1758results about "Defence devices" patented technology

The invention relates to a crossed three-dimensional torpedo interception net capable of intercepting torpedoes, especially a torpedo interception net which can be projected or cast and can outspread automatically when entering into the water to form a decussate three-dimensional torpedo interception net. The appearance is column-shaped, a top cover is arranged at the top part and is fixed and sleeved by bayonet locks on the casing which is divided into four sections, the specific density of the top part is lighter than the seawater and the specific density of the bottom part is heavier than the seawater. A decussate bracket is arranged inside, a telescopic link is connected on the lateral side, and a suspended net is connected with the telescopic link via a hanger. When the torpedo interception net is projected or cast into sea via a surface ship, a submarine or a helicopter, the top cover is ejected via a spring, the casing is opened, a going barren dives the telescopic link to expand and the suspended net is dragged to outspread in horizontally. Under the upward pulling force of the telescopic link and the downward pulling force of the weight of the connector of the suspended net, the suspended net is outspreaded along vertical direction; a stabilization membrane connected with the inner side of the suspended net control the stability of the torpedo interception net along the vertical direction.

A cable handling system mounted to a mobile robot to dispense and retrieve cable at zero tension includes a cable reel drive and a downstream tension roller drive that includes an idler. As a cable passes through the tension roller drive, position along the length of the cable and / or the cable speed is monitored accurately by a sensor attached to the idler. A system controller in communication with the sensor controls the cable reel drive and the tension roller drive for dispensing and retrieving cable downstream of the tension roller drive.

A system and method for detecting, identifying, and fixing the location of the source of an acoustic event. The inventive system includes: a plurality of sensors dispersed at somewhat regular intervals throughout a monitored area; a communication network adapted to deliver information from the sensors to a host processor; and a process within the host processor for determining, from the absolute times of arrival of an event at two or more sensors, a position of the source of the event. Acoustic events are detected and analyzed at each sensor so that the sensor transmits over the network: an identifier for the sensor; an identifier for the type of event; and a precise absolute time of arrival of the event at the sensor. In a preferred embodiment, the system also identifies the type of weapon firing a gunshot.

A fast acting active protection system for military vehicles defeats RPG (rocket propelled grenade) threats fired from close ranges. The system minimizes the hazard to troops and civilians nearby. The system uses a plurality of passive sensors to locate the threat and initialize the system. A low cost radar or laser tracker is used as the means to determine range, velocity, and (if required) angular position of the threat. The countermunition used may be one of several choices, with the requisites being that the countermunition provides fast response with low inertia, and is able to damage or destroy the detected threat. A multi-barrel recoilless gun is the weapon of choice. A launching device is used to deploy and aim the countermunition and the tracking means. On board software and electronics are used to control the system.

A protection system features a flexible packaged net with perimeter weighting housed in a deployment box releasably attached to a vehicle. One deployment subsystem includes an airbag packaged in the deployment box behind the net. A sensor subsystem detects an incoming threat and a fire control subsystem is responsive to the sensor subsystem and is configured to activate the deployment subsystem to inflate the airbag and deploy the net in the trajectory path of the incoming threat.

A system (100) for providing an integrated multi-sensor detection and countermeasure against commercial unmanned aerial systems / vehicles (44) and includes a detecting element (103, 104, 105), a tracking element (103,104, 105) an identification element (103, 104, 105) and an interdiction element (102). The detecting element detects an unmanned aerial vehicle in flight in the region of, or approaching, a property, place, event or very important person. The tracking element determines the exact location of the unmanned aerial vehicle. The identification / classification element utilizing data from the other elements generates the identification and threat assessment of the UAS. The interdiction element, based on automated algorithms can either direct the unmanned aerial vehicle away from the property, place, event or very important person in a non-destructive manner, or can disable the unmanned aerial vehicle in a destructive manner. The interdiction process may be over ridden by intervention by a System Operator / HiL.

An active protection system comprising an ultra wideband (UWB) radar for threat detection, an optical tracker for precision threat position measurement, and a high powered laser for threat kill or mitigation. The UWB radar may use a sparse array antenna and may also utilize Doppler radar information. The high powered laser may be of the optically pumped solid state type and in one embodiment may share optics with the optical tracker. In one embodiment, the UWB radar is used to focus the high power laser. Alternative interceptor type kill mechanisms are disclosed. In a further embodiment, the kill mechanism may be directed to the source of the threat. In a further embodiment, an antenna array is steered by using subarray groups having fixed timing within the group and variable timing from group to group.

A method for intercepting and a defeating rocket propelled grenade (RPG) which includes the steps of detecting a thermal signature from a launch of the RPG; and cueing a narrow beam radar which locates the RPG and develops a ballistic solution and target intercept point for intercepting the PPG with an intercept vehicle.

