Interceptor drone

Abstract

The invention relates to an interceptor drone (1) comprising a drone main body (2) and comprising a plurality of drive devices (3) arranged around the circumference of the drone main body (2). The drive devices (3) are arranged and oriented on the drone main body (2) such that the interceptor drone (1) can be driven and steered by the drive devices (3) in a flight direction (5) along a flight trajectory. The interceptor drone (1) comprises a capture net. The capture net is arranged in or on the drone main body (2) in a drone portion (6) of the drone main body (2), which drone portion is at the front in the flight direction (5). The capture net is fixed to the drone main body (2) by an elongate, flexible fixing means of the capture net. The capture net comprises drive means, by means of which the capture net can be accelerated away from the drone main body (2) in the flight direction (5).

Description

[0001] From fangdr without

[0002] The invention relates to an interceptor drone.

[0003] Numerous systems are known from the state of the art to hinder or prevent the unwanted operation of drones. In addition to disruptive systems, in which the functions of the drone are disabled, for example by firing at them, there are also solutions in which the control of the drone can be taken over or which force the drones to make a controlled landing. With the former systems there is a risk that the drones or parts of the drones will crash and land in an uncontrolled manner, endangering people and infrastructure. Such systems are therefore particularly suitable for use in uninhabited areas where the danger posed by uncontrolled falling drones and their parts is low. Such systems are not suitable for use near civilian infrastructure such as airports and stadiums.This is where the second-mentioned systems are used, in which the drones are landed in a controlled manner.

[0004] With known systems for controlled landing of drones, it is necessary to influence the control of the respective drone. For this purpose, the known systems must be adapted to the commonly used drones in order to exploit known vulnerabilities of the respective drone type. Therefore, these systems cannot be universally used against any drone.

[0005] The object of the invention is therefore to improve the systems known from the prior art in such a way that a controlled landing of flying drones of any flying drone system is possible.

[0006] This object is achieved according to the invention by an interceptor drone with a drone base body and with a plurality of drive devices arranged on the circumference of the drone base body, wherein the drive devices are arranged and aligned on the drone base body such that the interceptor drone can be driven and controlled by the drive devices in a flight direction along a flight trajectory, wherein the interceptor drone has a catch net, wherein the catch net is arranged in or on the drone base body, wherein the catch net is fixed to the drone base body by an elongated, flexible fixing means of the catch net, wherein the catch net has drive means with which the catch net can be accelerated away from the drone base body in the flight direction.By using the safety net, the drone to be intercepted can be caught in flight with the safety net and landed in a controlled manner, since the safety net with the drone "trapped" in it is connected to the interceptor drone via the securing device. The safety net is also advantageously designed to be flexible and is formed by ropes or lines.

[0007] The securing device is advantageously a rope. To ensure that drones can be safely "captured" even at high relative speeds between the interceptor drone and the flying drone, the securing device is advantageously provided with a length of at least 10 m.

[0008] To "capture" an aircraft drone, the interceptor drone is advantageously automatically steered in the direction of the aircraft drone to be intercepted. Subsequently, at a predetermined distance from the aircraft drone, the propulsion means are activated and the capture net is fired in the direction of the aircraft drone, away from the drone body. Advantageously, the interceptor drone or the propulsion devices are controlled in such a way that the interceptor drone approaches the aircraft drone to be intercepted from above in the direction of the ground.Since the drone to be intercepted is unable to fly after being "captured" with the safety net and therefore the safety net and the drone fall towards the ground at an accelerated rate due to gravity, this can prevent the drone and the safety net from initially falling uncontrollably towards the ground over a long distance, which is particularly determined by the length of the securing device, until the safety net with the drone hangs below the interceptor drone with the securing device taut and can be held or slowed down by the interceptor drone.

[0009] The drone base body is advantageously cylindrical, with a cylinder height being greater than a cylinder diameter. The drive devices are advantageously arranged and distributed symmetrically around the circumference of the drone base body. The interceptor drone advantageously has at least four drive devices. According to the invention, it is advantageously provided that the catch net is arranged in a front drone section of the drone base body in the direction of flight. In this way, the catch net can be accelerated particularly easily away from the base body in the direction of flight. However, it is also possible and provided according to the invention for the catch net to be arranged in the region of the drive devices on a side surface of the base body.

[0010] In order to be able to brake the safety net with the flying drone quickly and safely and to land it in a controlled manner, the invention provides that the interceptor drone has a parachute, wherein the parachute is arranged in a rear drone section of the drone body in or on the drone body in the direction of flight, wherein the parachute is fixed to the drone body with at least one suspension line of the parachute, wherein the parachute has a

[0011] Has an opening device with which the parachute can be opened away from the drone body against the direction of flight. Advantageously, the opening means are controlled in such a way that the parachute slows down the interceptor drone as soon as the catch net reaches the drone. In this way, an uncontrolled fall can be avoided, particularly during the advantageous approach of the drone from above towards the ground. Advantageously, the catch net and the parachute are activated simultaneously or immediately one after the other and accelerated away from the drone body.

