Antenna with spoof detection of drones

Abstract

A system for micro-aerial vehicle management comprises a receiver for detecting position and identity information from micro-aerial vehicles (e.g. from a drone position report) and a database of information on their identities and capabilities. It determines a drone’s flight path between a starting location and a detected position; compares it with the capability information for that drone in the database; and flags an alert external to the system if the drone’s capability is exceeded. The capabilities may be altitude or time-in-flight capabilities, e.g. based on the capacity of a drone battery or accumulator. They may be modified as a function of drone age or ambient temperature. The comparison may also account for airflow, windspeed, rail, hail or snow. The system may issue a safety report or report a spoofing attempt according as the drone’s capability is exceeded by less or more than a factor of 2.

Description

The present invention relates to an antenna with spoof detection, such as may be used for air traffic control of micro air traffic and to the air traffic control of micro aerial vehicles Background Technological miniaturization has caused the diversification of aerial vehicles in both size and purpose. Manned, remote controlled and autonomous vehicles simultaneously operate. Alongside traditional aeroplanes and helicopters, quadcopters and insectoid aerial vehicles fill different roles. Historical, manpower, fuel and carbon intensive processes, for example delivery by postman and van, or less capable systems including static surveillance camera are being substituted with unmanned aerial vehicles. Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), micro aerial vehicles, and drones, finding increased use can be expected to lead to a more congested airspace, with more aerial vehicles. This leads to an increased potential for both unintentional failings, including collisions, and malicious behaviour. This is both a risk both between aerial vehicles and with the surroundings. A specific problem arises in terms of effective air traffic control with micro air traffic, such as typical drones and small UAVs in that position determination by means such as radar is generally ineffective, particularly in built-up environments and with high concentrations, particularly as predicted, for such micro aerial traffic. As such Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast" (ADS-B) and variants thereof needs to be relied upon. ADS-B is a surveillance technology that uses GPS (Global Positioning System) to determine an aircraft's precise position and then broadcasts that information to ground stations and other aircraft equipped with ADS-B receivers. This allows air traffic controllers to have a more accurate and real-time view of aircraft positions, which enhances situational awareness and safety in the airspace. ADS-B is becoming a standard in modern air traffic management systems worldwide, as it provides improved efficiency, reduced separation standards, and more comprehensive traffic information for both pilots and controllers. Standards are currently being developed such as Remote ID (RID). This system enables a drone in flight to provide identification and location information that can be received by other parties. However, this system relies upon accurate reporting from aircraft. Various occasions arise where inaccurate reports may be provided. There are a variety of circumstances where this occurs and most obviously where there is malicious intent or a military motivation. It is therefore important to have means to detect when such spoofing occurs. Spoofing is where erroneous information is provided with an intention to deceive. In particular, where the erroneous information appears to be valid but is intentionally invalid. Spoofing can be addressed by comparing the erroneous information received with validated information and noting a discrepancy. These challenges present particular problems with micro aerial vehicles and these problems require means to address them. Further, any system to mitigate such spoofing must itself be defended against exploitation lest false information inhibit operations. The present invention The present invention in its various aspects is as set out in the appended claims. The present invention provides a system for micro aerial vehicle management, the system comprising: a. a receiver configured to detect position and identity information from micro aerial vehicles; b. a database of information on micro aerial vehicle identities and capabilities; c. processing means for manipulating and comparing said information; d. means for sending alerts external to the system; wherein the system is configured to determine a flight path of a micro aerial vehicle between a starting location and a detected position information from data in said database to compare the information with the capability and to flag an alert external to the system if the capability of the micro aerial vehicle is exceeded. System therefore addresses a persistent problem of what is termed spoofing, that is where micro aerial vehicle provides information to indicate that it is in one position whereas it is in fact in a completely different position. It also addresses the situation where an automated vehicle may be blown off course or similarly disturbed in its flight plan and exceed or potentially approach operational parameters which gives rise to a danger to the micro aerial vehicle and potentially to its surroundings, such as people and objects below it. The system therefore addresses this by identifying these situations and providing an alert. In particular there is the benefit that whilst the micro aerial vehicle may be programmed so as to deal with unusual situations, such as situations where it is outside its normal envelope of operation in may be that, since such software is hard to test in practice may be really tested that the backup system of the present invention enables an external, such as a much more powerful computer system, to carry out the relevant calculations so as to provide a suitable alert upon which action can be taken. Suitable option for example being too required micro aerial vehicle to land. The system of the present invention may be configured wherein the capability is an altitude capability. Altitude may be determined by means of a barometric reading taken by the drone, and inertial measurement reading taken by the drone or GPS system determined by the drone. Alternatively, the altitude may be determined by the receiver in terms of using an angle to the vertical and position information. These various methods make the system robust in