System and method for interception and countering unmanned aerial vehicles (uavs)

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018335779-A1
Application number	US-201815982578-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 17, 2018
Priority date	May 17, 2017
Publication date	Nov 22, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

Systems, devices, and methods for identifying a target aerial vehicle, deploying an interceptor aerial vehicle comprising at least one effector, maneuvering the interceptor aerial vehicle to a position to engage a target aerial vehicle, deploying the at least one effector to intercept the target aerial vehicle, and confirming that the target aerial vehicle has been intercepted.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method comprising:
deploying an interceptor aerial vehicle comprising at least one effector; maneuvering the interceptor aerial vehicle to a position to engage a target aerial vehicle; and deploying the at least one effector to intercept the target aerial vehicle.

2 . The method of claim 1 further comprising:
identifying the target aerial vehicle.

3 . The method of claim 1 further comprising:
confirming that the target aerial vehicle has been intercepted.

4 . The method of claim 3 wherein confirming that the target aerial vehicle has been intercepted further comprises:
determining a capture of the target aerial vehicle in the effector based on a change in position of the interceptor aerial vehicle, wherein the effector is connected to the interceptor aerial vehicle via a tether; and
providing, via a ground control system (GCS) in communication with the interceptor aerial vehicle, at least one of: a visual indication, an audible indication, and a haptic feedback.

5 . The method of claim 1 further comprising:
selecting, via a ground control system (GCS) in communication with the interceptor aerial vehicle, the target aerial vehicle; and
tracking the selected target aerial vehicle.

6 . The method of claim 5 wherein selecting the target aerial vehicle further comprises:
receiving, at the GCS, a video feed from a camera of the interceptor aerial vehicle;
displaying, via a display of the GCS, the video feed containing the target aerial vehicle; and
selecting, via a user interface of the GCS, the target aerial vehicle in the video feed.

7 . The method of claim 5 wherein tracking the selected target aerial vehicle further comprises:
maneuvering, via the GCS, the interceptor aerial vehicle to within a set distance of the target aerial vehicle.

8 . The method of claim 5 wherein tracking the selected target aerial vehicle further comprises:
maneuvering a gimbal comprising the at least one effector and camera to aim the effector toward the target aerial vehicle.

9 . The method of claim 1 wherein deploying the interceptor aerial vehicle further comprises:
launching the interceptor aerial vehicle vertically to a set height; and
flying the interceptor aerial vehicle horizontally a set distance toward the target aerial vehicle.

10 . The method of claim 9 wherein the set height is based on a height of one or more previously encountered target aerial vehicles, and wherein the and set distance is based on a range of one or more previously encountered target aerial vehicles from the GCS.

11 . The method of claim 1 wherein maneuvering the interceptor aerial vehicle to engage the target aerial vehicle further comprises:
maneuvering the interceptor aerial vehicle to a position above and within a set distance of the target aerial vehicle.

12 . The method of claim 1 wherein maneuvering the interceptor aerial vehicle to engage a target aerial vehicle further comprises:
maneuvering the interceptor aerial vehicle based on a change of position of the target aerial vehicle.

13 . The method of claim 1 wherein maneuvering the interceptor aerial vehicle to engage a target aerial vehicle further comprises:
providing one or more commands via a ground control system (GCS) in communication with the interceptor aerial vehicle;
wherein the one or more commands comprise: a movement of the interceptor aerial vehicle vertically up, a movement of the interceptor aerial vehicle vertically down, a movement of the interceptor aerial vehicle towards the GCS, a movement of the interceptor aerial vehicle away from the GCS, a movement of the interceptor aerial vehicle left about an arc of substantially constant radius from the GCS, and a movement of the interceptor aerial vehicle right about an arc of substantially constant radius from the GCS.

14 . The method of claim 1 further comprising:
capturing the target aerial vehicle in the effector, wherein the effector is tethered to the interceptor aerial vehicle, and wherein the effector is at least one of: a net, a tarp, a sheet, a weapon, and an entanglement device.

15 . The method of claim 1 wherein the interceptor aerial vehicle and the target aerial vehicle are unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

16 . A system comprising:
a remotely operated aerial vehicle; at least one deployment device detachably attached to the remotely operated aerial vehicle, wherein the at least one deployment device comprises:
an effector deployable towards a target;
a launcher to deploy the effector; and
a tether connected between the effector and the deployment device.

17 . The system of claim 16 wherein the effector is at least one of: a net, a tarp, a sheet, a weapon, and an entanglement device.

18 . The system of claim 1 further comprising:
a plurality of weights, wherein the plurality of weights are attached about an outer edge of the effector; and
wherein the launcher further comprises:
a gas generator; and
a plurality of channels, wherein each of the plurality of weights are disposed in a channel of the plurality of channels;
wherein gas generated by the gas generator propels each of the weights through the respective channel of the plurality of channels in different directions from the deployment device, such that the effector opens up.

19 . The system of claim 1 further comprising:
a ground control station (GCS) in communication with the interceptor aerial vehicle, the GCS comprising a processor configured to:
maneuver the interceptor aerial vehicle to a position to engage the target; and
deploy the at least one effector to intercept the target vehicle.

20 . A method comprising:
identifying a target aerial vehicle; deploying, via a ground control station (GCS) in communication with an interceptor aerial vehicle, the interceptor aerial vehicle comprising at least one effector; maneuvering, via the GCS, the interceptor aerial vehicle to a position to engage a target aerial vehicle, wherein the maneuvers comprise: a movement of the interceptor aerial vehicle vertically up, a movement of the interceptor aerial vehicle vertically down, a movement of the interceptor aerial vehicle towards the GCS, a movement of the interceptor aerial vehicle away from the GCS, a movement of the interceptor aerial vehicle left about an arc of substantially constant radius from the GCS, and a movement of the interceptor aerial vehicle right about an arc of substantially constant radius from the GCS; receiving, at the GCS, a video feed from a camera of the interceptor aerial vehicle; displaying, via a display of the GCS, the video feed containing the target aerial vehicle; selecting, via the GCS, the target aerial vehicle in the video feed; tracking the selected target aerial vehicle; deploying, via the GCS, the at least one effector to intercept the target aerial vehicle; and confirming that the target aerial vehicle has been intercepted.

Assignees

• Aerovironment Inc

Inventors

• Fisher Christopher Eugene
• Morgan Michael Franklin

Classifications

• B64U2201/20

  Remote controls · CPC title

• B64U70/30 Primary

  for capturing UAVs in flight by ground or sea-based arresting gear, e.g. by a cable or a net · 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

• F41G7/224

  Deceiving or protecting means (jamming or anti-jamming of radio-wave systems in general G01S7/36, G01S7/38; defense installations in general F41H11/02; chaff dispensers F42B12/70) · CPC title

• F41G9/002

  for guiding a craft to a correct firing position (for bombing control F41G9/02) · CPC title