EP3499175B1 - Method for controlling an anti-drone system - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a method for controlling a drone defense system.

Remote-controlled small aircraft are becoming more and more powerful, both in terms of their payload and in terms of their control and flight capabilities. Using a camera and wireless video transmission, model building drones can easily be remote-controlled over long distances without the pilot standing on the ground having to keep an eye on them.

The danger that such agile small aircraft will be misused as weapons is great. In this respect, there is a need to defend against remote-controlled small aircraft, hereinafter also referred to as drones for the sake of simplicity. It is advantageous here if as many control scenarios as possible can be covered in a simple manner.

A method for controlling a drone defense system and a drone defense system according to the preambles of claims 1 and 11 is from US Pat JP 2014 052 138 A known. Also the US 2017/0261999 A1 deals with a system for fighting drones.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for controlling a drone defense system with which drone combat is possible in a flexible manner.

This object is achieved by a method for controlling a drone defense system according to the features of patent claim 1, in which a group of peripheral devices is controlled by several peripheral connectors, which each control exactly one peripheral device assigned only to the respective peripheral connector, together forming the central guidance system of the drone defense system and exchange data for controlling the peripheral devices via a message core.

The invention is based on the consideration that a drone defense system can be controlled in a particularly flexible manner if the control system has a modular structure. Individual peripheral devices with the associated peripheral connector can easily be exchanged, which means that the properties of the drone defense system in can be easily adapted to a new task without a central management system having to be replaced or reprogrammed as a whole. Due to the modular control, i.e. the control of a peripheral device, in particular only through the one peripheral connector associated with it, the controls of the other peripheral devices remain unaffected when a peripheral device is replaced, which considerably simplifies the redesign of the drone defense system to meet new requirements.

A drone can be understood to mean an unmanned aircraft such as a remote-controlled aircraft, in particular up to a total weight of twenty kilograms, for example from the hobby area of model aircraft building. It can be a so-called Small Unmaned Aircraft (SUA) or a Micro Air Vehicle (MAV). A drone can be a rotary wing aircraft, in particular with a plurality of rotors, for example a quadrocopter or a hexacopter. However, a fixed wing aircraft is also possible.

The group of peripheral devices expediently comprises a sensor, in particular for recognizing a drone feature, such as a flight noise, an optical signature or the like. An effector is also useful as a peripheral device, i.e. a device for intercepting and / or destroying a drone. The effector can be an interceptor missile, an explosive device, a laser or the like and can have the task of bringing a flying drone to the ground in some way. A control station is also useful as a peripheral device, via which an operator can control the drone defense system. The control station is expediently designed in such a way that the effector can be actuated from it, for example the interceptor missile is ignited or a defense laser is switched on.

The main components of the drone defense system are the central command system and the peripheral devices. The central management system is divided into several peripheral connectors, each of which controls its peripheral device. The peripheral connectors are expediently independently functioning modules that each control their peripheral device separately from one another. The peripheral connectors with their peripheral devices expediently form a star-shaped structure around the central message core, which has at least as many arms as there are peripheral connectors, and the arms each extend from the message core via their peripheral connector to their peripheral device and, in particular, are only connected to each other in the message core. The peripheral connectors are expediently only in terms of data technology connected to each other via the message core. All data that are exchanged between the peripheral connectors for system control are therefore entered in the message core. Each peripheral connector can have its own input to the message core and an output to its peripheral device. Input and output are only connected to each other for data purposes through the peripheral connector.

Depending on the structure of the peripheral device, it can consist of several units. For example, a peripheral device has one or more sensors. In this respect, several sensors can form a peripheral device. The same applies to several effectors, which - if available - can also jointly form a peripheral device.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the group of peripheral devices comprises a primary sensor and a secondary sensor. In this respect, the two sensors each form a peripheral device, which expediently work independently of one another. Both peripheral devices are each connected to the message core via a peripheral connector. The peripheral connector of the primary sensor controls only this and the peripheral connector of the secondary sensor controls only the secondary sensor. The peripheral connector of the secondary sensor advantageously controls it on the basis of data from the primary sensor.

