Patent ID: 12247813

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description is merely illustrative in nature and is not intended to limit the embodiments of the subject matter or the application and uses of such embodiments. As used herein, the word “exemplary” means “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any implementation described herein as exemplary is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other implementations. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any expressed or implied theory presented in the preceding technical field, background, brief summary or the following detailed description.

In addition, certain terminology may also be used in the following description for the purpose of reference only, and thus are not intended to be limiting. For example, terms such as “top”, “base”, “upper”, “lower”, “above”, and “below” refer to directions in the drawings to which reference is made. Terms such as “front”, “back”, “rear”, “side”, “outboard”, and “inboard” describe the orientation and/or location of portions of the component within a consistent but arbitrary frame of reference which is made clear by reference to the text and the associated drawings describing the component under discussion. Such terminology may include the words specifically mentioned above, derivatives thereof, and words of similar import. Similarly, the terms “first”, “second”, and other such numerical terms referring to structures do not imply a sequence or order unless clearly indicated by the context.

For the sake of brevity, conventional techniques related to the operation of payload delivery devices and other functional aspects of the systems (and the individual operating components of the systems), such as how detonators operate, may not be described in detail herein. Furthermore, any connecting lines shown in the various figures contained herein are intended to represent exemplary functional relationships and/or physical couplings between the various elements. It should be noted that many alternative or additional functional relationships or physical connections may be present in an embodiment of the subject matter.

It should be appreciated that the below-described payload delivery device, and any corresponding elements, individually or in combination, are exemplary means for performing a claimed function.

When seeking to address the above-described problems associated with conventional payload delivery devices, after an extensive period of research and development the present inventors realized that a payload delivery device may be constructed so as to allow a user to easily configure the explosive component of a payload delivery device. As used herein, the term “configure the explosive component” means the user either self-filling the payload delivery device with explosives or modifying a pre-existing explosive component in some manner, for example to produce a different effect. Additionally, it was realized that allowing for user self-filling of the payload delivery device allows for circumvention of the need to transport assembled explosive devices over a logistics chain and instead assembly the payload delivery device may be assembled shortly prior to use.

Additionally, the present inventors discovered that dropping conventional explosive devices from UAS such as drones is not feasible due to certain conditions that must be achieved in order for a conventional explosive device to detonate. For example, in order for a typical 40 mm grenade to detonate, the 40 mm grenade must first experience a certain acceleration and rotate a certain number of times about its axis to align internal components within the 40 mm grenade. Dropping a 40 mm grenade from a UAS such as a drone is therefore unlikely to result in detonation of the 40 mm grenade. The present invention seeks to address this issue by providing a user-configurable payload delivery device that is suitable for being delivered by dropping from a UAS such as a drone.

FIG.1of the application shows a payload delivery device100in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The payload delivery device100includes a first module10, a second module20and an attachment device30. Preferably, the first module10is releasably connectable to the second module20. The releasable connection between the first and second modules10,20may be a screw thread connection, a connection utilizing resilient members having corresponding projections and grooves, or another type of releasable connection as would be contemplated by one of skill in the art. The first module10comprises an interior cavity (not shown in this figure) within which an explosive component may be placed, for example a readily available plastic explosive such as C4. The interior cavity may wholly or only partly contain this explosive component. In an embodiment, the connection of the first module10to the second module20encapsulates the interior cavity within the first module10and releasing the connection between the first and second modules10,20exposes the interior cavity to allow for user-filling of the interior cavity.

The payload delivery device100also comprises an attachment device30, which is configured to releasably attach the payload delivery device100to an unmanned aerial system (UAS), for example a drone. In an embodiment, the attachment device30may comprise a hook or another geometric shape configured to mate with a corresponding projection on the UAS. In this embodiment, release of the payload delivery device100from the UAS is controlled by the UAS. Alternatively, the attachment device30may comprise a movable component, for example a movable clamp arm. In this embodiment, the release of the payload delivery device100is controlled solely by the attachment device30, with no input required from the UAS. The release of the payload delivery device100from the UAS may be triggered in various ways, for example an automatic release based on a determination from a sensing means mounted on the payload delivery device, such as a camera equipped with image recognition software or a GPS system. In this embodiment, the payload delivery device100is automatically released from the UAS in the event that some precondition is satisfied (such as an image of an enemy combatant armored vehicle being recognized or the UAS traversing to a specific location).

