DE102019135246B4 - Aircraft and method for intercepting a drone - Google Patents

Abstract

Aircraft (10) for intercepting a drone (100), having: - a buoyancy unit (11) for generating airworthy buoyancy, - a fuselage (14) connected to the buoyancy unit (11), wherein a launching device ( 16) is provided for intercepting at least one drone (100), which is designed to launch a large number of interception threads (19) in a predetermined direction in order to intercept the drone (100), characterized in that the interception threads (19) on a first End portion of a safety line (20) are attached, which is attached to an opposite second end portion of the aircraft (10).

Description

The invention relates to an aircraft for intercepting a drone, the aircraft having a buoyancy unit and a fuselage connected to the buoyancy unit. The invention also relates to a method for intercepting a drone using such an aircraft.

With the increasing spread of end customer UAVs, also known as drones or small drones, the importance of suitable defense mechanisms is increasing. Because the infiltration of restricted areas, such as airports, nuclear power plants or other security-critical facilities, by remote-controlled small drones represents a major security risk, since such small drones can also be used for terrorist purposes.

Due to the small size of such small drones, defending such aircraft with conventional defense devices (e.g. weapons) is problematic. Shooting down such a drone over inhabited areas is also not uncritical, as collateral damage must be expected.

One way to prevent remote-controlled drones from continuing their flight is to jam the remote control radio signal. However, this measure, known as "jamming", has the disadvantage that the entire frequency range is disrupted, which means that other radio signals that shouldn't actually be disrupted are also disrupted. This can also be described as collateral damage. In addition, this does not prevent the drone from continuing to fly autonomously even without remote control. Jamming is therefore not a reliable hindrance to onward flight.

From the DE 10 2016 211 371 A1 a defense device for defense against small and manned aircraft is known, the defense device comprising a launching device for an impact shield. The impact shield is fired from a starting device on the ground and catches the drone to be defended against using a net that is contained in the impact shield. The disadvantage here is that this type of defense is only successful in relatively small areas and, moreover, the drone to be intercepted can avoid the catching device by means of suitable evasive maneuvers without preventing the drone from continuing its flight. Since only one attempt is possible with the impact shield, the number of defense attempts is limited to the number of impact shields.

From the DE 10 2015 008 255 A1 a defense drone for defense against small drones is known, the defense drone having an effector which is dropped over and in the immediate vicinity of the small drone. After dropping the effector, a pyrotechnic explosive charge is detonated, through which the effector releases a large number of threads, which are intended to prevent the small drones from continuing their flight. The disadvantage here is that the defense drone has to be controlled very closely to the drone to be intercepted, with the accuracy of the target being very low due to the dropping of the effector and the subsequent ignition of the effector. There is a risk of an evasive manoeuvre.

From the DE 10 2015 008 365 A1 a defense drone is known which has a support element falling downwards in the form of a line to which a large number of hooks are attached in order to use these hooks to catch the drone to be intercepted and to prevent it from continuing to fly. The disadvantage here is that very agile drones are difficult to capture using this mechanical solution.

US 2019/0 285 388 A1 discloses an anti-drone system in which an anti-drone follows a target drone using an on-board camera, determines a launch angle, taking wind conditions into account, and uses this angle to drop a charge of flexible streamer rolls in the direction of the target drone, which then moves along a target route unfurl and get caught, for example, in the propellers of the target drone. This is intended to cause the target drone to crash, with the result of the launch being evaluated by means of the on-board camera, for example based on a detected vertical acceleration of the target drone.

the WO 2018/129615 A1 discloses a system and method for countering a target drone by generating a three-dimensional disruptive cloud in a pre-computed trajectory of the target drone. The flying ability of the target drone, in particular with regard to lift and thrust, is to be impaired by the disruptive bodies. In this case, the ability to fly should preferably only be restricted in order to prevent the target drone from falling freely on the ground with any resulting damage to property or persons.

the DE 10 2015 008 255 A1 relates to a defense drone for small drones with an effector provided on the fuselage and a device for dropping the effector. The effector features a multitude of threads that wrap around the mini drone's propeller or clog a mini drone's jet engine. This should make it at least partially incapable of flight and cause it to crash.

