A system for defeating a threat unmanned aerial vehicle including a friendly unmanned aerial vehicle and a containment system. The containment system is deployable from the friendly unmanned aerial vehicle and includes a signal blocking enclosure and a capturing device. The signal blocking enclosure is formed of a conductive material for shielding radio frequency signals from propagating in or out of the signal blocking enclosure. The capturing device is configured for arresting the threat unmanned aerial vehicle and positioning an arrested threat unmanned aerial vehicle within the signal blocking enclosure.

Embodiments disclosed herein provide for systems and methods for detecting and intercepting drones and drone operators. An example system for disrupting drone attacks comprises a drone detection system configured to detect a hostile drone, a defensive drone control system coupled to the drone detection system and configured to communicate with a first defensive drone, and a first defensive drone configured to receive first data from the defensive drone control system and to use the data to intercept the hostile drone. The system for disrupting drone attacks may further comprise a system configured to identify a control source of the hostile drone, and a second defensive drone configured to receive second data from the defensive drone control system and to use the second data to fly to a location associated with the control source of the hostile drone.

The present disclosure primarily relates to interceptor unmanned aerial systems and methods for countering Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), although the inventions disclosed herein are useful for capture of any aerial object. The system utilizes a rigid effector frame, an effector attached directly to the frame, and at least two propulsion elements connected to the effector frame, and is configured to intercept and disable threat UAS. The disclosed systems can be oriented to any virtually any angle to maximize the chances of intercept.

An apparatus for use as part of, or attached to, an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to intercept and entangle a threat unmanned aerial vehicle, includes a flight and payload control system for controlling power to the UAV and for controlling maneuvering of the UAV. A host-side mount may be coupled to the UAV and is in communication with the flight and payload control system. A payload-side mount is removably attached to the host-side mount and includes a power interface and a control interface between the payload-side mount and the host-side mount. A counter-UAV system is coupled to the payload-side mount and includes a deployable chute net having a cross-sectional area sized for intercepting and entangling the threat unmanned aerial vehicle; and a deployment mechanism for mounting to the unmanned aerial vehicle.

An aircraft for capturing drones includes an airframe having a drone channel with first and second wings extending outboard thereof. A two-dimensional distributed thrust array includes a plurality of propulsion assemblies coupled to each of the first and second wings such that the rotor disc of each propulsion assembly is outboard of the drone channel. A flight control system is coupled to the airframe and is operable to independently control each of the propulsion assemblies. A mesh bag is coupled to the drone channel forming a drone capture net. The aircraft is configured to convert between thrust-borne lift in a VTOL orientation and wing-borne lift in a biplane orientation. The aircraft is also configured to overtake a drone during flight in the biplane orientation such that the drone passes through the drone channel into the mesh bag, thereby capturing the drone in the drone capture net.

Methods and apparatuses for vehicles, including unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV). A method for traffic control can include detecting a traffic condition; determining whether to adjust a virtual traffic sign responsive to detecting the traffic condition; and adjusting the virtual traffic sign based on the traffic condition. Adjusting the virtual traffic sign can include encoding a message for transmission to a base station within a range of the virtual traffic sign, the message including at least one of a virtual traffic sign type and a virtual traffic sign value. Other methods, systems, and apparatuses are described.

The present disclosure primarily relates to interceptor unmanned aerial systems and methods for countering Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), although the inventions disclosed herein are useful for capture of any aerial object. The system utilizes a rigid effector frame, an effector attached directly to the frame, and at least two propulsion elements connected to the effector frame, and is configured to intercept and disable threat UAS. The disclosed systems can be oriented to any virtually any angle to maximize the chances of intercept.

An aerial vehicle system comprises a radar system and a processor. The radar system is configured to transmit a radar signal. The transmitted radar signal is reflected off an object to produce a reflected radar signal. The radar system is configured to receive the reflected radar signal and provide a signature associated with the reflected radar signal. The signature has been adjusted based at least in part on a flight parameter of the aerial vehicle system. The processor is configured to classify the object as an unmanned aerial vehicle based on the adjusted signature and initiate an action based on a classification of the object.

An apparatus for capturing flying objects has a camera system with at least one camera for video monitoring a monitoring space, and a control unit for controlling the camera system and evaluating the video frames captured by the camera arrangement. The camera system can selectively operate in a non-zoom mode or in a zoom mode. Recognizing a flying object of interest in the monitoring space is accomplished on the basis of a multi-stage classification of flying objects in a region of interest initially based on video frames captured by the camera system in the non-zoom mode and then possibly on video frames captured by the camera system in the zoom mode.

A system for detecting and neutralizing a target aerial vehicle comprises a counter-attack unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) comprising a flight body and a flight control system supported about the flight body operable to facilitate flight of the UAV, and an aerial vehicle countermeasure supported by the flight body. The system can comprise an aerial vehicle detection system comprising at least one detection sensor operable to detect a target aerial vehicle while in-flight, and operable to provide command data to the counter-attack UAV to facilitate interception of the target aerial vehicle by the counter-attack UAV. Upon interception of the target aerial vehicle, the counter-attack UAV is operable to disrupt operation of the detected target aerial vehicle with the aerial vehicle capture countermeasure, thereby neutralizing the target aerial vehicle. The counter-attack UAV and systems may be autonomously operated. Associated systems and methods are provided.