Methods and apparatuses for engagement management of aerial threats

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11947349-B2
Application number	US-202117202696-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 16, 2021
Priority date	Mar 2, 2012
Publication date	Apr 2, 2024
Grant date	Apr 2, 2024

Abstract

Embodiments include engagement management systems and methods for managing engagement with aerial threats. Such systems include radar modules and detect aerial threats within a threat range of a base location. The systems also track intercept vehicles and control flight paths and detonation capabilities of the intercept vehicles. The systems are capable of communication between multiple engagement management systems and coordinated control of multiple intercept vehicles.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An active protection system comprising:
a controller comprising:
at least one processor; and
at least one computer-readable storage medium storing instructions thereon that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the active protection system to:
deploy a first intercept vehicle and a second intercept vehicle, each carried by a platform, from the platform and cause each of the first intercept vehicle and the second intercept vehicle to exit a vicinity of the platform;
cause each of the first intercept vehicle and the second intercept vehicle to perform a pitch maneuver to align the first intercept vehicle and the second intercept vehicle along an intercept vector pointed substantially toward a projected intercept point with an identified aerial threat after the first intercept vehicle and the second intercept vehicle exit the vicinity of the platform; and
cause each of the first intercept vehicle and the second intercept vehicle to perform a thrust maneuver to accelerate the first intercept vehicle and the second intercept vehicle along the intercept vector.

2. The active protection system of claim 1 , further comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the active protection system to cause one or more of the first intercept vehicle or the second intercept vehicle to perform a divert maneuver with one or more divert thrusters of one or more of the first intercept vehicle or the second intercept vehicle in order to divert one or more of the first intercept vehicle or the second intercept vehicle from the intercept vector one or more times to adjust a course of one or more of the first intercept vehicle or the second intercept vehicle.

3. The active protection system of claim 1 , further comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the active protection system to receive, from one or more of the first intercept vehicle or the second intercept vehicle, data regarding one or more conditions observed by sensors of one or more of the first intercept vehicle or the second intercept vehicle during flight of one or more of the first intercept vehicle or the second intercept vehicle.

4. The active protection system of claim 3 , further comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the active protection system to:
analyze the data regarding the one or more conditions; and
responsive to the data regarding the one or more conditions, cause one or more of the first intercept vehicle or the second intercept vehicle to adjust a respective flight path.

5. The active protection system of claim 1 , further comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the active protection system to:
receive, from one or more of the first intercept vehicle or the second intercept vehicle, data observed by sensors of one or more of the first intercept vehicle or the second intercept vehicle during flight of one or more of the first intercept vehicle or the second intercept vehicle; and
control a flight path of one or more of the first intercept vehicle or the second intercept vehicle based at least partially on data.

6. The active protection system of claim 1 , further comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the active protection system to:
receive laser data associated with a target; and
initiate a divert maneuver by one or more of the first intercept vehicle or the second intercept vehicle based at least partially on the laser data.

7. The active protection system of claim 1 , further comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the active protection system to:
transmit at least one communication to one or more of the first intercept vehicle or the second intercept vehicle indicating an updated intercept vector; and
cause one or more of the first intercept vehicle or the second intercept vehicle to perform a divert maneuver to laterally divert the one or more of the first intercept vehicle or the second intercept vehicle to adjust a respective flight path to align the one or more of the first intercept vehicle or the second intercept vehicle along the updated intercept vector.

8. The active protection system of claim 1 , further comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the active protection system to:
transmit at least one communication to one or more of the first intercept vehicle or the second intercept vehicle indicating a closest point of approach of one or more of the first intercept vehicle or the second intercept vehicle and the identified aerial threat; and
cause one or more of the first intercept vehicle or the second intercept vehicle to gather data via one or more sensors when the one or more of the first intercept vehicle or the second intercept vehicle reaches the closest point of approach.

9. An intercept vehicle comprising:
one or more sensors configured to acquire data regarding conditions during a flight of the intercept vehicle; and
a controller operably coupled to the one or more sensors, the controller comprising:
at least one processor; and
at least one computer-readable storage medium storing instructions thereon that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:
receive data from the one or more sensors; and
responsive to the received data and a sensed rotation of the intercept vehicle about a longitudinal axis thereof, cause the intercept vehicle to effectuate an adjustment to a flight path of the intercept vehicle by causing one or more divert thrusters of the intercept vehicle to fire.

10. The intercept vehicle of claim 9 , further comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to transmit the received data from the one or more sensors to an active protection system on a platform.

11. The intercept vehicle of claim 10 , when the platform comprises an aircraft.

12. The intercept vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the aircraft comprises an unmanned airborne vehicle, a light aircraft, a low speed aircraft, a remotely piloted vehicle, a helicopter, or a hovering platform.

13. The intercept vehicle of claim 9 , further comprising instructions configured to, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to effectuate a two-stage process for aligning the intercept vehicle with an intercept vector and cause the intercept vehicle to execute an azimuth rotation and an elevation rotation.

14. The intercept vehicle of claim 9 , further comprising a payload configured to emit energy upon detonation.

15. The intercept vehicle of claim 9 , further comprising a payload configured to emit a force upon detonation.

16. The intercept vehicle of claim 9 , further comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to effectuate an alignment process to align the intercept vehicle with a vector for engaging a target.

17. An intercept vehicle comprising:
alignment thrusters configured to rotate the intercept vehicle about an axis orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the intercept vehicle to at least substantially align the longitudinal axis of the intercept vehicle with an intercept vector via a pitch maneuver;
one or more sensors configured to acquire data regarding conditions during flight of the intercept vehicle; and
a controller operably coupled to the alignment thrusters and the one or more sensors, the contr

Assignees

• Northrop Grumman Systems Corp

Inventors

• Kolanek James
• Baseghi Behshad
• Sharpin David
• Visco Anthony
• Shieh Falin

Classifications

• G05D1/0022 Primary

  characterised by the communication link (data switching networks in general H04L12/00) · CPC title

• F41G7/306

  for transmitting guidance signals; (F41G7/308 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F41G7/308

  for guiding a plurality of missiles · CPC title

• F41H11/02

  Anti-aircraft or anti-guided missile {or anti-torpedo} defence installations or systems (cartridges or missiles for producing smoke or for dispensing radar chaff or infrared material F42B5/15, F42B12/48, F42B12/70; {informative reference: details of radar or sonar systems G01S7/00; jamming or electronic countermeasures G01S7/38, G01S7/495, H04K3/00}) · CPC title

• F42B15/01

  Arrangements thereon for guidance or control ({steering arrangements F42B10/60}; aircraft flight control B64C; guidance systems other than those installed aboard F41G7/00, F41G9/00; locating by use of radio or other waves G01S; flight control in general G05D1/00; computer aspects G06]) · CPC title