UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE WITH NON-LETHAL NEUROMUSCULAR INCAPACITATION SYSTEM

• US 20200130834A1
• Filed: 10/30/2019
• Published: 04/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Albalux, LLC
• Original Assignee: Albalux, LLC
• Inventors: NORD, JON, KENDALL, CRAIG
• Granted Patent: US 11,312,493 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 1/18 by spraying, e.g. insecticides spraying apparatus per se B05B
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 7/00 Arrangements of military equipment, e.g. armaments, armament accessories, or military shielding, in aircraft; Adaptations of armament mountings for aircraft dropping bombs or the like B64D1/00; armaments or mountings therefor per se F41
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/13 Flying platforms
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 20/30 for safety, e.g. with frangible components rotor guards B64U30/299
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/15 for conventional or electronic warfare
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/45 for releasing liquids or powders in-flight, e.g. crop-dusting
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/19 using electrically powered motors
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 13/0018 for nearby electrical discharge, i.e. the electrodes being positioned on the device and the device brought manually or otherwise into contact with a nearby target batons with electric discharge capability F41B15/04; electric shock devices for animals A01K15/02
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 13/0025 for remote electrical discharge via conducting wires, e.g. via wire-tethered electrodes shot at a target

Abstract

The present invention provides an unmanned aerial vehicle with non-lethal neuromuscular incapacitation system comprising a body, a plurality of rotary assemblies secured to the body and configured to provide lift, a control system disposed within the body, and a telescoping stinger assembly mounted on the body. The telescoping stinger assembly comprises an elongated projectile having a barb at a first end thereof, a wire having a first end attached to a second end of the elongated projectile, a high voltage pulse power supply attached to a second end of the wire, and firing mechanism for launching the projectile from the telescoping stinger assembly toward a target. A protective cage may be attached to and surround the body of the UAV. The non-lethal incapacitation mechanism may include a plurality of stinging stickers attached to a periphery of the protective cage, a RF power supply and RF transmitter attached to the body of the unmanned aerial vehicle, or a mechanism affixed to the body of the unmanned aerial vehicle for discharging a liquid or powder substance at a target. Alternatively, a rotary sting arm may be affixed to the body by a rotary brush high-voltage connection; and a sting arm motor mounted proximate to a center of the body may be used to impart rotary motion to the rotary sting arm.

Claims

1. An unmanned aerial vehicle with non-lethal neuromuscular incapacitation system comprising:

a body;

a plurality of rotary assemblies secured to the body and configured to provide lift;

a control system disposed within said body;

a telescoping stinger assembly mounted on said body and comprising;

an elongated projectile having a barb at a first end thereof;

a wire having a first end attached to a second end of the elongated projectile;

a high voltage pulse power supply attached to a second end of said wire; and

firing means for launching said projectile from the telescoping stinger assembly toward a target.

2. The unmanned aerial vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said telescoping stinger assembly further comprises a spool about which the wire is removably wound, said spool being rotatably mounted on said telescoping stinger assembly.

3. The unmanned aerial vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said firing means comprises a barrel having a spring located therein and a locking mechanism, said elongated projectile configured for insertion into the barrel into engagement with the spring to compress said spring, and said lock releasably engaging said elongated projectile.

4. The unmanned aerial vehicle accord to claim 3, wherein said firing means further comprises a trigger mechanism attached to said lock to release the connection between said lock and said elongated projectile upon actuation.

5. The unmanned aerial vehicle according to claim 3, wherein said firing means further comprises a spool about which the wire is removably wound, said spool being rotatably mounted on the barrel of said telescoping stinger assembly.

6. The unmanned aerial vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said firing means comprises a barrel into which the elongated projectile is inserted, an air compressor for delivering a burst of compressed air into a first end of said barrel through a valve disposed between said air compressor and said barrel, and a valve controller for opening and closing said valve.

7. The unmanned aerial vehicle according to claim 6, wherein said firing means further comprises a spool about which the wire is removably wound, said spool being rotatably mounted on the barrel of said telescoping stinger assembly.

8. The unmanned aerial vehicle according to claim 7, wherein said firing means comprises a plurality of barrels, elongated projectiles, wires, spools and valves.

9. An unmanned aerial vehicle with non-lethal neuromuscular incapacitation system comprising:

a body;

a plurality of rotary assemblies secured to the body and configured to provide lift;

a control system disposed within said body;

a protective cage attached to said body and surrounding said body and said plurality of rotary assemblies; and

nonlethal incapacitation means attached to said protective cage.

10. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 9, wherein said protective cage is attached to said body by a plurality of leaf springs.

11. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 10, wherein said protective cage is spherically shaped.

12. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 9, wherein said nonlethal incapacitation means comprises a plurality of stinging stickers attached to a periphery of the protective cage, each of said stinging stickers comprising a plurality of metal barbs projecting outwardly from the stinging sticker and the protective cage, said metal barbs further being electrically coupled to a high voltage pulse supply affixed to the body of the unmanned aerial vehicle.

13. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 12, wherein said plurality of stinging stickers comprises a plurality of positively charged stinging stickers, the metal barbs of which are electrically coupled to a positive terminal of said high voltage pulse supply, and a plurality of negatively charged stinging stickers, the metal barbs of which are electrically coupled to a negative terminal of said high voltage pulse supply, said plurality of negatively charged stinging stickers being alternatively placed on the protective cage between and adjacent to corresponding positively charged stinging stickers.

14. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 13, wherein the metal barbs of said negative stinging stickers are located in a central area surrounded by a surface with an adhesive thereon.

15. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 9, wherein said nonlethal incapacitation means comprises a RF power supply and RF transmitter attached to the body of the unmanned aerial vehicle, said RF transmitter capable of transmitting a narrow beam of electromagnetic energy.

16. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 9, wherein said nonlethal incapacitation means comprises a mechanism affixed to the body of the unmanned aerial vehicle for discharging a liquid or powder substance at a target.

17. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 16, wherein the liquid/powder discharging mechanism comprises:

a reservoir affixed to the body of the unmanned aerial vehicle for holding a liquid or a powder to be discharged;

a pump having an inlet attached to said reservoir to draw said liquid or powder from said reservoir;

a tube having an inlet end attached to an outlet of said pump and an outlet end positioned at a periphery of the protective cage to discharge said liquid or powder at said target.

18. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 17, comprising two liquid/powder discharging mechanism and wherein said nonlethal incapacitation means further comprises a high voltage power supply having a positive post connected by a first lead wire to the tube of the first liquid/powder discharging mechanism and a negative post connected by a second lead wire to the tube of the second liquid/powder discharging mechanism, said tubes being formed from an electrically conductive material and said liquid or powder being capable of conducting electricity.

19. An unmanned aerial vehicle with non-lethal neuromuscular incapacitation system comprising:

a body;

a plurality of rotary assemblies secured to the body and configured to provide lift;

a control system disposed within said body;

a rotary sting arm affixed to said body by a rotary brush high-voltage connection; and

a sting arm motor mounted proximate to a center of the body for imparting rotary motion to the rotary sting arm.

20. The unmanned aerial vehicle of claim 19, wherein a stinger element is provided at each end of the rotary stinging arm, each of said stinger elements being electrically coupled to a high voltage power supply positioned on the body through the rotary brush high-voltage connection.