Drone for use in contested air space

Abstract

A radio frequency (RF) interference (or jamming) system related to unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) or drones, used in a contested aerial environment. The system comprises a ground-based controller, a

Description

The present invention relates to a system for using operating a drone in contested airspace such as may be subjected to erroneous, spoofed or jamming signals. Background Drones are increasingly used in contested airspace. A drone being a small or micro unmanned aerial vehicle. In contested airspace the conventional means for controlling a drone, by radio communication with your space is subject to erroneous, spoofed or jamming signals is compromised. Means to address this situation is therefore desirable further means to exploit the situation to advantage is also desirable. Contested airspace typically arises in situations of conflict, but also can arise in civilian situations such as where a bad actor is present. Important considerations are retaining effective control of a drone or at least enabling the drone to carry out a given task was contending with antagonistic elements either in terms of radio communication or physical interdiction. One means to avoid interference in radio communication is to use means of communication not requiring radio signals. Examples include the transmission of signals at other wavelengths in the electromagnetic spectrum, such as infrared, visible and ultraviolet light. There is a need to provide means to enable related to both counter and exploit the above issues. The present invention The present invention in its various aspects is as set out in the appended claims. The present invention provides a radiofrequency interference system related to unmanned aerial vehicles, the system comprising a ground-based controller, a drone and an electrically conductive wire for connecting the controller to the drone the ground-based controller being configured to: a. be connected to said wire and to supply said wire with a radio frequency signal suitable for providing radiofrequency interference; said wire being configured to: b. be electrically connected to said controller at a first end and be mechanically connected to said drone at a second end; said drone being configured to: c. rising vertical elevation so as to carry the second end of the wire upwards to form an elongate aerial for the transmission of said radiofrequency interference. The benefit of the system of the present invention that it enables the rapid deployment of a temporary aerial to provide radiofrequency interference in a contested space. In such circumstances the sources such radio interference is highly likely to be targeted and there is limited benefit in providing a permanent structure. In addition, the wire, which may typically be in the order of 10, 20 up to around 100 metres in length can enable a strong signal of several watts will be distributed over the visual horizon whilst the controller is located at or below ground level and is thus therefore in a potentially more secure position. In the present invention the system may provide said wire comprising multiple conductors, said conductors being configured to convey command and control information from the controller to the drone. In a contested environment where radiofrequency noise is present and were the system itself is producing radiofrequency interference then a secure and independent method of providing command and control information to the drone is advantageous and allows an operator to operate the control system so as to appropriately direct the drone. In the present invention the system may provide said wire comprising multiple conductors, said conductors being configured to convey electrical energy from the controller to the drone. A single conductor may be sufficient together with an earth return. This is advantageous as it releases the lifting capacity of the drone to lift a longer and / or heavier wire as power may be supplied from the ground either in whole or in part from the controller. In the present invention the system may provide said wire comprise multiple conductors, said conductors being configured to convey a data signal from the drone to the controller. In a contested environment where radiofrequency noise is present and were the system itself is producing radiofrequency interference then a secure and independent method of providing information from the drone to the controller, such as a video feed to relate contextual information back to the controller such as for control of the drone of summary for the gathering of information is advantageous. In the present invention the system may provide that the drone is preprogrammed to fly a predominantly vertically upward flight path to a height substantially corresponding to the length of said wire. This automates the deployment of the aerial in the form of the wire and allows the operator to concentrate on other aspects of control of the system. In a preferred form the drone is preferably configured to detect when resistance to extension of the wire occurs before expected and to reduce vertical lift. This is advantageous as if the wire becomes tangled it does not unduly constrain the drone or use up power unnecessarily. In the system of the present invention the drone may be configured to controllably disengage the wire from the drone. As the system of the present invention is intended to provide an effectively disposable or consumable wire aerial and it is advantageous that the drone may be configured to controllably disengage the wire from the drone, such as by an electrically releasable connection so enables the drone to return for further use. In this respect the drone is preferably configured with an inertial guidance system so that the drone returns to it take off point upon such release. The drone may be configured to release the wire upon one or more of determining an undue vertical force on the wire, upon being commanded to do so from the controller, upon reaching a predetermined flight time, upon reducing battery capacity by greater than 90 percent, upon reducing battery capacity below that required to return the drone to the controller. One or more of these features enable the drone to be more effectively reused and repurposed. In the present invention the controller may be configured to controllably disengage the wire from the controller. This enables the controller to be taken away from the proximity of the wire with the potential for entanglement and encumbrance that cannot provide. This is a preferred step at the end of the flights when the drone may be configured to fly away with the wire to release it elsewhere. In the present invention, upon said disengagement the drone is configured to fly away from proximity to the controller and to supply the wire with said radiofrequency signal suitable for providing radiofrequency interference. This is particular advantageous as the creator of radiofrequency interference may be interdicted in a contested environment and the source of the radiofrequency interference effectively acts as a beacon to guide any incoming interdiction. It is therefore highly desirable that the drone effectively fly away and continue the radiofrequency interference at a point remote from the controller. The aforementioned connection of the controller to the drone to provide electrical energy is particular advantageous in this respect as it enables the drone to be elevated to an operating height without depletion of battery power before the drone then continues under its own power for longer than would otherwise be practicable. In the system of the present invention wherein the wire may be configured to be combustible upon the application of a current from the controller to the wire. The wire of the present invention is preferably a particularly thin wire, not only for weight requirements but also enable this feature to be practicable. The wire of the present invention may have individual conducting strands of 0.1 millimetres diameter or less. The wire the present invention may have individual conducting strands in the range of 0.1 to 0.01 mm diameter, the conducting strands maybe carbon fibre which advantageously both provides conduction albeit with a degree of resistance together with high mechanical tensile strength. It be noted that a high resistance due to a carbon fibre strand or strands is not necessarily disadvantageous for a suitably impedance matched signal when acting as an aerial. The wire of the present invention may be a single wire (particularly if the aerial only function is required) wire of the present invention may have two conductors were in one conductor is an earth on the other conductor serves to provide one or more functions of radiating the radiofrequency interference, supplying power, and conducting command or control information and / or data. By carrying out the signals of different frequencies and optionally voltages, then using appropriate filters these features may be advantageously carried out by a two-conductor wire. Further conductors may nevertheless be used. In the system of the present invention the wire may comprise aluminium or magnesium metal. This greatly facilitates the future of combusting the wire such as by a mechanism of applying a high current for a short period of time, effectively shutting the wire, so as to elevate the temperature of the wire. When the wire is composed of aluminium and in particular magnesium only one point in the wire need reached a combustion temperature in the whole wire will flash burn. This conveniently and quickly dispose of the wire. When using wire of the specified diameters (as above) this produces limited light and so is not necessarily particularly observable, strictly in daylight. In the present invention the controller may provide said radiofrequency signal suitable for providing radiofrequency interference by frequency hopping. This reduces the possibility of detection, particular position detection and thereby interdiction by adverse parties. In the system of the present invention the drone may be configured to provide a radiofrequency signal at a frequency not corresponding to the hopping frequency of the controller. Whilst wired contact, as provided above is the focus of the present invention this does not rule out the potential for radiofrequency communication and by interleaving the frequencies of the frequency hopping for the radiofrequency interference and communication both may be carried out simultaneously thus reducing the reliance upon the wires and potentially enabling fewer wires to be used. In the system of the present invention the radiofrequency interference is in the form of white noise. In the system of the present invention the radiofrequency interference is in the form of spurious radio transmissions related to a communication frequency. In the system of the present invention the radiofrequency interference is in the form of spoofing information, such as to the position of the drone. This helps confuse any incoming interdiction based upon the radio source by the provision of a spoofed position information, such as position information conventionally provided by an ADS-B signal. The present invention will typically be provided as a kit of parts and assembled in situ for transitory operation before being dismantled and moved to another location 5 for subsequent use.

