sUAS Detection and RF Interdiction for 360-Degree Airspace Coverage
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for an integrated detection and countermeasure solution against unmanned aerial systems (drones) that can effectively detect, identify, deter, and interdict small unmanned aerial vehicles (sUAS) to prevent potential hazards and privacy invasions, particularly in commercial, public, and governmental contexts.
Innovation Solution
A system combining existing technologies with novel multiplexing hardware and software components for RF signal analysis, precision alignment of electro-optical and infrared sensors, and image recognition algorithms to detect and track sUAS, providing 360-degree azimuth coverage and countermeasures to disrupt their operations, including RF signal interference and navigation system disruption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple detection technologies (RF, radar, EO/IR) are integrated to improve detection capability against sUAS, then the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides detection into multiple specialized subsystems: RF detection for communication signals, radar detection for physical presence, and EO/IR detection for visual identification. Each subsystem independently processes specific aspects of sUAS detection, allowing parallel operation and reducing the complexity burden on any single component while maintaining high overall reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent integrates multiple detection technologies (RF, radar, EO/IR) into a unified detection system that combines their capabilities. The integration layer fuses data from all subsystems to provide comprehensive sUAS detection, achieving enhanced reliability through multi-technology synergy while managing complexity through structured integration architecture
2Area of stationary object
If the system monitors large airspace volume (2km lateral, 1.5km altitude) with 360-degree coverage, then the detection range and coverage area increase, but the computational load and processing time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection and filtering at the RF and radar stages, identifying potential sUAS targets before they require full EO/IR analysis. This preliminary action reduces the number of targets that need computationally intensive processing, allowing the system to maintain large 360-degree coverage while managing processing time through staged filtering
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies full computational resources selectively to high-priority targets identified by preliminary detection, rather than uniformly processing all detected objects. This partial action approach focuses processing power on the most critical threats within the large coverage area, reducing overall processing time while maintaining comprehensive surveillance
3Measurement precision
If precision alignment of EO and IR sensors is implemented to accurately determine sUAS coordinates, then the measurement precision improves, but the manufacturing and alignment complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces an intermediary computational layer that processes and fuses data from multiple sensors with different precision characteristics. This intermediary processing compensates for individual sensor alignment imperfections through data fusion and coordinate transformation, achieving high measurement precision without requiring extremely tight manufacturing tolerances on each sensor
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
The system effectively detects and deters sUAS within a range of 2 kilometers laterally and 1.5 kilometers altitude, preventing unauthorized operations by determining precise coordinates and broadcasting tailored RF signals to neutralize their systems, ensuring increased security and privacy protection.
Implementation Method 1
subject sUAS RF signal analysis to determine the most appropriate RF signal characteristics to affect the subject sUAS
Implementation Method 2
precision alignment of high definition electro-optical (EO) sensors and infrared (IR) sensors
Implementation Method 3
precision alignment of high definition electro-optical (EO) sensors and infrared (IR) sensors
Implementation Method 4
broadcasting tailored RF signals to neutralize their systems
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.