A remotely-controlled robotic apparatus for deactivating explosive ordinance, such as IEDs. The remotely-controlled robotic apparatus is provided with a robotic portion that provides mobility, and a laser portion configured to be aimed at an object of interest (for example an object believed to comprise an IED) and to deactivate the object by destroying, damaging or disconnecting at least one of a control apparatus and a power supply from the object of interest. The remotely-controlled robotic apparatus provides the capability to dispose of IEDs without having an explosion. The remote-controlled robotic apparatus can include a camera and an illumination source for examining objects of interest. A remote control console is provided for the use of an operator in controlling the robotic apparatus.

A countermeasure system which is capable of defusing rocket propelled grenades (RPG) is provided by spacing an array of explosive charges or primacord from the protected structure to allow and sense an ogive of the fused RPG to enter into a functional plane of the array initiating one or more of the charges to collapse to ogive. The array is supported flexibly or rigidly and further ballistic protection is incorporated behind the array in fixed or inflatable forms to provide protection of the structure from the explosive products from the array and the ballistic impact of the defused RPG.

A system and method for automatic weapon allocation and scheduling of the present invention. The inventive method includes the steps of providing data with respect to threats, weapons, weapon allocation options; weapon allocation rules; and temporally dependent constraints with respect thereto; evaluating the data; and temporally allocating the weapons to the threats automatically in accordance with the evaluation. The invention computes the optimal pairing and the best time to deploy each weapon system against threat(s) it is paired with in arriving at the pairing. This results in an optimal assignment where weapon resource constraints are not exceeded and therefore guarantee availability of sufficient resources for engagement of every threat that is paired with a weapon system.

An apparatus for protecting an object from an incoming munition includes a tracking apparatus mounted on the object, for tracking the incoming munition; a firing solution computer connected to the tracking apparatus; a plurality of launch tubes mounted on the object, the plurality of launch tubes pointing in different directions so as to maximize coverage of an area surrounding the object; a parachute container attached to each launch tube; an igniter disposed in a rear of each launch tube and connected to the firing solution computer; a propelling charge disposed in front of each igniter; a mass disposed in front of each propelling charge; a connecting ring attached to a front of each mass; a parachute disposed in the parachute container; and a cable connecting the connecting ring and the parachute.

A remote controlled robot for handling hazardous material, such as explosive devices, includes a support frame, an articulating arm having a proximal end coupled with the support frame and a distal end remote therefrom, and a gripper connected with the distal end of the articulating arm, the gripper having gripper fingers that oppose one another. The robot includes a transporting assembly, such as wheels or a track, coupled with the support frame for selectively moving the robot to a desired location. The robot includes a tool basket disposed adjacent the proximal end of the articulating arm. The tool basket includes a plurality of tool receiving slots adapted to receive tools, with different tools stored in each of the slots. By carrying a plurality of tools in a basket, the robot may stay downrange when changing tools, rather than requiring the robot to return up range for changing tools.

The present invention is a robotic mobile platform vehicle that can be thrown into hostile or hazardous environments for gathering information and transmitting that information to a remotely located control station and a system comprising the robotic mobile platform. The system of the invention is adapted to provide it's operator with significant information without being exposed directly to actual or potential danger. One of the key features of the invention is that at least four imaging assemblies are mounted on the robotic platform and that the system has the processing ability to stitch the views taken by the four imaging devices together into an Omni-directional image, allowing simultaneous viewing of a 360 degree field of view surrounding the mobile platform. Another feature is that the system comprises a touch screen GUI and the robotic mobile platform is equipped with processing means and appropriate software. This combination enables the user to steer the robotic platform simply by touching an object in one of the displayed images that he wants to investigate. The robotic platform can then either point its sensors towards that object or, if so instructed, compute the direction to the object and travel to it without any further input from the user.

A protection apparatus adapted to protect a moving platform against an incoming threat is provided. The protection apparatus is deployed from the moving platform in a first direction toward the threat, with the threat moving in a second direction toward the moving platform at a threat velocity. The protection apparatus comprises a projectile housing. A first deployable device is operably engaged with the projectile housing, and is adapted to capture the threat upon deployment such that the protection apparatus mass is combined with the threat mass via the first deployable device. A second deployable device is operably engaged with the projectile housing, and is configured to be deployed upon the first deployable device capturing the threat. The second deployable device is further configured to decrease the velocity of the combined protection apparatus and threat masses in the second direction. Associated systems and methods are also provided.

Devices for navigating in a fluid medium having a solid boundary include a vehicle body and a fin attached to the vehicle body. The fin is configured to oscillate relative to the body such that interaction between the fin and the fluid medium produces propulsive forces that propel the vehicle body in a desired direction in the fluid medium. The fin is also configured to rotate relative to the body along a transverse axis such that engagement between the fin and the solid boundary propels the vehicle body in a desired direction on the solid boundary.

An unmanned range-programmable airburst weapon system provides automated tracking and prosecution of soft targets such as UAVs at close ranges. A range-programmable gun that fires airburst rounds and a seeker that images the target within a FOV are mounted on a gimbaled turret. A tracking controller is responsive to a target cue to point the seeker to acquire the target and to subsequent tracking commands from the seeker to maintain the target in the seeker's FOV. A fire controller is responsive to tracking commands and range-to-target measurements to compute a ballistic firing solution to range program an airburst round and to point and fire the gun so that the round explodes in mid-air at a predicted target position.

