Abstract
An entanglement device (50) has multiple elongate filaments (53) attached together to form a tassel. The entanglement device (50) is of particular use for disabling the propellers (52) of a nuisance airborne drone. When deployed, the filaments (53) spread apart over a relatively wide area before being pulled into the drone's propellers (52), wrapping around them and forcing the drone to land. Also included is a method of disabling a propeller (52) of a drone.
Claims
1. An entanglement device for disabling a propeller of an airborne drone, the entanglement device comprising a plurality of filaments attached together to form a tassel.
2. The entanglement device of claim 1, wherein the filaments are knotted together to form the tassel.
3. The entanglement device of claim 1, wherein the filaments are attached together at respective closed ends such that each filament has only one free end.
4. The entanglement device of claim 1, comprising at least three filaments.
5. The entanglement device of claim 1, wherein each filament has a length of less than or equal to 50 cm.
6. The entanglement device of claim 1, wherein the filaments are formed from a woven fabric.
7. The entanglement device of claim 6, wherein the woven fabric is rip stop nylon.
8. Airborne drone disablement apparatus, comprising the entanglement device preceding of claim 1, and an intercept vehicle for transporting and deploying the entanglement device towards a propeller of an airborne drone.
9. The airborne drone disablement apparatus of claim 8, wherein the intercept vehicle is an intercept drone.
10. The airborne drone disablement apparatus of claim 8, wherein the intercept vehicle is a projectile.
11. The airborne drone disablement apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a launcher for launching the projectile.
12. Use of an entanglement device to disable a propeller of an airborne drone, wherein the entanglement device comprises a plurality of elongate filaments arranged as a tassel.
13. A method of disabling a propeller of an airborne drone, the method comprising the steps of: a) Transporting to an airborne drone, an entanglement device comprising a plurality of elongate filaments arranged as a tassel; and then b) Deploying the entanglement device at a propeller of the airborne drone; such that the propeller can be entangled, thereby disabling the airborne drone.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0021] FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of an entanglement device in a deployed configuration;
[0022] FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of an entanglement device in a packaged configuration;
[0023] FIG. 3a illustrates an embodiment of a drone disablement apparatus being initiated;
[0024] FIG. 3b illustrates an intercept vehicle being launched from the apparatus of FIG. 3a;
[0025] FIG. 3c illustrates a plurality of entanglement devices being deployed from the intercept vehicle of FIGS. 3a-3b;
[0026] FIG. 3d illustrates the plurality of entanglement devices of FIG. 3c in an air mass;
[0027] FIG. 4 illustrates an alternative drone disablement apparatus;
[0028] FIG. 5a illustrates an embodiment of an entanglement device above a drone propeller;
[0029] FIG. 5b illustrates the embodiment of FIG. 5a entering the drone propeller; and
[0030] FIG. 5c illustrates the drone propeller of FIGS. 5a and 5b disabled by entanglement.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0031] FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of an entanglement device 10 in a deployed configuration. The entanglement device 10 comprises three filaments 11. The filaments 11 are elongate and are shown having their upper ends as free ends 13 that may separate and move independently of each other. The filaments 11 are also shown as having their lower ends as closed ends 14 that are attached to each other. The closed ends 14 are attached using knot 12 such that the filaments 11 form a tassel. The filaments 11 and knot 12 are formed as a ribbon from ripstop nylon so as to fall slowly through an air mass once deployed.
[0032] FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of an entanglement device 20 in a packaged configuration. The filaments 22 of the entanglement device 20 are attached using a knot 21 to form a tassel. The filaments 22 are formed as a ribbon and are coiled around the knot 21 to form a closely packed spiral. An exploded view of filaments 22 is shown in the figure to illustrate that individual filaments 22a-22e themselves are overlaid radially upon each other, and then coiled around knot 21. A plurality of packaged entanglement devices 20 can be subsequently stacked on top of each other inside a canister ready for deployment.
[0033] FIG. 3a illustrates an embodiment of a drone disablement apparatus 30 being initiated. The apparatus 30 is shown in cross sectional view and comprises an intercept vehicle 31 inside a launcher 33. The intercept vehicle 31 is a hollow tubular projectile and contains a plurality of entanglement devices 32 arranged adjacent each other. The projectile 31 may be formed from a hardened plastic or thin metal (for instance steel). The projectile 31 is arranged inside a tubular launcher 33. An ejection device 34 arranged adjacent one end of the projectile 31 is illustrated as having been initiated. The ejection device 34 is an explosive charge that is configured when detonated to propel the projectile 31 from the launcher 33.
