Apparatus for use on unmanned vehicles

• US 9,156,552 B2
• Filed: 06/20/2012
• Issued: 10/13/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: BAE Systems Plc
• Original Assignee: BAE Systems Plc
• Inventors: Freeman, Isobel Louise, Rigby, Keith Antony
• Primary Examiner(s): CHEUNG, CALVIN K
• Application Number:
  US14/129,195
• Publication Number:
  US 20140222249A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,210 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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, said activation instruction comprising an indication of a time that the activation instruction was sent from the entity to the unmanned vehicle;

determining whether or not the received activation instruction is valid by performing a validation process, said validation process comprising determining that the activation instruction is valid only when a time period between the time that the activation instruction was sent and a time that the validation process is performed is less than a pre-determined threshold; and

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

2. The 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. The method according to claim 2, wherein the apparatus include, or has access to, validation information, the validation process comprising,

comparing the received activation instruction to the validation information.

4. The method according to claim 2, 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.

5. The 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.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein:

the activation instruction comprises an activation code; and

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

7. The 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.

8. The 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.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the step of 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.

10. The 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.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the unmanned vehicle is an aircraft.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the payload is a weapon.

13. The method according to claim 1, further comprising, upon a failure of the payload to be activated, providing for use by the entity of an indication that the payload has failed to be activated.

14. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

storing information pertaining to the payload activation, said information including the valid activation instruction and time synchronisation data, and

providing to the entity the time synchronisation data.

15. The method according to claim 14, further comprising time synchronising the apparatus and the entity using the time synchronisation data.

16. An apparatus configured for mounting on an unmanned vehicle, said apparatus being configured to act upon a payload, said payload being mounted on the unmanned vehicle said apparatus comprising:

a sequencer, wherein, under an action of the sequencer, the payload is able to be activated

a transceiver arranged to

communicate with the sequencer and

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

a weapons system arranged

to communicate with the sequencer,

to 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, to activate the payload;

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 valid only when a time period between the time that the activation instruction was sent and a time that the validation process is performed is less than a pre-determined threshold.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, in combination with:

a payload; and

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

18. The apparatus of claim 17, in combination with:

a remote entity for activating the apparatus.

19. A non-transitory storage medium readable by a computing device, said computing device being cooperative with 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, said storage medium comprising code recorded thereupon that is operable on said computing device so as to cause said apparatus to execute steps including:

receiving an activation instruction from an entity, the entity being remote from the unmanned vehicle, said activation instruction comprising an indication of a time that the activation instruction was sent from the entity to the unmanned vehicle;

determining whether or not the received activation instruction is valid by performing a validation process, said validation process comprising determining that the activation instruction is valid only when a time period between the time that the activation instruction was sent and a time that the validation process is performed is less than a pre-determined threshold; and

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

20. A computing device cooperative with 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, said computing device comprising a non-transitory, machine readable storage medium containing code recorded thereupon that is operable on said computing device so as to cause said apparatus to execute steps including:

receiving an activation instruction from an entity, the entity being remote from the unmanned vehicle, said activation instruction comprising an indication of a time that the activation instruction was sent from the entity to the unmanned vehicle;

determining whether or not the received activation instruction is valid by performing a validation process, said validation process comprising determining that the activation instruction is valid only when a time period between the time that the activation instruction was sent and a time that the validation process is performed is less than a pre-determined threshold; and

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

21. 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, being 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;

wherein;

the apparatus includes, or has access to, validation information;

the validation process comprises comparing the received activation instruction to the validation information;

the activation instruction comprises an activation code; and

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