The primary sensor is expediently a sensor that is prepared for the initial detection of a drone. It can have an all-round sensor, i.e. a sensor that is 360 ° sensitive. The sensor can be an acoustic sensor. If the sensor detects an event, i.e. an event that could be a drone, the data associated with the event can be transmitted to the message core as generic data. This is done by the peripheral connector assigned to the primary sensor, which either extracts an event from the data of the primary sensor or - if the primary sensor has already extracted an event - converts the event data into a generic form.

The primary sensor expediently sends target information about the event to the peripheral connector, which can pass it on to the message core in a generically adapted form. The target information can be two-dimensional information, that is to say a direction, for example in the form of two angles, or three-dimensional information with an additional distance component. The peripheral connector of the primary sensor is advantageously designed in such a way that it filters out generic information from the information from the primary sensor and discards the rest. The generic information is placed in the message core and is available to all other peripheral links, for example. Generic information from the primary sensor can be information about an event that has also been converted into generic form by the peripheral connector.

The secondary sensor is expediently a sensor that is oriented towards a target on the basis of the directional information from the primary sensor. The secondary sensor is expediently sensitive to electromagnetic radiation, in particular in the optical range, infrared range or radar range.

Another advantageous embodiment of the invention provides that the group of peripheral devices includes a software module for data fusion of several sensors, also called a data fusion unit. Accordingly, there is expediently a peripheral connector in the group of peripheral connectors that only controls this software module. This data fusion unit is advantageously prepared to determine a movement track of a drone from data from several sensors. The multiple sensors expediently include one or more primary sensors and one or more secondary sensors. For example, there is an optical sensor that outputs two-dimensional target information, for example in the form of a direction of the event or the classified drone. There can also be a radar sensor that indicates a distance from the event or the drone. The trajectory of the drone's movement is expediently determined from a change in the data from the multiple sensors over time. The movement track or data for this are expediently transmitted from the data fusion unit to its peripheral connector. After a suitable conversion into generic data, this can feed the data into the message core.

The secondary sensor and / or the primary sensor can be prepared to classify the target. A classification of the target can be assigning the target to one of several different classes of different missiles or drones. A classification of the missile expediently includes a distinction between missiles to be attacked and missiles not to be attacked. The detection of unmanned small missiles is particularly useful. If the primary sensor has not already classified the target, so this can be done by the secondary sensor, which outputs a target type, for example. The target type is one of several possible target types that can classify different aircraft and also a fault type, i.e. a device that is not a device to be defended against. If, for example, the activity of a lawnmower was wrongly classified as an event by the primary sensor, this can for example be classified as an error type by the primary sensor, i.e. as a device that cannot be defended against. The target type is set by the associated peripheral link as generic data in the message core.

If the sensors are not designed to classify the target, it is advantageous if the group of peripheral devices includes a software module for classifying a detected drone, also called a classification unit. This software module expediently transmits its classification data to its peripheral connector.

The group of peripheral devices expediently includes an effector that can be designed as an interceptor missile. The peripheral connector of the interceptor missile controls the interceptor missile based on data from the message core and possibly its own data, in particular exclusively based on the message core data and possibly its own data. For example, this data contains a movement track of the drone, so that the peripheral connector lets the interceptor missile fly towards the drone based on this data, so that the interceptor missile ends the drone's onward flight, for example by destroying the drone or capturing the drone with fibers. By using data exclusively from the message core, the execution and programming of the peripheral connector can be tailored to the interceptor missile so that different interceptor missiles can be used by the associated peripheral connector. When the interceptor missile is replaced, the peripheral connector of the drone defense system is also replaced and the drone defense system is functional again without other peripheral connectors or peripheral devices having to be changed as a result.

In order to decide whether an effector should be triggered to combat the drone or not, it makes sense if data on the current threat situation are known. For this purpose, the group of peripheral devices expediently comprises a software module for assessing the situation, expediently an object to be protected. This software module, also called a position evaluation unit, can be a Output degree of threat. Additionally or alternatively, it can contain information about what type of missile it is and what kind of damage it can cause. It is also useful to know where the destination is likely to fly and which environment is at risk. It also makes sense if this or another software component determines and outputs which effector can be used to defend against the drone, i.e. which effector has a sufficient degree of success for defending the drone at the current moment or probably in a future. All of this data can be fed into the message core.

