APPARATUS FOR USE ON UNMANNED VEHICLES

• US 20140222249A1
• Filed: 06/20/2012
• Published: 08/07/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BAE Systems Plc
• Original Assignee: BAE Systems Plc
• Inventors: Freeman, Isobel Louise, Rigby, Keith Antony
• Granted Patent: US 9,156,552 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/2
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/00 Type of UAV
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 20/40 Modular UAVs
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/15 for conventional or electronic warfare
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/18 for dropping bombs; for firing ammunition
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/30 for imaging, photography or videography
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 13/00 Means of attack or defence not otherwise provided for details of radar or sonar systems G01S7/00
• 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: F42B 12/365 Projectiles transmitting information to a remote location using optical or electronic means F42B12/385 takes precedence

Abstract

An apparatus, and a method performed by the apparatus, are disclosed wherein the apparatus can be mounted on an unmanned vehicle and arranged to act upon a payload. The payload can be mounted on the unmanned vehicle and, under an action of the apparatus, is able to be activated. The method can include receiving an activation instruction from an entity remote from the unmanned vehicle; determining whether or not the received activation instruction is valid by performing a validation process; and in response to determining that the received activation instruction is valid, activating the payload. In response to determining that the received activation instruction is not valid, activation of the payload may be prevented or opposed.

Claims

1. A method performed by an apparatus, mounted on an unmanned vehicle and arranged to act upon a payload, the payload being mounted on the unmanned vehicle and, under an action of the apparatus, able to be activated, the method comprising:

receiving an activation instruction from an entity, the entity being remote from the unmanned vehicle;

determining whether or not the received activation instruction is valid by performing a validation process; and

in response to determining that the received activation instruction is valid, activating the payload.

2. A method according to claim 1, comprising, in response to determining that the received activation instruction is not valid:

preventing or opposing the activation of the payload.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus includes, or has access to, validation information, the validation process comprising:

comparing the received activation instruction to the validation information.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein:

the activation instruction comprises a code; and

the validation information is a further code, the further code being stored in the apparatus.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the activation instruction comprises an indication of a time that the activation instruction was sent from the entity to the unmanned vehicle, and the validation process comprises:

determining that the activation instruction is not valid if a time period between the indicated time and a time that the validation process is performed is longer than a pre-determined threshold.

6. A method according to claim 1, comprising:

receiving target details from a further entity, the further entity being remote from the unmanned vehicle; and

using the received target details, facilitating a payload controller to direct the payload towards a target.

7. A method according to claim 1, comprising:

measuring a parameter of an area of terrain, the area of terrain including a target; and

providing, for use by the entity, the measurements of the parameter.

8. A method according to claim 7, wherein the measuring is performed using at least one of a visible light detecting camera, an infra-red camera, a ultra-violet camera or a radar sensor.

9. A method according to claim 1, comprising:

in response to activating the payload, providing, for use by the entity, an indication that the payload has been activated.

10. A method according to claim 1, wherein the unmanned vehicle is an aircraft.

11. A method according to claim 1, wherein the payload is a weapon.

12. A method according to claim 1, comprising:

if, in response to activating the payload, the payload fails to be activated, providing for use by the entity an indication that the payload has failed to be activated.

14. A program or plurality of programs stored on a non-transitory storage medium such that when executed by a computer system or one or more processors it/they cause the computer system or the one or more processors to operate in accordance with the method of claim 1.

15. A machine readable storage medium for non-transitory storing of a program or at least one of the plurality of programs according to claim 14, in combination with a computer system.

18. A method according to claim 2, wherein the apparatus includes, or has access to, validation information,-the validation process comprising:

comparing the received activation instruction to the validation information.

19. A method according to claim 18, wherein the activation instruction comprises an indication of a time that the activation instruction was sent from the entity to the unmanned vehicle, and the validation process comprises:

determining that the activation instruction is not valid if a time period between the indicated time and a time that the validation process is performed is longer than a pre-determined threshold.

20. A method according to claim 19, comprising:

receiving target details from a further entity, the further entity being remote from the unmanned vehicle; and

using the received target details, facilitating a payload controller to direct the payload towards a target.

13. Apparatus for mounting on an unmanned vehicle and configured to act upon a payload when mounted on the unmanned vehicle with the payload wherein, under an action of the apparatus, the payload is able to be activated, the apparatus being arranged to:

receive an activation instruction from an entity, the entity being remote from the unmanned vehicle;

determine whether or not the received activation instruction is valid by performing a validation process; and

in response to determining that the received activation instruction is valid, activate the payload.

16. Apparatus of claim 13, in combination with:

a payload; and

an unmanned vehicle upon which the apparatus and payload are mounted.

17. Apparatus of claim 16, in combination with:

a remote entity for activating the apparatus.