[0012] The opening device advantageously has a

[0013] Opening charge to pyrotechnically accelerate and open the parachute away from the drone base. According to the invention, the opening device can, alternatively or in addition to the charge, also have a pull-up chute that is connected to the parachute via one or more lines and accelerates the parachute away from the drone base. The parachute is advantageously connected to the drone base by lines.

[0014] To enable the interceptor drone to land with the captured drone in a controlled manner, the invention provides for at least one line of the parachute to be connected to a line tension actuator arranged on the drone's main body. The line can be retracted and released via the line tension actuator to control the parachute. The line tension actuator can be a winch, for example.

[0015] However, it is also possible and alternatively or in addition to the control with a line pull actuator, to control the landing by a suitable control of the drive devices.

[0016] In order to be able to replace the parachute quickly and easily with a new, already folded parachute after use, the invention provides that the parachute can be arranged within a parachute pocket of the parachute and that the parachute pocket and the drone base have connecting means adapted to one another in order to be able to detachably fasten the parachute pocket to the drone base.

[0017] Advantageously, the invention provides that the

[0018] Propulsion devices are arranged in a central drone section of the drone body, between the front drone section and the rear drone section. This allows the safety net and parachute to be easily accelerated away from the drone body, avoiding contact between the propulsion devices.

[0019] In order to easily arrange the safety net in the front drone section, the propulsion devices in the middle drone section, and the parachute in the rear drone section, the invention provides for the drone base to have an elongated shape in the direction of flight. The drone base can advantageously be cylindrical or rocket-shaped.

[0020] In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the shape of the drone base body, it is provided that a length of the drone base body in the direction of flight is greater than a largest extension of the drone base body transverse to the direction of flight.

[0021] In order to accelerate the arresting net with the propulsion means toward the drone to be intercepted, the invention provides that the propulsion means comprise at least one pyrotechnic propellant charge. In this way, sufficient acceleration can be achieved to safely "catch" even drones at a distance of, for example, 10 meters from the intercepting drone with the arresting net.

[0022] Advantageously, the invention provides that the

[0023] Catch net arranged on a circumference of the catch net

[0024] Acceleration masses, wherein the acceleration masses can be accelerated by the propulsion means. By using the acceleration masses, the essentially pliable safety net can be safely accelerated away from the drone body. By using the acceleration masses, it is also achieved that the safety net wraps around the drone as soon as it reaches the drone.

[0025] In addition, the acceleration masses can advantageously be accelerated away from the drone body by the propulsion means in such a way that the arresting net is pulled up by the acceleration masses. For example, the acceleration masses arranged on the circumference of the arresting net can be accelerated along different acceleration axes, with the acceleration axes intersecting in or behind the interceptor drone in the direction of flight.

[0026] To propel the interceptor drone, it is advantageously provided that the propulsion devices are propeller drives. With suitable propeller drives, the interceptor drone can advantageously be accelerated to a speed of up to 200 km / h.

[0027] The propeller drives are advantageously electrically driven and have electric motors for this purpose. The electrical energy required for the operation of the electric motors is advantageously provided by batteries of the interceptor drone, which are arranged according to the invention within the drone body. The batteries are advantageously

[0028] Accumulators. For the automated control of the interceptor drone, the invention provides that the interceptor drone has a sensor device, wherein the sensor device is arranged in the front drone section of the drone base body on the drone base body. The sensor device is advantageously connected in a data-conducting manner to a control device of the interceptor drone, which can process sensor signals from the sensor device. The control device is advantageously connected in an electrically conductive and / or data-conducting manner to the drive devices in order to be able to control the drive devices independently of one another and thus to specify and adapt the flight trajectory or the flight direction and the flight speed.

[0029] Advantageously, the invention provides that the sensor device has at least one flying camera for optically recording the surroundings of the interceptor drone. The flying camera is advantageously an infrared camera. In order to be able to record the flying drone to be controlled as well as possible and in different flight attitudes with the flying camera, the invention provides that the flying camera has a gimbal mount that is attached to the drone base body. An alignment of the flying camera in the gimbal mount can advantageously be predetermined. For this purpose, the gimbal mount advantageously has electric motor drives. These can be controlled, for example, by the control device.

[0030] In order to activate the propulsion means at a suitable time and at a suitable distance between the interceptor drone and the drone to be intercepted, the invention provides that the sensor device has a distance measuring device for determining a distance between the interceptor drone and an object in the vicinity of the interceptor drone. The distance measuring device can advantageously be a laser distance measuring device.

