Adaptive Camouflage in a multi-sensor environment

Silver owl® - Multifunctional tent/poncho/sleeping bag

 Advancement of technologies in the area of surveillance, reconnaissance and target acquisition makes it critically important also to improve the level of survivability of the forces in the battlefield. Masking a warm body, especially in the dark, became a very serious military problem with the advent of a new robotic surveillance tools (including Drones equipped with multi-spectrum camera, etc.). Excess heat creates a wide range of infrared (IR) radiation from the outer surface of the camouflage suit. The problem of neutralizing excess thermal radiation from the surface of a camouflage suit has not yet been fully solved, therefore the theme of this project is actual for the defense forces of the EU Member States.

This primarily applies to human protective devices (ensuring the safety of human life), as well as camouflage devices (both for a serviceman and military equipment), where innovative solutions are required.

As we mentioned earlier in the presentation, we have managed to develop a great fabric that protects us from infrared radiation and do invisible.

 In modern battles and in conjunction with drones, infrared radiation makes it very easy to recognize a unit in a forest area.

 This fabric masks us and in our sample we have made a universal sleeping bag. Which is serving as a sleeping bag, poncho and camouflage suit and as a stretcher. But most importantly, it protects against drones that monitor the area with infrared radiation. 

Fig.1. View tent, visual product.

Thanks to the fact that we have made the product longer and wider, 2 people can be accommodated in the tent, completely protected from the drones monitoring. 

We are in the area, imagine a soldier, guardsman has been walking for a long time, he has a moment to rest, for example, 2 hours. To lie down with a classic sleeping bag, he has to pull out the mat, arrange the sleeping bag and use a poncho, as well tent for shelter snipers. Because on such land - he will not be able to sleep on wet ground - a sleeping bag will be wet immediately. In our case, we open the sleeping bag and just sleep inside!

Our innovative poncho is business! https://www.jlutechnologies.lv

 Multifunctional sleeping bag (TRL8) (Patented LV15375, 2019, received the International American-Latvian Scientific Innovation Award (2019)) parameters (compared to EU standard sleeping bag):

• Designed for stationary use (for example, to shelter snipers, military equipment, ammunition), however it can possible to move, it means use it as a poncho, preferably in winter.

Table 1. Technical Specifications

Differences and advantages

Fig.2. Folded tent/poncho/sleeping bag. Fig. 3. Unfolded tent/poncho/sleeping bag.

Tested: Analyzed under Camera: Mobotix M16B Thermal (German)

Date: 28.05.2021, 24h, place Riga, Latvia.

Distance to product: 3 m. Around temperature: +10⁰C±2⁰C.

Product: tent/poncho/sleeping bag

Result: temperature tent’s surface is +28⁰C, ground +26⁰C.

Fig. 4. The comparative characteristics of the protective properties of the tents (on the left: standard European tent, on the right - our developed tent).

Fig. 5. The comparative characteristics of the protective properties of the tents after 14 minutes (on the left: standard European tent, on the right – Silver Owl® developed tent).

As can be seen from the presented comparative analysis, it can be seen that already after 14 minutes the standard tent is practically recognizable from the examination of the thermos chamber (close examination, the thermos chamber is at a distance of 3 meters from the object). Within 24 hours, the situation in object detection has not changed. We cannot see the Silver owl® tent (Fig. 4-5. Right tent) from close inspection in continue 24h, as well more time a situation is not changed.

Fig. 6. Left is a standard poncho (ES), right is tent/poncho/sleeping bag (elaborated). The experiments were performed together with the National Guard Science Research and Innovation Implementation Center (ZS ZPIIC) (25.03.2021). Drone AtlasPro with Thermal Camera 640x512. Distance: 40 m. Ambient temperature is - 5⁰ C; Aluksne, Latvia..

Fig. 7. The comparative characteristics of the protective properties of the tents/ poncho (on the left: standard European tent, on the right - our developed tent/poncho).

Fig. 8. The comparative characteristics of the protective properties of the poncho after 17 minutes (on the left - standard European tent; on the right – Silver owl® developed tent/poncho).

With a volumetric assessment (Fig.7-8), we see that a standard poncho/sleeping bag/tent is visible already after 17 minutes by almost 90%. Thus, 3D programs can identify an object. While Silver owl® product, the visual visibility of detection has decreased by 60%.

Recommendations:

• Recommended high of testing under Drone is not less 15 m.

• Recommended distance of testing under Camera: Mobotix M16B Thermal is not less 5-10 m (depend from background temperature).