In the DE 10 2019 114 000 A1 describes a capture system for small drones in which a computer-controlled or remote-controlled defense drone has capture means in the form of threads or tapes in which the target drone gets caught. The capture means are attached to the defense drone, for example, on a fold-out rod and can thus be unfolded as required.

Against this background, the object of the present invention is to provide an improved aircraft and an improved method for accurately and reliably repelling small drones and preventing them from continuing to fly, regardless of the flight characteristics of the drone to be repelled and largely independent of restrictive weather conditions.

The object is achieved with the aircraft for intercepting a drone according to claim 1 and the method for intercepting a drone according to claim 9 according to the invention. Advantageous configurations of the invention can be found in the corresponding subclaims.

According to claim 1, an aircraft, in particular a drone or interceptor drone/defense drone, is proposed that has a buoyancy unit for generating airworthy buoyancy and a fuselage connected to the buoyancy unit. The buoyancy unit can, for example, comprise one or more rotors (with propellers or rotor blades) connected to a motor device. However, other lift units are also conceivable, such as wing structures in conjunction with engines.

Provision is made for the drone to have a launching device arranged on the fuselage for intercepting at least one drone, with the launching device being designed to launch a large number of intercepting threads in a predetermined direction in order to intercept the drone.

By firing the interceptor threads in a predetermined direction, in particular in the direction of the drone to be intercepted, the intercepting means, in the present case the interceptor threads, can be transported in a targeted manner in the immediate vicinity of the drone to be intercepted without having to fear the risk that the interceptor drone or the aircraft itself is affected by the arresting threads. The firing of the interceptor threads from the aircraft enables the targeted and reliable defense against drones, whereby the influence of prevailing weather conditions on the accuracy of the interceptor threads is significantly reduced by the firing of the interceptor threads.

An aircraft within the meaning of the present invention is understood to mean a flying object that is in particular unmanned and flies remotely or autonomously. The aircraft in the sense of the present invention is in particular a drone or defense drone/interceptor drone that weighs less than 100 kg, preferably less than 50 kg, particularly preferably less than 30 kg. A defense drone or intercept drone is, in particular, a remote-controlled or autonomously flying drone that includes means for repelling or intercepting other drones.

In the context of the present invention, the drone to be intercepted is in particular a small drone that has a weight of less than 100 kg, preferably less than 50 kg, particularly preferably less than 30 kg.

Repelling or intercepting a drone means in particular that the drone is prevented from continuing its flight. With the help of the interception threads, it can be achieved that the drone to be warded off or intercepted becomes unable to fly and can therefore no longer reach it in a targeted manner.

The firing of the capture threads from the firing device is understood in particular to mean that the capture threads are ejected from the firing device with a certain force in order to move them away from the aircraft.

According to one embodiment, it is provided that the intercepting threads are formed from a material suitable for blocking moving parts of the drone to be intercepted.

Such moving parts of the drone to be intercepted are, in particular, rotors (with propellers or rotor blades), which rotate quickly about the rotor axis. The interception threads disrupt the mechanics of the rotors and, in particular, reduce the rotational speed to such an extent that the rotors no longer generate enough lift to keep the drone to be intercepted airworthy.

However, it is also conceivable that the weight of the drone to be intercepted is increased by the arresting threads in such a way that the lift generated by the rotors or other lift units is so insufficient that the drone becomes unable to fly. For this purpose, it is advantageous if the interception threads are adhesive in such a way that they adhere to the drone to be intercepted (for example by means of an adhesive agent or by static charge) in order to make the drone unable to escape.

However, it is also conceivable that the intercepting threads are electrically conductive, as a result of which electromagnetic shielding can be achieved, which interferes with the reception of radio signals.

According to one embodiment, it is provided that the capture threads are formed from an at least partially biodegradable material. Biodegradable here means in particular that the scavenging threads are biodegraded in less than 5 years, preferably in less than 3 years, preferably in less than one year, i. H. decompose in the environment through biological processes. In this way it can be achieved that, after the use of the intercepting threads, they do not have to be collected from the contaminated area and disposed of in a laborious manner.