[0031] The invention also relates to a ground station for an interceptor drone as described above, wherein the ground station has a receiving base body which can be placed on the ground and has a receiving opening, wherein the receiving base body is adapted to the interceptor drone in such a way that the interceptor drone can be received by the receiving base body with a drone section which is located rearward in the direction of flight through the receiving opening. The ground station allows the interceptor drone to be held in an advantageous take-off position and kept ready for an intercept mission.

[0032] In order to enable an alignment of the interceptor drone in the ground station, which promotes a vertical takeoff of the interceptor drone, particularly when using the advantageous cylindrical design of the drone base body, the invention provides that the receiving base body is designed in such a way that a longitudinal axis of the interceptor drone arranged in sections in the receiving base body is aligned perpendicular to the ground when the receiving base body is standing on the ground as intended.

[0033] Advantageously, the invention provides that the ground station and the interceptor drone have mutually adapted electrical connection terminals, via which the interceptor drone can be electrically connected to the ground station. Advantageously, the connection terminals are arranged on the periphery of the drone base body and the receiving base body in such a way that the connection terminals make contact when the interceptor drone is arranged as intended in the receiving base body. Advantageously, the interceptor drone's batteries can be charged via the electrical connection terminals.

[0034] The invention also relates to an interception system with at least one interception drone as described above and with at least one ground station as described above, wherein the interception system has at least one sensor station and a control computer, wherein the sensor station has at least one ground camera for optically detecting the surroundings of the sensor station and wherein the control computer is connected to the at least one sensor station and the at least one interception drone in a data-conducting manner. The sensor stations advantageously have a plurality of infrared cameras in order to monitor the entire airspace for possible interception targets. In addition, the sensor stations each advantageously have a detail camera whose orientation and focus are advantageously adjustable.In this way, after a rough detection of a potential interception target by the infrared cameras, the controllable detailed camera can be aimed in the direction of the interception target by the control computer and check whether it is a drone to be intercepted. As soon as this has been determined by the control computer, an interception drone is launched by the control computer and guided in the direction of the drone to be intercepted, with the flight trajectory being specified and determined by the control computer. As soon as the interception drone is at a specified distance from the drone to be intercepted, the control unit of the interception drone takes over further control and specification of the flight trajectory based on the sensor data from the interception drone's sensor device.

[0035] Further advantageous embodiments of the interceptor drone according to the invention, the ground station and the interceptor system are explained in more detail with reference to embodiments shown in the figures.

[0036] It shows :

[0037] Figure 1 is a schematic representation of an interceptor drone according to the invention,

[0038] Figure 2 is a schematic representation of an interceptor drone arranged in a ground station according to the invention and

[0039] Figure 3 is a schematic representation of a sensor station of an interception system according to the invention.

[0040] Figures 1 and 2 schematically show an interceptor drone 1 with a cylindrical drone base body 2 and with a plurality of drive devices 3 arranged on the circumference of the drone base body 2. The drive devices 3 are electrically driven propeller drives 3'. The propeller drives 3' are arranged and aligned in a central drone section 4 on the drone base body 2 in such a way that the interceptor drone 1 can be driven and controlled by the propeller devices 3' in a flight direction 5 along a flight trajectory. The interceptor drone 1 has a catch net arranged in the base body 2 and therefore not visible. The catch net is arranged in a front drone section 6 of the drone base body 2 in the drone base body, which section is at the front in the flight direction 5.The safety net has acceleration masses 7 arranged on a circumference of the safety net, which are mounted in receiving devices 8 arranged on the drone base 2. Drive means (not shown) are also arranged within the receiving devices 8 in order to be able to accelerate the acceleration masses 7 and thus the safety net away from the drone base.

[0041] The interceptor drone 1 also has a parachute, which is also arranged in the drone base 2 and is therefore not visible. The parachute is arranged in a rear drone section 9 of the drone base 2 in the direction of flight 5. In the exemplary embodiment, the parachute is arranged behind a cover 10 and can be opened away from the drone base 2, opposite to the direction of flight 5, using an opening device, which is also not visible.

[0042] The interceptor drone 1 also has a sensor device 11 arranged in the front drone section 6 of the drone body 2 on the drone body 2. The sensor device 11 comprises a flight camera 12 for optically detecting the surroundings of the interceptor drone 1 and a distance measuring device 13 for determining a distance between the interceptor drone 1 and an object in the surroundings of the interceptor drone 1. In the situation shown in Figure 2, the

[0043] The interceptor drone 1 is arranged in a receiving base 14 of a ground station 15. The receiving base 14 of the ground station 15 is mounted on the ground 16 and is supported on the ground 16 by struts 17.

