Wide-range unmanned aerial vehicle sensing system and method based on wireless relay technology

Abstract

The invention provides a wide-range unmanned aerial vehicle sensing system and method based on a wireless relay technology, and relates to the technical field of unmanned aerial vehicle sensing. The system comprises a radio detection device and a wireless relay device deployed on the periphery of the radio detection device, the wireless relay device comprises a receiving antenna, a signal optimization unit and a broadband directional antenna, the receiving antenna is used for capturing radio signals transmitted by the unmanned aerial vehicle, the signal optimization unit is used for amplifying and processing the received signals, and the broadband directional antenna is used for receiving the radio signals transmitted by the unmanned aerial vehicle. The broadband directional antenna is used for re-transmitting a signal to the direction where the radio detection equipment is located; the radio detection device is used for passively receiving and decoding radio signals and capturing information of the unmanned aerial vehicle in real time, and the method comprises the steps of signal receiving and optimizing, signal redirection and transmission, signal decoding and analysis, information feedback and processing and the like. According to the invention, the unmanned aerial vehicle detection requirements of flakey areas such as airports with larger protection requirement ranges can be met, and low cost, low power consumption and high efficiency are ensured.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of radio sensing technology for low-altitude flying unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and in particular to a sheet-like large-scale UAV sensing system based on wireless relay technology. Background Art

[0002] With the rapid development of the low-altitude economy, drone technology has been widely applied in various fields, such as logistics and distribution, line inspections, and agricultural plant protection. However, this rapid development has also brought new security challenges, especially when it comes to critical infrastructure such as high-speed rail stations, airports, and railway lines. Illegal drone flights ("black flights") have become a serious risk that cannot be ignored. For example, at some airports, large-scale flight delays or even cancellations due to drone intrusions are common.

[0003] Existing drone countermeasures have been applied and proven in small, enclosed, interconnected areas (such as substations, oil storage depots, and power plants, typically with a protection range of several hundred meters to several kilometers in diameter). These areas have relatively fixed protection requirements and a clear internal layout, making them suitable for the deployment of fixed equipment. In contrast, large, sheet-like areas such as airports (typically with a protection range of tens to dozens of kilometers in diameter) present greater challenges for traditional detection and countermeasures systems in terms of coverage and real-time performance due to their large coverage area. While existing technologies have certain detection and jamming capabilities, they are unlikely to fully meet the requirements in this specific scenario.

[0004] The drone detection and countermeasure solution for closed, connected, small areas primarily consists of radio detection equipment, navigation decoy devices, and a back-end intelligent management and control platform. Taking a substation as an example, the system's defense area is divided into a detection and warning zone, a surveillance and identification zone, and an interception and disposal zone, centered on the substation's geometric location and within the substation's walls.

[0005] (1) Detection and early warning area: The radio detection equipment is always on to search, and after finding the target, it tracks and measures it to predict the flight trajectory of the "illegal" drone;

[0006] (2) Surveillance and identification zone: The radio detection equipment activates the alarm and closely tracks and monitors the target's movements;

[0007] (3) Interception and disposal area: The control equipment interferes with the satellite navigation signal of the target drone and drives the drone away or forces it to land.

[0008] This solution is primarily used for enclosed, interconnected areas with a relatively small protection radius and a relatively fixed internal layout, such as substations, oil storage depots, and power plants. These areas typically have a protection radius of several kilometers, and a single radio detection device (typically with a detection radius of 3-5 kilometers) can cover the entire area.

[0009] Existing drone detection technologies generally suffer from the aforementioned shortcomings of short detection distance and high cost. Mainstream drone detection equipment currently on the market typically relies on receiving downlink signals from drones and obtaining information such as the location of the drone or pilot through decoding and analysis. However, to ensure real-time communication with the pilot at different positions and rotation angles, the drone must transmit radio signals in all directions. Therefore, existing drones or remote controls are typically equipped with low-gain omnidirectional antennas rather than high-gain directional antennas. This results in weaker electrical signals received by the detection equipment at the same transmission power, which is the main reason for the short detection distance. In addition, to ensure that all surrounding drones or remote controls can be detected, the detection equipment must also use low-gain omnidirectional antennas as receiving antennas, which further weakens the received signal strength and reduces the detection distance.