the choice of an optimum system and enable issues such as drones taken off course by means of an updraught or spoofing to be more readily detected. The system of the present invention may be configured wherein the capability is a time in flight capability. Most aerial vehicles have a limited time of flight capability and in particular drones using battery technology are typically limited to a flight time of minutes or hours. By consulting the database of micro aerial vehicle flight capability and making a comparison with position, including altitude determination can be made as to whether the vehicle is within a capability range or if a spoofing attempt is occurring. The system of the present invention may be configured wherein the system further obtains an ambient temperature proximate to the micro aerial vehicle and modifies said capability as a function of temperature based upon a pre-recorded metric. The performance of battery technology is very much temperature dependent and battery power delivery, in terms of available voltage can be significantly impacted by a low ambient temperature. Use of ambient temperature to determine drone capability and thereby a comparison with stated, achieved or purported position is a significant opportunity to determine if a spoofing attempt has occurred or if a flight plan is undertaken which may not be viable. As such suitable warnings can be issued and action taken, such as a controlled landing of the micro aerial vehicle. The system of any preceding claim wherein the system obtains an age of the micro aerial vehicle and modifies said capability as a function of age based upon a prerecorded metric. A micro aerial vehicle typically has a relatively short operational lifespan in the order of months or perhaps one or two years unlike commercial aircraft which have very considerable lifespans. In particular, battery technology can mean that the age of the component, such as an accumulator can significantly degrade over time and this can significantly change the envelope of capability of a micro aerial vehicle. This one factored into a determination of flight capability and any appropriate warning or determination of a spoofing attempt provide a significant opportunity to determine alarm situations. The system of the present invention may be configured wherein said pre-recorded metric is a lookup table of change of capability as a function of the obtained information. The relationship between the changing capability as a function of for example temperature, time and age can be complex and she is preferred that this data is available in a lookup table determined using actual measurements of equipment for the determination of the parameters and the change. This provides a more accurate and more reliable system. The system of the present invention may be configured wherein said capabilities includes the capacity of an accumulator to power the micro aerial vehicle. As previously mentioned, the range, such as determined by the capacity of an accumulator, is previous opportunity to recharge, its agent temperature or significant metric in determining whether an alarm situation should be raised thus enhancing the potential for an improved system. The system of the present invention may be configured wherein the accumulator is a lithium-ion battery. If you are in batteries are optically susceptible to the aforementioned issues in particular temperature and an operator can start a flight with an understanding of ambient conditions which can radically change during a flight or an otherwise ongoing operation leading to a severe diminution of the global operation, hence the capability, a micro aerial vehicle. The present system therefore provides an ongoing and dynamic opportunity to check and one for any issues regarding capability and proof to provide alarm such that an external action can be taken, or is actually taken by the system. In particular, the system of the present invention can send out in addition to the alarm a command to a micro aerial vehicle to carry out a remedial action to address alarm situation. The preferred remedial action is an emergency landing. The system of the present invention may be configured wherein the system further obtains ambient information regarding airflow and utilises this in said manipulating and comparing. A further environmental condition which can radically change a flight plan and benefits from monitoring by the present invention is the effect of overflow. An updraught, general movement, descending and the like can radically alter the flight path, positioning, and capability of a micro aerial vehicle. Micro aerial vehicle having a maximum top speed of say, 30 come to is an hour if faced with in a headwind of 30 kilometres an hour for self-evidently make no progress and of progress in a flight plan is detected under these conditions then a spoofing attempt is likely to be underway as the spoofing micro aerial vehicle or other source will not have access, or is less likely to access to localised ambient conditions. The system of the present invention may be configured wherein the airflow is windspeed. Ambient windspeed is an important factor in any flight plan but in the absence of a human operator a micro aerial vehicle can come into difficulty in the system of the present invention provides a mechanism whereby this difficulty can be addressed so as to improve safety and security. The system of the present invention may be configured wherein a measure of temperature affecting capability is modified as a function of said windspeed. The combination of both temperature and wind speed provides a complex interplay of factors in terms of determining the capability in flight as a modification of a micro aerial vehicle capability. As with the other measures utilised by sister in the present invention the measures may be determined by the drone or by the system or by recourse to a third-party source of information, such as a weather bureau or other conveyor of weather information. The preferred combination is a combination of the system and of the drone such that a comparison of the determinations enables a more accurate assessment or a determination that a spoofing attempt is present. For clarity, spoofing attempt is where information is provided such as in the form of radio signal to try and confuse an observer as to the actual presence or location of a micro aerial vehicle such as to disturb traffic such as in the breach of security or other deleterious action or during, for example, military operations where misinformation may be significantly important. Detecting these situations provide significant advantage in the multifaceted approach of the present invention