Interceptor drones

Abstract

The present invention relates to an interceptor drone (1) having one drone body (2) and a plurality of propulsion devices (3) arranged around the drone body (2). The propulsion devices (3) are arranged and aligned on the drone body (2) so that the interceptor drone (1) can be propelled and steered along a flight trajectory in the flight direction (5) by the propulsion devices (3). The interceptor drone (1) is equipped with a capture net. The capture net is positioned inside or on the drone body (2) in the forward drone portion (6) in the flight direction (5) of the drone body (2). The capture net is fixed to the drone body (2) by elongated flexible fixing means for the capture net. The capture net is equipped with propulsion means that enable the capture net to be accelerated in the flight direction (5) so as to move away from the drone body (2).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to intercept drones.

Background Art

[0002] From the prior art, many systems are known for interfering with or preventing unwanted operations of drones. In addition to destructive systems that render the functions of drones ineffective, for example by gunfire, solutions are also known that can take over control of the drone or force it to land under control. In the case of the first-mentioned systems, there is a risk that the drone or part of the drone lands out of control, posing a danger to humans and infrastructure. Therefore, such systems are particularly suitable for use in unpopulated areas where the risk of drones and parts thereof falling out of control is low. They are not suitable for use near civilian infrastructure such as airports or stadiums. Here, the second-mentioned system in which the drone is landed under control is used.

[0003] In the case of known systems for landing drones under control, it is necessary to affect the control of each drone. For this reason, in the case of known systems, it is necessary to adapt these systems to commonly used drones so that they can utilize known weaknesses of each drone type. Therefore, these systems are not universally applicable to any drone.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to improve the systems known from the prior art so that it is possible to land drones of any drone system under control.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] This problem is solved by an interceptor drone having one drone body and a plurality of propulsion devices arranged around the drone body, wherein the propulsion devices are arranged and aligned on the drone body so that the interceptor drone can be propelled and steered in the direction of flight along a flight trajectory by the propulsion devices, the interceptor drone is equipped with a capture net, the capture net is arranged inside or on the drone body, the capture net is fixed to the drone body by an elongated flexible fixing means for the capture net, and the capture net is equipped with propulsion means that allows the capture net to be accelerated in the direction of flight so as to move away from the drone body. By using the capture net, the drone to be intercepted can be captured by the capture net in flight and landed under control, because the capture net, which has "captured" the drone, is coupled to the interceptor drone via the fixing means. The supplemental net is advantageously similarly flexibly formed and composed of rope or line.

[0006] Advantageously, the anchoring means is a rope. Advantageously, the anchoring means is intended to be at least 10 meters long to ensure that the drone can be reliably "captured" even when the relative speed between the interceptor drone and the drone is high.

[0007] To "capture" a drone, the interceptor drone is advantageously automatically steered toward the drone to be intercepted, and then, at a predetermined distance from the drone, the propulsion system is activated and the capture net is launched from the drone body toward the drone. Advantageously, the interceptor drone or propulsion system is controlled so that the interceptor drone approaches the drone to be intercepted from above toward the ground. The drone to be intercepted is unable to fly after being "captured" by the capture net, and therefore the capture net and drone fall toward the ground under the acceleration of gravity. In this way, the drone and capture net can be prevented from falling toward the ground initially uncontrolled over a long distance, determined particularly by the length of the fixing system, until the capture net with the drone hangs down beneath the interceptor drone by the tensioned fixing system and can be held or slowed by the interceptor drone.

[0008] Advantageously, the drone body is formed in a cylindrical shape, and the cylinder height is greater than the cylinder diameter. Advantageously, the propulsion system is arranged symmetrically around the drone body. Advantageously, the interceptor drone is equipped with at least four propulsion systems.

[0009] According to the present invention, it is advantageous that the capture net is positioned on the forward portion of the drone in the direction of flight. In this way, the capture net can be accelerated away from the main body, particularly easily, in the pulling direction. However, it is also possible, according to the present invention, that the capture net be positioned on the side of the main body within the area of ​​the propulsion device.

[0010] To enable the rapid and reliable braking and controlled landing of a capture net with a drone, the present invention intends that the interceptor drone is equipped with a parachute, the parachute being positioned inside or on the drone body in the rear portion of the drone body in the direction of flight, the parachute being secured to the drone body by at least one shroud line of the parachute, and the parachute being equipped with a deployment device that allows the parachute to be deployed in the opposite direction of flight to move away from the drone body. Advantageously, the deployment means are controlled so that the parachute decelerates the interceptor drone as soon as the capture net reaches the drone. In this way, particularly advantageously, it is possible to avoid uncontrolled falling from above toward the ground when approaching the drone. Advantageously, the capture net and parachute are activated simultaneously or in direct succession in time and accelerated to move away from the drone body.