For example, the capture threads can be formed from an internal material that is not biodegradable (e.g. metal material, glass fiber, carbon fiber), which is then encased by a biodegradable material (e.g. biodegradable plastics).

According to one embodiment, it is provided that the plurality of capture threads are accommodated in a first compressed state in the launching device, with the capture threads cooperating with the launching device in such a way that, by firing the capture threads, they move from the first compressed state into a second unfolded state outside of the launching device brought to intercept the drone.

For example, the intercepting threads can be received in the firing device in a rolled-up state, with the firing of the rolled-up intercepting threads converting them into an unrolled state and thus unfolding in an elongated manner. By compressing the flares, a large number of flares can be accommodated in a small space without sacrificing the effectiveness of catching the drone.

Compression is understood here to mean that the arresting threads are in a form in which they are generally not suitable for arresting the drone. In the compressed form, a large number of arresting threads can be accommodated in a very small space in such a way that they can be moved away from the aircraft by the launching device, with the arresting threads then unfolding in such a way that they are suitable for intercepting the drone.

As a result, the interception threads are accommodated in the launching device in the compressed form in such a way that they have a higher density (matter/mass per volume) there than in the launched and uncompressed second state in order to intercept the drone.

Provision is made for the arresting threads to be attached to a first end section of an arresting line, which is attached to the aircraft with an opposite second end section.

As a result, the arresting threads are indirectly connected to the aircraft via the arresting line, so that the aircraft can be caught using the arresting threads. This is particularly advantageous when the arresting threads get caught and caught in the moving parts of the drone to be intercepted, for example the rotor blades of the rotor, so that the drone to be intercepted is connected to the aircraft via the arresting line. The aircraft can transport the captured drone out of the security area and thus clear the danger zone. Both the interception of the drone and the disposal of the drone take place in the same process step.

According to an embodiment of this, it is provided that the arresting line is accommodated together with the arresting threads in the first compressed state in the launching device. In this way, both the arresting line and the arresting threads can be accommodated in the launching device in the smallest of spaces.

According to one embodiment, it is provided that the aircraft has a sensor system for recording flight data of the drone to be intercepted and has a control and triggering unit for controlling the aircraft on an intercept course to the drone to be intercepted and for triggering the launching device depending on the recorded flight data of the drone to be intercepted is set up.

This makes it possible for the aircraft to autonomously and autonomously control the drone to be intercepted and then to detach it by triggering the launching device, as a result of which the arresting threads and, if necessary, the arresting line are shot out of the launching device. Based on the recorded flight data of the drone to be intercepted, an interception course is automatically calculated, with the interception course being calculated continuously in order to take into account changes in direction, altitude and speed of the drone to be intercepted.

According to one embodiment it is provided that the aircraft is an interceptor drone. Such an interceptor drone can in particular be a small drone of less than 100 kg, preferably less than 50 kg and particularly preferably less than 30 kg. The interceptor drone may have a lift unit in the form of one or more rotors, each rotatably driven by a motor unit.

In principle, the launching device can be set up to fire the capture threads out of the launching device by using the firing device to exert a force on the capture threads by the firing device, as a result of which the capture threads are moved in the specified direction. This force is an additional force in addition to the force of gravity (natural gravitational force) also acting on the arresting threads.

The launching device can be designed in such a way that it shoots the interception threads out of the launching device with the aid of a pyrotechnic charge (propellant charge controlled explosive charge, for example black powder). However, it is also conceivable for the intercepting threads to be shot out using a mechanical force device, for example using a tensioned spring element or other elastic force elements.

Furthermore, the launching device can be set up to shoot out the capture threads in such a way that they are moved away from the aircraft by at least twice the length of the aircraft in one spatial direction (for example the longitudinal axis).

