Anti-personnel autonomous vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11097840-B2
Application number	US-201816039095-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 18, 2018
Priority date	Jul 18, 2018
Publication date	Aug 24, 2021
Grant date	Aug 24, 2021

Abstract

An anti-personnel autonomous vehicle (APAV) system has a fuselage formed by a directional fragmentation weapon (DFW). An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) assembly is engaged to the DFW, the UAV assembly having a plurality of lift units positioned to provide balanced lift on the DFW. A control module integrated in the UAV assembly has a wireless transmitter/receiver communicating with a remote controller.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An anti-personnel autonomous vehicle (APAV) system comprising:
a fuselage structure consisting of a directional fragmentation weapon (DFW);
an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) assembly comprising a harness employing at least one longitudinal strap and at least two lateral straps adapted to be engaged around the DFW and a plurality of lift units configured for attachment to the DFW in positions to provide balanced lift;
a control module integrated in the UAV assembly having a wireless transmitter/receiver communicating with a remote controller, said control module engaged to the at least one longitudinal strap at a central position intermediate connection points on an upper surface of the DFW.

2. The APAV system as defined in claim 1 wherein the at least one longitudinal strap is positioned in the harness proximate a midline of the DFW.

3. The APAV system as defined in claim 2 where in the at least two lateral straps are fixed to the at least one longitudinal strap at connection points on an upper surface and a bottom surface of the DFW.

4. The APAV system as defined in claim 3 wherein the plurality of lift units comprises four lift units and at least two lateral straps comprise two lateral straps that engage the four lift units in a quadrilateral configuration and the connection points are spaced longitudinally to provide clearance of propellers in the four lift units.

5. The APAV system as defined in claim 4 wherein relative positioning of the connection points fixing the at least one longitudinal strap and the at least two lateral straps provides balanced lift by the lift units on the DFW.

6. The APAV system as defined in claim 1 wherein the lift units have motors and propellers and the control module comprises.

7. The APAV system as defined in claim 6 wherein the control module further comprises a wireless transmitter and a wireless receiver interconnected to the microprocessor for communication with the remote controller.

8. The APAV system as defined in claim 7 wherein the control module further comprises a detonator connector interconnecting the control module with a detonator input receptacle on the DFW.

9. The APAV system as defined in claim 8 wherein the control module further comprises a power source connected to provide power to the microprocessor, wireless transmitter, the wireless receiver, detonator connector and the motors of the lift units.

10. The APAV system as defined in claim 1 further comprising a targeting and navigation camera affixed to the at least one longitudinal strap at a central position intermediate the connection points on a bottom surface of the DFW.

11. The APAV system as defined in claim 10 wherein the control module comprises:
a microprocessor;
a wireless transmitter and a wireless receiver interconnected to the microprocessor for communication with the remote controller, and,
the targeting and navigation camera is connected to the microprocessor whereby images from the targeting and navigation camera are transmitted to the remote controller.

12. The APAV system as defined in claim 11 wherein the control module further comprises a power source connected to provide power to targeting and navigation camera.

13. An anti-personnel autonomous vehicle (APAV) comprising:
a fuselage structure consisting of a directional fragmentation weapon (DFW);
a unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) assembly having
a harness employing a longitudinal strap and two lateral straps adapted to be engaged around the DFW;
four lift units having motors and propellers, said lift units connected to the lateral straps, said lateral straps fixed to the longitudinal strap at connection points positioned to provide balanced lift on the DFW and clearance of the propellers;

a control module integrated in the UAV assembly, said control module having
a wireless transmitter and a wireless receiver;
a microprocessor connected to the wireless transmitter/receiver for navigation and control with electrical connections to the lift units for power control of the motors;
a detonator connector interconnecting the control module with a detonator input receptacle on the DFW;

a targeting and navigation camera affixed to the longitudinal strap at a central position intermediate the connection points on a bottom surface of the DFW, the targeting and navigation camera connected to the microprocessor whereby images from the targeting and navigation camera are transmitted through the wireless transmitter/receiver; and
a battery incorporated in the control module and connected to provide power to the microprocessor, wireless transmitter/receiver, detonator connector and motors of the lift units.

14. A method for enemy engagement with an anti-personnel autonomous vehicle (APAV) comprising:
retrieving a directed fragmentation weapon (DFW);
mounting an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) assembly comprising a plurality of lift units to the DFW, wherein the DFW is employed as a fuselage, and a harness employing at least one longitudinal strap and at least two lateral straps adapted to be engaged around the DFW and
communicating through a control module with a remote controller through a wireless transmitter and a wireless receiver, wherein the control module is engaged to the at least one longitudinal strap at a central position intermediate connection points on an upper surface of the DFW.

15. The method as defined in claim 14 further wherein mounting the UAV assembly to the DFW comprises:
engaging the harness having attached lift units;
positioning the lift units automatically with the harness for proper weight and balance of the APAV.

16. The method as defined in claim 15 further comprising:
providing navigation and targeting imaging with a camera integrated in the harness; and
receiving flight control instructions from the remote controller;
providing coordinated actuation of the lift units through the control module responsive to the flight control instructions.

17. The method as defined in claim 16 further comprising:
identifying a target image on a camera monitor in the remote controller; and
toggling a detonator trigger.

18. The method as defined in claim 17 further comprising;
receiving a resulting detonation instruction by the control module; and
issuing a detonate command through a detonator connector to detonate the DFW.

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Stephens Gentry B

Classifications

• B64U2201/20

  Remote controls · CPC title

• B64U2101/30

  for imaging, photography or videography · CPC title

• B64U10/14

  with four distinct rotor axes, e.g. quadcopters · CPC title

• F42B6/00 Primary

  Projectiles or missiles specially adapted for projection without use of explosive or combustible propellant charge, e.g. for blow guns, bows or crossbows, hand-held spring or air guns (for delivering hypodermic charges F42B12/54; projectiles or missiles incorporating springs as the projecting means F41B7/02; {Arrows or darts for dispensing materials, for producing chemical or physical reaction, or for signalling F42B12/362}) · CPC title

• F42B12/22

  with fragmentation-hull construction · CPC title