In addition, it makes sense to transmit the position data to a control center via the peripheral connector of the position evaluation unit. The control station expediently comprises an output means, for example a screen, for the visual output of situation evaluation data to an operator. This can now control a future action of the drone defense system by an input in an input device. The operator can visually assess the position shown on the output device on the basis of the information displayed. The operator can now use an input to give a defense command, on the basis of which an effector is activated, for example an interceptor missile is launched. The operator is expediently provided with information that helps him to form an opinion. For example, an image of the flying drone can be displayed and, in particular, a map with a trajectory so that the operator can see where the drone is flying to. Data for assessing the situation or a threat scenario can also be displayed.

In a further advantageous development of the invention, an effector release module is provided as a further peripheral device. The effector release module is expediently connected in terms of data technology indirectly via a peripheral connector only assigned to it or directly with the message core. The effector release module can be present in addition to a control station and enables a four-eyes check of a defense order. The module can consist of a button or a lever that has to be actuated by another operator for additional unlocking of the effector (s). It is advantageous if, in order to trigger an effector, both unlocking information must be present in the message core, that is to say that of the effector unlocking module and that of a control center. The peripheral connector of the effector is expediently designed so that it has a Arming of the effector, for example a launch of the interceptor missile, is only initiated when both arming information is available.

The structure of the central management system and the message core can be kept simple if data is transmitted from one peripheral device to another peripheral device exclusively via the assigned peripheral connector and the message core. The modular structure of the central management system and thus the exchange of a peripheral device and / or a peripheral connector is very easy as a result.

The message core can at least essentially be limited to a line system without essential data processing components having to be present between the peripheral connectors.

A simple message transfer between peripheral connectors can be achieved if they exchange with each other in the message core via broadcast. Each peripheral connector recognizes information that is intended for it independently.

The communication in the message core exclusively with generic data facilitates the exchange of devices considerably. For this it is useful if the peripheral connectors translate information from their peripheral device into a data format that is understandable for all peripheral connectors. The data format expediently also contains the data protocol. By translating the generic data format back into a data format of the corresponding peripheral device, the peripheral devices can easily exchange messages or information via their peripheral connector and the message core.

In order to prevent a failure of a drone defense, it is advantageous if an effector is only triggered if it is able to successfully counter a drone. According to the invention, the group of peripheral devices contains at least one effector and one worker assigned to the effector who determines the effector's ability to act from location data from the message core. Data on the ability to act are fed into the message core via the peripheral connector assigned to the effector. In this way, for example, an operator in a control room knows whether defense against an approaching drone is currently possible or still or no longer possible.

The invention also relates to a drone defense system according to the features of claim 11 with a group of peripheral devices and a central guidance system. In order to obtain a drone defense system with which drone combat is possible in a flexible manner, the control system according to the invention comprises several peripheral connectors and a message core via which the peripheral connectors are networked with one another, each peripheral device being connected to the message core exclusively via a peripheral connector assigned to it and the Peripheral connectors jointly form a central management system for the peripheral devices and are each prepared to control their peripheral device.

The group of peripheral devices advantageously contains at least one sensor, an effector, preferably designed as an interceptor missile, and a control station. The message core is expediently designed in the form of a data line system.

The description given so far of advantageous embodiments of the invention contains numerous features, some of which are summarized in several dependent claims. The features can, however, expediently also be viewed individually and combined into meaningful further combinations, in particular when claims are referred back, so that an individual feature of a dependent claim can be combined with an individual, several or all features of another dependent claim. In addition, these features can each be combined individually and in any suitable combination both with the method according to the invention and with the device according to the invention according to the independent claims. Thus, process features are also to be seen objectively formulated as properties of the corresponding device unit, and functional device features are also to be seen as corresponding process features.

The properties, features and advantages of this invention described above and the manner in which they are achieved will become clearer and more clearly understood in connection with the following description of the exemplary embodiments, which are explained in more detail in connection with the drawings. The exemplary embodiments serve to explain the invention and limit it Invention not to the combination of features specified therein, not even with regard to functional features. In addition, suitable features of each exemplary embodiment can also be considered explicitly in isolation, removed from one exemplary embodiment, introduced into another exemplary embodiment to supplement it, and / or combined with any of the claims.

FIG 1

ein Fußballstadion, das von einem Drohnenabwehrsystem geschützt wird und

FIG 2

das Drohnenabwehrsystem in einer schematischen Darstellung.

Show it:

FIG 1

a football stadium that is protected by a drone defense system and

FIG 2

the drone defense system in a schematic representation.