• - Positionieren des Fluggerätes relativ zu der abzufangenden Drohne, und
• - Abschießen einer Vielzahl von Abfangfäden in eine vorgegebene Richtung aus einer Abschusseinrichtung des Fluggerätes, um die Drohne abzufangen,

wobei die Abfangfäden nach Abschuss aus der Abschusseinrichtung durch eine Abfangleine an dem Fluggerät gehalten werden.The object is also achieved according to the invention with the method according to claim 8, the method comprising the following steps

• - positioning of the aircraft relative to the drone to be intercepted, and
• - Firing a large number of interception threads in a specified direction from a launching device of the aircraft in order to intercept the drone,

the arresting threads being held on the aircraft by an arresting line after being launched from the launching device.

According to one embodiment, it is provided
According to one embodiment, it is provided that the arresting threads are fired from the aircraft in the direction of the drone to be intercepted in such a way that moving parts of the drone to be intercepted are blocked by the arresting threads.

According to one embodiment, it is provided that when the arresting threads are launched, they are brought from a first compressed state, in which they are received in the launching device of the aircraft, into a second unfolded state outside the launching device, in order to intercept the drone.

According to one embodiment, it is provided that flight data of the drone to be intercepted is continuously recorded by means of a sensor system of the aircraft, with the aircraft of the drone to be intercepted being steered to an intercept course for the drone to be intercepted by means of a control and triggering unit depending on the recorded flight data and the launching device for Firing of the interception threads is triggered.

• 1 schematische Darstellung einer Abfangdrohne als Fluggerät;
• 2 schematische Darstellung des Abfangens einer Drohne;
• 3 schematische Darstellung einer Abschusseinrichtung.

The invention is explained in more detail by way of example on the basis of the accompanying figures. Show it:

• 1 schematic representation of an interceptor drone as an aircraft;
• 2 schematic representation of the interception of a drone;
• 3 schematic representation of a launcher.

1 shows a highly simplified schematic illustration of an interceptor drone 10 as an aircraft within the meaning of the present invention, the interceptor drone having a lift unit 11 which is designed to generate an airworthy lift for the interceptor drone 10 . The buoyancy unit 11 is in the exemplary embodiment of FIG 1 a rotor assembly consisting of at least three or four rotors 12. Each of the rotors 12 is operatively connected to an independent motor unit 13 of the buoyancy unit 11 in such a way that the rotors 12 can be rotated in order to generate the necessary airworthy lift.

The buoyancy unit 11 is also attached to a fuselage 14 on which a landing gear 15 is arranged.

Furthermore, a launching device 16 is arranged on the fuselage 14 in order, as will be shown later, to be able to shoot out interceptor threads from the interceptor drone 10 .

Furthermore, the interceptor drone 10 has a sensor system 17 in order to be able to detect a drone to be intercepted. With the help of the sensor system 17, flight data of the drone to be intercepted can be recorded and sent to a control and release unit be forwarded to unit 18, which is set up to control the interceptor drone 10 at least partially independently and to trigger the launching device 16 as a function of the recorded flight data of the drone to be intercepted.

2 shows schematically an embodiment in which the launching device 16 of the interceptor drone 10 was triggered. In the process, arresting threads 19 were fired from the launching device, the arresting threads 19 being arranged on an arresting line 20 . The interception line 20 is attached to the interception drone 10 or the launching device 16 so that the interception threads 19 are connected to the interception drone 10 via the interception line 20 .

The intercept drone 10 has identified a drone 100 that is considered potentially dangerous and must therefore be intercepted. The interceptor drone 10 went or flew on an intercept course to the drone 100 to be intercepted and shot the interceptor sutures 19 out of the launching device 16 within a certain range of the drone 100 to be intercepted.

The interception threads 19 are designed in such a way that they are suitable for blocking moving parts of the drone to be intercepted. The interception threads 19 get caught in a rotor 110 of the drone 100 to be intercepted and block it so that it can no longer rotate. As a result, the drone 100 becomes incapable of flying and is thus prevented from continuing to fly. Since the interception threads 19 are in operative connection with the interception drone 10 via the interception line 20, the drone 100 to be intercepted can be transported out of the relevant area. This is because the arresting threads 19 get caught in the rotor 110 in such a way that the drone 100 is more or less caught.

