# US 12,191,570 B2 · Variable external structures on systems for signature management

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- Number: US 12,191,570 B2
- Document ID: US12191570B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/894,689
- Filed: 2022-08-24
- Published: 2023-03-02
- Granted: 2025-01-07
- Earliest claimed: 2021-08-24
- Assignees: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
- Applicants: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
- Inventors: Matthew M. Sheehan
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12191570B2

## CPC

- G01S 7/40: Means for monitoring or calibrating
- H01Q 17/005: {using woven or wound filaments; impregnated nets or clothes}
- G01S 7/497: Means for monitoring or calibrating
- H01Q 1/28: Adaptation for use in or on aircraft, missiles, satellites, or balloons
- G01S: RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES
- H01Q: ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS (radiators or antennas for microwave heating H05B6/72)

## Abstract

Provided is an apparatus and method for radar calibration that utilizes external shielding structures to be constructed around the body frame of a system to manage external signature presence and block unwanted signal emissions and intrusions. The inventive structures can adapt to desired user requirements or to environmental change as needed. The variable shielding with isolating connectors to the body frame of the system allows for aerodynamic needs to be sustained due to the mesh design while also protecting against electromagnetic spectrum interference and electro-optical short wave and long wave infrared signature emissions. The shielding can also be formed to emit a known or desired radio frequency response based on geometric shapes in order to influence radar cross-section readings. Communication with external environment is completed through the use of the shielding as a series of antennas.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A radio and/or optical frequency signature management and calibration system comprising:
one or more radio and optical frequency emitter sources;
one or more radio and optical frequency receiver destinations; and
a target system comprising:
a power receiving, generation, distribution, storage and control subsystem;
a propulsion control subsystem;
a flight stabilization and control subsystem;
a communications subsystem;
a command and control subsystem;
a payload management subsystem;
a structure management subsystem;
a sensor collection, reporting, and feedback subsystem; and
a mission tasking management subsystem;
wherein said one or more radio and optical frequency emitter sources comprises an external radio and optical frequency structure mesh shield comprising gaps that are spaced to achieve total reflection in order to mimic a radar return of a solid object while still allowing for air to flow through said external mesh shield to enhance aerodynamics, reduce drag, and blend its electro-optical/infrared signature with the background environment.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein said target system manages external radio and/or optical signature presence;
manages external radio and optical signature presence;
mitigates and blocks unwanted external signal intrusions and undesired internal target system signal emissions;
maintains aerodynamic requirements for control surfaces and propulsion thrust flows to ensure stable flight; and
executes user and/or mission tasking and payload deployment autonomously, semi-autonomously, and/or manually.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The system of claim 2, wherein said target system comprises a power receiving, generation, distribution, storage, and control subsystem;
wherein said subsystem controls on-board target system for power via battery, photovoltaic, and/or combustion;
controls off-board target system second or third party provided power via wireless radio and/or optical transfer methods or via tethered cable, cord, and/or fiber.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The system of claim 3, wherein said target system propulsion control subsystem comprises a first operating profile for target system transit, loiter, hover, take-off, and landing for target system configurations; and
a second operating profile for towed cable, cord, and/or fiber.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The system of claim 4, wherein said target system flight stabilization and control subsystem controls target system control surfaces to ensure flight stability for said first operating profile; and
controls target system calibration stabilizer relay for target system configuration powered via said second operating profile.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein said target system communications subsystem controls external target system data link interfaces with base or mobile command and control stations;
controls radio frequency communication antenna pattern, design, spacing, orientation, protocol, transmit/receive windows, and frequency allocation; and
controls optical frequency communication waveform, power level, beam intensity, beam pattern, orientation, protocol, transmit/receive windows, and frequency allocation.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein said target system command and control subsystem manages said subsystems within said target system to include scheduling, task execution, system fault detection and isolation, on-board resource allocation, sensor integration, mission execution, and payload deployment;
records data for post-event construction and/or analysis;
executes target system self-harm protection override; and
executes target system abandonment safety procedures and security protections.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein said target system payload management subsystem controls the scheduling, monitoring, stowage, fault detection and isolation, deployment, assessment, and tear-down of internal payloads within the target system structure; and
controls the scheduling, monitoring, stowage, fault detection and isolation, deployment, and assessment of external payloads to the target system structure.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein said target system structure management subsystem controls static and dynamic target system structure interface points to said target system body;
interfaces with said communication subsystem to schedule signature control and calibration windows to mitigate undesired target system operation; and
controls dynamic operation of said target system structure to ensure proper shaping and frequency management via gap spacing size.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein said target system sensor collection, reporting, and feedback subsystem monitors and reports data and information related to device orientation, distance, state, fault detection and isolation issues, environmental interactions to a requesting subsystem or external system requestor;
executes and validates sensor readings on a scheduled, ad-hoc, as-needed/request, and/or random interval;
monitors, reports, and recommends target system operating state changes due to malfunction, exploitation, and/or abandonment; and
records sensor data for post-event construction and/or analysis.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein said target system mission tasking management subsystem executes all relevant mission files detailing required tasking;
manages and de-conflicts competing and/or conflicting mission tasking; and
updates and adapted to dynamic mission tasking.

