S.No. Content Sheet No
1 Title of the invention 3
2 Field of invention 3
3 Use of invention 3
4 Prior art 3
5 Draw backs of prior art 3
6 Comparison between prior art and present invention 3
7 Aim of the invention 4
8 Summary of the present invention 4
9 Brief description of drawings 5
10 Statement of invention 5
11 Detailed description of invention 5
12 Drawings & worked examples 6

1. Title of the invention
Universal Airborne stores separation video system Camera pod for fighter and trainer aircraft

2. Field of invention
It is a mechanical engineering design used for store separation analysis and ballistic studies of droppable and launchable stores from a military aircraft (fighter and trainer)

3. Use of invention
This invented high speed camera pod finds its applicability in Fighter / Trainer aircrafts for capturing the trajectory and separation characteristics of weapons released.

4. Prior art
Current practices high speed cameras are mounted externally with the help of brackets that can cater to single high speed camera mounting.

5. Draw backs of prior art
1) Individual cameras had to be placed at individual locations to capture the image /trajectory.
2) Special mounting bracket has to be designed based on the camera mounting location.
3) Field of vision is restricted.
4) Extremely exposed to environmental conditions.
5) Post Analysis is difficult
6) Image Synchronization is difficult.

Each pod is capable of carrying max.4 high speed cameras compared to single camera system. The universal camera pod is capable of attaching with various aircraft weapon hard points without any modification in attachments.

7. Aim of the invention
Aim of the invention is to eliminate the draw backs of the present practices / components.

8. Summary of the present invention
a) High speed cameras are important flight test instrument that helps in capturing the trajectory and separation characteristics of weapons released from fighter/trainer aircraft.

b) Universal Camera Pod is unique in design in a way that multiple high speed cameras can be carried simultaneously on a single pod.

c) The universal pod can be installed under the wing / fuselage of Fighter / Trainer aircrafts like regular stores.

d) The pod is aerodynamically designed to minimize the drag. The structure is designed for the loads acting on it during flight trials up to 0.95 Mach.

e) The pod is designed to carry multiple {max 4) cameras in a safe condition with adequate clamping mechanism. The guide rail mechanism incorporated in the main beam facilitates flexible positioning of the cameras with respect to the field of vision required to capture short as well as long stores.

f) The provision of forward looking camera is for capturing the trajectory of the missile. While the side looking cameras can capture the safe separation characteristics of weapons.

g) The universal camera pod is designed to install forward looking camera with mount and provision to route necessary electrical looms.

h) The universal camera pod has suitable attachment points for installing under both NATO (14") ERU and Russian standard (10"). The camera pod has suitable attachment points enabling it to be installed in launcher attachment points, i) This versatility of the pod, enabling it to be installed under most of the hard points for both Russian and Western fleets of aircrafts makes it a Universal Camera Pod. j) The design of universal camera pod helps in easy loading and unloading of cameras in ground, k) The universal camera pod is designed for zero maintenance. I) The camera pod can be installed under any standard pylons/ launcher adaptors without any modification/alteration like any role equipment.
m) Field of vision of the camera pod is 360° ( high speed cameras can be fixed in any angular orientation) n) The camera pod design is done in unhanded format to be installed in both LH & RH wings without any SOP (standard of preparation) change, o) The camera pod design is streamlined to minimize aerodynamic drag to the extent possible.

9. Brief description of drawings

Fig-l shows the view of the Universal camera pod which is indicates the major structures and attachment details.

Fig-2 shows the nose cone structural assembly with front looking camera.

Fig.-3 Shows the Blast shield protector and three high speed rail mounted cameras.

Fig.-4. Shows attachment schemes

10. Statement of invention This invented universal camera pod does all the functions of the single cameras and much more. It gives additional flexibility in mounting under the wing / fuselage of Fighter / Trainer aircrafts like regular stores. It caters to synchronized image capturing and trajectory studies.

11. Detailed description of invention The unit consists of a main beam assembly (1), Rear cone structural assembly (2) and nose cone structural assembly. The nose cone structural assembly consists of nose cone rear assembly (3) and nose cone front assembly (4). The structural capsule is compatible with NATO standard, non NATO standard and launcher type attachment schemes (5). Three high speed cameras (6) are attached to the main beam using guide rails capable of being positioned at different intervals and oriented at different angles. One high speed camera (7) attached in front cone using dovetail mechanism. Blast protector (8) is been provided below the main beam to cater for reducing the dangling of the electrical cables and drag. The nose cone front assembly provides an infinity vision for the front looking camera. The main beam structural assembly consist an access door (9) for mounting the camera pod to the aircraft.

Claims
1. Universal Camera Pod is unique in design that can cater to carriage of multiple high speed cameras for capturing trajectory/separation characteristics of weapons released from fighter/trainer aircraft.

2. The universal pod can be installed under the wing / fuselage of Fighter / Trainer aircrafts like regular stores.

3. The provision of forward looking camera is for capturing the trajectory of the missile. While the side looking cameras can capture the safe separation characteristics of weapons.

4. The universal camera pod has suitable attachment points for installing under both NATO (14") ERU and Russian standard (10"). The camera pod has suitable attachment points enabling it to be installed in launcher attachment points.

5. This versatility of the pod, enabling it to be installed under most of the hard points for both Russian and Western fleets of aircrafts makes it a Universal Camera Pod.

6. The design of universal camera pod helps in easy loading and unloading of cameras in ground.

7. The universal camera pod is designed for zero maintenance.