Autonomous UAV Net Capture for Hazardous Payload Containment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for neutralizing unauthorized unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) carrying hazardous payloads pose risks of dispersing chemical or biological agents upon destruction, highlighting the need for systems that can capture and safely guide these UAVs to a desired location without releasing their payloads.
Innovation Solution
The development of UAV capture devices equipped with a netting system, propulsion system, camera system, and processing system, which autonomously navigate to and capture UAVs using a net, allowing for safe towing and controlled disposal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional methods (shooting down) are used to neutralize UAVs, then the UAV is destroyed, but the hazardous payload may be dispersed over an area
Solution Approach 1:
The netting system physically extracts and contains the UAV without destroying it, separating the hazardous payload from the neutralization process. The net envelops the UAV and guides it to a controlled location, preventing payload dispersal while achieving neutralization.
Solution Approach 2:
The netting system acts as an intermediary between the capture device and the UAV, providing a safe containment mechanism that transfers the UAV to a controlled disposal location without direct contact or destruction, thereby preventing harmful payload dispersal.
2Reliability
If a netting system is deployed to capture the UAV, then the UAV is contained safely, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The capture device is segmented into distinct functional modules: propulsion system for navigation, camera system for detection and tracking, processing system for autonomous control, and netting system for capture. This modular segmentation manages complexity by organizing functions into independent, manageable components.
Solution Approach 2:
The propulsion system serves multiple functions: navigating to the general location of the target UAV, pursuing the UAV, and towing the captured UAV to the disposal location. This multi-functionality reduces overall system complexity by consolidating operations into existing components.
3Productivity
If autonomous navigation and pursuit systems are added, then the capture operation becomes more effective, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The processing system enables the capture device to autonomously navigate to the target UAV, pursue it, and execute capture operations without continuous human intervention. The system processes camera data, determines pursuit strategies, and controls deployment automatically, making the system self-sufficient and reducing operational complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The camera system continuously provides feedback on the UAV's location and movement, which the processing system uses to adjust navigation and pursuit in real-time. This closed-loop feedback enables effective autonomous operation, improving capture effectiveness while managing control complexity through automated decision-making.
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
Enables the safe capture and guided disposal of unauthorized UAVs, preventing the accidental dispersal of hazardous materials and ensuring effective neutralization without triggering payload release.
Implementation Method 1
The propulsion system may include a plurality of propellers coupled to one or more motors
Implementation Method 2
deploy the netting system to propel the net at the target UAV
Data Source
AI summary
Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) capture devices and methods of operation are disclosed. A UAV capture device may include a netting system including a net launch device and a net, a propulsion system including a plurality of propellers coupled to one or more motors, a positioning system, a camera system, and a processing system coupled to the netting system, the propulsion system, the positioning system, and the camera system. The processing system may include logic to operate the propulsion system to autonomously navigate to a general location of a target UAV, to operate the propulsion system to pursue the target UAV, to deploy the netting system to propel the net at the target UAV, and to confirm if the target UAV is captured in the net. Other aspects, embodiments, and features are also included.