[0011] The deployment device is advantageously equipped with a deployment charge to pyrotechnically accelerate and deploy the parachute away from the drone body. According to the present invention, the deployment device may also be selectively or additionally equipped with a pull-up parachute coupled to the parachute via one or more lines, which accelerates the parachute away from the drone body. The parachute is advantageously coupled to the drone body by lines. To enable controlled landing of an interceptor drone that has captured the drone, according to the present invention, at least one line of the parachute is coupled to a line-pull actuator located on the drone base body, and the line is to be retracted and unfolded via the line-pull actuator to control the parachute. The line-pull actuator may be, for example, a winch.

[0012] However, it is also possible to control landings by appropriate control of the propulsion system, either selectively or additionally to control by line-pull actuators.

[0013] In order to allow for the quick and easy replacement of a used parachute with a new, already folded parachute, the present invention intends for the parachute to be positioned within the parachute pocket of the parachute, and for the parachute pocket and the drone body to be equipped with mutually compatible coupling means so that the parachute pocket can be detachably secured to the drone body.

[0014] Advantageously, according to the present invention, the propulsion device is intended to be positioned on the drone body in an intermediate section of the drone body between the front and rear drone sections. In this way, the capture net and parachute can be accelerated to easily separate from the drone body, thus avoiding contact with the propulsion device.

[0015] In order to easily position the capture net in the front drone section, the propulsion system in the middle drone section, and the parachute in the rear drone section, the present invention intends for the drone body to have an elongated shape in the direction of flight. The drone body can be advantageously formed in a cylindrical or rocket shape.

[0016] In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the drone body shape, the intention is that the length of the drone body in the direction of flight is greater than the maximum length of the drone body laterally with respect to the direction of flight.

[0017] In order to accelerate the capture net in the direction of the drone to be intercepted by the propulsion means, the present invention intends that the propulsion means includes at least one pyrotechnic propellant. In this way, sufficient acceleration can be achieved to reliably "capture" the intercepting drone with the capture net at a distance of, for example, 10m from the intercepting drone.

[0018] Advantageously, according to the present invention, the capture net is intended to include an accelerating mass positioned around the capture net, the accelerating mass being accelerating by a propulsion means. The use of the accelerating mass allows the substantially flexible capture net to be accelerated to reliably separate from the drone body. In addition, the use of the accelerating mass ensures that the capture net wraps around the drone as soon as it reaches it.

[0019] In addition, the acceleration mass can be advantageously accelerated by the propulsion system so that it moves away from the drone body so that the capture net is spread out by the acceleration mass. For example, acceleration masses placed around the capture net can be accelerated along different acceleration axes, which intersect within or behind the interceptor drone in the direction of flight.

[0020] To propel the interceptor drone, it is advantageous that the propulsion system be a propeller system. With a suitable propeller system, the interceptor drone can be accelerated to a speed of up to 200 km / h.

[0021] The propeller propulsion system is advantageously electrically driven and, for this purpose, comprises an electric motor. The electrical energy required to operate the electric motor is advantageously provided by a battery of the interceptor drone, which is located within the drone body according to the present invention. Advantageously, the battery is a rechargeable battery.

[0022] To automatically control the interceptor drone, the present invention intends that the interceptor drone is equipped with a sensor device, the sensor device being positioned on the drone body in the forward portion of the drone body. The sensor device is advantageously data-conductively connected to a control device of the interceptor drone capable of processing the sensor signals from the sensor device. The control device is advantageously conductively and / or data-conductively connected to the propulsion devices so that the propulsion devices can be controlled independently of each other and thus the flight trajectory or flight direction and flight speed can be set and adapted.

[0023] Advantageously, according to the present invention, the sensor device is intended to include at least one aerial camera for optically detecting the area around the interceptor drone. The aerial camera is preferably an infrared camera. According to the present invention, the aerial camera is intended to be equipped with a gimbal suspension fixed to the drone body so that the drone to be controlled can be detected by the aerial camera as well as possible in different flight attitudes. The alignment of the aerial camera within the gimbal suspension is preferably configurable. For this purpose, the gimbal suspension is preferably equipped with an electric motor propulsion system. The electric motor propulsion system can be controlled, for example, by a control device.

[0024] In order to activate the propulsion means at the appropriate time and at an appropriate distance from the interceptor drone to the drone to be intercepted, the present invention intends for the sensor device to be equipped with a distance measuring device for determining the distance between the interceptor drone and objects in the vicinity of the interceptor drone. The distance measuring device may be advantageously a laser distance measuring device.