Alternatively, the release of the payload delivery device100may be triggered via receipt of a transmission from a user of the payload delivery device100at a receiver operably connected to the attachment device30. Advantageously, the transmission frequency of the transmission to cause release of the payload delivery device100from the UAS is different to a frequency of the transmission used to control the UAS itself, such that any electronic countermeasures used against the UAS (such as targeted signal jamming of certain frequencies of radio wave transmission) may not be effective against the function of the attachment device30so as to still allow the payload delivery device to be released from the UAS and deployed even if the UAS is itself subject to these electronic countermeasures.

A cross-section of the payload delivery device100ofFIG.1is shown inFIG.2. As can be seen inFIG.2, the first module100comprises an interior cavity50, within which an explosive component may be located. In the embodiment shown inFIG.2, the payload delivery device100includes a detonator holder42configured to hold a detonator40. As would be known to one of skill in the art, a detonator is configured to, upon receiving a trigger signal, detonate an explosive component such as C4. When a detonator40and the explosive component are both included in the payload delivery device, transmitting a trigger signal to the detonator40allows for detonation of the explosive component.

The payload delivery device100also includes an electronics compartment35, within which various electronics are included. In an embodiment, at least a sensor, a controller and a memory are included in the electronics of the payload delivery device100. The sensor is configured to sense an environmental parameter and supply the sensed environmental parameter to the controller. The controller is configured to compare the sensed environmental parameter to a stored environmental parameter and, on the basis of the comparison, transmit a trigger signal to the detonator. For example, if the sensor includes an altimeter configured to detect pressure, the sensed pressure values obtained from the sensor may be compared to a stored pressure value contained within the memory. If the sensed pressure value is within a threshold of the stored pressure value, the controller is configured to generate and transmit a trigger signal to the explosive component. In an alternative embodiment, the sensor may comprise an accelerometer configured to sense acceleration values of the payload delivery device100. If the sensed acceleration value is within a threshold of the stored acceleration value, the controller is configured to generate and transmit a trigger signal to the explosive component. In another embodiment, the sensor may comprise a timer configured to sense time values after release of the payload delivery device100from the UAS. If the sensed time value is within a threshold of a stored time value, the controller is configured to generate and transmit a trigger explosive component.

Preferably, the electronics comprise more than one sensor such that multiple parameters are sensed and compared to multiple respective stored environmental parameters. For example, both pressure and acceleration values may be sensed and compared to respective stored pressure and acceleration values. If both of the sensed pressure and acceleration values are within a threshold of the stored pressure and acceleration values, the controller is configured to transmit a trigger signal to the detonator. By basing the generation of the trigger signal on more than one sensed environmental parameter, the likelihood of an accidental detonation of the explosive component is decreased. For example, a stored time value may ensure that the payload delivery device is sufficiently far away from the UAS before detonation to prevent damage of the UAS, and a stored pressure value may ensure that the explosive component detonates at a desired altitude so as to produce, for example, an air burst/blast effect. As another example, generation of the trigger signal may be based on also on whether an impact switch included in the payload delivery device has been activated, to indicate whether or not the payload delivery device has hit a surface. As will be appreciated from the above disclosure, the generation of the trigger signal may be based on as many or as few of the outputs of the various sensors as desired in order to adapt the conditions where the trigger signal is generated to a specific circumstance.

