Drone encroachment avoidance monitor

• US 10,665,117 B2
• Filed: 01/29/2019
• Issued: 05/26/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Timothy Just
• Original Assignee: Timothy Just
• Inventors: Just, Timothy
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Hung T
• Application Number:
  US16/261,212
• Publication Number:
  US 20190164442A1
• Time in Patent Office: 483 Days
• Field of Search: 340435, 340935, 340945, 340952, 340961, 342 27, 342 63, 342175
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 11/02 using radio waves G01S19/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 11/04 using angle measurements
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2205/01 specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 3/04 Details
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 3/043 Receivers
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 3/20 derived by sampling signal received by an antenna system having periodically-varied orientation of directivity characteristic
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 3/26 the separate antennas having differently-oriented directivity characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 3/66 Narrow-beam systems producing in the receiver a pulse-type envelope signal of the carrier wave of the beam, the timing of which is dependent upon the angle between the direction of the transmitter from the receiver and a reference direction from the receiver; Overlapping broad-beam systems defining in the receiver a narrow zone and producing a pulse-type envelope signal of the carrier wave of the beam, the timing of which is dependent upon the angle between the direction of the transmitter from the receiver and a reference direction from the receiver
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/04 Position of source determined by a plurality of spaced direction-finders
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0013 with a ground station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0026 located on the ground
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0043 Traffic management of multiple aircrafts from the ground G08G5/003 takes precedence; data processing specially designed for resource management, e.g. scheduling or allocating time, human or machine resources G06Q10/06
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0065 for taking-off
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0069 specially adapted for an unmanned aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0082 for monitoring traffic from a ground station radar or analogous systems specially adapted for traffic control G01S13/91
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/025 Navigation or guidance aids radar or analogous systems specially adapted for landing purposes G01S13/913
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/42 Housings not intimately mechanically associated with radiating elements, e.g. radome
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 11/08 Helical antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/28 Combinations of substantially independent non-interacting antenna units or systems multiple beam H01Q25/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/30 Combinations of separate antenna units operating in different wavebands and connected to a common feeder system
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/04 : for varying one co-ordinate of the orientation
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/06 : over a restricted angle
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/08 : for varying two co-ordinates of the orientation
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/27 : for locating or positioning the transmitter
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/318 : Received signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18502 : Airborne stations

Abstract

Disclosed are examples of systems, apparatus, methods and computer program products for locating unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). A region of airspace may be scanned with two scanning apparatuses. Each scanning apparatus may include one or more directional Radio Frequency (RF) antennae. The two scanning apparatuses may have different locations. Radio frequency signals emitted by a UAV can be received at each of the two scanning apparatuses. The received radio frequency signals can be processed to determine a first location of the UAV.

Claims

1. A method for detecting unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in a sensitive security area, the method comprising:

scanning, with a plurality of scanning apparatuses, a region of airspace associated with the sensitive security area, each scanning apparatus comprising one or more Radio Frequency (RF) antennae configured to receive a variable amount of radio wave power, the variable amount of radio wave power received by each RF antenna being configured to vary based on an angle between a propagation direction of the received radio wave power and an axis of the antennae, each of the scanning apparatuses having different locations, at least one of the scanning apparatuses being connected with a moveable vehicle;

receiving first radio frequency signals emitted by a first UAV at the scanning apparatuses, a frequency of the first radio frequency signals being a downlink frequency of the first UAV, the first radio frequency signals being downlink signals generated by the first UAV to communicate with a first device controlling the first UAV, the scanning apparatuses being independent from generation of the first radio frequency signals;

processing, based on a signal strength of the first radio frequency signals at the scanning apparatuses and a relative position of the scanning apparatuses with respect to the signal strength of the first radio frequency signals, the first radio frequency signals to determine a first location of the first UAV.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing the first radio frequency signals to a display device, the display device being configured to process the first radio frequency signals to cause display of video captured by a camera of the first UAV, the video being sent by the first UAV to the first device controlling the UAV, the display device being associated with a law enforcement agency.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

scanning, with an aircraft-mounted scanning apparatus, a region of ground space associated with the sensitive security area, the aircraft-mounted scanning apparatus comprising one or more further RF antennae;

receiving, at the aircraft-mounted scanning apparatus, second radio frequency signals corresponding to an uplink frequency of the first UAV, the second radio frequency signals being uplink signals generated by the first device controlling the first UAV, the scanning apparatuses being independent from generation of the second radio frequency signals; and

processing, based on an angular relationship between the location of the aircraft-mounted scanning apparatus and a source of the second radio frequency signals, the second radio frequency signals to determine a first location of the source of the second radio frequency signals.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the uplink frequency is in a range of 1850-1990 MHz or 824-894 MHz.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the scanning apparatuses is mounted on a stationary observation tower.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the sensitive security area is a region including a portion of the US-Mexico border.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensitive security area includes an active wildfire.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a second location of the first UAV; and

determining, using the first and second location of the first UAV, a velocity of the first UAV.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first UAV has a weight of 10 pounds or less.

