Modular Drone Defense System with Peripheral Connectors

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current drone defense systems lack flexibility in adapting to various control scenarios and require extensive reprogramming or replacement of central management systems when new tasks or threats arise, making them inefficient in responding to diverse drone threats.

Innovation Solution

A modular drone defense system with a central management system and peripheral connectors that allow for easy exchange and control of individual peripheral devices, enabling flexible adaptation to new tasks without reprogramming the central system, using a message core for data exchange between peripherals.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a centralized control system is used to manage drone defense operations, then comprehensive control capability is achieved, but system complexity increases and adaptability to new tasks decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to new tasksVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control system is divided into independent peripheral connectors, each managing a specific peripheral device (sensor, effector, control station). Each connector operates autonomously and communicates through a message core, eliminating the need for a complex centralized control structure while maintaining comprehensive system management capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The peripheral connectors are designed with universal interfaces that can handle multiple types of peripheral devices through standard message protocols. This allows the same connector architecture to manage diverse devices (acoustic sensors, optical sensors, interceptor missiles, lasers) without requiring device-specific control logic, thereby reducing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the central control system is reprogrammed to handle new drone threats, then system functionality is updated, but system downtime increases and operational continuity is disrupted

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefunctionality update capabilityVSAvoidsystem downtime
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables dynamic addition and removal of peripheral devices without requiring system reconfiguration. New peripheral connectors can be integrated by simply connecting the device to the message core, allowing the system to adapt to new threats in real-time without operational disruption. The modular architecture ensures that changes in one part of the system do not affect the stability of the entire system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Adaptability or versatility

If peripheral devices are exchanged to meet new requirements, then system versatility is improved, but reconfiguration complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice exchange capabilityVSAvoidreconfiguration ease
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Each peripheral device is managed by its own dedicated connector, creating independent functional modules. This segmentation allows individual devices to be exchanged without affecting other parts of the system, as each connector handles its assigned device autonomously and communicates through standardized message protocols in the message core.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The message core serves as an intermediary communication layer between peripheral connectors and devices. It handles message routing and protocol conversion, allowing peripheral devices to be exchanged without requiring changes to the overall system architecture or communication infrastructure, thereby simplifying reconfiguration processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3499175B1Method for controlling an Anti-drone system
Publication Date: 2021.09.01 DIEHL DEFENCE GMBH & CO KG
  • EP3499175B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for controlling a drone defense system (6) in which a group of peripheral devices (10-28), comprising a sensor (12, 14), an effector (10), and a control station (16), is controlled by several peripheral ties (10a-28a), each of which controls exactly one peripheral device (10-28) assigned exclusively to that peripheral tie (10a-28a). Together, they form the central control system (30) of the drone defense system (6) and exchange data for controlling the peripheral devices (10-28) via a communication core (32). Connecting the peripheral devices (10-28) to the communication core (32) via the peripheral ties (10a-28a) achieves a modular design of the drone defense system (6), making it easily modifiable.