Method for damaging an attacker targeting critical infrastructure

Abstract

A method for damaging an attacker (26) targeting critical infrastructure is disclosed, comprising the following steps: a) sensor-based monitoring of the critical infrastructure for the detection of attackers (26); b) dispatching a single-use unmanned underwater vehicle (20) equipped with explosives (28) in the direction of the attacker (26) when the attacker (26) has been detected; c) automatically attaching the unmanned underwater vehicle (20) to the attacker (26) when the unmanned underwater vehicle (20) has reached the attacker (26); d) detonating the explosives (28) of the unmanned underwater vehicle (20) once the unmanned underwater vehicle (20) is attached to the attacker (26).

Description

[0001] Methods for damaging an attacker's critical infrastructure

[0002] Description

[0003] The invention relates to the protection of critical infrastructure by one, preferably two, unmanned, single-use, unmanned underwater vehicles.

[0004] The protection of critical infrastructure is an issue of increasing importance worldwide in times of growing threat from hybrid warfare.

[0005] Previous approaches have focused on simply monitoring critical infrastructure, but not on how attackers can be effectively repelled or at least held accountable if they are caught in the act.

[0006] The object of the present invention is therefore to create an improved concept for the protection of critical infrastructure.

[0007] The problem is solved by the subject matter of the independent patent claims. Further advantageous embodiments are the subject matter of the dependent patent claims.

[0008] Exemplary implementations show a method for neutralizing or at least damaging an attacker on critical infrastructure. The method comprises the following steps a) to d). In step a), sensor-based monitoring of the critical infrastructure is carried out to detect attackers. A corresponding method for detecting attackers is described, for example, in WO 2015 / 120838 A1. The sensors can be mounted above water, for example, on buoys, wind turbines, or drilling rigs. It is also possible to attach sensors below the water's surface to the aforementioned objects or to the bottom of the body of water. Underwater, suitable sensors include underwater acoustic transducers, in particular a sonar system, or a magnetic field sensor, especially a differential sensor. Above water, there is a larger number of possible sensors, such as conventional cameras, thermal imaging cameras, night vision cameras, or radar.In addition to detecting the attacker using the sensors, a defect in critical infrastructure can also be monitored using the sensors and considered an indication of an attack. If a defect is detected, the attacker can be specifically searched for and detected, for example, using drones.

[0009] Optionally, deterrent measures such as recorded loudspeaker announcements, personal loudspeaker announcements, or warning shots can be initiated. If the attacker responds to these deterrent measures, further procedural steps can be omitted.

[0010] Following the detection of the attacker, step b) involves the deployment of a single-use, explosive-laden, unmanned underwater vehicle in the direction of the attacker. For the sake of readability, the term "underwater vehicle" will be used predominantly throughout this text. However, unless explicitly stated otherwise, this refers to the single-use, explosive-laden, unmanned underwater vehicle. Preferably, it is an autonomously navigating underwater vehicle. The underwater vehicle is optionally not fully autonomous, as the detonation command can be issued manually by an operator. Despite this potential limitation, the autonomous underwater vehicle can operate completely autonomously. The underwater vehicle can be deployed from various platforms.Examples of these platforms include (larger) autonomous underwater vehicles or submarines, ships, aircraft, or a waiting position near the monitored critical infrastructure. If the underwater vehicles are permanently positioned near the monitored critical infrastructure, they can be put into a standby mode that requires virtually no energy. Only a specific external wake-up signal activates the underwater vehicle's system.

[0011] In step c), the underwater vehicle is automatically attached to the attacker once it has reached the attacker. The attachment of the underwater vehicle can be accomplished by means of a bolt that is driven into the attacker and simultaneously remains mechanically connected to the underwater vehicle. Such a mechanism for attaching an object with an explosive charge to an object to be neutralized or at least damaged underwater is described in WO 2012 / 038711 A1. The subject matter of this patent application is incorporated into this application by reference.