using a plurality of different measures enables this to be more accurately carried out. In particular, the interplay of different parameters may not be readily calculated in a micro aerial vehicle, such as one carrying out a spoofing attempt, whereas a ground-based capability such as a preferred location of the present invention can have access to significant computing capability so as to more accurately determine if the technical conditions provided are within an envelope of operation underbite whether any given action, could it be in action external to the system, as required. The system of the present invention may be configured wherein the system further obtains ambient information regarding precipitation and utilises this in said manipulating and comparing. Precipitation is a considerable factor in drone and other micro aerial vehicle operation. In particular, the preferred micro aerial vehicle type for this determination is a micro aerial vehicle having proportion means, preferably propellers, configured to direct her downwards such as in a hovering motion. This feature is largely irrelevant for a helicopter from micro aerial vehicle can be very significant and the capability assessment from the system and comparison with ambient conditions enables a determination as to whether micro aerial vehicle is safely operating within given parameters or, also for example, where a spoofing attempt is occurring such as a micro aerial vehicle purporting to travel quickly, in heavy precipitation. The system of the present invention may be configured wherein the precipitation is rain. The system of the present invention may be configured wherein the precipitation is hail. The relative size of micro aerial vehicles and that of hail in the hell can have a very considerable effects micro aerial vehicle performance in the present invention significantly advances are safety by raising an alarm should an operational parameter be compromised due to hail. The system of the present invention wherein said precipitation is snow. So is a particular impediment micro aerial vehicles and heavy snow in particular a significant risk can be avoided by the present invention by carrying out a safety determination, i.e. you determination as defined the present invention, and raising an alarm to allow is suitable remedial action to be taken. The system of the present invention wherein a measure of temperature affecting capability is modified as a function of said windspeed. As previously mentioned, temperature can be a significant factor in micro aerial vehicle operation, particular as regards battery performance in the combination of temperature, wind speed can give rise to a significant increase in the localised temperature of a micro aerial vehicle and its capabilities thus requiring remedial action which can be motivated by an alarm of the present invention. The system of the present invention wherein said a receiver configured to detect position and identity information from said micro aerial vehicles detects position and identity information by means of a reporting message provided by the micro aerial vehicle, such as a drone position report (check name). The measures used for carrying out a determination the present invention are preferably determined by reporting message provided by the micro aerial vehicle. A preferred form of message is an automated response to enquiry from an external source, preferably the present invention giving rise to a report from the drone such as a drone remark remote ID being issued. In the present invention in general the provision of identity information of said micro aerial vehicle is important as this enables the connection between the micro aerial vehicle and data regarding its capabilities. A mismatch between the capabilities and the purported situation (as a measure of its capability) enable a spoofing attempt to be determined and unsafe conditions to be noted. Generally spoofing conditions are most rarely determined whether a significant mismatch between capability and situation, such as were no actual micro aerial vehicle exactly present in the airspace in which the aerial vehicle is purported to be present. Or, as is most significant to the present invention will be micro aerial vehicle is in a condition (such as an altitude) for which it is implausible that it is capable of. The system of the present invention may be work said a receiver configured to detect position and identity information from said micro aerial vehicles detects position by means of determining a bearing and signal intensity of a signal received from the micro aerial vehicle. This provides an independent means to determine position and is particularly useful in terms of determining a spoofing attempt since it does not require information to be provided by the micro aerial vehicle (or a purported micro aerial vehicle) other than, preferably an identification notification such as actively broadcast or broadcast in response to a prompt such as a drone remote ID signal. The system of the present invention wherein the micro aerial vehicle is a drone. A number of different types of micro aerial vehicle are known and the present invention has particularly applicable to drones. Micro aerial vehicle of the present invention, for the purposes of the present invention encompasses an unmanned aerial vehicle, the micro aerial vehicle is preferably of weight of less than 25 kilograms. More preferably vehicle of weight of less than 10 kilograms. The of the present invention wherein a determination that the capability of the micro aerial vehicle is exceeded by less than a factor of 2 or more of said capability and a safety report is issued. These parameters have been shown to be a good guide as to the practical determination between a safety issue, such as an unplanned exceeding of micro aerial vehicle capability or predicted exceeding of such capability and a spoofing attempt which typically exceeds practical bounds of believability of incorrect information provided to a system, a spoofing attempt, and actual capability and information obtained by system, such as a system of the present invention. Therefore, in the present invention a determination that the capability of the micro aerial vehicle is exceeded by multiple of 2 or more of said capability and a spoofing attempt is reported. An apparatus configured to carry out the functions of the system of any preceding 5 claim. The system of the present invention may be distributed across a number of physical elements or maybe configured in a single apparatus. A single apparatus is a preferred format as it is this more resilient to external interference such as may accompany a spoofing attempt.