10. A system for detecting unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in a sensitive security area, the system comprising:

a plurality of scanning apparatuses, each scanning apparatus comprising an array of one or more antennae configured to receive a variable amount of radio wave power, the variable amount of radio wave power received by each RF antenna being configured to vary based on an angle between a propagation direction of the received radio wave power and an axis of the antennae, at least one of the scanning apparatus being connected with a moveable vehicle, each scanning apparatus being configured to;

receiving first radio frequency signals emitted by a first UAV at the scanning apparatuses, a frequency of the first radio frequency signals being a downlink frequency of the first UAV, the first radio frequency signals being downlink signals generated by the first UAV to communicate with a first device controlling the first UAV, the scanning apparatuses being independent from generation of the first radio frequency signals; and

one or more processors in communication with each of the scanning apparatuses, the one or more processors operable to;

receive data from at least two of the plurality of scanning apparatuses;

process, based on a signal strength of the first radio frequency signals at the scanning apparatuses and a relative position of the scanning apparatuses with respect to the signal strength of the first radio frequency signals, the first radio frequency signals to determine a first location of the first UAV.

11. The system of claim 10, the one or more processors being further operable to:

provide the first radio frequency signals to a display device, the display device being configured to process the first radio frequency signals to cause display of video captured by a camera of the first UAV, the video being sent by the first UAV to the first device controlling the UAV, the display device being associated with a law enforcement agency.

12. The system of claim 10, the system further comprising:

an aircraft-mounted scanning apparatus comprising one or more further Radio Frequency (RF) antennae, the aircraft mounted scanning apparatus being configured to;

scan a region of ground space associated with the sensitive security area, and

receive second radio frequency signals corresponding to an uplink frequency of the first UAV, the second radio frequency signals being uplink signals generated by the first device controlling the first UAV, the scanning apparatuses being independent from generation of the second radio frequency signals; and

the one or more processors being further operable to;

process, based on an angular relationship between the location of the aircraft-mounted scanning apparatus and a source of the second radio frequency signals, the second radio frequency signals to determine a first location of the source of the second radio frequency signals.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein at least one of the scanning apparatuses is mounted on a stationary observation tower.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the sensitive security area is a region including a portion of the US-Mexico border.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising computer-readable program code to be executed by one or more processors when retrieved from the non-transitory computer-readable medium, the program code including instructions configured to cause:

scanning, with a plurality of scanning apparatuses, a region of airspace associated with the sensitive security area, each scanning apparatus comprising one or more Radio Frequency (RF) antennae configured to receive a variable amount of radio wave power, the variable amount of radio wave power received by each RF antenna being configured to vary based on an angle between a propagation direction of the received radio wave power and an axis of the antennae, each of the scanning apparatuses having different locations, at least one of the scanning apparatuses being connected with a moveable vehicle;

processing first radio frequency signals emitted by a first UAV at the scanning apparatuses, a frequency of the first radio frequency signals being a downlink frequency of the first UAV, the first radio frequency signals being downlink signals generated by the first UAV to communicate with a first device controlling the first UAV, the scanning apparatuses being independent from generation of the first radio frequency signals;

processing, based on a signal strength of the first radio frequency signals at the scanning apparatuses and a relative position of the scanning apparatuses with respect to the signal strength of the first radio frequency signals, the first radio frequency signals to determine a first location of the first UAV.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, the program code including further instructions configured to cause:

providing the first radio frequency signals to a display device, the display device being configured to process the first radio frequency signals to cause display of video captured by a camera of the first UAV, the video being sent by the first UAV to the first device controlling the UAV, the display device being associated with a law enforcement agency.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, the program code including further instructions configured to cause:

scanning, with an aircraft-mounted scanning apparatus, a region of ground space associated with the sensitive security area, the aircraft-mounted scanning apparatus comprising one or more further RF antennae;

processing, at the aircraft-mounted scanning apparatus, second radio frequency signals corresponding to an uplink frequency of the first UAV, the second radio frequency signals being uplink signals generated by the first device controlling the first UAV, the scanning apparatuses being independent from generation of the second radio frequency signals; and

processing, based on an angular relationship between the location of the aircraft-mounted scanning apparatus and a source of the second radio frequency signals, the second radio frequency signals to determine a first location of the source of the second radio frequency signals.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the uplink frequency is in a range of 1850-1990 MHz or 824-894 MHz.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein at least one of the scanning apparatuses is mounted on a stationary observation tower.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the sensitive security area is a region including a portion of the US-Mexico border.