Non-lethal smart weapon with computer vision

• US 10,288,398 B1
• Filed: 08/07/2018
• Issued: 05/14/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nicholas A. Verini
• Original Assignee: Nicholas A. Verini
• Inventors: Verini, Nicholas A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hess, Daniel A
• Application Number:
  US16/056,526
• Time in Patent Office: 280 Days
• Field of Search: 235404
• CPC Class Codes: F41C 27/06 Adaptations of smallarms for firing grenades, e.g. rifle grenades, or for firing riot-control ammunition; Barrel attachments therefor signal pistols F41C3/02
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 13/0006 Ballistically deployed systems for restraining persons or animals, e.g. ballistically deployed nets
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 13/0025 for remote electrical discharge via conducting wires, e.g. via wire-tethered electrodes shot at a target
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 13/0068 the high-energy beam being of microwave type, e.g. for causing a heating effect in the target
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 13/0075 the high-energy beam being a radiofrequency beam
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 13/0081 the high-energy beam being acoustic, e.g. sonic, infrasonic or ultrasonic
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 13/0087 the high-energy beam being a bright light, e.g. for dazzling or blinding purposes F41H13/0056 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 13/0093 Devices generating an electromagnetic pulse, e.g. for disrupting or destroying electronic devices
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 10/06 Tail fins
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 10/14 using fins spread or deployed after launch, e.g. after leaving the barrel
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 10/143 Lattice or grid fins
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 10/50 Brake flaps , e.g. inflatable
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 10/52 Nose cones
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 10/54 Spin braking means
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 10/64 of fins
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/202 for attacking land area or area targets, e.g. airburst
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/207 characterised by the explosive material or the construction of the high explosive warhead, e.g. insensitive ammunition
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/36 for dispensing materials; for producing chemical or physical reaction; for signalling ; for transmitting information
• 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 12/42 of illuminating type, e.g. carrying flares
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/46 : for dispensing gases, vapours, powders or chemically-reactive substances F42B12/70 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/50 : by dispersion
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/52 : Fuel-air explosive devices
• 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: F42B 15/34 : Protection against overheating or radiation, e.g. heat shields; Additional cooling arrangements thermal protection fitted in or to cosmonautic vehicles B64G1/58
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 30/006 : Mounting of sensors, antennas or target trackers on projectiles
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 5/025 : characterised by the dimension of the case or the missile
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 5/145 : for dispensing gases, vapours, powders, particles or chemically-reactive substances from projectiles F42B12/46
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/103 : Static body considered as a whole, e.g. static pedestrian or occupant recognition

Abstract

A non-lethal, non-impact smart projectile fired from a suitable launcher and equipped with a digital camera, CPU microprocessor and computer vision programming that can recognize a designated target and track a moving target, while moving at high speed. An image dataset of the target stored in memory of the CPU that enables the projectile to recognize a human or small UAV “drone” in real time within fractions of a second. A steering and braking system comprising several fins/air brakes, controlled by the CPU and MEMS micro-actuators, that enable the projectile to track a moving target or slow the projectile down. A projectile equipped with actuators that dispenses a non-lethal, non-impact payload or payloads as the projectile approaches the target.

Claims

1. A non-lethal projectile to deter a human, the non-lethal projectile comprising:

a housing designed for propulsion from a barrel;

said housing having a forward-facing camera equipped to sense a wavelength of light;

said forward facing camera feeding a real time signal to a processor;

said processor having an image recognition database which enables a recognition of a human;

a distance to target means functioning to determine when the target is a selected distance from the projectile; and

sending a trigger notice to the processor when the selected distance is reached;

an on board actuator having a means to release a non-lethal payload from the housing;

said processor triggering the onboard actuator when the distance is reached;

said non-lethal payload selected from the group consisting of gas, gel, liquid, powder, sound waves, light waves, electro-magnetic waves and electric projectiles;

said non-lethal payload providing a thrust vector in an opposite direction from a direction of travel of the non-lethal projectile, thereby slowing the housing upon the triggering of the onboard actuator;

said housing having a steering fin controlled by the processor using a human image signal from the camera to guide the non-lethal projectile to the human; and

wherein a braking fin is actuated by the processor to substantially stop any part of the housing from hitting the human.

2. The non-lethal projectile of claim 1, wherein the distance to target means further comprises an active energy transmitter and receiver.

3. The non-lethal projectile of claim 1, wherein the distance to target means further comprises a ratio of a size of camera image of a human in relation to a background size of the camera.

4. The non-lethal projectile of claim 3, wherein the ratio ranges from about 80 to about 90 percent.

5. The non-lethal projectile of claim 1, wherein the processor is on board the housing.

6. The non-lethal projectile of claim 1, wherein the on board actuator has a means to release a plurality of non-lethal payloads.

7. The non-lethal projectile of claim 1, wherein the housing self-destructs by force from the force from the onboard actuator upon its triggering.

8. The non-lethal projectile of claim 1, wherein the housing is designed to be discharged from a firearm.

9. The non-lethal projectile of claim 8, wherein the processor is in the firearm.

10. The non-lethal projectile of claim 1, wherein the housing is designed to be discharged from a gas discharge weapon.

11. The non-lethal projectile of claim 10, wherein the processor is in the gas discharge weapon.

12. The non-lethal projectile of claim 1, wherein the selected distance from the projectile ranges from about two feet to about five feet.

13. The non-lethal projectile of claim 1, wherein the housing further comprises a frangible front head.

14. The non-lethal projectile of claim 1, wherein the electric projectiles carry an electric charge supplied by a capacitor or a battery on board the housing.

15. A non-lethal projectile to disable a drone, the non-lethal projectile comprising:

a housing designed for propulsion from a barrel;

said housing having a forward-facing camera equipped to sense a wavelength of light;

said forward facing camera feeding a real time signal to a processor;

said processor having an image recognition database which enables a recognition of a drone;

a distance to target means functioning to determine when the target is a selected distance from the projectile;

and sending a trigger notice to the processor when the selected distance is reached;

an on board actuator having a means to release a non-lethal payload from the housing;

said processor triggering the onboard actuator when the distance is reached;

said non-lethal payload selected from the group consisting of electro-magnetic waves, and netting;

said non-lethal payload providing a thrust vector in an opposite direction from a direction of travel of the non-lethal projectile, thereby slowing the housing upon the triggering of the onboard actuator;

said housing having a steering fin controlled by the processor using a drone image signal from the camera to guide the non-lethal projectile to the drone; and

wherein a braking fin is actuated by the processor to substantially stop any part of the housing from hitting the drone.

16. The non-lethal projectile of claim 15, wherein the distance to target means further comprises an active energy transmitter and receiver.

17. The non-lethal projectile of claim 15, wherein the distance to target means further comprises a ratio of a size of camera image of a drone in relation to a background size of the camera.

18. The non-lethal projectile of claim 15, wherein the processor is on board the housing.

19. A non-lethal projectile designed to be discharged from a barrel, the non-lethal projectile comprising:

a housing having a forward-facing camera which feeds a real time signal to an on board processor;

said on board processor having a target recognition database and a range finding algorithm;

an actuator in the housing that discharges a payload upon command from the processor based on a proper target recognition and a selected range to target;

said payload providing a force vector opposite a direction of travel of the housing so as to slow down the housing;

said housing having a steering fin controlled by the processor to slow down the housing upon command from the processor.

20. The non-lethal projectile of claim 19, wherein the payload is selected from a group consisting of a gas, a gel, a powder, a sound wave, a light wave, an electromagnetic wave, an electrode, and a net.