EP3109586A1 - Projectile for intercepting a small drone - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a projectile for intercepting a small drone, comprising a propellant charge case with a propellant charge and a propellant charge igniter; and a projectile (1) connected to the propellant charge tube, in which an activating means, an ejection means and an effector (4) comprising a multiplicity of filaments are accommodated, the activating means being suitable for activating the ejection means after the ignition of the propellant, with a time delay; such that the effector (4) is ejected out of the projectile (1) towards the small drone.

Description

The invention relates to a projectile for intercepting a small drone.

It must be expected that in the future more small drones will be used for terrorist attacks. The defense of such small drones is problematic with conventional weapons already due to the small size of the small drone. In particular, when shooting a small drone with a conventional projectile over inhabited area is expected to collateral damage. - There is a need to prevent small drones from flying on.

According to the prior art, so-called chaffs are known. Choppers are conductive metal threads. They are dropped by planes to fool a radar.

The object of the aforementioned invention is to provide a means for intercepting a small drone.

This object is solved by the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the invention will become apparent from the features of claims 2 to 8.

According to the invention, a bullet for intercepting a small drone is proposed, comprising a propellant charge case with a propellant charge and a propellant charge igniter; and a projectile coupled to the propellant charge case and receiving therein an activating means, an ejection means and an effector comprising a plurality of filaments, the activating means being adapted to activate the ejection means after a time delay after ignition of the propellant so that the effector is in direction to the small drone out of the projectile is ejected.

For the purposes of the present invention, a "small drone" is an unmanned aircraft, which is either remotely controlled or autonomously based on stored positions, eg. GPS coordinates (Global Positioning System). The small drone may be an unmanned aircraft or an unmanned helicopter. In particular, the small drone an unmanned helicopter with multiple rotors, z. As a quadrocopter. The small drone preferably has a weight of at most 50 kg, preferably at most 20 kg, in particular at most 10 kg.

The term "interception" is understood to mean that a flying small drone is prevented from flying on, in particular by being rendered flightless.

An "effector" comprises a plurality of threads. The threads may conveniently have different lengths. The threads do not need to be designed to be radically deceptive.

With the bullet according to the invention, it is possible to bring an effector into the vicinity of a small drone approaching a target. The effector forms a cloud of a plurality of threads after ejection from the projectile. Due to the large number of threads, a continuation of the small drone can be mechanically impeded by a propeller of the small drone wrapped or a nozzle engine of the small drone is clogged. Furthermore, other movable elements of the small drone, z. As oars or the like., Are impaired in their mobility. In addition, the weight of the small drone is increased by the trapped threads. This also affects the flying ability of the small drone.

The projectile can be equipped with a conventional ejector, z. As a rifle, mortar or a pneumatic weapon, are fired. In the latter case, only the projectile according to the invention can be fired, d. H. It can be omitted here the propellant charge case including propellant and propellant charge igniter.

The propellant charge case may be a conventional propellant charge case adapted to the ejector. A diameter of the projectile may be for example 40 mm. By means of the propellant charge igniter, the propellant charge is ignited and ejected the projectile in an ejection direction. Advantageously, the projectile is designed for a distance between 30 and 500 m, in particular for a range of 200 to 350 m.

Conveniently, the threads are made of a material which is suitable for mechanically blocking moving parts of the small drone. The material has a high tensile strength, so that rotation of a propeller can be prevented.

In a further embodiment, the threads are made of an electrically conductive material. Conductive filaments can interfere with the reception of electromagnetic waves, in particular signals for determining the position via a GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) or radio signals. Thus, the navigation of the small drone is disturbed because then their position is no longer determined and / or a radio signal from a control unit for the small drone can not be received.

Conveniently, the threads are made of a plastic, a metal, a metal alloy or a composite material. As plastics z. As carbon fiber or aramid particularly well suited. In particular, non-conductive fibers can be provided with metal vaporization if necessary, so that they are at the same time light, tensile and electrically conductive.

The length of the threads is suitably between 1 cm and several hundred meters, in particular between 10 cm and 10 m.

According to a further expedient embodiment of the invention, the ejection means is a pyrotechnic charge or a mechanical tensioning means.

In a mechanical clamping means of the effector z. B. are ejected by a spring.

The effector may comprise a plurality of thread packages, which are each surrounded by a shell. Such thread packages can be released at various points in the air space and thus the probability of encounter between a cloud formed from threads and small drone can be increased.

Expediently, the activating means comprises a distance sensor which, when a predetermined distance to the small drone has been reached, generates an activation signal activating the ejection means. The distance sensor is suitable for determining a distance between the projectile and the small drone and the Activate ejection means. Such a distance sensor may comprise a means for measuring a distance by means of laser and / or electromagnetic waves and / or ultrasound and evaluation electronics. Conveniently, the predetermined distance to the small drone is chosen so small that the small drone can not escape. Preferably, the predetermined distance value is at most 20 m, in particular at most 10 m. The activating means may comprise, in addition to the distance sensor, a means for pattern recognition. This means is designed to distinguish the small drone from other flying objects, for. For example, by matching typical patterns from a database.