3 shows the launching device 16, as on the interceptor drone 10 from the 1 and 2 is known. In the launching device 16 there is a propellant charge 21 which is designed to eject or shoot out the intercepting threads 19 introduced into the launching device 16 . The propellant charge 21 can be a pyrotechnic propellant charge, for example.

The intercepting threads 19 are present within the launching device 16 in a compressed first state. In the embodiment of 3 the intercepting threads 19 are rolled up in the launching device 16 . The coiled-up arresting threads 19 are connected to the arresting line 20 .

If the scavenging threads 19 in the first state are ejected or shot out of the launching device 16, the scavenging threads 19 unfold and unroll, so that they are transferred into a second, .mu.m, compressed state. This one is on the right side of the 3 shown.

Reference List

10

Interceptor drone/aircraft

11

buoyancy unit

12

rotor

13

motor unit

14

hull

15

landing gear

16

launcher

17

sensor system

18

Control and trigger unit

19

catch threads

20

safety line

21

propellant

100

drone to be intercepted

110

Rotor of the drone to be intercepted

Claims (11)

Aircraft (10) for intercepting a drone (100), comprising: - a buoyancy unit (11) for generating airworthy buoyancy, - a fuselage (14) connected to the buoyancy unit (11), wherein a launching device ( 16) is provided for intercepting at least one drone (100), which is designed to launch a large number of interception threads (19) in a predetermined direction in order to intercept the drone (100), characterized in that the interception threads (19) on a first End portion of a safety line (20) are attached, which is attached to an opposite second end portion of the aircraft (10). Aircraft (10) after claim 1 , characterized in that the interception threads (19) are made of a material suitable for blocking moving parts of the drone (100) to be intercepted. Aircraft (10) after claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that the capture threads (19) are formed from an at least partially biodegradable material. Aircraft (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the plurality of capture threads (19) in a first compressed state are accommodated in the launching device (16), with the intercepting threads (19) interacting with the launching device (16) in such a way that, when the intercepting threads (19) are launched, they move from the first compressed state into a second unfolded state outside of the launching device (16 ) to intercept the drone (100). Aircraft (10) after claim 4 , characterized in that the arresting line (20) together with the arresting threads (19) are accommodated in the first compressed state in the launching device (16). Aircraft (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the aircraft (10) has a sensor system (17) for recording flight data of the drone (100) to be intercepted and has a control and triggering unit (18) which is used to control the Aircraft (10) is set up on an intercept course to the drone (100) to be intercepted and for triggering the launching device (16) depending on the recorded flight data of the drone (100) to be intercepted. Aircraft (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the aircraft (10) is an interceptor drone. Method for intercepting a drone (100) using an aircraft (10), the method comprising the following steps: - Positioning the aircraft (10) relative to the drone (100) to be intercepted, and - Launching a large number of arresting threads (19) in a predetermined direction from a launching device (16) of the aircraft (10) in order to intercept the drone (100), the arresting threads (19) after being launched from the launching device (16) by an arresting line (20) are held on the aircraft (10). procedure after claim 8 , characterized in that the interception threads (19) are fired from the aircraft (10) in the direction of the drone (100) to be intercepted in such a way that moving parts of the drone (100) to be intercepted are blocked by the interception threads (19). procedure after claim 8 or 9 , characterized in that when the arresting threads (19) are launched, they are brought from a first compressed state, in which they are accommodated in the launching device (16) of the aircraft (10), into a second unfolded state outside the launching device (16), to intercept the drone (100). Procedure according to one of Claims 8 until 10 , characterized in that flight data of the drone (100) to be intercepted is continuously recorded by means of a sensor system (17) of the aircraft (10), with a control and triggering unit (18) depending on the recorded flight data the aircraft (10) of the drone to be intercepted Drone (100) is controlled on an intercept course to the drone (100) to be intercepted and the launching device (16) for launching the interception threads (19) is triggered.

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