Hunter Drone Net Launcher with Gimbal Aiming
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current drone technologies lack an effective method to capture and safely remove intruding drones, especially in sensitive areas where they may pose a hazard or be used for surveillance, requiring a solution to neutralize potential threats without causing harm.
Innovation Solution
A drone-catcher system equipped with a net-launcher mounted on a gimbal, allowing independent aiming and attachment to a hunter drone, which can capture and tow away intruding drones using a cable, enabling autonomous or remote operation and integration with larger defensive systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a net-launcher is mounted directly to the hunter drone frame, then the structure is simple, but the net launcher cannot be aimed independently of drone movement
Solution Approach 1:
The net launcher is mounted on a gimbal mechanism that provides dynamic, multi-axis movement capability. This allows the net launcher to be aimed independently of the drone's flight orientation, enabling precise targeting while the drone moves through the air. The gimbal's dynamic adjustment capability resolves the contradiction by decoupling the aiming function from the drone's rigid frame.
2Extent of automation
If the hunter drone carries all sensing and control hardware, then it can operate autonomously, but the hardware requirements and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts certain sensing and control functions from the hunter drone and relocates them to ground-based or remotely located sensing systems. These external systems relay information about intruding drone position and trajectory to the hunter drone, reducing the hardware burden on the moving drone while maintaining autonomous or semi-autonomous operation capability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the net is launched without a cable connection, then the launch mechanism is simpler, but the captured drone cannot be towed or carried away
Solution Approach 1:
A cable acts as an intermediary element connecting the net launcher to the captured drone. This cable enables the hunter drone to tow or carry away the captured intruding drone to a safe or protected area, providing versatile disposal capability while adding only moderate complexity to the launch system.
Data Source
AI summary
A drone includes a plurality of rotors disposed at and around a base and operable to fly and steer the drone. At least one net launcher is disposed at the base and is operable to launch a net toward a target object. A control is responsive to a signal indicative of a detected target object, and the control, responsive to such a signal, is operable to aim the net launcher toward the target object and to launch the net toward the target object.