[0010] To increase detection range, existing methods typically rely on using high-precision signal processing circuits at the downstream end of the receiving antenna to analyze the received signal. However, this significantly increases device hardware costs, and the detection radius is typically limited to 3 to 5 kilometers, making it difficult to cover large areas such as airports (radius over 10 kilometers). Simply increasing the number of detection devices to expand the detection range would significantly increase deployment costs, and networking between different devices would increase system complexity, resulting in slower response times and lower efficiency, making it difficult to meet market demand for cost-effectiveness.

[0011] In view of the above reasons, the present invention proposes a sheet-like large-scale drone perception system based on wireless relay technology, which can meet the drone detection needs of sheet-like areas such as airports with larger protection requirements, and expand the coverage without significantly increasing costs and power consumption. Summary of the Invention

[0012] The purpose of the present invention is to provide a sheet-like, large-scale UAV perception system based on wireless relay technology, which can solve the problem of insufficient coverage of existing technologies in large-scale, sheet-like scenes such as airports.

[0013] On the one hand, the present invention provides a sheet-like, large-scale drone perception system based on wireless relay technology, comprising: a radio detection device and a wireless relay device deployed in various directions around it, the wireless relay device comprising a receiving antenna, a signal optimization unit and a wide-band directional antenna, wherein the receiving antenna is used to capture the radio signal transmitted by the drone, the signal optimization unit is used to amplify and process the received radio signal, and the wide-band directional antenna is used to retransmit the amplified and processed signal to the direction of the radio detection device; the radio detection device is used to passively receive and decode the drone's radio signal, and capture the drone's information in real time.

[0014] Preferably, the radio signal comprises a downlink signal of the drone.

[0015] Preferably, the receiving antenna includes an omnidirectional antenna and a directional antenna.

[0016] Preferably, the signal optimization unit includes a low noise amplifier, a filter and a power amplifier.

[0017] Preferably, the signal optimization unit further includes an artificial intelligence processing module, which can perform real-time analysis and dynamic adjustment on the strength of the input signal based on an artificial intelligence algorithm, and intelligently control the output power of the power amplifier.

[0018] Preferably, the wideband directional antenna is a log-periodic antenna, a horn antenna, a Vivaldi antenna, a combination of multiple Yagi antennas, or different types of array antennas.

[0019] Preferably, the radio detection equipment is deployed at a central location or a high point of the site that needs protection.

[0020] Preferably, the radio detection equipment is capable of capturing drone signals of different types and frequency bands.

[0021] Preferably, the radio detection equipment is integrated with an artificial intelligence module and has multi-target processing, pattern recognition and positioning, and pilot tracking functions.

[0022] In another aspect, the present invention provides a drone sensing method using the above system, characterized in that it comprises the following steps:

[0023] S1. Signal Reception and Optimization: After receiving the downlink signal from the drone, the wireless relay device first performs preliminary amplification to ensure that the signal has a sufficient signal-to-noise ratio. It then filters the signal to remove spurious signals in non-target frequency bands to reduce interference. After signal optimization and processing, a power amplifier is used to enhance the signal strength, and the optimized signal is retransmitted through a directional antenna.

[0024] S2. Signal Redirection and Transmission: The optimized signal is redirected via a directional antenna and transmitted to a radio detection device. The radio detection device receives the signal using a directional antenna, ensuring that the signal strength is sufficient for subsequent processing and decoding.

[0025] S3. Signal decoding and analysis: After receiving the signal, the radio detection equipment decodes it and extracts the key information of the drone. The system can simultaneously identify multiple drone targets and monitor their flight dynamics in real time.

