UAV Phased Array Jamming for Convoy Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cellular jamming systems using ground vehicles are large, expensive, slow-moving, and easily detectable, making them vulnerable to attack, while they are designed to protect convoys from roadside bombs detonated using cellular signals.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing a coordinated network of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that form an active phased array to transmit in-phase signals to jam cellular networks, leveraging precise location and attitude determination using Inertial Reference Units (IRU) and Global Positioning Systems (GPS) to ensure effective signal alignment and directionality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If ground vehicles are used for cellular jamming, then jamming capability is provided, but the vehicle is large, slow-moving, expensive, and easily detectable making it vulnerable to attack
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the jamming function into multiple independent aerial vehicles instead of using a single ground vehicle. Each UAV carries jamming equipment and operates independently, allowing the system to maintain protection capability while reducing the size and detectability of individual units. The segmented approach also provides redundancy - if one UAV is destroyed, others continue to provide jamming protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from ground-based jamming vehicles to aerial vehicles operating in three-dimensional space. This dimensional change allows the jamming assets to operate above the convoy without being part of the ground target profile, making them harder to detect and attack. The aerial dimension provides superior mobility and flexibility compared to ground vehicle constraints.
2Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If multiple aerial vehicles are coordinated to jam cellular signals, then detectability is reduced and protection is maintained, but coordination complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges the navigation and coordination functions of multiple UAVs through a common control architecture. Each aerial vehicle is equipped with GPS and inertial reference units that feed into a centralized coordination system, allowing precise positioning and phasing of jamming signals. This merging of navigation data enables the complex coordination task to be managed through integrated sensor fusion and centralized control algorithms.
Solution Approach 2:
The coordination system uses continuous feedback from GPS and inertial reference units on each UAV to adjust jamming signal phases and positions in real-time. The system monitors the relative positions and orientations of all aerial vehicles, providing feedback control that maintains precise signal alignment despite vehicle motion. This closed-loop feedback mechanism manages coordination complexity by automatically adjusting parameters based on real-time vehicle states.
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 jams cellular signals by creating a powerful, directional jamming signal that is difficult to detect and destroy, providing protection to convoys without exposing a large, vulnerable target, as multiple UAVs can continue to operate even if some are destroyed.
Implementation Method 1
leveraging precise location and attitude determination using Inertial Reference Units (IRU) and Global Positioning Systems (GPS)
Implementation Method 2
leveraging precise location and attitude determination using Inertial Reference Units (IRU) and Global Positioning Systems (GPS)
Implementation Method 3
A plurality of aerial vehicles are coordinated together to send signals to a predetermined area to jam the cellular network
Implementation Method 4
transmit in-phase signals to jam cellular networks
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for jamming cellular signals using aerial vehicles is provided. In a preferred embodiment, the aerial vehicles are unmanned aerial vehicles. A plurality of aerial vehicles are coordinated together to send signals to a predetermined area to jam the cellular network.