[0044] The interceptor drone 1 is arranged through a receiving opening 18 of the receiving base body 14 with the drone section 6 at the rear in the direction of flight 5, and is mounted there. A longitudinal axis 19 of the interceptor drone 1 is aligned perpendicular to the ground, so that the interceptor drone 1 can be launched vertically from the ground station 15.

[0045] The ground station 15 and the interceptor drone 1 have mutually adapted electrical connection terminals 20, 21, via which the interceptor drone 1 is electrically connected to the ground station 15. Batteries (not shown) of the interceptor drone 1 can be charged via the electrical connection terminals 20, 21.

[0046] Figure 3 schematically shows a sensor station 22 of an interception system according to the invention. The sensor station 22 has a plurality of ground cameras 23 for optically detecting the surroundings of the sensor station 22. Several ground cameras 23 configured as infrared cameras 24 are arranged around a ground camera 23 configured as a detail camera 25. The orientation and focus of the detail camera 25 are adjustable.

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS 1. An interceptor drone (1) having a drone base body (2) and having a plurality of drive devices (3) arranged on the circumference of the drone base body (2), wherein the drive devices (3) are arranged and aligned on the drone base body (2) in such a way that the interceptor drone (1) can be driven and controlled by the drive devices (3) in a flight direction (5) along a flight trajectory, wherein the interceptor drone (1) has a catch net, wherein the catch net is arranged in or on the drone base body (2), wherein the catch net is fixed to the drone base body (2) by an elongated, flexible fixing means of the catch net, wherein the catch net has drive means with which the catch net can be accelerated away from the drone base body (2) in the flight direction (5).

2. Interceptor drone according to claim 1, characterized in that the catch net is arranged in a drone section (6) of the drone base body (2) that is at the front in the direction of flight (5).

3. Interceptor drone (1) according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the interceptor drone (1) has a parachute, wherein the parachute is arranged in a rear drone section (9) of the drone base body (2) in the direction of flight (5) in or on the drone base body (2), wherein the parachute is fixed to the drone base body (2) with at least one suspension line of the parachute, wherein the parachute has an opening device with which the parachute can be opened away from the drone body (2) against the direction of flight (5).

4. Interceptor drone (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drive devices (3) are arranged in a middle drone section (4) of the drone base body (2) between a front drone section (6) and a rear drone section (9) on the drone base body (2).

5. Interceptor drone (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drone base body (2) has an elongated shape in the flight direction (5).

6. Interceptor drone (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that a length of the drone body (2) in the direction of flight (5) is greater than a largest extension of the drone body (2) transverse to the direction of flight (5) .

7. Interceptor drone (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the propulsion means comprise at least one pyrotechnic propellant charge.

8. Interceptor drone (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the catch net has acceleration masses (7) arranged on a circumference of the catch net, wherein the acceleration masses (7) can be accelerated by the drive means.

9. Interceptor drone (1) according to one of the preceding Claims, characterized in that the Propulsion devices (3) are propeller drives (3').

10. Interceptor drone (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the interceptor drone (1) has a sensor device (11), wherein the sensor device (11) is arranged in the front drone section (5) of the drone base body (2) on the drone base body (2).

11. Interceptor drone (1) according to claim 10, characterized in that the sensor device (11) has at least one flight camera (12) for optically detecting the surroundings of the interceptor drone (1).

12. Interceptor drone (1) according to claim 10 or claim 11, characterized in that the sensor device (11) has a distance measuring device (13) for determining a distance between the interceptor drone (1) and an object in the environment of the interceptor drone (1).

13. Ground station (15) for an interceptor drone (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the ground station (15) has a receiving base body (14) which can be placed on the ground (16) and has a receiving opening (18), wherein the receiving base body (14) is adapted to the interceptor drone (1) such that the interceptor drone (1) can be received by the receiving base body (14) through the receiving opening (18) with a drone section (9) which is at the rear in the direction of flight (5).

14. Ground station (15) according to claim 13, characterized in that the receiving base body (14) is designed such that a longitudinal axis (19) of the interceptor drone (1) arranged in sections in the receiving base body (14) is aligned perpendicular to the ground (16) when the receiving base body (14) is standing on the ground (16) as intended.

15. Interception system with at least one interceptor drone (1) according to one of claims 1 to 12 and with at least one Ground station (15) according to claim 13 or claim 14, wherein the interception system comprises at least one sensor station (22) and a master computer, wherein the sensor station (22) comprises at least one ground camera (23) for optically detecting the surroundings of the sensor station (22), and wherein the Master computer data-conducting with at least one Sensor station (22) and the at least one interceptor drone (1).

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