[0012] In WO 2012 / 038711 A1, a mounting device (here: mounting mechanism) is provided, in particular, for attachment to a target, triggered by an impact. The mounting device comprises a housing (here: e.g.

[0013] vehicle body) with a front that, when in use, abuts the target, one or more fastening elements, a drive mechanism for driving the fastening element(s) from a first position inside the housing to a second position that protrudes from the front of the housing, and a release mechanism for triggering the activation of the drive mechanism, which includes a trigger that protrudes from the front of the housing.

[0014] Since the trigger protrudes from the front of the housing, activating the propulsion mechanism simply requires pressing the device against the target's surface, thereby triggering the mechanism. Thus, it is sufficient for the underwater vehicle to move towards the attacker to activate the mounting mechanism.

[0015] The drive mechanism can be arranged to detonate a cartridge containing explosive material to drive the locking element into the second position. To drive the locking element into the second position, a firing pin can be located within the housing, which is pushed towards the front in response to pressure on the trigger from outside the housing.

[0016] The trigger can be arranged to strike the cartridge, thereby detonating the explosive. The fastening element(s) can be nails. Other suitable fastening elements include hooks and harpoon-like devices. Preferably, the fastening element has a pointed front end to penetrate the surface of the target.

[0017] In step d), the underwater vehicle's explosives are detonated after the unmanned underwater vehicle is attached to the attacker. Advantageously, the detonation is carried out manually by an operator, the so-called "man in the loop." The detonation command can be given, for example, via underwater communication or a pre-programmed underwater sound signal. Both the underwater communication message and the pre-programmed underwater sound signal can contain the detonation information for the underwater vehicle. The pre-programmed underwater sound signal can be a predetermined sequence of frequencies transmitted by the operator using an underwater transducer or a transducer array. If the underwater vehicle detects this frequency sequence, the detonator is triggered.

[0018] Advantageously, the underwater vehicle deploys a buoy, which ideally remains connected to the vehicle by a cable to receive the manual command to detonate the explosive. This allows the underwater vehicle to receive the detonation command even through the air, for example via radio.

[0019] Advantageously, steps a), b), c), and d) are executed in this, i.e., alphabetical, order. The idea is to monitor the critical infrastructure using a suitable sensor system. If an attacker is detected during monitoring, a necessarily cost-effective, since it is only usable once, underwater vehicle is dispatched to intercept the attacker and at least damage them with an explosive charge. The goal is thus to deter attackers from carrying out sabotage or at least prevent their subsequent escape, particularly by apprehending an attacker. Advantageously, the underwater vehicle navigates autonomously, i.e., it locates the attacker autonomously, i.e., without human intervention, and also attaches itself autonomously to the attacker, especially a vessel. Part of this autonomy is a control unit, e.g.,A computer or microprocessor that analyzes sensor data and, based on that data, locates the attacker and attaches itself to it. For this purpose, the underwater vehicle advantageously has various sensors such as sonar, cameras, etc.

[0020] In exemplary embodiments, the method comprises the further steps b1), c1), and either d1) or d2). In step b1), another single-use unmanned underwater vehicle is dispatched in the direction of the attacker. For the sake of readability, the following text will predominantly refer only to "another underwater vehicle." However, unless explicitly stated otherwise, this refers to the additional single-use unmanned underwater vehicle.

[0021] In step c1), the additional unmanned underwater vehicle is automatically attached to the attacker as soon as it reaches the attacker. In this respect, the underwater vehicle and the additional underwater vehicle can be identical. The additional underwater vehicle may be equipped with a tracking transmitter, also known as a pinger, and / or be armed with explosives.