FIG 1 shows an object 2 to be protected, which in the exemplary embodiment shown is a football stadium. A drone 4 flying towards the object 2 to be protected is repelled by a drone defense system 6, which is located partly in a building 8 and partly outside the building 8. The drone defense system 6 is equipped with a plurality of effectors 10, which in this exemplary embodiment are interceptor missiles, as in FIG FIG 1 is shown schematically. Other effectors are also possible, for example lasers or other high-energy transmitters, the directed energy of which disturbs the optics, the receiver or another sensor system of the drone 4 to such an extent that a remotely controlled and directed onward flight is impossible.

Furthermore, the drone defense system 6 is equipped with a number of sensors 12, 14 which are positioned on and / or in the vicinity of the object 2 to be protected. The drone defense system 6 also has a control station 16 in the building 8, from which an operator controls actions of the drone defense system 6. The effectors 10, the sensors 12, 14 and the control station 16 form a group of peripheral devices of the drone defense system 6, which are controlled by a central guidance system of the drone defense system 6. Depending on the drone defense scenario, the peripheral devices can be selected differently, with those in the Figures 1 and 2 The peripheral devices described are selected only by way of example to illustrate particularly suitable combinations. The central guidance system of the drone defense system 6 is shown below using the illustration FIG 2 described.

FIG 2 shows a schematic representation of a drone defense system 6, as it is in the embodiment from FIG 1 would be usable. It comprises several sensors 12, 14, which are shown in FIG 2 are only shown by way of example. The same applies to the effectors 10, whereby these do not have to be of identical construction, but can be specialized in different drone defense scenarios, as in FIG FIG 2 is indicated. In addition to the control station 16, there is an effector unlocking module 18 which can be a safety unit, a master arm safety switch or the like. The effectors 10, the sensors 12, 14, the control station 16 and the effector release module 18 belong to a group of peripheral devices that are controlled by a central management system 30. The group of peripheral devices also includes a software module 20 for data fusion, a software module 22 for classification and a software module 24 for position evaluation - also called data fusion unit 20, classification unit 22 and position evaluation unit 24. The group of peripheral devices also contains a success estimator 26 and an evidence preservation unit 28.

A peripheral connector 10a-28a is provided for each of the peripheral devices 10-28. The peripheral connectors 10a-28a form the central management system 30, which additionally has a central message core 32. Depending on the design of the drone defense system 6, it is also possible for one or more peripheral devices to be connected directly to the central message core 32 without an associated peripheral device being interposed. The central message core 32 is a zone within the central management system 30 into which all information is entered that is exchanged between the peripheral devices 10-28 and / or the associated peripheral connectors 10a-28a. The in FIG 2 The embodiment shown, the central message core 32 comprises only a data line system, for example a data bus. In this respect, the area between the peripheral connectors 10a-28a is free of control units of the peripheral devices 10-28, a device for pure message broadcast control not being understood as a control unit. However, it is also possible to place central data processing units in the message core 32, for example to subdivide the message core into two or more zones which are separated from one another by appropriate translators or the like.

The structure of the drone defense system 6 is such that the peripheral devices 10-28 are connected in a star shape to the central message core 32, each via only one peripheral device 10-28 or one type of peripheral device associated peripheral connector 10a-28a. There is no data connection between the peripheral devices 10-28 without one or more interconnected peripheral connectors 10a-28a. Information from one peripheral device 10-28 to another must in this respect always run through the message core 32, the associated peripheral connector 10a-28a being interposed between peripheral device 10-28 and message core 32. The peripheral connectors 10a-28a also communicate with one another exclusively via the message core 32. Since messages are distributed from one peripheral connector 10a-28a to another via a broadcast, the information can be received by all peripheral connectors 10a-28a.

