Counter-UAS Sensor Fusion and Directional RF Drone Interdiction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Unmanned aerial systems (drones) pose hazards to commercial and general aviation, public safety, privacy, and can be used for criminal or terrorist activities, necessitating a comprehensive detection and countermeasure solution.
Innovation Solution
An integrated system using RF, EO/IR sensors, and algorithms to detect, track, and deter unauthorized drones, employing precision alignment and countermeasures to disrupt their operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an integrated detection and countermeasure system is deployed to detect and intercept unauthorized drones, then airspace security and privacy protection are improved, but system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the detection and countermeasure function into multiple specialized sensors including RF detectors, EO/IR sensors, acoustic sensors, and radar systems. Each sensor type targets specific drone characteristics and communication frequencies, allowing the overall system to achieve comprehensive coverage through modular specialization rather than a single complex system
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple heterogeneous sensor types (RF, EO/IR, acoustic, radar) and countermeasure mechanisms (jamming, spoofing, physical interception) into a unified integrated system. This merging allows the system to detect, track, and neutralize drones through coordinated multi-sensor data fusion and simultaneous deployment of multiple countermeasure strategies
2Measurement precision
If multiple sensor types and countermeasure mechanisms are integrated to detect and intercept drones at various altitudes and distances, then detection precision and countermeasure effectiveness are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs specialized sensors for detecting specific drone characteristics: RF detectors for communication signals, EO/IR sensors for visual detection and tracking, acoustic sensors for rotor sound detection, and radar for altitude and position measurement. This segmentation allows each sensor to optimize for its specific detection function, improving overall precision while maintaining modular complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses data fusion algorithms and coordinate calculation software as intermediaries to integrate information from multiple sensor types. These intermediaries process raw data from RF, EO/IR, acoustic, and radar sensors to calculate precise drone location, altitude, and velocity, transforming complex multi-sensor inputs into actionable intelligence without requiring direct complex interactions between all sensor components
3Reliability
If countermeasure signals are transmitted to disrupt drone operations, then drone interception capability is improved, but risk of harmful interference to legitimate RF communications increases
Solution Approach 1:
The jamming and spoofing signals are transmitted with directional antennas focused specifically at the detected drone's location and orientation. This localizes the harmful RF interference to only the target drone, minimizing spread to surrounding legitimate communications. The system adjusts signal direction and intensity based on real-time drone position data from EO/IR and radar sensors
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors RF spectrum usage and drone responses to countermeasure signals. When legitimate communications are detected in the jamming path, the system automatically adjusts or pauses transmission in those frequencies. The feedback loop uses RF detectors to identify active legitimate communications and modifies countermeasure deployment to avoid interfering with authorized RF users
Data Source
AI summary
A system for providing integrated detection and countermeasures against unmanned aerial vehicles include a detecting element, a location determining element and an interdiction element. The detecting element detects an unmanned aerial vehicle in flight in the region of, or approaching, a property, place, event or very important person. The location determining element determines the exact location of the unmanned aerial vehicle. The interdiction element can either direct the unmanned aerial vehicle away from the property, place, event or very important person in a non-destructive manner, or can cause disable the unmanned aerial vehicle in a destructive manner.