Uav system and method

Abstract

A system is provided for guarding a perimeter, including a control center, a launch system, a controller and a communication system. The control center is configured for generating a control signal responsive to receiving infiltration information of an actual or suspected infiltration at a target zone associated with the perimeter by one or more infiltration agents. The launch system is configured for deploying one or more ready-to-launch UAV's to the target zone responsive to receiving the control signal from the control center. The controller is configured for operating the launched UAV(s) to home onto at least one such infiltration agent. The controller is also configured for identifying the nature of the infiltration agent or the nature of infiltration; and/or for tracking the infiltration agent via the UAV(s). The communication system is configured for providing data corresponding to the nature of the infiltration agent or the nature of infiltration, and/or for providing location data corresponding to the location of the infiltration agent being tracked by the UAV's to enable neutralization thereof. A corresponding method for guarding a perimeter is also provided.

1 .- 43 . (canceled) 
     
     
         44 . A method for guarding a perimeter, comprising:
 (a) providing infiltration information of an actual or suspected infiltration by at least one infiltration agent at a target zone associated with said perimeter;   (b) deploying at least one ready-to-launch UAV to said target zone responsive to receiving said infiltration information;   (c) operating said at least one UAV to home onto at least one said infiltration agent; and   (d) at least one of:
 (I) identifying nature of at least one said homed-onto infiltration agent or nature of said infiltration via said at least one UAV and providing data corresponding to said nature; or 
 (II) tracking at least one said homed-onto infiltration agent via said at least one UAV and providing data corresponding to a location of said homed-onto infiltration agent to enable neutralization thereof. 
   
     
     
         45 . The method according to  claim 44 , wherein step (b) comprises one of:
 (b1) providing at least one UAV launcher, the at least one UAV launcher comprising at least one UAV in ready-to-launch mode, the at least one UAV launcher configured for enabling each respective UAV to be speed launched responsive to receiving said infiltration information; or   (b2) providing a plurality of said UAV launchers, and, strategically deploying said UAV launchers with respect to said perimeter in a manner allowing each said UAV to reach a predetermined point on said perimeter within a predetermined time after launch.   
     
     
         46 . The method according to  claim 44 , wherein step (a) comprises obtaining infiltration information from at least one of the following sources: human intelligence; human surveillance of said perimeter; electronic intelligence; electronic surveillance of said perimeter; overhead imagery of said perimeter; perimeter breach sensors; radar data; or electro-optical and/or infrared surveillance of said perimeter. 
     
     
         47 . The method according to  claim 44 , wherein in step (b) suitable command signals are generated corresponding to said infiltration information and transmitted to at least one said UAV launcher to thereby activate speed-launching of said at least one ready-to-launch UAV. 
     
     
         48 . The method according to  claim 44 , wherein said UAV comprises a suitable sensor configured for providing image data or other sensor data within a field of view, and step (c) comprises remotely flying said UAV to said target zone, receiving said image data or said other sensor data generated by said UAV of the target zone, and identifying nature of said infiltration agent in step (I) from said image data or said other sensor data. 
     
     
         49 . The method according to  claim 48 , wherein step (d) comprises maintaining said infiltration agent within said field of view of said sensor. 
     
     
         50 . The method according to  claim 44 , further comprising step (e), wherein step (e) comprises any one of:
 neutralization of said infiltration agent;   neutralization of said infiltration agent comprising intercepting, apprehending, or immobilizing said at least one infiltration agent by direct human intervention; or   neutralization of said infiltration agent comprising intercepting, apprehending or immobilizing said at least one infiltration agent by direct human intervention, wherein said direct human intervention comprises dispatching to said location one or more of: manned or unmanned ground forces, manned or unmanned airborne forces, or manned or unmanned seaborne forces.   
     
     
         51 . The method according to  claim 44 , wherein said at least one supplemental UAV is speed launched in step (d) for supplementing said identification in step (I), and/or said tracking in step (II), or taking over said identification and/or said tracking, respectively, from said UAV previously launched in step (b). 
     
     
         52 . The method according to  claim 44 , wherein step (b) comprises speed-launching a plurality of said ready-to-launch UAV, each to a different respective start location in said target zone, responsive to receiving said infiltration information, and searching a respective portion of said target zone for said infiltration agent. 
     