[0034] FIG. 3b illustrates an intercept vehicle 31 being launched from the apparatus of FIG. 3a. The projectile intercept vehicle 31 is shown with the launcher 33 in cross sectional view. The intercept vehicle 31 has been urged from the launch tube 35 of launcher 33 by action of high pressure propellant gases generated from the detonation of explosive in ejection device 34.
[0035] FIG. 3c illustrates a plurality of entanglement devices 36 being deployed from the intercept vehicle 31 of FIGS. 3a-3b. The projectile intercept vehicle 31 is shown in cross sectional view and is positioned in an air mass. A tubular casing 38 of the projectile 31 is shown containing a pusher plate 39 attached to a concentric rod 37. The entanglement devices 36 are positioned at locations around the concentric rod 37 and stacked adjacent each other along the length of the rod 37. A secondary ejection device in the form of an explosive charge 40 is indicated as having been initiated. Propellant gases have urged the pusher plate 39 and attached rod 37 along the tubular casing 38 of projectile 31. This has forced entanglement devices 36 from the casing 38.
[0036] FIG. 3d illustrates the plurality of entanglement devices 36 of FIG. 3c in an air mass. The entanglement devices 36 have separated from each other to cover a large spatial area. The entanglement devices 36 are shown as still being in a packaged configuration. Interaction with the air mass will cause unpacking of the entanglement devices 36 and their further separation, such that their volumetric coverage further increases. This generates a debris field that can be used to intercept a drone. The projectile intercept vehicle 31 and rod 37 and pusher plate 39 are now redundant and are shown separately falling away from the entanglement devices 36.
[0037] FIG. 4 illustrates an alternative drone disablement apparatus. The intercept vehicle 41 is shown as an intercept drone positioned above a nuisance drone 42. The intercept drone 41 has carried a plurality of entanglement devices 44 inside a housing 43 to its current position. The housing 43 has been opened to deploy the entanglement devices 44 above the nuisance drone 42. The figure illustrates entanglement devices 44 falling from the housing 43 and gradually unfurling to provide a large volumetric coverage of the air mass above the nuisance drone 42. The entanglement devices 44 will intercept the nuisance drone 42 by falling into and entangling the propellers to cause disablement.
[0038] FIG. 5a-5c will now be described as an example of how a drone propeller may become entangled. FIG. 5a illustrates an embodiment of an entanglement device 50 above a drone propulsion system 51. In particular the drone propulsion system 51 comprises a propeller 52 that rotates about axis ‘A’. The entanglement device 50 is spatially large relative to the drone propeller 52 and falls under gravity through an air mass towards the propeller 52. FIG. 5b illustrates the entanglement device 50 of FIG. 5a entering the region immediate to the drone propeller 52. The drone propeller 52 is still rotating about axis ‘A’. The filaments 53 of entanglement device 50 are impacted by the rotating propeller 52. The filaments 53 do not shear or rip owing to their robust material composition—in this embodiment ripstop nylon. As the individual filaments 53 are knocked by the propeller 52, the remaining filaments 53 are drawn into the propeller 52 by virtue of the tassel arrangement. The filaments 53 begin to wrap around the propeller 52. Finally FIG. 5c illustrates the drone propulsion system 51 of FIGS. 5a and 5b disabled by entanglement. The filaments 53 of entanglement device 50 have wrapped around propeller 52 so as to entangle the propeller 52 and stop rotation. The resultant reduction in lift or maneuverability of a drone allows it to be more readily captured or damaged by ground impact.
[0039] Whilst the ejection devices shown for launching projectile intercept vehicles, or deploying entanglement devices, are illustrated as explosive, this is not intended to be limiting. Other ejection devices 34 may be used such as gas propulsion. It is preferable for an entanglement device to comprise at least three filaments, but more may be used. Some drone propellers may be provided in a perforated housing or protected by a gridded structure that mitigates propeller damage whilst still allowing airflow. In these scenarios an entanglement device with filaments sized to pass through the perforations or grid apertures will be required. Fine diameter filaments such as Kevlar fibre may optionally be used, but may be difficult to arrange as a tassel using a knot. Therefore for some materials such as Kevlar, alternative attachment methods may be more appropriate such as gluing or heat fusing, so as to form the tassel arrangement. Narrow diameter fibres may also work into the propeller drive shaft housing to achieve further entanglement benefits. The entanglement devices may descend through an air mass with either their tasselled end (for instance knotted end) first, or alternatively may descend with their free ends first.