Each peripheral connector 10a-28a exclusively controls its peripheral device 10-28, whereby a peripheral device 10-28 in this context can also be understood to be a group of identical peripheral devices, as indicated, for example, by the sensors 12, 14. Here several peripheral devices 12, 14 can be connected together with their associated peripheral connector 12a, 14a. However, it is also possible to interconnect only one peripheral device 10-28 with an associated peripheral connector 10a-28a for data purposes, so that each peripheral connector 10a-28a is always assigned to and controls only one peripheral device 10-28. The peripheral connectors 10a-28a are used to control your peripheral device 10-28. To do this, they receive messages from their peripheral device 10-28 and send control information to their peripheral device 10-28. The information received from the peripheral device 10-28 is examined by the associated peripheral connector 10a-28a for generic data, that is to say such data that another peripheral device 10-28 needs to perform a function of the drone defense system 6. The corresponding information from the peripheral device 10-28 is converted into a generic data format by the peripheral connector 10a-28a and imported into the message core 32. The peripheral connector 10a-28a, the peripheral device 10-28 of which requires this information to perform a function of the drone defense system 6, receives this information and converts it, if necessary, into a data format that the associated peripheral device 10-28 can process. The peripheral connector 10a-28a may add further information that contributes to the control of the corresponding peripheral device 10-28. The peripheral connectors 10a-28a thus have the functions of a data filter, a translator from a peripheral data format into a generic data format and back, and a control unit for controlling their peripheral device 10-28.

If a peripheral device 10-28 is to be exchanged and replaced by another, the associated peripheral connector 10a-28a may also have to be removed and replaced by another. The other peripheral connectors 10a-28a can continue to be operated unchanged, since the replaced peripheral connector 10a-28a, like its predecessor, only feeds generic data into the central message core 32, which is received and processed by another peripheral connector 10a-28a. This makes it possible to exchange peripheral devices 10-28 and thus modify the drone defense system 6, for example to different threat scenarios, different drones 4 or different objects 2 to be protected, very easily and inexpensively.

To protect the object to be protected 2 are on and around this, as to FIG 1 described, several peripheral devices 10-14 distributed. The other peripheral devices 16-28 are accommodated, for example, in the building 8 in which the control station 16 is also arranged. The central guidance system 30 with the peripheral connectors 10a-28a is also in the building. If a drone approaches the object 2 to be protected, it sends out acoustic and electromagnetic signals which are received by one or more of the sensors 12, 14. The sensors 12 are, for example, primary sensors that are equipped with an all-round sensor system, which means that they monitor the surrounding area through 360 °. The primary sensors 12 are, for example, acoustic sensors, the evaluation unit of which is capable of filtering or recognizing the flight noises of a drone 4 from other noises and thereby recognizing an event, i.e. an approaching drone 4, as such. If an event is recognized, the recognizing sensor 12 sends data assigned to the event to its peripheral connector 12a. In this respect, the latter receives data about the event from one or more primary sensors 12. The sensor 12 may already be in a position to extract directional data from the event. Otherwise, this task is assigned to the peripheral connector 12a, which determines the direction data for the event from event data from several sensors 12 that recognize the event. In any case, the direction data are entered into the message core 32. Only generic data are entered that are adapted to at least one other peripheral connector 10a-28a. Further data from the primary sensor or sensors are filtered out by the associated peripheral connector 12a and withheld from the message core 32. The generic information is sent to all other peripheral connectors 10a-28a as a broadcast.

This primary information is important for at least one secondary sensor 14, which uses the directional information to align itself with the target or the approaching drone 4 and detect it, for example optically and / or by radar radiation. On the basis of the data from the secondary sensor or sensors 14, three-dimensional information about the event is now available, namely the direction and the distance of the drone 4. In addition, high-resolution optical images are available on which the drone 4 is depicted. These secondary data are transmitted to the associated peripheral connector 14a, which extracts the generic information from the data and places it in the message core 32.

The primary information and / or the secondary information in the message core 32 are important for the classification unit 22 and the data fusion unit 20. The classification unit 22 uses the data, for example the high-resolution images and / or the three-dimensional directional information, to classify the event. In the simplest case, the classification is binary and is limited to "threat" or "non-threat". However, the classification expediently also includes a type of drone, for example a type of construction or, ideally, even a make.

The data fusion unit 20 generates a track or a track of the target 4 from the optical data and / or the radar data. In this way, a flight direction and flight speed can be determined. In addition, the unit 20 generates a probable future track by means of a predication. The data from a plurality of optical sensors 12, 14 and / or radar sensors 14 are usually used for such data fusions and merged by the software component. For this purpose, it is useful if several secondary sensors 14 and possibly also several primary sensors 12 are present in order to be able to detect the target 4 well.

The flown track of the target 4 is in turn processed by the classification unit 22, since the type of the target 4 can be inferred from the altitude, airspeed and / or flight agility. In this way, the classification based on the optical data can be facilitated, or a preselection can be made.

