Anchored Counter-UAV Net Deployment for Rapid Drone Neutralization
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing threat of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) posing risks due to their speed, maneuverability, and ability to carry payloads, which existing countermeasures find difficult to address effectively, especially in protecting large airspaces with limited time for detection and neutralization.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising counter-attack UAVs tethered to a structure via an aerial vehicle capture countermeasure, such as a net, which is deployed to neutralize target UAVs by detecting their position using a detection system and coordinating the flight of multiple UAVs to entangle or disrupt the target's propellers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If countermeasures are deployed to neutralize target UAVs, then airspace protection is improved, but response time is insufficient due to the high speed of target UAVs
Solution Approach 1:
The countermeasure UAVs are pre-positioned within the protected airspace before a threat is detected. The capture net is stowed and ready for immediate deployment. When a target UAV is detected, the countermeasure UAVs can instantly engage without needing to approach from a distance, eliminating deployment transit time and enabling immediate neutralization of the threat.
2Reliability
If multiple counter-attack UAVs are coordinated to deploy capture net, then neutralization effectiveness is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple countermeasure UAVs are coordinated to work together as a unified system. They collectively deploy the capture net, with each UAV contributing to different portions of the net deployment. This merging of multiple units provides redundancy and ensures successful neutralization even if one UAV fails, while the coordinated approach simplifies the overall control architecture compared to independent operations.
3Productivity
If capture net is stowed during normal operation, then airspace monitoring is improved, but deployment speed must be increased to catch fast-moving targets
Solution Approach 1:
The capture net transitions from a stowed configuration during normal monitoring operations to a deployed configuration upon detection of a target UAV. The countermeasure UAVs dynamically adjust their positions and the net's configuration in real-time based on the target's movement. This dynamic deployment allows the system to maintain monitoring capability while achieving rapid neutralization when needed.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for neutralization of a target aerial vehicle comprises a plurality of counter-attack unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and an aerial vehicle detection system comprising at least one detection sensor operable to detect the target aerial vehicle in flight. The system also comprises an aerial vehicle capture countermeasure in the form of a net tethering the plurality of counter-attack UAVs to one another. The counter-attack UAV(s) are operable to capture and neutralize the target aerial vehicle with the net. The system can comprise at least one net storage device associated with a structure and configured to store at least a portion of the net when in a stowed position, and to facilitate deployment of the net when moved to a deployed position via coordinated flight of the plurality of counter-attack UAVs based on the detected target aerial vehicle.