As a missile approaches a target, the radar-controlled fuse that tells it
when to explode can be confused by objects near the target. But a military
patent just published has a solution. A proximity fuse filed by Licentia Patent
of Frankfurt (GB 2 336 196) has a radar transmitter and receiver in the tip
which analyses the Doppler shift in reflections from the target. To avoid
鈥渃lutter鈥 echoes from the ground, the fuse is pre-programmed with a reference
library of the steady reflection characteristics of dry sand, moist soil,
vegetation and water. So a Doppler-shifted echo then stands out from the clutter
and primes the fuse.
More from New Scientist
Explore the latest news, articles and features
Technology
Test moderators use AI-generated writing to judge literacy standards
News
Technology
We should decide how AI shapes the future, not tech firms
Comment
Technology
Quantum voting could make elections more secure
News
Technology
DeepMind AI gives an extra day of warning ahead of deadly cyclones
News
Popular articles
Trending New Scientist articles