Drone deterrence system, method, and assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017359554-A1
Application number	US-201615176340-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 8, 2016
Priority date	Jun 8, 2016
Publication date	Dec 14, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

A drone deterrence system includes a housing configured to be secured to a structure. A motion detector is disposed on or within the housing, and is configured to detect motion within a predetermined range. A tracker is disposed on or within the housing, and is configured to track motion of a drone within the predetermined range. A control unit is in communication with the motion detector and the tracker, and is configured to take action to deter the drone from remaining in the predetermined range.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A drone deterrence system comprising:
a housing configured to be secured to a structure; a motion detector disposed on or within the housing, wherein the motion detector is configured to detect motion within a predetermined range; a tracker disposed on or within the housing, wherein the tracker is configured to track motion of a drone within the predetermined range; and a control unit in communication with the motion detector and the tracker, wherein the control unit is configured to take action to deter the drone from remaining in the predetermined range.

2 . The drone deterrence system of claim 1 , wherein the tracker is activated in response to the motion detector detecting the motion within the predetermined range.

3 . The drone deterrence system of claim 1 , further comprising a camera that is configured to acquire one or both of images or video of the predetermined range in response to the motion detector detecting the motion within the predetermined range.

4 . The drone deterrence system of claim 1 , further comprising a countermeasure disposed on or within the housing, wherein the countermeasure is in communication with the control unit, and wherein the control unit is configured to take the action by operating the countermeasure to generate a disturbance in response to the motion detector detecting the motion within the predetermined range.

5 . The drone deterrence system of claim 4 , wherein the countermeasure is configured to generate electromagnetic interference as the disturbance.

6 . The drone deterrence system of claim 4 , wherein the control unit is configured to operate the countermeasure to generate the disturbance for a predetermined time period, and to cease generating the disturbance if the motion detector detects no motion within the predetermined range after the predetermined time period.

7 . The drone deterrence system of claim 1 , further comprising a laser disposed on or within the housing, wherein the laser is in communication with the control unit, and wherein the control unit is configured to take the action by operating the laser to emit laser energy into the drone while the object is within the predetermined range.

8 . The drone deterrence system of claim 1 , wherein the control unit is configured to receive motion signals from the motion detector and operate the tracker based on the received motion signals.

9 . The drone deterrence system of claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises a cover secured to a base, wherein the motion detector, the tracker, and the control unit are mounted on the base and covered by the cover.

10 . The drone deterrence system of claim 9 , wherein the housing further comprises a shield configured to block electromagnetic interference.

11 . The drone deterrence system of claim 1 , wherein the control unit is in communication with a home security system.

12 . A drone deterrence method comprising:
securing a housing to a structure; detecting motion within a predetermined range with a motion detector disposed on or within the housing; tracking motion of a drone within the predetermined range with a tracker disposed on or within the housing; and using a control unit that is in communication with the motion detector and the tracker to take action to deter the drone from remaining in the predetermined range.

13 . The drone deterrence method of claim 12 , further comprising activating the tracker in response to the detecting the motion within the predetermined range.

14 . The drone deterrence method of claim 12 , acquiring one or both of images or vide of the predetermined range within a camera in response to the detecting the motion within the predetermined range.

15 . The drone deterrence method of claim 12 , wherein the using the control unit comprises operating a countermeasure disposed on or within the housing to generate a disturbance in response to the detecting the motion within the predetermined range.

16 . The drone deterrence method of claim 15 , wherein the operating the countermeasure comprises:
operating the countermeasure to generate the disturbance for a predetermined time period, and ceasing the disturbance if the motion detector detects no motion within the predetermined range after the predetermined time period.

17 . The drone deterrence method of claim 12 , wherein the using the control unit comprises operating a laser disposed on or within the housing to emit laser energy into the object while the object is within the predetermined range.

18 . The drone deterrence method of claim 12 , wherein the using the control unit comprises:
receiving motion signals from the motion detector; and operating the tracker based on the received motion signals.

19 . A drone deterrence system comprising:
a housing configured to be secured to a structure, wherein the housing comprises a cover secured to a base, and a shield configured to block electromagnetic interference; a motion detector mounted on the base and covered by the cover, wherein the motion detector is configured to detect motion within a predetermined range; a tracker mounted on the base and covered by the cover, wherein the tracker is configured to track motion of an object within the predetermined range, wherein the tracker is activated in response to the motion detector detecting the motion within the predetermined range; a camera that is configured to acquire one or both of images or video of the predetermined range in response to the motion detector detecting the motion within the predetermined range; a countermeasure mounted on the base and covered by the cover; a laser mounted on the base and covered by the cover; and a control unit mounted on the base and covered by the cover, wherein the control unit is in communication with the motion detector, the tracker, the camera, the countermeasure, and the laser, wherein the control unit is configured to receive motion signals from the motion detector and operate the tracker based on the received motion signals, and wherein the control unit is configured to take action to deter the object from remaining in the predetermined range by: (a) operating the countermeasure to generate a disturbance in response to the motion detector detecting the motion within the predetermined range, wherein the control unit is configured to operate the countermeasure to generate the disturbance for a predetermined time period, and to cease generating the disturbance if the motion detector detects no motion within the predetermined range after the predetermined time period, and (b) operating the laser to emit laser energy into the object while the object is within the predetermined range.

20 . The drone deterrence system of claim 19 , wherein the control unit is configured to operate the countermeasure before operating the laser.

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Madhav Jagdish T
• Cain Lionel

Classifications

• G08B13/1965

  the vehicle being an aircraft · CPC title

• B64C39/024

  of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV · CPC title

• H04N7/183 Primary

  for receiving images from a single remote source · CPC title

• G06T7/20

  Analysis of motion (motion estimation for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals H04N19/43, H04N19/51) · CPC title

• H04N7/185 Primary

  from a mobile camera, e.g. for remote control · CPC title