     
         53 . The method according to  claim 52 , including at least one of the following steps:
 wherein at least one of said plurality of said launched UAV's is homed on said infiltration agent in step (c), and at least a first portion of a remainder of said launched UAV's are recovered; or   wherein at least one of said plurality of said launched UAV's is homed on said infiltration agent in step (c), and at least a second portion of a remainder of said launched UAV's are maintained airborne for providing supplemental tracking   
     
     
         54 . The method according to  claim 44 , wherein there are a plurality of infiltration agents, wherein step (b) comprises speed-launching a plurality of said ready-to-launch UAV, and in step (c) operating each said UAV to home onto a different said infiltration agent. 
     
     
         55 . The method according to  claim 44 , wherein said data corresponding to said nature in step (I) includes incriminating evidence relating to said nature of said infiltration agent or of said infiltration thereby. 
     
     
         56 . The method according to  claim 44 , wherein said perimeter constitutes any one of a border between a host country being guarded and a geopolitical entity comprising said infiltration agents prior to said infiltration, or a building or structure; or comprises any one of a fence, wall or line circumscribing an installation; a group of buildings; a complex; or a geographical zone. 
     
     
         57 . The method according to  claim 44 , wherein at least one said ready-to-launch UAV's is configured structurally and/or operatively to minimize detection thereof by said infiltration agents. 
     
     
         58 . The method according to  claim 44 , wherein said infiltration agent is one of:
 a human agent, wherein said human agent is optionally taken from the group including: terrorist, illegal alien, smuggler, thief, foreign troops; or   a non-human agent, wherein said non-human agent is optionally taken from the group of: non-authorized UAV, unmanned land vehicle, unmanned sea vehicle, and a contamination agent, optionally taken from the group including: toxic, chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear agents.   
     
     
         59 . A system for guarding a perimeter, comprising:
 (a) a control center configured for generating a control signal responsive to receiving infiltration information of an actual or suspected infiltration at a target zone associated with said perimeter by at least one infiltration agent;   (b) a launch system configured for deploying at least one ready-to-launch UAV to said target zone responsive to receiving said control signal;   (c) at least one controller configured for operating said at least one UAV to home onto at least one said infiltration agent and for at least one of:
 (i) identifying nature of said infiltration agent or nature of infiltration; or ( 
 ii) tracking said infiltration agent via said at least one UAV; and 
   (d) a communication system configured for providing at least one of:
 data corresponding to said nature in (i); or 
 location data corresponding to a location of said infiltration agent in (ii) to enable neutralization thereof. 
   
     
     
         60 . The system according to  claim 59 , wherein said launch system comprises at least one UAV launcher remote from said control center and comprising at least one said UAV, the at least one UAV launcher being in operation configured for automatically speed-launching at least one said UAV responsive to receiving said launch command signal from said control center. 
     
     
         61 . The system according to  claim 59 , wherein the at least one UAV comprises a sensor system having a field of view, in operation said UAV being configured for providing sensor data associated with said infiltration agent responsive to said infiltration agent being in said field of view. 
     
     
         62 . The system according to  claim 61 , wherein said sensor system comprises an image acquisition system for providing images corresponding to said field of view, and wherein optionally said image acquisition system comprises a pointing mechanism for controllably changing a line of sight of said image acquisition system in at least one or azimuth and elevation. 
     
     
         63 . The system according to  claim 59 , wherein the or each said UAV comprises a GPS or other positioning system configured for providing geographical location data of the respective UAV according to a pre-known coordinate system, and wherein optionally said location data is derived from said geographical location data and from knowledge of the line of sight of the image acquisition system and from knowledge of an altitude of the respective said UAV. 
     
     
         64 . The system according to  claim 59 , wherein said communication system comprises a communication module comprised in the or each said UAV each said communication module being configured, in operation, for receiving said command signal, for enabling operation of the respective UAV by said controller, and for transmitting sensor data provided by said sensor system. 
     
     
         65 . The system according to  claim 59 , wherein said UAV further comprise a contamination sensor configured for detecting said infiltration agent when in the form of a contaminating agent. 
     
     
         66 . The system according to  claim 59 , wherein:
 said control center is remote from said launch system; and,   wherein optionally at least one said UAV launcher is mobile configured for controllably changing its geographical position with respect to at least one of said control center and said perimeter; and   wherein optionally said system comprises a plurality of said UAV launchers, spaced from one another and at different locations with respect to said perimeter, wherein said control center is configured for providing said launch command signal to a said launcher capable of launching a respective said at least one UAV to minimize said response time.   
     
     
         67 . The system according to  claim 61 , wherein said sensor data is transmitted to at least one of said control center and said controller.