In an embodiment, the memory is read-writable (RW) such that the user may select and/or change the values of the stored environmental parameter(s). Adaptation or selection of the values of the stored environmental parameters allows for further customization of the conditions with which the trigger signal is generated. For example, the user may select only the altimeter to be used as the basis for generation of the trigger signal if an airburst effect is desired at a specific altitude (i.e., the user has filled the interior cavity with an explosive component configured to deliver an airburst effect). Alternatively, the user may select all of the altimeter, an impact switch and a timer to be used as the basis for generation of the trigger signal if the user wishes to delay detonation of the explosive component for a period of time after impact has occurred. Still further alternatively, the user may select the altimeter and the impact switch to be used as the basis for generation of the trigger signal if simple detonation-upon-impact is desired after the payload delivery device has been dropped to a certain altitude. Further combinations of different sensors are also possible, depending upon the desired functionality.

User selection or adaptation of the stored environmental parameters may be performed by a wired connection, for example by connecting the memory to a computer or mobile device, or by a wireless connection, for example by an electromagnetic wave transmission that is received by a receiver operably connected to the memory. In this manner, the user is able to adapt the altitude at which the explosive component detonates or other associated parameters. When the connection to the RW memory is wireless, the user is able to adapt these parameters during flight of the UAS to the target zone, in order to compensate for local terrain such as hills that may alter the target's altitude. When the connection to the RW memory is not wireless, the controller, the sensor and the memory may be shielded from electronic transmissions by way of a faraday cage or other such shielding equipment to protect against electronic countermeasures.

In order to supply electrical power to the controller, the memory and the sensors, the payload delivery device may include a battery90as shown inFIG.3.

As can also be seen inFIG.2, the second module20preferably comprises stabilizer fins70to assist in the aerodynamic performance of the payload delivery device. In operation, the stabilizer fins ensure that the first module10is positioned below the second module20during dropping of the payload delivery device from the UAS.

In an embodiment, the second module20includes actuators configured to alter the angle of the stabilizer fins based on signals from a guidance means, such as a laser guidance system or GPS. In this manner, the payload delivery device may be guided toward a target that is not located vertically below the UAS, and may allow for an increased range of delivery of the payload delivery system100as well as a more accurate delivery of the payload delivery device100to a target.

An exploded view of a fully assembled payload delivery device100is shown inFIG.3. As can be seen in this figure, the payload delivery device100includes electronics80which includes a controller, at least one sensor and a memory. The electronics80are housed within the electronics compartment35of the second module20. It will be appreciated that the electronics may alternatively be housed within another area of the payload delivery device100, for example within the first module10. The payload delivery device100includes a battery90configured to supply electrical power to the electronics80. The assembled payload delivery device further comprises a detonator40operably connected to the controller of the electronics80and configured to receive a trigger signal therefrom. The detonator is operably connected to an explosive component55contained, at least in part, within an interior cavity of the first module10. The payload delivery device100further comprises a charge liner60, thereby allowing for the payload delivery device100to act as a shaped charge. It will be appreciated that the inclusion or omission of components such as the charge liner60is dependent upon the configuration of the payload delivery device as chosen by a user.

As explained above, the payload delivery device100is configured to be mounted to a UAS, for example a drone. It is noted that the specifications, such as maximum carry weight of UAS differ from system to system, and the total size of the payload delivery device100may accordingly be altered to as to take into account the specifications of the specific UAS upon which the payload delivery device100is to be used with. For example, the payload delivery device100may be made larger or smaller depending on the maximum carry weight of the UAS.

Preferably, the payload delivery device100may be transported as a kit of parts without the detonator and the explosive component, to thereby comply with regulations governing the transport of explosives. Assembly of the payload delivery device100from the kit of parts requires the user to at least insert the explosive component into the interior cavity of the first module and then insert a detonator into the explosive component.

While at least one exemplary embodiment has been presented in the foregoing detailed description, it should be appreciated that a vast number of variations exist. It should also be appreciated that the exemplary embodiment or embodiments described herein are not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of the claimed subject matter in any way. Rather, the foregoing detailed description will provide those skilled in the art with a convenient road map for implementing the described embodiment or embodiments. It should be understood that various changes can be made in the function and arrangement of elements without departing from the scope defined by the claims, which includes known equivalents and foreseeable equivalents at the time of filing this patent application.