[0026] S4. Information feedback and disposal: The system will feed back the analysis results to the control center so that relevant personnel can take necessary response measures, conduct countermeasures or further tracking.

[0027] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0028] 1. Coverage and Flexibility: Traditional omnidirectional radio detection systems typically only have a detection radius of 3-5 kilometers, making them difficult to meet the protection needs of large, sheet-like areas such as airports. Unlike traditional drone detection systems for smaller, sheet-like areas, this invention significantly improves detection coverage by introducing wireless relay technology and radio detection equipment. Furthermore, the system can flexibly deploy wireless relay equipment based on the specific shape and requirements of the protection area, thereby minimizing detection blind spots and significantly enhancing large-scale drone detection capabilities. This design not only improves the system's coverage but also enhances its adaptability to complex environments and diverse mission requirements, making it particularly suitable for large-scale drone protection scenarios such as airports.

[0029] 2. Low cost and high efficiency: Traditional solutions typically require the deployment of a large number of high-power detection devices to cover a large area, significantly increasing system deployment and operating costs. However, this invention utilizes wireless relay equipment, low-cost receiving and transmitting antennas, and signal optimization units, significantly reducing overall system costs. Furthermore, its modular design allows the system to flexibly adapt to different terrains and environments, simplifying installation and maintenance. Through these optimizations, this invention provides efficient drone detection capabilities at a lower cost.

[0030] 3. Significant performance improvements: The detection range can cover an area of more than 10 kilometers around the airport (the specific range is adjustable), with horizontal positioning accuracy reaching ±5 meters and vertical positioning accuracy reaching ±5 meters, significantly reducing detection blind spots; target recognition accuracy can reach over 90%, and it supports simultaneous detection of more than 20 drones. Through these performance improvements, this invention significantly improves the overall performance of the drone perception system around the airport, providing a strong guarantee for low-altitude airspace safety management;

[0031] 4. Low electromagnetic pollution: Radio detection equipment detects drone signals through passive reception to avoid electromagnetic pollution to the surrounding environment. At the same time, wireless relay equipment dynamically adjusts the transmission power through filtering technology and artificial intelligence modules to effectively reduce electromagnetic interference to surrounding equipment. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] In order to more clearly illustrate the specific embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the following briefly introduces the drawings required for use in the specific embodiments or the description of the prior art. Obviously, the drawings described below are some embodiments of the present invention. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without paying any creative work.

[0033] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the wireless relay device in the system of the present invention;

[0034] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the deployment location of the system of the present invention at a site;

[0035] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the principle of the system of the present invention sensing drone signals; DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0036] The following will clearly and completely describe the technical solutions of the present invention in conjunction with the embodiments. Obviously, the embodiments described are only some embodiments of the present invention, not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without making creative efforts are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0037] In the description of the present invention, it should be understood that the terms "center", "longitudinal", "lateral", "length", "width", "thickness", "up", "down", "front", "back", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inside", "outside", "clockwise", "counterclockwise" and the like to indicate directions or positional relationships based on the directions or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific direction, be constructed and operate in a specific direction, and therefore should not be understood as limiting the present invention.

[0038] In addition, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be understood as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of the indicated technical features. Therefore, the features defined as "first" and "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of the said features. In the description of the present invention, "multiple" means two or more, unless otherwise clearly and specifically defined. In addition, the terms "installed", "connected", and "connected" should be understood in a broad sense. For example, it can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; it can be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can be a direct connection, or it can be an indirect connection through an intermediate medium, or it can be a communication between the two elements. For those of ordinary skill in the art, the specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention can be understood according to the specific circumstances.