Claims

1. A system for micro aerial vehicle management, the system comprising:a. a receiver configured to detect position and identity information from micro aerial vehicles;b. a database of information on micro aerial vehicle identities and capabilities;c. processing means for manipulating and comparing said information;d. means for sending alerts external to the system;wherein the system is configured to determine a flight path of a micro aerial vehicle between a starting location and a detected position information from data in said database to compare the information with the capability and to flag an alert external to the system if the capability of the micro aerial vehicle is exceeded.

2. The system of the present invention 1 wherein the capability is in altitude capability3. The system of the present invention 1 or claim 2 wherein the capability is a time in flight capability.

4. The system of the present invention 2 or claim 3 wherein the system further obtains an ambient temperature proximate to the micro aerial vehicle and modifies said capability as a function of temperature based upon a prerecorded metric.

5. The system of any preceding claim wherein the system obtains an age of the micro aerial vehicle and modifies said capability as a function of age based upon a pre-recorded metric.

6. The system of the present invention 4 or claim you will 5 wherein said prerecorded metric is a lookup table of change of capability as a function of the obtained information.

7. The system on of any preceding claim wherein said capabilities includes the capacity of an accumulator to power the micro aerial vehicle.

8. The system of the present invention 7 were in the accumulator is a lithium ion battery.

9. The system of any preceding claim wherein the system further obtains ambient information regarding airflow and utilises this in said manipulating and comparing.

10. System of claim 9 were in said airflow is windspeed.

11. The system of the present invention 10 wherein a measure of temperature affecting capability is modified as a function of said windspeed.

12. The system of any preceding claim wherein the system further obtains and the ambient information regarding precipitation and utilises this in said manipulating and comparing.

13. The system of the present invention 12 wherein said precipitation is rain.

14. The system of the present invention 12 wherein said precipitation is hail.

15. The system of the present invention 12 wherein said precipitation is snow.

16. The system of any of claims 12 to 15 wherein a measure of temperatureaffecting capability is modified as a function of said windspeed.

17. The system of any preceding claim wherein said a receiver configured to detect position and identity information from said micro aerial vehicles detects position and identity information by means of a reporting message provided by the micro aerial vehicle, such as a drone position report (check name).

18. The system of any preceding claim wherein said a receiver configured to detect position and identity information from said micro aerial vehicles detects position by means of determining a bearing and signal intensity of a signal received from the micro aerial vehicle.

19. The system of any preceding claim wherein the micro aerial vehicle is a drone.

20. The system of any preceding claim wherein a determination that the capability of the micro aerial vehicle is exceeded by less than a factor of 2 or more of said capability and a safety report is issued.21 .The system of any preceding claim wherein a determination that the capability of the micro aerial vehicle is exceeded by multiple of 2 or more of said capability and a spoofing attempt is reported.

22. An apparatus configured to carry out the functions of the system of any preceding claim.