System and method for detecting and defeating a drone

• US 9,529,360 B1
• Filed: 04/22/2015
• Issued: 12/27/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CellAntenna International, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Chris Svanberg, Howard Melamed, Matias Ponce, Michael Horvat, Stevan Melamed
• Inventors: Melamed, Stevan, Svanberg, Chris, Ponce, Matias, Horvat, Michael, Melamed, Howard
• Primary Examiner(s): Badii, Behrang
• Assistant Examiner(s): BERNS, MICHAEL ANDREW
• Application Number:
  US14/693,280
• Time in Patent Office: 615 Days
• Field of Search: 701/2
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/17 for detecting, disrupting or countering communications
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/30 for imaging, photography or videography
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/20 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 13/0093 Devices generating an electromagnetic pulse, e.g. for disrupting or destroying electronic devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 3/023 Monitoring or calibrating
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 3/46 using antennas spaced apart and measuring phase or time difference between signals therefrom, i.e. path-difference systems
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0022 characterised by the communication link data switching networks in general H04L12/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 2203/14 for the transfer of light or images, e.g. for video-surveillance, for television or from a computer screen
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 2203/22 for communication related to vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 2203/32 including a particular configuration of antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 3/42 characterized by the control of the jamming frequency or wavelength
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 3/44 characterized by the control of the jamming waveform or modulation type
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 3/45 characterized by including monitoring of the target or target signal, e.g. in reactive jammers or follower jammers for example by means of an alternation of jamming phases and monitoring phases, called "look-through mode"
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 3/46 characterized in that the jamming signal is produced by retransmitting a received signal, after delay or processing
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 3/60 Jamming involving special techniques
• 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 3/92 related to allowing or preventing remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 3/94 related to allowing or preventing testing or assessing

Abstract

The invention is directed to a system for detecting and defeating a drone. The system has a detection antenna array structured and configured to detect the drone and the drone control signal over a 360 degree field relative to the detection antenna array including detecting the directionality of the drone. The system also includes a neutralization system structured and configured in a communicating relation with the detection antenna array. The neutralization system has a transmission antenna structured to transmit an override signal aimed at the direction of the drone, an amplifier configured to boost the gain of the override signal to exceed the signal strength of the drone control signal, and a processing device configured to create and effect the transmission of the override signal. The invention is also directed to a method for detecting and defeating a drone.

Claims

1. A method for detecting and defeating a drone comprising:

continuously scanning for remote control signals on a detection antenna array in order to detect a drone and a drone control signal,

determining the source direction of the drone on the detection antenna array,

creating an override signal on a neutralization system, based on the detected drone control signal,

transmitting the override signal from a transmission antenna connected to the neutralization system towards the direction of the drone,

scanning for a video link associated with the detected drone, and

recording a video feed upon detection of an associated video link.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

periodically terminating the override signal transmission from the transmission antenna,

rescanning for additional remote control signals in order to detect a supplemental drone control signal,

creating a supplemental override signal on the neutralization system, based on the detected supplemental drone control signal, and

transmitting both the override signal and the supplemental override signal from the transmission antenna towards the direction of the drone.

3. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising scanning for the video link associated with the detected drone on the 5.8 GHz ISM band.

4. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising scanning for the video link associated with the detected drone on the 915 MHz ISM band.

5. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising periodically injecting an alternative video feed signal to the drone in order to interfere with the piloting of the drone.

6. A method for detecting and defeating a drone comprising:

continuously scanning for remote control signals on a detection antenna array in order to detect a drone and a drone control signal,

determining a source direction of the drone on the detection antenna array,

determining signal characteristics of the drone control signal,

comparing the signal characteristics of the drone control signal with a library stored on a neutralization system in order to determine a match,

selecting an override signal associated with the signal characteristics of the drone control signal, upon finding a match on the neutralization system, and

transmitting the override signal from a transmission antenna connected to the neutralization system towards the direction of the drone.

7. The method as recited in claim 6 wherein the signal characteristics comprise determining a frequency hopping interval of the drone control signal.

8. The method as recited in claim 6 wherein the signal characteristics comprise determining a center frequency of the drone control signal.

9. The method as recited in claim 6 wherein the signal characteristics comprise determining the modulation type of the drone control signal.

10. The method as recited in claim 6 wherein a signal characteristics comprise determining a frequency spread of the drone control signal.

11. A method for detecting and defeating a drone comprising:

continuously scanning for remote control signals on a detection antenna array in order to detect a drone and a drone control signal,

determining the source direction of the drone on the detection antenna array,

creating an override signal on a neutralization system, based on the detected drone control signal,

transmitting the override signal from a transmission antenna connected to the neutralization system towards the direction of the drone,

detecting the effect of the override signal transmitted from the transmission antenna via the detection antenna array, and

transmitting at least one pulse of 2.4 GHz energy from a magnetron source through an alternate antenna system, if no discernible effect can be detected.

12. The method as recited in claim 11 wherein the alternate antenna system comprises a horn antenna.