[0039] like Figure 1 、 2 As shown, the present invention provides a sheet-like large-scale UAV perception system based on wireless relay technology, comprising: a radio detection device and wireless relay devices deployed in various directions around it, the wireless relay device comprising three key modules: a receiving antenna, a signal optimization unit and a wide-band directional antenna, wherein the receiving antenna is used to capture the radio signal transmitted by the UAV, the signal optimization unit is used to amplify and process the received radio signal, and the wide-band directional antenna is used to retransmit the amplified and processed signal in the direction of the radio detection device; through this design, the wireless relay device can be deployed at a suitable location outside the protection area of a protection site (such as an airport), significantly expanding the coverage range of the system and improving the detection performance and stability of the system; the radio detection device is used to passively receive and decode the radio signal of the UAV, and capture the key information such as the position and identity of the UAV in real time, and the above-mentioned radio signal includes the downlink signal of the UAV.

[0040] The core goal of wireless relay technology is to build an efficient signal transmission and reception link, expanding the detection range while reducing overall system costs, meeting the needs of drone detection in large, patchy areas such as airports. The receiving antenna plays a key role in wireless relay systems, capturing downlink signals from surrounding drones. The receiving antenna design can be customized to the specific application scenario to optimize gain, beam direction, and main lobe width, thereby improving signal reception quality and coverage.

[0041] The aforementioned receiving antennas include omnidirectional and directional antennas. Omnidirectional antennas are suitable for wide-area signal capture, covering radio signals in multiple directions. Directional antennas are suitable for high-gain signal reception in a specific direction, helping to improve the received signal-to-noise ratio and anti-interference capabilities. Alternatively, other antenna types or combinations can be flexibly selected to achieve optimal performance based on needs.

[0042] The signal optimization unit is the core processing module of the wireless relay device, responsible for amplifying, filtering, and optimizing received signals to meet subsequent transmission requirements. Its main components include a low-noise amplifier (LNA), a filter, and a power amplifier (PA). The LNA is used to initially amplify weak received signals, ensuring a sufficient signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) for subsequent processing and improving signal quality. The filter is used to filter the received signal's frequency band, retaining signals in the target frequency band used by the drone and suppressing interference from other frequency bands to prevent interference from being coupled into the surrounding environment. The PA also enhances signal power to ensure that the signal can drive the wideband directional antenna, achieving efficient long-distance transmission.

[0043] In addition to the above modules, the signal optimization unit also includes an artificial intelligence processing module. Based on the artificial intelligence algorithm, the artificial intelligence processing module can perform real-time analysis and dynamic adjustment of the input signal strength, intelligently control the output power of the power amplifier, ensure that the output signal complies with electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) standards, and avoid electromagnetic interference to the surrounding environment.

[0044] Wideband directional antennas are key components responsible for signal transmission in wireless relay equipment. They can efficiently transmit optimized and amplified radio signals to radio detection equipment, ensuring that the signal still has high quality and stability during long-distance transmission.

[0045] The wideband directional antennas used in this embodiment include, but are not limited to, log-periodic antennas, horn antennas, Vivaldi antennas, combinations of multiple Yagi antennas, or array antennas of different types. Based on different application requirements, the system can flexibly select a single type of directional antenna or combine multiple types to achieve optimal transmission performance and system adaptability.

[0046] The wireless relay device used in this embodiment has the following advantages and innovations:

[0047] 1. Significantly expanded detection range: Through wireless relay technology, drone signals in peripheral areas are redirected and transmitted to radio detection equipment, significantly improving coverage;

[0048] 2. Efficient signal processing and transmission: The integrated design of the signal optimization unit ensures the efficiency and reliability of the signal reception, amplification, filtering and transmission links;

[0049] 3. Intelligent dynamic adjustment: Adaptive power control is achieved through the artificial intelligence processing module to ensure that the output signal meets electromagnetic compatibility standards and reduce interference risks;

[0050] 4. Flexible antenna configuration: The receiving antenna and wideband directional antenna can be flexibly configured according to needs to meet application requirements in different scenarios.