[0025] The present invention also relates to a ground station for the aforementioned interceptor drone, characterized in that the ground station comprises a housing body having a housing opening that can be installed on the ground, and the housing body is adapted to the interceptor drone such that the interceptor drone can be housed in the housing body by passing the rear drone portion in the direction of flight through the housing opening. The ground station allows the interceptor drone to be held in an advantageous launch position and prepared for an intercept mission.

[0026] In particular, when using the advantageous cylindrical shape of the drone body, the present invention aims to enable alignment of the interceptor drone at a ground station, which facilitates vertical launch of the interceptor drone. Specifically, the present invention is intended to ensure that when the housing body is standing on the ground as intended, the longitudinal axis of the interceptor drone partially positioned within the housing body is aligned perpendicular to the ground.

[0027] Advantageously, according to the present invention, it is contemplated that the ground station and the intercept drone comprise electrically connecting terminals adapted to each other such that the intercept drone can be conductively connected to the ground station. Advantageously, the connecting terminals are arranged around the drone body and in the receiving body such that they come into contact when the intercept drone is arranged in the receiving body as intended. Advantageously, the rechargeable battery of the intercept drone can be charged via the electrical connecting terminals.

[0028] The present invention also relates to an intercept system having at least one of the aforementioned intercept drones and at least one of the aforementioned ground stations, wherein the intercept system comprises at least one sensor station and one control computer, the sensor station comprises at least one ground camera for optically detecting the surroundings of the sensor station, and the control computer is data-conductively connected to at least one sensor station and at least one intercept drone. The sensor station advantageously comprises a plurality of infrared cameras for monitoring the entire airspace with respect to possible intercept targets. In addition, the sensor station advantageously comprises a detailed camera, the orientation and focus of which are advantageously adjustable. In this way, after a rough detection of potential intercept targets by the infrared cameras, the controllable detailed camera can be oriented in the direction of the intercept target by the control computer to check whether it is the drone to be intercepted. As soon as this has been determined by the control computer, the intercept drone is launched by the control computer, guided in the direction of the drone to be intercepted, and the flight path is set and determined by the control computer. As soon as the intercept drone reaches a predetermined distance from the drone to be intercepted, the control unit of the intercept drone takes over the further control and setting of the flight path based on the sensor data of the sensor device of the intercept drone.

[0029] Another advantageous embodiment of the intercept drone, the ground station and the intercept system according to the present invention will be described in detail by means of the embodiments illustrated in the figures.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0030] [Figure 1] Schematic diagram of the interceptor drone according to the present invention [Figure 2] Schematic diagram of an interceptor drone deployed within a ground station according to the present invention. [Figure 3] Schematic diagram of the sensor station of the interceptor system according to the present invention [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0031] Figures 1 and 2 schematically illustrate an interceptor drone 1 having a single cylindrical drone body 2 and a plurality of propulsion devices 3 arranged around the drone body 2. The propulsion devices 3 are electrically driven propeller propulsion devices 3'. The propeller propulsion devices 3' are positioned and aligned on the drone body 2 in the intermediate drone section 4 so that the interceptor drone 1 can be propelled and steered along a flight trajectory in the flight direction 5 by the propeller devices 3'.

[0032] The interceptor drone 1 is equipped with a capture net located within the base body 2, and therefore invisible. The capture net is positioned on the forward portion of the drone 6 in the flight direction 5 of the drone body 2. The capture net is equipped with acceleration masses 7 arranged around the capture net, and these acceleration masses are housed in a housing device 8 located on the drone body 2. In addition, the housing device 8 is equipped with propulsion means (not shown) that can accelerate the acceleration masses 7, thereby moving the capture net away from the drone body.

[0033] In addition, the interceptor drone 1 is also positioned within the drone body 2 and is therefore equipped with an invisible parachute. The parachute is positioned in the rear drone portion 9 in the flight direction 5 of the drone body 2. In this embodiment, the parachute is positioned behind the cover 10 and can be deployed in the opposite direction to the flight direction 5 to separate from the drone body 2 by an invisible deployment device.

[0034] In addition, the interceptor drone 1 is equipped with a sensor device 11 positioned on the drone body 2 in the drone portion 6 at the front of the drone body 2. The sensor device 11 includes a flight camera 12 for optically detecting the area around the interceptor drone 1 and a distance measuring device 13 for determining the distance between the interceptor drone 1 and objects in the vicinity of the interceptor drone 1.

