ROD TELEVISION-GUIDED DRONE TO PERFORM RECONNAISSANCE AND ORDNANCE DELIVERY

• US 3,778,007 A
• Filed: 05/08/1972
• Issued: 12/11/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Stuart D. Kearney II, Walter Richardson
• Original Assignee: Stuart D. Kearney II, Walter Richardson
• Inventors: Kearney, Stuart D. II, Richardson, Walter
• Primary Examiner(s): Feinberg, Samuel
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tudor, H. J.
• Application Number:
  US05/252,931
• Time in Patent Office: 582 Days
• Field of Search: 244/3.11,3.13,3.14,3.15,3.16,3.19
• US Class Current: 244/3.14
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 3/02 using an independent line of sight
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 7/007 Preparatory measures taken before the launching of the guided missiles
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 7/2206 using a remote control station
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 7/2253 Passive homing systems, i.e. comprising a receiver and do not requiring an active illumination of the target
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 7/226 Semi-active homing systems, i.e. comprising a receiver and involving auxiliary illuminating means, e.g. using auxiliary guiding missiles
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 7/2293 using electromagnetic waves other than radio waves
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 7/30 Command link guidance systems homing F41G7/2206
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0009 Transmission of position information to remote stations involving assistance data G01S5/0236

Abstract

A remote observation and destruction system comprises an unmanned flight vehicle guided by a remote operator viewing a television display to perform reconnaissance and the delivery of naval ordnance. A television camera is mounted on the unmanned flight vehicle and the television picture is transmitted to a television monitor in a remote control station. The remote operator controls the flight vehicle on the basis of the information contained in the television picture. A hand held laser aimed at the target by a forward observer can be used to point out concealed targets.

Claims

1. A system for remote observation and destruction of a target comprising:

a drone aircraft;

a TV camera disposed in the nose of said drone;

a control station disposed at a location remote from said drone;

a TV monitor, disposed at said control station, TV data link means for transmitting data from said TV camera, and for applying said transmitted data to said TV monitor;

a laser operated from a position near the target and disposed so that its beam illuminates the target; and

a command link between said control station and said drone.

2. The system of claim 1 further including a communication link between said control station and said laser.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein at least one missile is disposed aboard the drone aircraft.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein said missile is a laser homing weapon with a four-quadrant silicon cell laser detector disposed in its nose.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein said drone aircraft is an off-the-shelf target drone.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein said drone aircraft is a simple airframe powered by an expendable turbine engine.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein a warhead is disposed integrally with said airframe.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein said drone aircraft carries a side looking synthetic aperture radar.

9. The system of claim 2 wherein the communication link comprises a quantized digital data link.

10. A method of remotely observing and destroying a target by means of a remotely controlled drone aircraft carrying a TV camera and laser homing weapons, comprising:

guiding the drone aircraft into TV-camera range of the target so that said target may be observed visually at a remote place by means of a signal from said TV camera;

illuminating the target with a laser beam;

aiming the drone aircraft at the target as determined by the reflected laser beam; and

firing said laser homing weapons at said target.