Claims

1. A radiofrequency interference system using an unmanned aerial vehicle, the system comprising a ground-based controller, a drone and an electrically conductive wire for connecting the controller to the drone the ground-based controller being configured to:a. be connected to said wire and to supply said wire with a radio frequency signal suitable for providing radiofrequency interference;said wire being configured to:b. be electrically connected to said controller at a first end and be mechanically connected to said drone at a second end;said drone being configured to:c. rise vertical elevation so as to carry the second end of the wire upwards to form an elongate aerial for the transmission of said radiofrequency interference.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said wire comprises multiple conductors, said conductors being configured to convey command and control information from the controller to the drone.

3. The system of claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said wire comprises multiple conductors, said conductors being configured to convey electrical energy from the controller to the drone.

4. The system of any preceding claim wherein said wire comprises multiple conductors, said conductors being configured to convey a data signal from the drone to the controller.

5. The system of any preceding claim wherein the drone is preprogrammed to fly a predominantly vertically upward flight path to a height substantially corresponding to the length of said wire.

6. The system of any preceding claim wherein the drone is configured to controllably disengage the wire from the drone.

7. The system of any preceding claim wherein the controller is configured to controllably disengage the wire from the controller.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein upon said disengagement the drone is configured to fly away from proximity to the controller and to supply the wire with said radiofrequency signal suitable for providing radiofrequency interference.

9. The system of any preceding claim wherein the wire is configured to be combustible upon the application of a current from the controller to the wire.

10. The system of claim 9 were in the wire comprises aluminium or magnesium metal.11 .The system of any preceding claim wherein the controller provides said radiofrequency signal suitable for providing radiofrequency interference by frequency hopping.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the drone is configured to provide a radiofrequency signal at a frequency not corresponding to the hopping frequency of the controller.

13. The system of any preceding claim wherein the radiofrequency interference is in the form of white noise.

14. The system of any of claims 1 to 12 wherein the radiofrequency interference is in the form of spurious radio transmissions related to a communication frequency.

15. The system of any of claims you want to 12 when the radiofrequency interference is in the form of spoofing information, such as to the position of the drone.

16. A kit of parts suitable for constructing the system of the present invention.