Presented herein are embodiments of signal detection and location finding directed to a “Signature Detector and Direction Finder” (SDDF) add-on module. The SDDF is an add-on module to any Signal Detection System (SDS) that detects, locates, and/or tracks any type(s) of Radio Frequency (RF) signals. Even though the presented embodiments can be used with any RF signal type, the preferred targets are Uncrewed Aerial Vehicles (UAV) or drones, and their controllers. A goal of the SDDF add-on module is to recognize the reported signal of interest and identify its direction. The machine-learning feature enables the system (i.e. SDDF add-on module with SDS) to be deployable in various environments with flexibility in choosing the antenna type(s). The Signature Detector component of the SDDF add-on module uniquely filters drone/controller signals, hence, more accurate direction estimation of the detected signal by SDDF add-on module.

Disclosed are a system and method for aiming and/or guiding an interceptor Unmanned Aerial Vehicle to eliminate target Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, by holding the interceptor UAV to the direction of the target or by the use of a portable computer such as a table combined with the computer onboard camera and internal sensor to aim and guide the interceptor UAV toward the aerial threat by the operator. The UAV has a propulsion subsystem, imaging subsystem, flight sensors, and a computer processor that determine an intercept course for the UAV to the target using the sensors and the disable the target.

Methods and apparatuses are provided for estimating a path of an aerial vehicle engaged in attacking network devices in a wireless communication network. A distance function corresponding to the aerial vehicle and a boundary node is determined based on an initial coordinate location of the aerial vehicle and an initial coordinate location of the boundary node. A function of jamming power received at the boundary node from the aerial vehicle is determined based at least on the first distance function and a transmission power of the boundary node. The function of jamming power represents a power associated with a jamming signal received from the aerial vehicle at the boundary node. A trajectory of the aerial vehicle at a plurality of time periods is estimated by the boundary node with an extended Kalman filter. The extended Kalman filter is determined based on the function of jamming power.

Improved systems, apparatus, and methods for enhanced positioning of an airborne relocatable communication hub supporting wireless devices are described. Such a method begins with moving an aerial communication drone operating as the airborne relocatable communication hub to a first deployed airborne position, detecting a first signal broadcast by a first wireless device using a communication hub interface on the drone, and detecting a second signal broadcast by a second wireless device using the communication hub interface. The method has the drone comparing a first connection signal strength for the first signal and a second connection signal strength for the second signal, and repositioning the aerial communication drone to a second deployed airborne position based upon the comparison. Once repositioned at the second deployed airborne position, the method has the drone linking the first and second wireless devices using the communication hub interface on the aerial communication drone.

A drone-based monitored storage system includes a shipment storage with an interior storage area and a drone storage area, an internal docking station, and an internal monitor drone disposed within the shipment storage that aerially monitors the items being shipped within the interior storage area. The monitor drone includes an airframe, battery, onboard controller, lifting engines and lifting rotors responsive to flight control input, communication interface, sensor array that gathers sensory information as the drone moves within the interior shipment storage area of the shipment storage, and a drone capture interface that can selectively mate to the internal docking station to hold the monitor drone in a secure position. The monitor drone can gather the sensory information (such as environment information, image information, multidimensional mapping information, and scanned symbol information) and autonomously detect conditions of items being shipped based upon the sensory information from the sensor array.

Drone-based systems and methods for conducting a modified inspection of a delivery vehicle are described. A system has a delivery vehicle transceiver and an inspection drone paired to the vehicle that aerially inspects the vehicle. The delivery vehicle transceiver has a user interface and a wireless radio, while the paired inspection drone has a housing, onboard controller, memory storage, lifting engines, and a communication interface. The drone's onboard controller is operative to identify different existing delivery vehicle inspection points from an inspection profile record; receive an inspection update message from the communication interface; update the existing delivery vehicle inspection points with additional inspection points to yield a targeted inspection points corresponding to respective parts of the delivery vehicle; and conduct the modified inspection of the delivery vehicle by gathering the detected sensor-based inspection information related to each of the targeted inspection points.

Drone-based systems and methods are described for providing an airborne relocatable communication hub within a delivery vehicle for broadcast-enabled devices maintained within the delivery vehicle. Such a method has an aerial communication drone paired with the delivery vehicle transitioning to an active power state, uncoupling from a secured position on an internal docking station fixed within the delivery vehicle and then moving to a first deployed airborne position within the delivery vehicle. At a first position, the method has the aerial communication drone establishing a first wireless data communication path to a first broadcast-enabled device within the delivery vehicle, then establishing a second wireless data communication path to a second broadcast-enabled device within the delivery vehicle. The drone then couples the first and second wireless data communication paths it established operating as the airborne relocatable communication hub for the devices.

Drone-based systems and methods are described for providing an airborne relocatable communication hub within a delivery vehicle for broadcast-enabled devices maintained within the delivery vehicle. Such a method has an aerial communication drone paired with the delivery vehicle transitioning to an active power state, uncoupling from a secured position on an internal docking station fixed within the delivery vehicle and then moving to a first deployed airborne position within the delivery vehicle. At a first position, the method has the aerial communication drone establishing a first wireless data communication path to a first broadcast-enabled device within the delivery vehicle, then establishing a second wireless data communication path to a second broadcast-enabled device within the delivery vehicle. The drone then couples the first and second wireless data communication paths it established operating as the airborne relocatable communication hub for the devices.

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, obtaining, by an unmanned aircraft including a processor, a control signal that causes the unmanned aircraft to fly in proximity to a transmission medium, where the unmanned aircraft includes a carrying system that releasably carries a communication device, and where a positioning of the communication device in proximity to the transmission medium enables the communication device to be physically connected on the transmission medium and enables the communication device to provide communications. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Methods and systems are provided for responding to an attacker including a shooter who opens fire at a site where people are gathered, including identifying, neutralizing, and restraining the attacker. A system may include a central control unit configured to receive signals indicative of gun fire, to responsively determine an origin of the gun fire, to identify features of a shooter associated with the gun fire and to release a UAV from a shielded UAV housing to engage the shooter. The UAV may be configured to fly towards the shooter, according to the origin of the gun fire and the identifying features of the shooter, and to neutralize the shooter by operating a UAV incapacitating mechanism.