### Claim 12 (depends on 2)

The system of claim 2, wherein said target system manages external radio and optical signature presence by ensuring a gap size of a radio frequency structure mesh shield to be a fraction of an inspection or calibration frequency wavelength;
adjusting said gap size of said radio frequency structure mesh shield to be a fraction of said inspection or calibration frequency wavelength through tightening or loosening of individual wire dynamic structure cells;
adjusting said gap size of said radio frequency structure mesh shield to be a fraction of said inspection or calibration frequency wavelength through shortening or lengthening of individual actuator dynamic structure cells;
orienting said target system radio frequency structure mesh shield return surface to said receiver destination(s) for desired radar signature detection and measurement;
reshaping said target system radio frequency structure mesh shield return surface to said receiver destination(s) for desired radar signature detection and measurement through changing of individual wire and actuator dynamic structure cells and their supporting control arms;
coating said radio frequency structure mesh shield, wire and actuator dynamic structure cells, supporting control arms, and target system internals with electro-optical/infrared treatments to match said inspection or calibration frequency wavelength;
controlling electro-optical/infrared emitting diodes embedded within said wire and actuator dynamic structure cells to said inspection or calibration frequency wavelength;
tuning ionized gas plasma chambers embedded within said wire and actuator dynamic structure cells to said inspection or calibration frequency wavelength;
inflating said electro-optical/infrared blending structure within said radio frequency structure mesh shield to encapsulate said target system internals while maintaining aerodynamic and propulsion flow requirements for flight stability and control;
controlling said target system radio frequency structure mesh shield to create communication antennas of various frequencies to provide external communication with said target system;
controlling said electro-optical/infrared emitting diodes embedded within said wire and actuator dynamic structure cells to provide external communication with said target system; and
controlling said ionized gas plasma chambers within said wire and actuator dynamic structure cells to provide external communication with said target system.

### Claim 13 (depends on 2)

The system of claim 2, wherein said target system mitigates and blocks unwanted external signal intrusions and undesired internal target system signal emissions by adjusting a gap size of a radio frequency structure mesh shield to be a fraction of an unwanted signal frequency wavelength through tightening or loosening of individual wire dynamic structure cells;
adjusting said gap size of said radio frequency structure mesh shield to be a fraction of said unwanted signal frequency wavelength through shortening or lengthening of individual actuator dynamic structure cells;
adjusting power isolation coupling characteristics attaching said target system internals to said radio frequency structure mesh shield;
adjusting said ionized gas plasma chambers within wire and actuator dynamic structure cells for maximum signal absorption;
controlling said target system radio frequency structure mesh shield to continuously adjust communication antenna frequencies;
controlling electro-optical/infrared emitting diodes embedded within said wire and actuator dynamic structure cells to continuously adjust a communication frequency; and
controlling said ionized gas plasma chambers within said wire and actuator dynamic structure cells to continuously adjust said communication frequency.

### Claim 14 (depends on 2)

The system of claim 2, wherein said target system maintains aerodynamic requirements for control surfaces and propulsion thrust flows to ensure stable flight target system self-control of throttle, yaw, pitch, and roll for all operating profiles except said second operating profile;
by controlling upper and lower inboard ailerons, upper and lower outboard ailerons, red ailerons, center ailerons, green ailerons, upper rudders, center rudders, lower rudders, red and green inboard rudders, green and red outboard rudders, and their associated tabs control surfaces within said target system radio frequency structure mesh shield for the second operating profile; and
by controlling said red and green ailerons, red and green rudders and associated tabs control surfaces on a calibration stabilizer relay for the second operating profile.

### Claim 15 (depends on 2)

The system of claim 2, wherein said target system executes user and/or mission tasking and payload deployment autonomously, semi-autonomously, and/or manually utilizing static or dynamic onboard mission data file execution;
sensor feedback for target system health, status, location, collision avoidance, fault detection and isolation, and abandonment procedures; and
coordination with other entities through various onboard communication methods.