Bolo Projectile Release Mechanism for Low-Collateral UAV Disabling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing countermeasures against uncrewed systems, such as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), are costly, large, and pose a risk of collateral damage, while low-collateral methods like deploying nets are limited in number and susceptible to being thwarted by countermeasures.
Innovation Solution
A compact, inexpensive projectile system using a bolo mechanism, deployable from a common airgun, that separates to release a bolo upon deployment, entangling UAV components to disable them without collateral damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If nets are used to disable uncrewed systems, then collateral damage is reduced, but the device size and weight increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The bolo is nested within the projectile shell, allowing the entanglement device to be compactly stored inside a lightweight carrier that can be fired from a standard airgun. This eliminates the need for large external net storage compartments while maintaining the low-collateral advantage of net-based disabling.
Solution Approach 2:
The disabling device is segmented into a reusable launcher and disposable projectiles. Each projectile contains a miniaturized bolo that deploys after firing, allowing multiple engagements without carrying multiple large nets. This segmentation reduces the weight and size of the main disabling device while maintaining operational capability.
2Reliability
If large nets are deployed to disable uncrewed systems, then disabling effectiveness is improved, but the number of available nets is limited due to size and weight constraints
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the disabling function across multiple lightweight projectiles rather than relying on a single large net. Each projectile carries a compact bolo that can independently engage a target, allowing the launcher to carry many more units (e.g., 10+ projectiles) compared to the limited number of large nets that could be accommodated.
Solution Approach 2:
The bolo is designed to deploy in three dimensions after firing, expanding from a compact stored state to a large engagement state in flight. This allows the net to achieve its full disabling effectiveness only when needed, rather than requiring the launcher to accommodate the full deployed size of multiple nets.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If specialized equipment is used to deploy nets, then low-collateral disabling is achieved, but the cost and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The projectile launcher uses a standard airgun platform that can serve multiple purposes (target practice, sporting activities, and now uncrewed system disabling). This eliminates the need for specialized net-deployment equipment while achieving the same low-collateral disabling effect. The same device can be used for different functions without modification.
Solution Approach 2:
The projectiles are designed as inexpensive, disposable units that can be mass-produced and replaced. Each projectile contains a simple bolo mechanism that requires no complex electronics or specialized components, keeping both the individual projectile cost and the overall system complexity low while maintaining the low-collateral advantage.
4Speed
If conventional projectiles are used to disable uncrewed systems, then engagement speed is improved, but collateral damage risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The projectile transitions from a compact stored state to an expanded deployed state dynamically during flight. The bolo remains contained within the projectile shell during firing and acceleration, then deploys after exiting the launcher, allowing the system to achieve high engagement speed while minimizing collateral damage risk from the entanglement device.
Solution Approach 2:
The projectile separates into the shell and the bolo after firing, with the bolo deploying independently to engage the target. This segmentation allows the projectile to maintain high velocity from the airgun while the bolo unfolds to provide the low-collateral entanglement effect, combining the advantages of both fast kinetic delivery and safe disabling.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables rapid, cost-effective engagement of multiple targets with reduced collateral risk by using lightweight, rapidly fireable projectiles that deploy multiple entanglement devices, increasing the likelihood of successful disablement.
Implementation Method 1
The backplate is configured to separate from the shell to release the bolo in response to imbalanced forces resulting from deploying the projectile
Implementation Method 2
responsive to high-pressure gas during deployment of a projectile from a barrel, disengaging a backplate of the projectile from one or more retainers of a shell of the projectile to enable introduction of a portion of the high-pressure gas into a cavity defined by the shell and moving the projectile along the barrel toward a muzzle of the barrel
Implementation Method 3
A compact, inexpensive projectile system using a bolo mechanism, deployable from a common airgun, that separates to release a bolo upon deployment, entangling UAV components to disable them without collateral damage
Data Source
AI summary
A projectile includes a shell defining a cavity and one or more retainers. A bolo is disposed within the cavity and a backplate is engaged with the one or more retainers. The backplate is configured to separate from the shell to release the bolo in response to imbalanced forces resulting from deploying the projectile.