[0051] In summary, wireless relay equipment achieves efficient signal reception, optimization, and long-distance transmission by integrating receiving antennas, signal optimization units, and wideband directional antennas, significantly improving the coverage and performance of drone detection systems, and providing an efficient and low-cost solution for drone security protection in large areas such as airports.

[0052] In this embodiment, radio detection equipment is deployed at the center of a protected area (such as an airport) or at a relatively high point to minimize obstruction of radio signals, thereby improving the efficiency and stability of signal reception. The equipment's primary function is to passively receive and decode downlink signals from drones, capturing key information such as their location and identity in real time.

[0053] In this embodiment, the radio detection equipment uses multi-band receiving technology, which can capture drone signals of different types and frequency bands. It has the ability to work around the clock and supports multi-target detection to ensure security monitoring coverage of the airport and surrounding areas.

[0054] Traditional radio detection equipment typically uses omnidirectional antennas as receiving antennas, which have a wide signal reception range but weak directivity and are susceptible to interference. In contrast, the receiving antennas of the radio detection equipment proposed in this invention utilize directional antennas or other types of antennas, tailored to system requirements and the layout of the wireless relay device. When both the wireless relay device's transmitting antenna and the radio detection device's receiving antenna are directional antennas, with their beams facing in opposite directions, signal transmission and reception efficiency is significantly improved, significantly extending the system's detection range.

[0055] In addition, the radio detection device in this embodiment integrates an artificial intelligence module and has the following intelligent functions:

[0056] 1. Multi-target processing: The device can simultaneously process radio signals transmitted by drones or remote controls from multiple directions, enabling real-time monitoring of multiple targets;

[0057] 2. Pattern recognition and positioning: Through advanced signal processing and pattern recognition algorithms, the AI module can accurately identify and locate drones, extracting key information such as the number, location, and identity of drones in real time;

[0058] 3. Pilot tracking: The system can not only detect drone signals, but also track the pilot's location information, further improving the comprehensiveness and accuracy of monitoring.

[0059] In summary, the radio detection equipment in this embodiment has the functions of high-precision detection, multi-target recognition, and pilot positioning through multi-band reception, directional antenna optimization design, and integration of artificial intelligence modules. It can achieve efficient and accurate monitoring of drones in complex environments, ensuring the safety protection of airports and their surrounding areas.

[0060] like Figure 2 As shown in the figure, in order to meet the coverage requirements of large-scale protection areas such as airports, a modular deployment method is adopted. The system includes multiple distributed wireless relay devices and a customized radio detection device. The two modules work closely together to form an efficient real-time drone perception system, ensuring coverage of large areas and providing reliable drone monitoring capabilities.

[0061] The core component of the entire system is a customized radio detection device located in the center. This device uses efficient signal processing and decoding capabilities to detect and analyze signals from drones. To improve the system's coverage, multiple wireless relay devices are located around the perimeter of the airport or protected area. Each wireless relay's directional antenna is precisely pointed toward the central radio detection device. The circular area outside the radio detection device represents the original detection range, while the circular area outside the wireless relay device represents the expanded detection range. The specific detection range can be customized based on requirements.

[0062] On the other hand, the present invention provides a drone sensing method using the above system, such as Figure 3 As shown, the method includes the following steps:

[0063] S1. Signal Reception and Optimization: After the wireless relay device receives the downlink signal from the drone, it first performs preliminary amplification through a low-noise amplifier (LNA) to ensure that the signal has a sufficient signal-to-noise ratio. The signal is then filtered through a filter to remove spurious signals in non-target frequency bands to reduce interference. After signal optimization and processing, the power amplifier (PA) is used to enhance the signal strength, and the optimized signal is retransmitted through a directional antenna.

[0064] S2. Signal Redirection and Transmission: The optimized signal is redirected via a directional antenna and transmitted to the radio detection device. Due to the directivity of the directional antenna, the signal can be transmitted to the detection device more accurately, avoiding signal loss. The radio detection device uses the directional antenna to receive the signal, ensuring that the signal strength is sufficient for subsequent processing and decoding.