As with the sensors 12, 14, the associated peripheral connectors 20a, 22a ensure both a back and forth translation of the data from and to the message core 32 as well as a filtering of the generic data from the whole existing peripheral data and the addition of generic data with further data that the associated peripheral device 20, 22 may need for further processing of the data. The data necessary or useful for your peripheral device 10-28 are filtered out of the pool of data present in total in the message core 32 by the respective peripheral link 10a-28a and possibly translated and supplemented and output to the respective peripheral device 10-28.

The situation assessment unit 24 forms a situation assessment from the data on the event present in the message core 32. For this purpose, in particular the classification from the classification unit 22 and the trace of the drone 4 from the data fusion unit 20 that will presumably be flown in the future are used. The location and type of the object to be protected 2 is also used. The location assessment is again entered into the message core 32 via the peripheral connector 24a and is available there to the control center 16 or its peripheral connector 16a for forwarding to the control center 16. On a screen 34 of the control station 16, the situation assessment is output to an operator. The operator sees, for example, the location of the object 2 to be protected in a geographical map, for example a city map, and the past and future trace of the approaching drone 4. In addition, the classification and a potential threat are expediently output to the operator. The situation assessment can also include a possibility of defense by the effectors 10. The defense option contains the information as to whether one of the effectors 10 is able to intercept the drone 4 and, if so, expediently where and in what way. For example, an encounter point between an effector 10 and the approaching drone is displayed to the operator on the screen 34 when the effector 10 starts immediately. From this, for example optical information, the operator can see how long he has time left for a decision to start a drone defense action.

Whether an effector 10 is able to repel the approaching drone 4 depends, among other things, on the type of effector 10. For example, a laser cannot shine around the corner if the drone is flying behind a building or other object. For example, an interceptor missile is not fast enough to be able to reach the drone 4 in good time, or the drone 4 is still too far away and thus outside the flight range of the interceptor missile. To determine the ability of the effectors 10 to defend themselves, they are connected to so-called workers 38, which are arranged, for example, for signaling purposes between the effector 10 and the associated peripheral connector 10a. From information on the trajectory of target 4 and / or the situation assessment, the workers 38 determine the current and, in particular, future possibilities of action for their effector 10. This is given via the respective peripheral connector 10a as generic information to the message core 32 and in particular picked up by the control station 16 and, for example, on the screen 34 to the operator displayed. This now receives the information as to which effector 10 has or is likely to have when and which capacity to act or possible effect.

The following are also available as generic data in the message core 32: the component status, i.e. whether the sensors 12, 14 are active, whether the effectors 10 are secured or unlocked, which sensors 12, 14 and effectors 10 are present, whether the effector unlocking module 18 is used to unlock the Effector 10 is ready and the like.

From the control station 16 it can now be decided whether the drone 4 should be defended against or not. A corresponding command can be entered into the control station 16 by the operator via the input unit 36, for example a keyboard. If this is the case, the operator enters the corresponding fire command in the control room 16 and this is fed into the message core 32 as generic information. The four-eyes principle is of particular importance in missile defense technology, so that the effector release module 18 can be present. This can consist of a simple button or a lever that has to be actuated by another operator for additional unlocking of the effector (s) 10. To trigger an effector 10, both unlocking information must be present in the message core 32. The decision as to whether the unlocking message is passed on to an effector 10 can be made by the associated peripheral connector 10a, which is programmed, for example, so that the corresponding unlocking information is only output to the worker 38 or the associated effector 10 if the double unlocking command is present. Depending on the design of the effector unlocking module 18, an associated peripheral connector can be dispensed with, since the signal from the effector unlocking module 18 can be very simple and the message core 32 can already be entered as generic information. A monodirectional data transmission from the effector unlocking module 18 to the message core 32 is also sufficient, since the module 18 does not need any information from the message core 32 in order to perform its task. If the drone 4 is defended against, another component is advantageous, namely the success estimator 26. This collects sensor data from one or more primary sensors 12 and / or secondary sensors 14 and uses this to determine an interception effect or an interception success. These can be determined, for example, from image data that are present as generic data in the message core 32 and can be processed by the success estimator 26. In a simple case, the success estimator 26 extracts the most meaningful images for recognizing the defensive success from the images of the sensors 12, 14 and transfers them as success images to the message core 32 so that they are displayed on the control station 16 or its screen 34 and viewed by the operator can. In this way, the operator can understand the effect of the effector 10 or the success or failure of the defense.

