WO2023026082A1

WO2023026082A1 - A portable equipment for transporting countermeasure devices

Info

Publication number: WO2023026082A1
Application number: PCT/IB2021/057947
Authority: WO
Inventors: Renato BRANCO FERREIRA; João Filipe DE QUADROS GASPAR; Pedro Joaquim AMARO SEBASTIÃO; Nuno Manuel BRANCO SOUTO
Original assignee: Swatter Company, Lda
Priority date: 2021-08-25
Filing date: 2021-08-31
Publication date: 2023-03-02

Abstract

It is an object of the present invention a portable equipment for transporting at least one countermeasure device adapted to act on unmanned system. It provides a portable base station that allows the storage and transport of countermeasure devices to remote locations, ensuring their operability for long periods of time. The equipment (1) is comprised by an envelope (2), defining a loading volume containing at least a docking platform comprising a battery charging station, geolocation module and a communication module. The equipment may also comprise a handle (3) enabling it to be carried.

Description

DESCRIPTION

A PORTABLE EQUIPMENT FOR TRANSPORTING COUNTERMEASURE DEVICES

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is enclosed in the area of countermeasure devices adapted to act on unmanned systems. More particularly, the present invention relates to equipment for storing, charging, and transporting countermeasure devices.

PRIOR ART

Unmanned systems or autonomous aerial vehicles ("UAV), more commonly known as "drones", have become more and more prevalent in both the military and civilian context. Known, commercially available drones embody technology that was until recently, solely within the purview of governmental entities. The drones available to the civilian and military markets include navigation systems, various types of eavesdropping components, high-definition or real-time video output, long life lithium batteries, and the like. Furthermore, known civilian models may be operated by any individual, without regarding to licensing or regulation. The propagation of civilian drone usage has resulted in invasions of privacy, interference with official governmental operations, spying on neighbours, spying on government installations, and myriad other offensive operations.

This widespread use of drones has led to security and privacy concerns for the military, law enforcement, and the private citizen, driving a rapid growth in defence technologies embedded in countermeasure devices making them more advanced and effective for the task at hand. However, there is a limitation associated with the operation of these devices, which is related to their operating range and autonomy, as they concern complex apparatus, which need to be charged periodically. In fact, in a practical scenario in which the countermeasure device is programmed to operate in a remote area, away from an area surrounding its main base station, it is necessary to transport it to the appropriate location, while guaranteeing the operability of the device in terms of autonomy. In this regard, the state of the art, despite disclosing new technologies related to both police-drones or handheld devices, seems to disregard the issues related to the operating range and autonomy of said devices, which may impose geographic limitations on the action to said devices.

The present solution intended to innovatively overcome such issues.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention a portable equipment for transporting at least one countermeasure device adapted to act on an unmanned system. Such equipment therefore provides a portable base station that allows the storage and transport of countermeasure devices to remote locations, ensuring their operability for long periods of time. This is particularly relevant in scenarios where the operation of the countermeasure device takes place in remote locations, away from a main base station, ensuring that the operability of the devices is not compromised.

For that purpose, the portable equipment is comprised by a docking platform formed for detachable attachment of at least one countermeasure device. Additionally, the docking platform integrates a battery charging station comprising at least one charging terminal configured to apply charging power to a countermeasure device. By means of this portable docking station, the operation of the countermeasure devices is ensured for long periods of time.

The portable equipment is further comprised by a geolocation module and by a communication module designed in such a way that an information item relating to the location of the equipment is remotely accessible to an external system. In this way it is ensured that the location of the portable equipment is always known, which is important in the case where the operation of countermeasure devices takes place in remote and inaccessible places, so that the collection of the equipment can easily occur.

The present application also relates to a system comprised by a plurality of portable equipment and a central unit, working as an external system and configured to centralize all the information acquired from each portable equipment. Said information can then be accessed by authorized users. The connection between portable equipment and the central unit is performed by means of a communication network.

DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

Figure 1 - representation of an embodiment of the portable equipment with a rigid envelope. The portable equipment being in a closed state, and the reference signs represent:

1 - portable equipment;

2 - rigid envelope;

3 - handle.

Figure 2 - representation of an embodiment of the portable equipment with a rigid envelope. The portable equipment being in an open state, and the reference signs represent:

1 - portable equipment;

2 - rigid envelope;

4 - screen display of the user interface unit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The more general and advantageous configurations of the present invention are described in the Summary of the invention. Such configurations are detailed below in accordance with other advantageous and/or preferred embodiments of implementation of the present invention.

The present invention relates to a portable equipment for transporting at least one countermeasure device adapted to act on unmanned systems. In the context of the present application, a countermeasure device may be in the form of a drone or it may be man-portable having a handheld form factor body. More particularly, in the context of the present application, a countermeasure device in the form of a drone is designated as a police-drone.

