Surveillance system

• US 9,725,172 B2
• Filed: 12/05/2012
• Issued: 08/08/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/03/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: BAE Systems Plc
• Original Assignee: BAE Systems Plc
• Inventors: Press, Andrew Julian, Davies, Alan Geraint, Warsop, Clyde
• Primary Examiner(s): Edwards, Jerrah
• Assistant Examiner(s): WALLACE, DONALD JOSEPH
• Application Number:
  US14/370,178
• Publication Number:
  US 20150142210A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,707 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 5/06 Fins B64C5/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 9/08 bodily displaceable
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/04 for launching aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 20/50 Foldable or collapsible UAVs with frangible components B64U20/30
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/30 for imaging, photography or videography
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/31 for surveillance
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/104 using satellite radio beacon positioning systems, e.g. GPS
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/20 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/13 using external fans or propellers
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/19 using electrically powered motors
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/00 Launching, take-off or landing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/50 Launching from storage containers, e.g. from submarine missile tubes
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/365 Projectiles transmitting information to a remote location using optical or electronic means F42B12/385 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 15/08 for carrying measuring instruments; Arrangements for mounting sensitive cargo within a projectileadaptations for meteorology G01W1/08; Arrangements for acoustic sensitive cargo within a projectile
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0011 associated with a remote control arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0088 characterized by the autonomous decision making process, e.g. artificial intelligence, predefined behaviours using knowledge based models G06N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0094 involving pointing a payload, e.g. camera, weapon, sensor, towards a fixed or moving target

Abstract

The invention relates to a launched aerial surveillance vehicle, more specifically to a grenade or under-slung grenade launcher (UGL) aerial surveillance vehicle, a surveillance system and methods of providing rapid aerial surveillance.

The vehicle once deployed is capable of autonomous flight paths, with basic inputs to change the circular flight paths, so as to build up surveillance for an area of interest. The vehicle comprises at least one optical sensor, which may be IR or visible range, to survey the area of interest, and feed the images back to at least one remote user.

Claims

1. A grenade launched aerial surveillance vehicle, comprising:

an integral propellant charge, whereupon launch said surveillance vehicle is launched, by an operator, from a grenade launcher-weapon, wherein the operator comprises at least one visual display and at least one control device for operating said surveillance vehicle;

a trunion pivotally mounted to the surveillance vehicle and configured to pivot from a stowed position within a body of the vehicle to a deployed position that is exterior to the body of the vehicle, and further configured to pivot about a pitch axis passing through a center of gravity of the surveillance vehicle while in the deployed position;

a deployable wing connected to the trunnion;

a guidance system comprising altitude lock to provide a substantially circular flight path around a target at a fixed GPS co-ordinate;

a wing adjuster to provide directional nudge to the flight path;

an electrical power source;

at least one optical sensor, pivotally mounted on said surveillance vehicle;

a communication device configured to relay guidance and data output from said at least one optical sensor to the operator;

a propulsion device for providing aerial movement of the surveillance vehicle; and

a spin inhibitor for reducing spin on the surveillance vehicle prior to a deployment of the deployable wing.

2. The surveillance vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the at least one optical sensor is a gyroscopically stabilised video camera, to compensate for roll attitude.

3. The surveillance vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the deployable wing is a parawing.

4. The surveillance vehicle according to claim 3, wherein the parawing is mounted at a fixed point on the pivotal trunion, and wherein the trunion is further configured to pivot about the pitch axis of the surveillance vehicle in response to a pitching motion of the surveillance vehicle after a deployment of the parawing for stabilizing the surveillance vehicle.

5. The surveillance vehicle according to claim 1, wherein during deployment the surveillance vehicle follows a pivotal altitude orbit about the target at a fixed GPS co-ordinate.

6. The surveillance vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the spin inhibitor comprises at least two deployable fins.

7. The surveillance vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the surveillance vehicle further comprises a drogue chute to slow down the round and deploy the deployable wing.

8. The surveillance vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the surveillance vehicle comprises a self-destruct mechanism, to at least one of disable electronic components and remove cached data.

9. The surveillance vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising a deployable stabilisation fin.

10. The surveillance vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the communication device is configured to relay guidance and data output from said at least one optical sensor to at least one other remote operator location comprising at least one visual display and at least one control device configured for remotely operating said surveillance vehicle by another user.

11. A method for providing aerial surveillance of a target area, of the method comprising:

in response to a launch command, launching at least one surveillance vehicle according to claim 1 in the direction of the target area to be surveyed;

determining a target and causing a first pivotal altitude to be maintained about said target at a first fixed GPS co-ordinate;

monitoring the data from the at least one optical sensor;

nudging the surveillance vehicle to set up a second pivotal altitude about a second target at a second fixed GPS co-ordinate;

monitoring the data from the at least one optical sensor; and

optionally providing further nudges to provide further pivotal altitudes about a further target at a further fixed GPS co-ordinate, to provide a survey of the target area.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the launching, monitoring, and nudging are directed by one operator.

13. The surveillance vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the propulsion device includes an electric motor, integrated circuit motor, pyrotechnic rocket motor, chemical gas generator, or compressed gas.

14. The surveillance vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the spin inhibitor comprises a slipping obturator or deployable fin.

15. The surveillance vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the spin inhibitor comprises a wrap-around fin.

16. The surveillance vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the deployable wing is mounted at a fixed point on the pivotal trunion.

17. A data surveillance system comprising a grenade launcher, at least one grenade launched aerial surveillance vehicle having a trunion pivotally mounted to the surveillance vehicle and configured to pivot from a stowed position within a body of the vehicle to a deployed position that is exterior to the body of the vehicle, and further configured to pivot about a pitch axis passing through a center of gravity of the surveillance vehicle while in the deployed position, and a control device.

18. The system according to claim 17, wherein the control device is capable of post processing data from an optical sensor included in the at least one grenade launched aerial surveillance vehicle, such that there is image stabilisation applied to the data.

19. The system according to claim 17, wherein the at least one grenade launched aerial surveillance vehicle is configured with a nudge feature for steering the grenade launched aerial surveillance vehicle and that is invoked autonomously or by manual input from an operator by the control device configured to communicate with the at least one grenade launched aerial surveillance vehicle.

20. The system according to claim 17, wherein a first operative proximate to a target launches the at least one grenade launched aerial surveillance vehicle and a second operative at a remote location undertakes a survey of a target area.