other data by a radio transmitter to a radio receiver that may be connected to a viewing screen at a remote location is provided.[0004]2. Prior Art[0005]Big strides have been made in the reconnaissance capability of the land battlefield in the last few decades with the advent of cameras carried on aircraft, drone vehicles and satellites. However, the available technology does not have the practical capability of providing close range reconnaissance to small combat units, such as the squad. A small infa...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0012]The reconnaissance equipment provided by this invention is capable of being placed in a regular mortar illumination round in which flare material is normally contained. This aerial reconnaissance projectile can be a conventional mortar round, artillery round, or rocket. A parachute or other means, such as braking fins on the reconnaissance equipment can be used to slow and control its descent over the surface to be viewed. The remote radio receiver is capable of receiving radio transmissions from the radio transmitter in the reconnaissance equipment. The radio receiver is usually locat...

Problems solved by technology

However, the available technology does not have the practical capability of providing close range reconnaissance to small combat units, such as the squad.

If enemy positions on the other side of a hill or on the top of a building are undetected the ch...

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