In a preferred aspect of the portable equipment of the present invention, the docking platform allows the storage of at least one countermeasure device. Therefore, the size of the equipment, particularly, the volume of the equipment's envelope may vary depending on the number of devices to be transported. The battery charging station, integrated in the docking platform is adapted to charge the countermeasure devices by means of charging terminals. The technology involved in developing such charging terminals is know from the art. The battery capacity of the charging station may vary depending on the size of the portable equipment which may be dependent on the number of countermeasure devices to be transported. Said charging station's capacity is adapted to provide at least two additional full charges for each countermeasure device being transported. Particularly, if the equipment is projected to store and transport one 10000 mAh handheld countermeasure device, the charging station capacity will be of at least 20000 mAh. It is important to mention that the portable equipment itself comprises a separate power unit used to feed all its electric components, modules and units.

In a preferred embodiment of the portable equipment of the present invention, combinable with any of the above described, it further comprises an access control unit, configured to restrict access to the interior of the envelope responsive to at least one access credential.

In another preferred embodiment, the access control unit is configured to restrict access to the at least one countermeasure device attached to the docking platform responsive to at least one access credential.

More particularly, according to another preferred embodiment, the access control unit is programmed to configure access criteria and security rules adapted to provide different levels of access responsive to access credentials, wherein each countermeasure device being associated to a level of access. In this way it is possible to establish different levels of access either for opening the envelope and for operating a countermeasure device stored inside the equipment, which is useful to establish an adequate interaction of the equipment with several users, each one with different skills of expertise or assigned to different functions within a security scheme of an organization, by ensuring that only a specific user will be able to access the interior of the envelope and to operate a countermeasure device stored therein. Consequently, an unauthorized user will not be able to open the equipment, and a user being associated to a level of access will only able to access to a countermeasure device which is of the same level of access. The access criteria and security rules used to implement such security protocols are known from the art, and are applied in the context of accessing to the interior of the envelope and also to a countermeasure device.

More particularly, in one embodiment, the access control unit comprises a biometric sensor adapted to collect biometric data from a user. In this context, the access credentials relate to biometric data of a user. Alternatively, any face recognition system may be used and incorporated in the access control unit.

In another embodiment the access credential is a password, which may be remotely or locally inserted by means of input means.

More particularly, and in connection with the previous embodiments, the access control unit is programmed to configure access criteria and security rules adapted to provide different levels of access responsive to a primary or a secondary password.

Issues related to security, in particular access to the interior of the equipment and devices stored in it, are especially relevant when the operation takes place in locations far from main base station, where access to countermeasure devices may be easily controlled using any state-of-the-art system. So, the portable equipment developed includes the referred security measures/protocols/systems in order to ensure that an appropriate level of security can be achieved, even in a remote location.

In another preferred embodiment of the portable equipment of the present invention, combinable with any of the above described, the communication module is further configured to establish a communication data link with the at least one countermeasure device for collecting operational data related to said countermeasure device.

In a preferred aspect, the operational data may relate to unmanned system's landing position and/or countermeasure device's flight routes and/or data related to countermeasure device's transmitted redirection signals. In this way, the portable equipment may also work as a remote base station, where a user may obtain information regarding operational data of the device.

In another preferred embodiment of the portable equipment of the present invention, combinable with any of the above described, it further comprises a user interface unit. Said user interface unit comprises at least a screen display adapted to display a user interface including displaying at least the following information: battery level of the battery charging station, location of the portable equipment, user interaction data records, and technical information related to the at least one countermeasure devices.

More particularly, in a preferred aspect, the countermeasure device's technical information may relate to at least one of the following parameters: type of countermeasure device; battery level; operational data records relating to unmanned system's landing position and/or countermeasure device' flight routes and/or data related to countermeasure device's transmitted redirection signals.

Additionally, in a preferred aspect, user interaction data records may include information related to the identification of the user accessing to the equipment and time and date of access. In this way it is possible to keep track of all the information related to the operation of the device which may be useful for its maintenance in order to avoid wear and foresee possible anomalies.

In another preferred embodiment of the portable equipment of the present invention, the user interface unit comprises input means. Particularly, the screen display is a touch screen display and the input means is provided by the touch screen display. Alternatively, the input means may be of a keyboard type. ln another preferred embodiment of the portable equipment of the present invention, combinable with any above described, the envelope is rigid, in order to protect the countermeasure devices stored inside.

In another embodiment, the portable equipment comprises at least one handle, installed in the outer surface of the envelope, enabling it to be carried.

