Directional RF Jamming Antenna for Multi-Drone Swarm Disruption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current counter-UAS systems are ineffective in simultaneously disrupting the Radio Frequency communications of multiple unmanned aircraft, as they require continuous irradiation and are not designed to handle swarms of drones effectively, leading to recovery times that allow communication systems to re-establish.
Innovation Solution
A directional antenna system with a drive mechanism and control system that intermittently irradiates unmanned aircraft with a signal waveform, ensuring each aircraft is irradiated for a first period and not irradiated for a second period of less than or equal to 5 seconds, using the same source of electromagnetic radiation to disrupt RF communications effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If continuous irradiation is used to disrupt RF communications, then communication disruption is effective, but the system cannot handle multiple aircraft simultaneously and requires excessive time and energy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic action by irradiating each aircraft intermittently rather than continuously. The control system manages multiple aircraft by applying electromagnetic radiation in periodic bursts, where each aircraft receives irradiation for a first period, then a second period without irradiation (≤5 seconds), allowing the system to cycle through multiple aircraft effectively
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the irradiation schedule based on aircraft detection and tracking. The drive system moves the directional antenna to track multiple aircraft, and the control system dynamically assigns irradiation periods to different aircraft, optimizing resource allocation in real-time
2Device complexity
If a single directional antenna is used, then the system is simpler and more cost-effective, but it cannot irradiate multiple aircraft simultaneously
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a single directional antenna that is dynamically repositioned via a drive system to track and irradiate multiple aircraft sequentially. The control system coordinates the movement and timing to ensure each aircraft receives adequate irradiation during its active period
Solution Approach 2:
The single antenna operates in periodic cycles, dedicating time slots to different aircraft. Each aircraft is irradiated for a first period, then excluded for a second period ≤5 seconds, allowing the antenna to service multiple aircraft through time-division multiplexing
3Use of energy by moving object
If the second period without irradiation is extended, then energy consumption is reduced, but communication systems have time to recover and re-establish
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the duration of the second period (without irradiation) to be ≤5 seconds, which is below the recovery time threshold of typical aircraft communication systems. This parameter optimization ensures that even during non-irradiation periods, the communication systems cannot fully recover, maintaining disruption effectiveness while managing energy consumption
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
This approach disables RF communications in unmanned aircraft by ensuring the irradiation period is shorter than the recovery time, allowing a single system to effectively disrupt communications of multiple aircraft simultaneously, including those in a swarm, without the need for continuous irradiation.
Implementation Method 1
a transmitter to generate a signal waveform for emission by the directional antenna, the signal waveform configured to disrupt Radio Frequency communication of an unmanned aircraft
Data Source
AI summary
A system for disrupting Radio Frequency communication of a plurality of unmanned aircraft. The system comprises: a directional antenna; a transmitter; a drive system connected to the directional antenna and configured to move the directional antenna; and a control system. The control system causes the transmitter to generate a signal waveform configured to disrupt Radio Frequency communication of an unmanned aircraft for emission by the directional antenna, and causes the drive system to move the directional antenna such that each of the plurality of unmanned aircraft is irradiated intermittently by the emitted radiation. Each of the plurality of unmanned aircraft is irradiated for a first period of time and not irradiated for a second period of time, the second period of time is less than or equal to 5 seconds.