[0022] Advantageously, in step d1), the tracking transmitter of the additional underwater vehicle can first be activated. Activating the tracking transmitter allows a watercraft or aircraft to begin tracking the attacker, even if the attacker is not within visual range. The watercraft or aircraft can be manned or unmanned. In any case, it is possible to equip this vehicle with greater firepower than the single-use underwater vehicle, which is therefore designed to be as small and inexpensive to manufacture as possible. A manned vehicle has the advantage that human attackers, such as the crew of a ship, can be rescued. In principle, the watercraft could also be a torpedo, used to ultimately neutralize the attacker or at least inflict significant damage.

[0023] Optionally, either immediately after attaching the target (and thus before activating the tracking beacon) or after the tracking beacon has been activated, the optional explosive charge of the additional underwater vehicle can also be detonated in step d2). This will further damage the attacker, or ideally, neutralize them. However, the disadvantage of detonating the explosive is that the tracking beacon will most likely be destroyed, and the attacker can therefore no longer be tracked based on a tracking signal from the beacon, or tracking may even be impossible if the explosive is detonated directly. The explosive can be detonated manually, as with the explosive on the underwater vehicle (see the explanation of the "man in the loop" in step d)). It is also possible to trigger the detonation based on a predetermined event, e.g.,The trigger may be triggered by the expiration of a predetermined time period after attachment or by a weak power supply. A weak power supply can cause the tracking transmitter to fail quickly, making ignition impossible. In this case, the triggering action could be used to inflict further damage on the attacker.

[0024] This means that the underwater vehicle and the other underwater vehicle can have the same characteristics, including being identical in construction. However, it is also possible that the underwater vehicle, for example, does not include a tracking beacon, i.e., it is absent from the underwater vehicle. Furthermore, it is possible that the other underwater vehicle does not carry any explosives, i.e., it is absent from the underwater vehicle.

[0025] Steps b1), c1), d1), and d2) are advantageously performed in this order. Advantageously, but not necessarily, step b1) is performed after step a) and before step c). Advantageously, but not necessarily, step c1) is performed after step b) and optionally before step d). Step d1) is advantageously performed after step b). Furthermore, step d1) can be performed before step c), before step d), or after step d). The same order applies to step d2) as to step d1).

[0026] Furthermore, an underwater vehicle is disclosed. The underwater vehicle comprises a hull, a mounting mechanism attached to the hull for securing the underwater vehicle to a watercraft, and an explosive charge. The explosive charge includes a detonator configured to be triggered remotely or by a predetermined event to detonate the charge. The underwater vehicle is a single-use, autonomously operating, unmanned underwater vehicle. The description of the underwater vehicle in the process is applicable to this underwater vehicle.

[0027] In exemplary embodiments, the underwater vehicle further comprises a communication buoy and a signal processing unit. The communication buoy can rise to the surface, particularly after the underwater vehicle has been attached to the vessel, and receive a detonation command for remote ignition of the explosive charge from a base station. Advantageously, the detonation command can be sent by an operator from a base station. Upon receiving the detonation command, the signal processing unit activates the detonator and causes the explosive charge to detonate.

[0028] Furthermore, a system comprising the underwater vehicle and another underwater vehicle is disclosed. The other underwater vehicle has a hull and a mounting mechanism arranged on the hull for attaching the underwater vehicle to a watercraft, as well as a tracking transmitter, the tracking transmitter being configured to continuously emit a tracking signal. The description of the other underwater vehicle in the method is applicable to this other underwater vehicle.

[0029] Preferred embodiments of the present invention are explained below with reference to the accompanying drawings. These show:

[0030] Fig. 1 : a schematic representation of an underwater vehicle;

[0031] Fig. 2: a schematic representation of the underwater vehicle attached to an attacking watercraft;

[0032] Fig. 3: A schematic representation of the underwater vehicle and another underwater vehicle attached to an attacking watercraft. Before exemplary embodiments of the present invention are explained in detail below with reference to the drawings, it should be noted that identical, functionally equivalent, or equivalent elements, objects, and / or structures in the different figures are provided with the same reference numerals, so that the description of these elements shown in different exemplary embodiments is interchangeable and can be applied to one another.

