Patent ID: 12203731

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

Referring now toFIGS.1-3, the present disclosure is directed to an unmanned human analogue10that gives off a heat signature and can be used to mimic the presence of troops in an armed conflict. The unmanned human analogue10can include a silhouette frame12that, when inflated, has a shape and size similar to that of an adult human and a flexible shell14that works with the silhouette frame12to distribute a heat signature across the unmanned human analogue10. The flexible shell14can be secured to the silhouette frame12via any manner known in the art. For example, the flexible shell14can be secured to the silhouette frame12via adhesion, the flexible shell14could be tied to the silhouette frame12, the flexible shell14could secured to the silhouette frame12via hooks, clips, hook and loop pieces, etc. The silhouette frame12could be sewn directly into the flexible shell14, or portions of the silhouette frame12are sewed into the flexible shell14. The silhouette frame12could be any material such that the unmanned human analogue10can withstand certain operational conditions. The silhouette frame12could be made of silk, a polymeric material, etc. such that the silhouette frame12is light and strong. The flexible shell14can include various sized openings15therein to permit air flow generated by the drone18to flow out of the unmanned human analogue10and help maintain its inflation.

The unmanned human analogue10can also include a drone cavity16for accepting a drone18. The drone18has multiple functions with respect to the unmanned human analogue10. The air flow generated from the drone18inflates the unmanned human analogue10and is used to move the unmanned human analogue10as desired. The unmanned human analogue10can be designed to work with multiple types of commercial drones18. A drone housing20can be secured inside the drone cavity16such that the drone18can be secured therein. The drone housing20can be secured in the drone cavity16via any means known in the art. For example, the drone housing20could be tied to the silhouette frame12, the drone housing20could secured to the silhouette frame12via hooks, clips, hook and loop pieces, etc. The drone housing20could be sewn directly into the silhouette frame12, or portions of the drone housing20could be sewn into the silhouette frame12.

The drone housing20could be constructed in any manner such that the drone18could be secured inside the unmanned human analogue10by the drone's attachment to the drone housing20. The drone housing20could have anchor points22where connection rods24can be secured thereto on one end. The other ends of the connection rods24can be secured to various parts of the drone18. The connection rods24can be rigid, semi rigid or flexible such that functionality of the drone18is not compromised. The connection rods24are connected to the drone in any place where functionality of the drone18is not compromised. The drone housing20could be a series of rod elements26combined to make a desired shape for the drone housing20. For example, the drone housing20could be square shaped, rectangular shaped, spherical shaped, oblong shaped, etc. In one embodiment, the rod elements26could be combined to make a shape that is similar to the shape of a human chest cavity.

The connection rods24can be connected to the drone housing20at the anchor points22via any manner known in the art. The connection rods24can be secured to the drone housing20via magnets disposed on the connection rods24and/or the drone housing20. The connection rods24can be secured to the drone housing20via hooks and loops, clasps, buckles, etc. The drone housing20could also include brackets28that engage with magnets30disposed on the ends of the connection rods24. The other ends of the connection rods24can be releasably secured to the drone18. The drone18could have attachment points30where the connection rods24are releasably secured thereto. The attachment points30could be any mechanism such that the connection rods24can be releasably secured thereto. For example, the attachment points30could be ring members that clasps, or carabiner type devices attached to the ends of the connection rods24could be secured to. The connection rods24could also be equipped with hook and loops, straps, etc. to engage with parts of the drone18to maintain position of the drone18with respect to the drone housing20.

The unmanned human analogue10can also include heating wires32to provide the heat that is distributed across the silhouette frame12and the flexible material14to give the impression that the unmanned human analogue10is an actual human when viewed via an infrared device. The heating wires32can be attached to a power source, such as a battery, to provide the electricity that causes the heating wires to generate heat. The heating wires32can be secured to various parts of the silhouette frame12or they could be attached to various parts of a skeletal structure34that contributes to providing the unmanned human analogue10with body-like movements.

The skeletal structure34can include numerous structural segments36that represent various parts of the human body. For example, there could be a structural segment36for the upper part of the arms, the lower part of the arms, the upper part of the legs, the lower part of the legs, etc. There could also be structural segments associated with the hands, feet and head. The structural segments36can be made of any material and have any shape such that desired movement of the unmanned human analogue10could be achieved. The structural segments36could be made of a lightweight material, such as carbon fiber, polymeric materials, wood, etc. The structural segments36could be generally cylindrically shaped. The structural segments36could be supported by the silhouette frame12

Referring now toFIGS.4A and4B, the unmanned human analogue10could include motive sections38where structural segments36come together to form a joint. Examples of joints where motive sections38could be used include, but are not limited to, wrists, knees, hips, ankles, elbows, neck and shoulders. The motive sections38can be generated by hinged movement between structural segments36. The hinged movement of the motive sections38can be generated by use of a motor40with a shaft42that can engage at least one of the structural segments36at a particular motive section38. Each structural segment36can have an openings44disposed in the ends where the hinged movement occurs. Once of the openings44in one of the structural segments36can have threads (not shown) that interact with threads on the shaft42of the motor40. This threaded engagement allows the motor40to move one of the structural segments36with respect to the other structural segment36. The motors40could be set up to be in wireless communication with a remote control (not shown) that controls the drone18such that a desired motive section38can move as desired via movement commands from the remote control.

The present disclosure is also directed to a method of simulating the presence of troops via emulating an infrared signature with the unmanned human analogue10. It should be understood and appreciated that the unmanned human analogue10can be used to present the infrared signature of a human for any purpose, not just military. The unmanned human analogue10can be moved from one position to another position to simulate the movement of an actual human. The whole unmanned human analogue10or parts of the unmanned human analogue10can be moved to simulate movement of a human.

From the above description, it is clear that the present disclosure is well-adapted to carry out the objectives and to attain the advantages mentioned herein as well as those inherent in the disclosure. While presently preferred embodiments have been described herein, it will be understood that numerous changes may be made which will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art and which are accomplished within the spirit of the disclosure and claims.