Additionally, in another preferred embodiment, combinable with any of the above described, the equipment comprises means of displacement installed in the outer surface of the envelope proving the contact with the ground. More particularly, the means of displacement being at least one wheel, and optionally, the envelope further comprising a handle enabling the equipment to be rolled along by means of the at least one wheel.

In another preferred embodiment, combinable with any above described, equipment further comprises attaching means installed in the outer surface of the envelop. Said attaching means are adapted to provide connection of the portable equipment to a parachute module.

In this way, the transportation of the portable equipment is ensured in different ways, whether by land or air, which, combined with the security mechanisms and communication and geolocation capabilities provided by the equipment, allow the continuous monitoring of its operation as well as of the countermeasure devices stored in it.

As will be clear to one skilled in the art, the present invention should not be limited to the embodiments described herein, and a number of changes are possible which remain within the scope of the present invention.

Of course, the preferred embodiments shown above are combinable, in the different possible forms, being herein avoided the repetition all such combinations.

Claims

- 8 -CLAIMS

1. A portable equipment for transporting at least one countermeasure device adapted to act on an unmanned system; the equipment comprising an envelope, defining a loading volume containing at least:

— a docking platform formed for detachable attachment of at least one countermeasure device; the docking platform integrating a battery charging station comprising at least one charging terminal configured to apply charging power to a countermeasure device;

— a geolocation module and a communication module designed in such a way that an information item relating to the location of the equipment is remotely accessible to an external system.

2. The portable equipment according to claim 1, further comprising an access control unit configured to restrict access to the interior of the envelope responsive to at least one access credential.

3. The portable equipment according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising an access control unit configured to restrict access to the at least one countermeasure device attached to the docking platform responsive to at least one access credential.

4. The portable equipment according to claim 3, wherein the access control unit is programmed to configure access criteria and security rules adapted to provide different levels of access responsive to access credentials; each countermeasure device being associated to a level of access.

5. The portable equipment according to any of the previous claims 2 to 4, wherein the access control unit comprises a biometric sensor adapted to collect biometric data from a user; and an access credential is biometric data related to a user. - 9 -

6. The portable equipment according to claims 4 and 5, wherein the user is associated to a level of access, so that the user is only able to access to a countermeasure device which is of the same level of access.

7. The portable equipment according to any of the previous claims 2 to 6, wherein an access credential is a password.

8. The portable equipment according to claims 4 and 7, wherein the access control unit is programmed to configure access criteria and security rules adapted to provide different levels of access responsive to a primary or a secondary password.

9. The portable equipment according to any of the previous claims, wherein the communication module is further configured to establish a communication data link with the at least one countermeasure device for collecting operational data related to said countermeasure device; the operational data relating to unmanned system's landing position and/or countermeasure device's flight routes and/or data related to countermeasure device's transmitted redirection signals.

10. The portable equipment according to any of the previous claims further comprising a user interface unit comprised by at least a screen display adapted to display a user interface including displaying at least the following information: battery level of the battery charging station, location of the portable equipment, user interaction data records, and technical information related to the at least one countermeasure devices.

11. The portable equipment according to claim 10, wherein the countermeasure device's technical information relates to at least one of the following parameters: type of countermeasure device; battery level; operational data records relating to unmanned system's landing position and/or countermeasure device' flight routes and/or data related to countermeasure device's transmitted redirection signals. - 10 -

12. The portable equipment according to claims 10 or 11, wherein a user interaction data record includes information related to the identification of the user accessing to the equipment and time and date of access.

13. The portable equipment according to any of the previous claims 10 to 12, wherein the user interface unit comprises input means; wherein the screen display is a touch screen display and the input means being provided by the touch screen display; and/or the input means are of a keyboard type.

14. The portable equipment according to claims 7 or 8 and claim 13, wherein the password is inserted by the input means.

15. The portable equipment according to any of the previous claims, wherein a countermeasure device is a police-drone or a handheld, man-portable countermeasure device having a handheld form factor body.

16. The portable equipment according to any of the previous claims, wherein the envelope is rigid.

17. The portable equipment according to any of the previous claims, further comprising at least one handle, installed in the outer surface of the envelope, enabling it to be carried.

18. The portable equipment according to any of the previous claims, further comprising means of displacement installed in the outer surface of the envelope, providing the contact with the ground; the means of displacement being at least one wheel, and, optionally, the envelope further comprising a handle enabling the equipment to be rolled along by means of the at least one wheel. - Il ls. The portable equipment according to any of the previous claims, further comprising attaching means installed in the outer surface of the envelop; said attaching means adapted to provide connection of the portable equipment to a parachute module. 20. A system comprising:

— a plurality of portable equipment of claims 1 to 19;

— a central unit, wherein, the central unit is an external system; and the plurality of portable equipment and the central unit are connected by means of a communication network.