Apparatus and methods are disclosed for detecting anomalies in microwave penetrable material that may be used for locating plastic mines or pipes underneath the ground. A transmitter is positioned at a plurality of different positions above the ground. A microwave signal is transmitted that is stepped over a plurality of frequencies. At each position, a plurality of reflections are received corresponding to each of the plurality of frequencies that were transmitted. A complex target vector may be produced at each position that contains complex values corresponding to magnitude, phase, and time delay for each of the plurality of reflections received at that location. A complex reference data vector may be produced, either based on predetermined values or based on data from the received plurality of reflections. A comparison is made between the complex target vector and the complex reference data vector to produce a channel vector. In one embodiment, an operator may be applied to the channel vector such as a complex filter matrix or to add a complex conjugate. A response signal is produced and anomalies are detected by variations in the response signal with respect to the plurality of positions.

A multi-mode electromagnetic target discrimination sensor system for transmitting an electromagnetic signal and receiving a reflected signal from at least one target is disclosed having a variable inductance antenna having a variable inductance transmitter and a variable inductance receiver for varying at least one of operating bandwidth, sensitivity and size of the antenna, a processor for alternating between a time domain operating mode and a frequency domain operating mode, and controlling the variation of the inductance of the variable inductance antenna based on a current operating mode, and at least one processing algorithm for receiving signals from the receiver, discriminating targets from the received signals, and outputting the discrimination results is disclosed.

The present invention is a system and method for detecting devices with receivers, such as explosive devices with receivers used to remotely detonate the explosive devices. The system for detecting devices may include a transmitter which transmits a signal causing saturation of a device whereby harmonic content is emitted by the device. Receipt of an emitted harmonic signal which is coherent to the transmitted signal may indicate the presence of a device. A distance between the system and the detected device may be determined by modulating a frequency of the transmitted signal and measuring the time period between transmission of the signal and receipt of a harmonic signal. Additionally, direction information may be determined which may allow identification of a location of the device based upon the distance information and direction information.

A net deployment system which, in one example, includes a manifold assembly including multiple weight ducts and a bladder port. A weight is disposed in each weight duct and each weight is tied to the net. A bladder is behind the net and is over the bladder port. At least one inflator charge is associated with the manifold for inflating the bladder and firing the weights out of the weight ducts to deploy the net in the path of an incoming threat.

A man wearable acoustic sensor for use with a gunshot detection system. In a preferred embodiment the inventive sensor includes: a housing configured to be man wearable, a microphone; a processor housed within the housing and in communication with the microphone to detect an acoustic event and determine a time of arrival for the acoustic event; a GPS receiver for providing position information to said processor; a network; and a display for displaying information concerning acoustic events to a user. Man wearable describes a sensor which is either integrated into a piece of equipment normally carried by a soldier or integrated into an article of clothing or configured to securely attach to such equipment or clothing.

A method for generating power in a device is provided. The method includes: generating power from an inherent characteristic of the device; and supplying the generated power to at least one power consuming element associated with the device. Preferably, the inherent characteristic of the device is an acceleration of the device and the generating includes providing a mass which is movable upon the acceleration of the device and converting a potential energy of the mass into an electrical power. Alternatively, the inherent characteristic of the device is a heat generation on at least a portion of the device and the generating includes converting a heat from the heat generation into an electrical power. In another alternative, the inherent characteristic of the device is a spinning of the device and the generating includes converting the spinning of the device into an electrical power.

A computer-implemented method for safely routing a soldier to a destination on the battlefield. The method includes a Threat Analyzer (100) for assessing threats to the soldier, a Graph Builder (102) for building a graph representing the battlefield, a Route Generator (104) for generating a route that avoids the threats, and a Route Presenter (106) for guiding the soldier along the route. The Threat Analyzer (100) includes an Enemy Analyzer (200) for determining the attack range of enemy units and an Obstruction Analyzer (202) for detecting obstructions in aerial imagery. The Graph Builder (102) includes a Cost Evaluator (712) that takes into account traversal speeds for soldiers across various types of terrain. The Route Presenter (106) overlays the route on live video in the soldier's heads-up display.

A DIRCM (Direct IR Counter Measures) system includes a detection and warning apparatus for detecting a missile that might pose a threat on the platform to which said system is allocated, and for generating a warning of its existence. The warning may include data that enable the calculation of the expected direction from which the missile is approaching. The DIRCM system may also include an acquisition device for performing acquisition of the approaching missile in accordance with the data provided by the detection and warning apparatus, and issuing data that may enable the calculation in real time of the updated position of the missile, a fiber laser for generating a laser beam, and a motion and aiming enabled turret, coupled with the laser, for directing the laser beam onto the approaching missile. The laser beam may be generated in accordance with the missile's updated position as calculated based on data received from the acquisition device, and processing means, linked to the detection and warning apparatus and also to the acquisition device, the laser and the turret.