[0035] In the situation shown in Figure 2, the interceptor drone 1 is positioned inside the housing body 14 of the ground station 15. The housing body 14 of the ground station 15 is installed on the ground 16 and supported on the ground 16 by struts 17.

[0036] The interceptor drone 1 is partially positioned and housed within the housing body 14 by passing its rear drone section 6 through the housing opening 18 of the housing body 14 in the flight direction 5. The longitudinal axis 19 of the interceptor drone 1 is aligned perpendicular to the ground, thereby enabling the interceptor drone 1 to be launched vertically from the ground station 15.

[0037] The ground station 15 and the interceptor drone 1 are equipped with mutually compatible electrical connection terminals 20 and 21 that electrically connect the interceptor drone 1 to the ground station 15. A battery (not shown) of the interceptor drone 1 can be charged via the electrical connection terminals 20 and 21.

[0038] Figure 3 schematically illustrates a sensor station 22 of the interceptor system according to the present invention. The sensor station 22 is equipped with a plurality of ground cameras 23 for optically detecting the area around the sensor station 22. A plurality of ground cameras 23, formed as infrared cameras 24, are arranged around a ground camera 23, formed as a detail camera 25. The alignment and focus of the detail camera 25 are adjustable.

Claims

1. An interceptor drone (1) having one drone body (2) and a plurality of propulsion devices (3) arranged around the drone body (2), wherein the propulsion devices (3) are arranged and aligned on the drone body (2) so that the interceptor drone (1) can be propelled and steered in the flight direction (5) along a flight trajectory by the propulsion devices (3), and the interceptor drone (1) is equipped with a capture net, the capture net is arranged inside or on the drone body (2), the capture net is fixed to the drone body (2) by an elongated flexible fixing means for the capture net, and the capture net is equipped with a propulsion means that enables the capture net to be accelerated in the flight direction (5) so as to move away from the drone body (2).

2. The interceptor drone according to claim 1, characterized in that the capture net is positioned on the front drone portion (6) in the flight direction (5) of the drone body (2).

3. The interceptor drone (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the interceptor drone (1) is equipped with a parachute, the parachute is positioned inside or on the drone body (2) in the rear drone portion (9) in the flight direction (5) of the drone body (2), the parachute is secured to the drone body (2) by at least one shroud line of the parachute, and the parachute is equipped with a deployment device that allows the parachute to be deployed in the direction opposite to the flight direction (5) so as to move away from the drone body (2).

4. The interceptor drone (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the propulsion device (3) is positioned on the drone body (2) in the intermediate drone portion (4) of the drone body (2) between the forward drone portion (6) and the rear drone portion (9).

5. The interceptor drone (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the drone body (2) has an elongated shape in the direction of flight (5).

6. The interceptor drone (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that the length of the drone body (2) in the flight direction (5) is greater than the maximum dimension of the drone body (2) laterally with respect to the flight direction (5).

7. An interceptor drone (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the propulsion means includes at least one pyrotechnic propellant.

8. An interceptor drone (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the capture net comprises acceleration masses (7) arranged around the capture net, and the acceleration masses (7) are accelerating by a propulsion means.

9. The interceptor drone (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the propulsion device (3) is a propeller propulsion device (3').

10. The interceptor drone (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the interceptor drone (1) is equipped with a sensor device (11), and the sensor device (11) is positioned on the drone body (2) in the front drone portion (5) of the drone body (2).

11. The interceptor drone (1) according to claim 10, characterized in that the sensor device (11) includes at least one aerial camera (12) for optically detecting the area around the interceptor drone (1).

12. The interceptor drone (1) according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the sensor device (11) includes a distance measuring device (13) for determining the distance between the interceptor drone (1) and objects in the vicinity of the interceptor drone (1).

13. A ground station for an interceptor drone (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the ground station (15) comprises a housing body (14) having a housing opening (18) that can be installed on the ground (16), and the housing body (14) is adapted to the interceptor drone (1) such that the interceptor drone (1) can be housed by the housing body (14) by passing the rear drone portion (9) in the flight direction (5) through the housing opening (18).

14. The ground station (15) according to claim 13, characterized in that when the housing body (14) is standing on the ground (16) as intended, the housing body (14) is formed such that the longitudinal axis (19) of the interceptor drone (1) partially positioned within the housing body (14) is aligned perpendicular to the ground (16).

15. An interceptor system comprising at least one interceptor drone (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 12 and at least one ground station (15) according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the interceptor system comprises at least one sensor station (22) and one control computer, the sensor station (22) comprises at least one ground camera (23) for optically detecting the area around the sensor station (22), and the control computer is data-conductively connected to the at least one sensor station (22) and the at least one interceptor drone (1).

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