In a further expedient embodiment of the invention, the activating means comprises a time control, which generates an activation signal activating the activating agent after a predetermined period of time has elapsed. The timing is typically designed as an electronic circuit. Using the time control can z. B. depending on the distance of the ejector of the small drone, the time to be set to the activation of the ejection means.

In a further expedient embodiment, the activating means comprises a receiver for receiving radio signals or optical signals, which generates an activation signal activating the ejection means upon receipt of a predetermined command signal. The predetermined command signal may be a radio signal or an optical signal which z. B. is sent by a base station. The command signal may be encoded against misuse by third parties. Furthermore, it is also possible to send another predetermined command signal to the receiver, which deactivates the activation means. Thus, the ejection can be prevented. Expediently, the activating means comprises a time control and / or a distance sensor in addition to the receiver.

An embodiment of the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the single drawing.

Fig. 1 shows an exploded view of a projectile 1. A propellant charging propellant charge sleeve is omitted here.

The projectile 1 comprises a projectile head 2 and a rear part 3. The projectile head 2 is expediently formed from a shell 2a and an annular disc 2b. In the shell 2a, the effector 4 and the ejection means (not shown here) are included. The rear part 3 is expediently composed of several rear sections 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d. In the foremost rear section 3a expediently the activating agent is added. The rearmost rear section 3d is expediently designed as a sabot. The other rear sections serve the aerodynamics of the projectile 1.

The effector 4 preferably contains plastic filaments with a metallized coating, wherein the plastic filaments have different lengths. The ejection means may be a pyrotechnic charge which is ignited by the activating means in the foremost rear section 3a as soon as the projectile 1 is at a predetermined distance from the small drone. As a result, the projectile head 2 is released and the shell 2a is blasted forwards. As a result, the threads of the effector 4 are released and distributed in the manner of a cloud.

• Die Kleindrohne tritt in ein überwachtes Zielgebiet ein. Ein Schütze schießt mit dem erfindungsgemäßen Geschoss auf die Kleindrohne. Das Projektil 1 wird zur Kleindrohne hin beschleunigt. Mittels eines Abstandssensors wird der Abstand zwischen Projektil 1 und Kleindrohne überwacht. Sobald ein vorgegebener Abstandswert, z. B. von 30 m, unterschritten wird, wird das Ausstoßmittel durch das Aktivierungsmittel aktiviert. Das Ausstoßmittel ist hier zweckmäßigerweise eine pyrotechnische Ladung, welche gezündet wird. Mittels der pyrotechnischen Ladung werden die Fäden des Effektors 4 im Luftraum in der Nähe der Kleindrohne verteilt. Sobald die Kleindrohne in den Bereich der Fäden fliegt, wird ein Teil der Fäden vom Ansaugstrom der Propeller der Kleindrohne angesaugt, so dass die Fäden den Propeller der Kleindrohne umwickeln. Die Kleindrohne wird flugunfähig und stürzt ab.

An insert of the projectile according to the invention can proceed as follows:

• The small drone enters a monitored target area. A shooter shoots with the projectile according to the invention on the small drone. The projectile 1 is accelerated towards the small drone. By means of a distance sensor, the distance between projectile 1 and small drone is monitored. Once a predetermined distance value, z. B. 30 m below, the ejection means is activated by the activating agent. The ejection means is expediently a pyrotechnic charge which is ignited. By means of the pyrotechnic charge, the threads of the effector 4 are distributed in the air space near the small drone. As soon as the small drone flies into the area of the threads, some of the threads are sucked in by the suction flow of the propellers of the small drone, so that the threads wrap around the propeller of the small drone. The small drone becomes unable to fly and crashes.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

projectile

2

projectile head

2a

shell

2 B

washer

3

tail section

3a, 3b, 3c, 3d

tail section

4

effector

Claims (8)

Projectile for intercepting a small drone, comprising
a propellant charge case having a propellant charge and a propellant charge igniter; and
a projectile (1) connected to the propellant charge tube, in which an activating means, an ejection means and an effector (4) comprising a multiplicity of filaments are accommodated, the activating means being suitable for activating the ejection means after the igniting of the propellant, with a time lag in that the effector (4) is ejected out of the projectile (1) in the direction of the small drone. Projectile according to claim 1,
wherein the threads are made of a material suitable for mechanically blocking moving parts of the small drone. Projectile according to one of the preceding claims,
wherein the threads are made of an electrically conductive material. Projectile according to one of the preceding claims,
wherein the threads are made of a plastic, a metal, a metal alloy or a composite material. Projectile according to one of the preceding claims,
wherein the ejection means comprises a pyrotechnic charge or a mechanical tensioning means. Projectile according to one of the preceding claims,
wherein the activating means comprises a distance sensor which, upon reaching a predetermined distance to the small drone, generates an activation signal activating the ejection means. Projectile according to one of the preceding claims,
wherein the activating means comprises a timer which, after a predetermined period of time has elapsed, generates an activation signal activating the ejection means. Projectile according to one of the preceding claims,
wherein the activating means comprises a receiver for receiving radio signals or optical signals which, upon receipt of a predetermined command signal, generates an activation signal activating the activating means.

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