The component of the evidence preservation unit 28, whose task is, for example, the data storage of essential messages from the message core 32, such as the success images from the success estimator 26, is also useful of the target 4 and the like are stored by the evidence preservation unit 28. In this way, a threat situation and a defense scenario can be secured for subsequent evaluations or a justification. Expediently, the evidence preservation unit 28 permanently stores all of the data from the message core 32 that are relevant for the preservation of evidence.

List of reference symbols

2

object

4th

drone

6th

Drone defense system

8th

building

10

Effector

10a-28a

Peripheral connector

12th

sensor

14th

sensor

16

Control room

18th

Effector release module

20th

Data fusion unit

22nd

Classification unit

24

Situation evaluation unit

26th

Success estimator

28

Evidence Retention Unit

30th

central management system

32

central message core

34

screen

36

Input unit

38

Worker

Claims (11)

1. Method for controlling an anti-drone system (6), in which a group of peripheral devices (10-28) comprising an effector (10), in particular comprising a sensor (12, 14) and a control centre (16), is controlled by a number of peripheral connectors (10a-28a), which respectively control exactly one peripheral device (10-28) assigned only to the respective peripheral connector (10a-28a), together form a central guidance system (30) of the anti-drone system (6) and exchange data for controlling the peripheral devices (10-28) with one another via a communication hub (32), characterized in that a worker (38) assigned to the effector (10) determines a handling capability of the effector (10) from positional data from the communication hub (32) and feeds data concerning the handling capability into the communication hub (32) via the peripheral connector (10a) assigned to the effector (10).
2. Method according to Claim 1, characterized in that the group of peripheral devices (10-28) comprises a primary sensor (12) and a secondary sensor (14) and the peripheral connector (14a) of the secondary sensor (14) controls the latter on the basis of data of the primary sensor (12).
3. Method according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the group of peripheral devices (10-28) comprises a classification unit (22) for the classification of a detected drone (4), which transmits its classification data to its peripheral connector (22a).
4. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the group of peripheral devices (10-28) comprises a data fusion unit (20) for the data fusion of data of multiple sensors (12, 14), which determines a path of movement of a drone (4) from data of multiple sensors (12, 14) and transmits it to its peripheral connector (20a).
5. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the effector (10) is designed as an interception missile and the peripheral connector (10a) of the interception missile controls the latter exclusively on the basis of data from the communication hub (32), so that as a result the interception missile flies towards a drone (4) and ends its continued flight.
6. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the group of peripheral devices (10-28) comprises a position assessment unit (24) for the positional assessment of an object (2) to be protected, the positional data of which, determined on the basis of a detected drone (4), are transmitted via its peripheral connector (24a) to a control centre (16).
7. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an effector enabling module (18) is provided as a further peripheral device, which is connected in terms of data transmission to the communication hub (32) indirectly via a peripheral connector (18a) assigned only to it or directly.
8. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that data are transmitted from one peripheral device (10-28) to another peripheral device (10-28) exclusively via the assigned peripheral connectors (10a-28a) and the communication hub (32).
9. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the peripheral connectors (10a-28a) exchange with one another in the communication hub (32) by broadcasting means.
10. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the peripheral connectors (10a-28a) translate information from their peripheral device (10-28) into a data format intelligible for all of the peripheral connectors (10a-28a).
11. Anti-drone system (6) with a group of peripheral devices (10-28) comprising an effector (10), in particular comprising a sensor (12, 14) and a control centre (16), and a central guidance system (30) comprising multiple peripheral connectors (10a-28a) and a communication hub (32), via which the peripheral connectors (10a-28a) are linked to one another, wherein each peripheral device (10-28) is connected to the communication hub (32) exclusively via a peripheral connector (10a-28a) assigned to it and the peripheral connectors (10a-28a) together form the central guidance system (30) of the peripheral devices (10-28) and are respectively prepared for controlling their peripheral device (10-28), characterized by a worker (38), which is assigned to the effector (10) and is designed to determine a handling capability of the effector (10) from positional data from the communication hub (32) and to feed data concerning the handling capability into the communication hub (32) via the peripheral connector (10a) assigned to the effector (10).

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