System and method for arresting and neutralizing unmanned vehicles

• US 10,239,637 B2
• Filed: 08/25/2016
• Issued: 03/26/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: US Department of The Air Force (U.S. Department Of Defense)
• Original Assignee: United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Air Force
• Inventors: Ashdown, Jonathan, Sikora, Paul, Poland, Brendon
• Primary Examiner(s): Collins, Timothy D
• Assistant Examiner(s): Abell, Tye William
• Application Number:
  US15/246,850
• Publication Number:
  US 20170253348A1
• Time in Patent Office: 943 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 2035/006 Unmanned surface vessels, e.g. remotely controlled
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/027 using net or mesh
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/0295 aerodynamically or aerostatically supported, e.g. parafoil or balloon
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/30 for capturing UAVs in flight by ground or sea-based arresting gear, e.g. by a cable or a net
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 13/0006 Ballistically deployed systems for restraining persons or animals, e.g. ballistically deployed nets
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 7/005 Unmanned ground vehicles, i.e. robotic, remote controlled or autonomous, mobile platforms carrying equipment for performing a military or police role, e.g. weapon systems or reconnaissance sensors F41H11/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 2203/22 for communication related to vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 3/62 by exposing communication, processing or storing systems to electromagnetic wave radiation, e.g. causing disturbance, disruption or damage of electronic circuits, or causing external injection of faults in the information
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 3/65 using deceptive jamming or spoofing, e.g. transmission of false signals for premature triggering of RCIED, for forced connection or disconnection to/from a network or for generation of dummy target signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 3/68 using passive jamming, e.g. by shielding or reflection shielding of apparatus or components against electric or magnetic field H05K9/00

Abstract

The use of shielded material in a deployable vehicle arresting and containment device that, when used for the interception of an unmanned vehicle, effectively achieves RF isolation of that vehicle, breaking all external communications with that vehicle. This apparatus, which may have internal and external antennas, could enable a variety of advanced effects such as localized GPS and command and control link spoofing and jamming as well as providing a vehicle for signal intercept and intelligence solutions. Additionally, due to the shielding properties of the arresting and containment device, semi-destructive means such as localized EMPs could be used to damage the encapsulated unmanned vehicle electronics.

Claims

1. A system for arresting and neutralizing unmanned vehicles, comprising:

a friendly unmanned aerial vehicle;

a substantially rigid containment unit being deployable from said friendly unmanned aerial vehicle to enclose a hostile unmanned aerial vehicle, said substantially rigid containment unit including at least one layer of conductive material, said at least one layer of conductive material operable to shield radio frequency signals from propagating into said substantially rigid containment unit; and

an attachment means for effectuating said deployment.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said substantially rigid containment unit includes a closed end proximate to said attachment means, an open end distal to said attachment means, and a plurality of weights adjacent to said open end having magnets for closing said open end, at least one of said weights including a payload compartment comprising electronic countermeasures, wherein said electronic countermeasures are electrically connected to an interior of said arresting means so as to transmit radio frequency spoofing signals thereto and receive radio frequency spoofed signals therefrom, respectively.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising an external antenna disposed along an outermost layer of said substantially rigid containment unit and an internal antenna that is electrically connected to said external antenna and disposed along an innermost layer of said substantially rigid containment unit, said external antenna and said internal antenna configured for intercepting signals sent to and from said hostile unmanned aerial vehicle and for transmitting radio frequency spoofing signals to at least one of said hostile unmanned aerial vehicle and a hostile unmanned aerial system platform.

4. The system of claim 3, further comprising at least one layer of supportive material disposed between said external antenna and said internal antenna, said at least one layer of supportive material having radio frequency absorptive properties for increasing said substantial rigidity of said substantially rigid containment unit and for increasing attenuation of radio frequency through said substantially rigid containment unit.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said attachment means includes a tether for connecting said substantially rigid containment unit to said friendly unmanned aerial vehicle, said tether configured for controlled lowering of said substantially rigid containment unit around said hostile unmanned aerial vehicle.

6. A method of arresting and neutralizing unmanned vehicles, comprising the steps of:

maneuvering a friendly unmanned aerial vehicle within proximity of a hostile unmanned vehicle;

and

deploying, via an attachment means, a substantially rigid containment unit from said friendly unmanned aerial vehicle around said hostile unmanned vehicle, said substantially rigid containment unit including at least one layer of conductive material, said at least one layer of conductive material operable to shield radio frequency signals from propagating into said substantially rigid containment unit.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

transmitting and receiving radio frequency signals to and from said hostile unmanned vehicle for the purpose of spoofing.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein said substantially rigid containment unit further includes an external antenna disposed along an outermost layer of said substantially rigid containment unit and an internal antenna electrically connected to said external antenna and disposed along an innermost layer of said substantially rigid containment unit, the method further comprising:

intercepting radio frequency signals sent from said hostile unmanned aerial vehicle using said internal antenna; and

intercepting radio frequency signals sent to said hostile unmanned aerial vehicle using said external antenna.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising transmitting radio frequency spoofing signals to said hostile unmanned aerial vehicle from said internal antenna.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising transmitting radio frequency spoofing signals to a hostile unmanned aerial system platform from said external antenna.

11. The method of claim 6, wherein said substantially rigid containment unit further includes a layer of supportive material having radio frequency absorptive properties for increasing said substantially rigidity of said substantially rigid containment unit and for increasing attenuation of radio frequency through said substantially rigid containment unit.

12. The method of claim 6, wherein said attachment means includes a tether for connecting said substantially rigid containment unit to said friendly unmanned aerial vehicle, said deploying step including a controlled lowering of said substantially rigid containment unit using said tether.

13. A system for arresting and neutralizing unmanned vehicles, comprising:

a friendly unmanned aerial vehicle;

a substantially rigid containment unit being deployable from said friendly unmanned aerial vehicle

to enclose a hostile unmanned aerial vehicle, said substantially rigid containment unit including;

at least one layer of conductive material operable to shield radio frequency signals from propagating in or out of the substantially rigid containment unit, and at least one layer of supportive, material having radio frequency absorptive properties for increasing said substantial rigidity of the substantially rigid containment unit and for increasing attenuation of radio frequency through said substantially rigid containment unit;

and an attachment means for effectuating said deployment.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein said at least one layer of supportive material is disposed interior to said at least one layer of conductive material.

15. The system of claim 13, further comprising an external antenna disposed along an outermost layer of said substantially rigid containment unit and an internal antenna that is electrically connected to said external antenna and disposed along an innermost layer of said substantially rigid containment unit, said external antenna and said internal antenna configured for intercepting signals sent to and from said hostile unmanned aerial vehicle and for transmitting radio frequency spoofing signals to at least one of said hostile unmanned aerial vehicle and a hostile unmanned aerial system platform.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein said attachment means includes a tether for connecting said substantially rigid containment unit to said friendly unmanned aerial vehicle and configured for providing a controlled lowering of the substantially rigid containment unit during said deployment.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein:

said substantially rigid containment unit includes a closed end proximate to said attachment means and an open end distal to said attachment means, said attachment means includes a support system for connecting said substantially rigid containment unit to said friendly unmanned aerial vehicle adjacent the closed end and providing a controlled lowering of the substantially rigid containment unit, and said deployment includes the controlled lowering of the substantially rigid containment unit to enclose said hostile unmanned aerial vehicle through said open end.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein said substantially rigid containment unit further includes a plurality of magnets disposed adjacent said open end for closing said open end after lowering said substantially rigid containment unit to enclose said hostile unmanned aerial vehicle.