[0033] Fig. 1 shows a schematic diagram of an underwater vehicle 20. The underwater vehicle 20 comprises a hull 22 and a mounting mechanism 24 attached to the hull for attaching the underwater vehicle 20 to a watercraft 26 (see Fig. 2), the attacker. Furthermore, the underwater vehicle has an explosive charge 28 with a detonator designed to be triggered remotely or by a predetermined event in order to detonate the explosive charge and damage or ideally neutralize the attacker. The underwater vehicle 20 is a single-use, autonomously operating, unmanned underwater vehicle.

[0034] Optionally, the underwater vehicle 20 is equipped with a communication buoy 30. The communication buoy can rise to the surface and receive information through the air, particularly via radio, and transmit it to the underwater vehicle using underwater communication or a cable 32. In particular, the communication buoy can receive a detonation command for the remote detonation of the explosive charge 28 from a base station. Upon receiving the detonation command, a signal processing unit 34 in the underwater vehicle activates the detonator and causes the explosive charge to detonate.

[0035] Movement arrows 25 and 31 indicate the direction of movement of the fastening mechanism 24 and the communication buoy 30, respectively. Fig. 2 shows the underwater vehicle 20 from Fig. 1 as it is attached to the watercraft 26, shown here as a ship, by means of the fastening mechanism 24.

[0036] Fig. 3 shows a system 36 with the underwater vehicle 20 from Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 and another underwater vehicle 38. The other underwater vehicle 38 comprises a vehicle body 22' and a fastening mechanism 24' arranged on the vehicle body for fastening the other underwater vehicle 38 to the watercraft 26.

[0037] Furthermore, the additional underwater vehicle 38 has a tracking transmitter 40. The tracking transmitter 40 continuously emits a tracking signal.

[0038] Optionally, the additional underwater vehicle 38 features an explosive charge 28' with a detonator designed to be detonated by remote ignition or a predetermined event in order to detonate the explosive charge 28' and damage or ideally neutralize the attacker 26.

[0039] Advantageously, the additional underwater vehicle 20 is a single-use, autonomously operating, unmanned underwater vehicle.

[0040] The disclosed (underwater) sound transducers are designed for use underwater, particularly in the sea. The transducers can convert underwater sound into an electrical signal (e.g., voltage or current) corresponding to the sound pressure, the (received) underwater sound signal. Furthermore, it is possible for the transducers to convert an applied electrical voltage into underwater sound. The electrical voltage can follow a predefined pattern and then be referred to as the (transmitted) sonar signal, while the underwater sound resulting from the sonar signal to be transmitted is referred to as the (transmitted) sonar signal. Examples of sonar signals are a chirp (frequency-modulated signal) or, as a special case of the chirp, a sweep (linear frequency-modulated signal). The transducers can therefore be used as underwater sound receivers and / or underwater sound transmitters.The transducers can utilize a piezoelectric material, such as a piezoceramic, as the sensor material. Multiple underwater transducers, or one or more underwater transducers combined with a signal processing unit, can be referred to as a sonar system. The transducers can be used for (active and / or passive) sonar (sound navigation and ranging). The transducers are preferably not suitable for, or are not used for, medical applications. Likewise, the transducers are preferably not used for, or are not suitable for, the ultrasonic testing of materials.

[0041] Although some aspects have been described in connection with a device, it is understood that these aspects also constitute a description of the corresponding process, so that a block or component of a device can also be understood as a corresponding process step or as a feature of a process step. Similarly, aspects described in connection with or as a process step also constitute a description of a corresponding block, detail, or feature of a corresponding device.

