System, Method, and Apparatus for Countering Improvised Explosive Devices (IED)

• US 20080083320A1
• Filed: 10/05/2006
• Published: 04/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Inventors: Wilson, Ronald L., Chang, Tony S.
• Application Number:
  US11/538,995
• Publication Number:
  US 20080083320A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 89/1.13
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 11/16 Self-propelled mine-clearing vehicles; Mine-clearing devices attachable to vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 13/0075 the high-energy beam being a radiofrequency beam
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 33/06 Dismantling fuzes, cartridges, projectiles, missiles, rockets or bombs F42B33/004 and F42B33/04 take precedence; elimination of undesirable components of explosives C06B21/0091
• CPC Class Codes: F42C 15/42 from a remote location, e.g. for controlled mines or mine fields
• CPC Class Codes: F42D 5/02 Locating undetonated charges
• CPC Class Codes: F42D 5/04 Rendering explosive charges harmless, e.g. destroying ammunition F42B39/14 and F42B39/20 take precedence ; extracting primers, dismantling ammunition F42B33/04, F42B33/06 ; chemical deactivating of explosives C06B21/0091; Rendering detonation of explosive charges harmless
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 2203/24 for communication related to weapons
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 2203/34 involving multiple cooperating jammers
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 3/42 characterized by the control of the jamming frequency or wavelength
• 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 3/65 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

Abstract

A platform for countering terrorist devices improvised explosive devices (IEDs) that are detonated by infrared (IR) signals is used to prematurely trigger the IEDs, and scan geographic areas from covert positions to detect the planting of IEDs regardless of the fusing method. An unmanned scansorial vehicle equipped with an IR emulator can trigger IEDs to detonate as the terrorists plant them. In addition, the surveillance capabilities of the scansorial vehicles are used to identify insurgents that plant IEDs.

Claims

1. A system for countering improvised explosive devices (IEDs), comprising:

an unmanned scansorial vehicle for providing surveillance by scanning a geographic area from a covert position to detect IEDs, the unmanned scansorial vehicle being automated and mobile to travel through the geographic area; and

an emulator for emitting communications signals to prematurely detonate IEDs, the emulator being equipped to cycle through and repeat a range of the communications signals to detonate IEDs at different frequencies.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the communications signals comprise beams that detonate IEDs regardless of a fusing method of the IEDs, including IR, RF, wire, and timer.

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein the IEDs and the emulator operate with IR communications signals.

4. A system according to claim 1, wherein the wherein the unmanned scansorial vehicle records and provides visual images of activity in the geographic area.

5. A system according to claim 1, wherein the wherein the unmanned scansorial vehicle is camouflaged.

6. A system according to claim 5, wherein the unmanned scansorial vehicle resembles power line and telecommunications equipment.

7. A system according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of unmanned scansorial vehicles deployed throughout the geographic area, each of which is provided electrical power and telecommunications capabilities from a system of transmission towers having electrical power lines and a telecommunications network.

8. A system according to claim 7, wherein at least some of the plurality of unmanned scansorial vehicles are mobilized to move among the transmission towers along the electrical power lines and the telecommunications network.

9. A system according to claim 7, wherein at least some of the plurality of unmanned scansorial vehicles are human-deployable, non-climbing derivative devices, and other ones of the plurality of unmanned scansorial vehicles are placed on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV).

10. A system for countering improvised explosive devices (IEDs) detonated by infrared (IR) signals, comprising:

a plurality of unmanned scansorial vehicles for providing surveillance by scanning a geographic area from covert positions to detect IEDs, the unmanned scansorial vehicles being automated and mobile to travel through the geographic area, and each of the unmanned scansorial vehicles adapted to be provided with electrical power and telecommunications capabilities from a system of transmission towers having electrical power lines and a telecommunications network; and

an emulator for each of the unmanned scansorial vehicles, and each emulator emitting IR communications signals to prematurely detonate IEDs, the emulators being equipped to cycle through and repeat a range of the IR communications signals to detonate IEDs at different frequencies.

11. A system according to claim 10, wherein the unmanned scansorial vehicles record and provide visual images of activity in the geographic area.

12. A system according to claim 10, wherein the unmanned scansorial vehicles are camouflaged.

13. A system according to claim 10, wherein the unmanned scansorial vehicles are configured to resemble power line equipment and common urban area artifacts.

14. A system according to claim 10, wherein at least some of the plurality of unmanned scansorial vehicles are mobilized to move among the transmission towers along the electrical power lines and the telecommunications network.

15. A system according to claim 10, wherein at least some of the plurality of unmanned scansorial vehicles are human-deployable, non-climbing derivative devices, and other ones of the plurality of unmanned scansorial vehicles are placed on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV).

16. A method of countering improvised explosive devices (IEDs) detonated by infrared (IR) signals, comprising:

(a) providing unmanned scansorial vehicles that are automated, mobile, and equipped with emulators for emitting IR communications signals;

(b) deploying the unmanned scansorial vehicles in covert positions in a geographic area, the unmanned scansorial vehicles periodically relocating throughout the geographic area via a system of transmission towers having electrical power lines and a telecommunications network;

(c) surveying the geographic area with the unmanned scansorial vehicles to detect IEDs;

(d) providing the unmanned scansorial vehicles with electrical power and telecommunications capabilities from the system of transmission towers having electrical power lines and a telecommunications network;

(e) cycling the emulators through and repeating a range of the IR communications signals to operate at different frequencies; and

(f) emitting IR communications signals with the emulators to prematurely detonate IEDs.

17. A method according to claim 16, wherein step (c) comprises records and providing visual images of activity in the geographic area with the unmanned scansorial vehicles.

18. A method according to claim 16, further comprising camouflaging the unmanned scansorial vehicles to resemble power line equipment and common urban area artifacts, and mobilizing at least some of the unmanned scansorial vehicles to move among the transmission towers along the electrical power lines and the telecommunications network.

19. A method according to claim 16, wherein at least some of the unmanned scansorial vehicles are human-deployed, non-climbing derivative devices, and other ones of the unmanned scansorial vehicles are airborne on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV).