Expandable decoy unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are disclosed. A disclosed example decoy UAV includes an expandable body at least partially defining an exterior of the expandable decoy UAV, an expander to expand the expandable body to a desired footprint, and a propulsion device operatively coupled to the expandable body, the propulsion device to move the expandable decoy UAV.

A system and method for formation flying includes a primary asset accompanied by a plurality of secondary assets. The secondary assets fly around the primary asset in a predetermined formation to achieve a desired degree to range and scanning. The secondary assets are not mission critical such that if some or all are lost to attrition, the primary asset may continue the mission or abort with a high probability of survival. The primary asset may include a high value payload, either in terms of equipment expense or mission criticality. Furthermore, the secondary assets may autonomously reposition and reorient according to mission priorities or the loss of one or more of the secondary assets. The primary asset and secondary assets implement algorithms and software functions to allow the primary asset to navigate through airspace without being harmed by any known or yet to be known lethal threats.

Systems and methods for navigating a vehicle within an environment are provided. In one aspect, a method comprises: (a) selecting, with aid of a processor, a subset of a plurality of sensors to be used for navigating the vehicle within the environment based on one or more predetermined criteria, wherein the plurality of sensors are arranged on the vehicle such that each sensor of the plurality of sensors is configured to obtain sensor data from a different field of view; (b) processing, with aid of the processor, the sensor data from the selected sensor(s) so as to generate navigation information for navigating the vehicle within the environment; and (c) outputting, with aid of the processor, signals for controlling the vehicle based on the navigation information.

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for a distributed system architecture for unmanned air vehicles. One of the methods includes obtaining information identifying flight information of a UAV, with the flight information including flight phase information or a contingency condition associated with a flight critical module included in the UAV. The obtained information is analyzed, and one or more first payload modules are determined to enter a modified power state. Requests to enter the modified power state are caused to be transmitted to each determined payload module in the one or more first payload modules.

Systems and methods for navigating a vehicle within an environment are provided. In one aspect, a method comprises: (a) selecting, with aid of a processor, a subset of a plurality of sensors to be used for navigating the vehicle within the environment based on one or more predetermined criteria, wherein the plurality of sensors are arranged on the vehicle such that each sensor of the plurality of sensors is configured to obtain sensor data from a different field of view; (b) processing, with aid of the processor, the sensor data from the selected sensor(s) so as to generate navigation information for navigating the vehicle within the environment; and (c) outputting, with aid of the processor, signals for controlling the vehicle based on the navigation information.

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for a distributed system architecture for unmanned air vehicles. One of the methods includes obtaining information identifying flight information of a UAV, with the flight information including flight phase information or a contingency condition associated with a flight critical module included in the UAV. The obtained information is analyzed, and one or more first payload modules are determined to enter a modified power state. Requests to enter the modified power state are caused to be transmitted to each determined payload module in the one or more first payload modules.

A method includes receiving, at a mobile hub device, communications including location-specific risk data and a task assignment. The method also includes generating an output indicating dispatch coordinates. The dispatch coordinates identifying a dispatch location from which to dispatch, from the mobile hub device, one or more unmanned vehicles to perform a task of the task assignment.

The target marking device (1) comprises a drone (2) which is provided with at least one transmitter (4), the transmitter (4) comprising an activation element (10) for activating it so that it transmits at a given time a signal (S) which represents a position information item, the transmitter (4) being configured to transmit at least one of the following signals: an infrared signal, a light signal, a sound signal, a signal generated by a chemical substance, the target marking device (1) being part of a target tracking system (6) and/or a target processing system which is provided with movable machinery (7).

The invention relates to a method for protecting an object, in particular a land vehicle or watercraft, in particular a ship, from of a radar-guided missile by deploying and using an active offboard reflector, which is arranged at a decoy and comprises at least one receiving antenna and at least one transmitting antenna, wherein a radar signal transmitted by the radar-guided missile is picked up and is returned to the missile as an amplified signal in the previously ascertained opposite direction of reception; the invention proposes carrying out the method by deploying a plurality of flying drones, each having at least one active offboard reflector, and positioning the drones relative to one another in space in such a way that the active offboard reflectors thereof act as individual scattering centers and the signals therefrom that are returned to the missile collectively produce a radar scatter pattern that simulates the object to be protected.

A system operative to down a target drone having propellers deployed along a perimeter p, comprising a processor-controlled interceptor drone bearing a processor-controlled flexible elongate intercepting agent cannon and an onboard camera; and an onboard processor to receive sensed wind conditions and to a firing distance d, between interceptor and target drones, given a firing angle A, and wherein the processor is configured to track the target drone using imagery generated by the onboard camera including at least once, when said wind conditions exist, guiding the interceptor drone to a firing position whose distance from the target drone is d, and commanding the cannon to fire at firing angle A, once said firing position is achieved, thereby to use the flexible elongate intercepting agent to down target drones.