[0042] The embodiments described above merely illustrate the principles of the present invention. It is understood that modifications and variations of the arrangements and details described herein will be obvious to other people skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that the invention be limited only by the scope of protection set forth in the following claims and not by the specific details presented herein by way of description and explanation of the embodiments. Reference numerals:

[0043] 20 underwater vehicles

[0044] 22 vehicle bodies

[0045] 24 Fastening mechanism 25 Movement arrow

[0046] 26 Watercraft

[0047] 28 explosive charges

[0048] 30 Communication buoy

[0049] 31 Movement arrow

[0050] 32 cables

[0051] 34 Signal processing unit 36 ​​System

[0052] 38 additional underwater vehicles, 40 tracking beacons

Claims

Patent claims 1. Method for damaging an attacker (26) on critical infrastructure comprising the following steps: a) Sensor-based monitoring of critical infrastructure for the detection of attackers (26); b) Dispatching a single-use, unmanned underwater vehicle (20) equipped with explosives (28) in the direction of the attacker (26) when the attacker (26) has been detected; c) Automatic attachment of the unmanned underwater vehicle (20) to the attacker (26) when the unmanned underwater vehicle (20) has reached the attacker (26); d) Detonating the explosive (28) of the unmanned underwater vehicle (20) after attaching the unmanned underwater vehicle (20) to the attacker (26).

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method comprises the following further steps: b1) Dispatching another single-use unmanned underwater vehicle (38) in the direction of the attacker (26); c1) automatically attaching the further unmanned underwater vehicle (38) to the attacker (26) as soon as the further unmanned underwater vehicle (38) has reached the attacker (26), and either d1) Activating a tracking transmitter (40) of the further single-use unmanned underwater vehicle (38), or wherein the further single-use unmanned underwater vehicle (38) is equipped with explosives (28') and carrying out the step d2) Detonating the explosive (28') of the further single-use underwater vehicle (38) after attaching the further unmanned underwater vehicle (38) to the attacker (26).

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein after the execution of step d1), a watercraft or an aircraft follows the tracking transmitter (40).

4. A method according to one of claims 2 or 3, wherein the further single-use unmanned underwater vehicle (38) is equipped with explosives (28') and wherein, after the execution of step d1), step d2) detonating the explosives (28') of the further unmanned underwater vehicle (38) is carried out after the further unmanned underwater vehicle (38) has been attached to the attacker (26).

5. Method according to one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the further single-use unmanned underwater vehicle (38) approaches the attacker after the explosive of the unmanned underwater vehicle is detonated in step d).

6. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the detonation of the explosive (28, 28') is carried out manually by an operator.

7. Method according to claim 5, wherein the single-use unmanned underwater vehicle (20) launches a communication buoy (30) to receive the manual command to detonate the explosive (28) by means of the communication buoy (30).

8. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the unmanned underwater vehicle only takes into account an ignition command to detonate the explosive (28) if the unmanned underwater vehicle (20) is attached to the attacker (26).

9. Underwater vehicle (20) with the following features: - a vehicle body (22); - a fastening mechanism (24) arranged on the vehicle body (22) for fastening the underwater vehicle (20) to a watercraft (26); - an explosive charge, wherein the explosive charge (28) has a detonator configured to be detonated by remote ignition or a predetermined event in order to cause the explosive charge (28) to detonate;- wherein the underwater vehicle (20) is a single-use, autonomously operating, unmanned underwater vehicle (20).

10. Underwater vehicle (20) according to claim 9, wherein the underwater vehicle (20) has the following further features: - a communication buoy (30) designed to rise to the surface of the water, particularly after the underwater vehicle (20) has been attached to the watercraft (26), and to receive a detonation command for remote detonation of the explosive charge (28) from a base station; - a signal processing unit (34) which is designed to activate the detonator and detonate the explosive charge (28) upon receipt of the detonation command.

11. System (36) with the following features: - the underwater vehicle (20) according to one of claims 9 or 10; - a further underwater vehicle (38) comprising a vehicle body (22') and a fastening mechanism (24') arranged on the vehicle body (22') for fastening the further underwater vehicle (38) to the watercraft (36) and a tracking transmitter (40), wherein the tracking transmitter (40) is configured to continuously emit a tracking signal.

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