[0065] S3. Signal decoding and analysis: After receiving the signal, the radio detection device decodes it through the integrated signal processing module and extracts key information about the drone, such as its location, identity, and flight trajectory. The system can simultaneously identify multiple drone targets and monitor their flight dynamics in real time.

[0066] S4. Information feedback and disposal: The system will feed back the analysis results to the control center so that relevant personnel can take necessary countermeasures, such as countermeasures through jamming equipment or further tracking.

[0067] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention, rather than to limit it. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the above embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that they can still modify the technical solutions described in the above embodiments, or replace some or all of the technical features therein with equivalents. However, these modifications or replacements do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1. A large-scale UAV perception system based on wireless relay technology, characterized by: include: A radio detection device and wireless relay devices deployed in all directions around it, wherein the wireless relay device includes a receiving antenna, a signal optimization unit, and a wideband directional antenna. The receiving antenna is used to capture radio signals transmitted by the UAV, the signal optimization unit is used to amplify and process the received radio signals, and the wideband directional antenna is used to retransmit the amplified and processed signals in the direction of the radio detection device; The radio detection equipment is used to passively receive and decode the radio signals of the drone and capture the information of the drone in real time.

2. The large-scale UAV sensing system based on wireless relay technology according to claim 1 is characterized in that: The radio signals include the drone's downlink signal.

3. The large-scale UAV sensing system based on wireless relay technology according to claim 1 is characterized in that: The receiving antenna includes an omnidirectional antenna and a directional antenna.

4. The large-scale UAV sensing system based on wireless relay technology according to claim 1 is characterized in that: The signal optimization unit includes a low noise amplifier, a filter and a power amplifier.

5. The large-scale UAV sensing system based on wireless relay technology according to claim 4 is characterized in that: The signal optimization unit also includes an artificial intelligence processing module, which can perform real-time analysis and dynamic adjustment on the strength of the input signal based on an artificial intelligence algorithm, and intelligently control the output power of the power amplifier.

6. The large-scale UAV sensing system based on wireless relay technology according to claim 1 is characterized in that: The broadband directional antenna is a log-periodic antenna, a horn antenna, a Vivaldi antenna, a combination of multiple Yagi antennas, or an array antenna of different types.

7. The large-scale UAV sensing system based on wireless relay technology according to claim 1 is characterized in that: The radio detection equipment is deployed at a central location or a high point of a site that needs protection.

8. The large-scale UAV sensing system based on wireless relay technology according to claim 1 is characterized in that: The radio detection equipment is capable of capturing drone signals of different types and frequency bands.

9. The large-scale UAV sensing system based on wireless relay technology according to claim 1 is characterized in that: The radio detection equipment is integrated with an artificial intelligence module and has multi-target processing, pattern recognition and positioning, and pilot tracking functions.

10. The drone sensing method of the system according to claim 1-9, characterized in that: The following steps are involved: S1. Signal Reception and Optimization: After receiving the downlink signal from the drone, the wireless relay device first performs preliminary amplification to ensure that the signal has a sufficient signal-to-noise ratio. It then filters the signal to remove spurious signals in non-target frequency bands to reduce interference. After signal optimization and processing, a power amplifier is used to enhance the signal strength, and the optimized signal is retransmitted through a directional antenna. S2. Signal Redirection and Transmission: The optimized signal is redirected via a directional antenna and transmitted to a radio detection device. The radio detection device receives the signal using a directional antenna, ensuring that the signal strength is sufficient for subsequent processing and decoding. S3. Signal decoding and analysis: After receiving the signal, the radio detection equipment decodes it and extracts the key information of the drone. The system can simultaneously identify multiple drone targets and monitor their flight dynamics in real time. S4. Information feedback and disposal: The system will feed back the analysis results to the control center so that relevant personnel can take necessary response measures, conduct countermeasures or further tracking.

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