Projectile Construction and Payloads Therefor

Abstract

A projectile construction includes a payload that is deliverable to a target after the projectile self-separates. The payload may be an opaque substance that may interfere with optics or infrared of a drone. The payload may also be a sticky substance or web that may interfere with or affect the control surfaces and or propulsion of a target. An abrasive powder payload may physically impede operation of a drone's propulsion system, causing the drone to divert from its intended path or crash to the ground. The projectile may also include at least one sensor that is capable of identifying a target based upon a sensed frequency, amplitude and/or electromagnetic signature of a target.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A launchable projectile comprising a payload, said payload comprising at least one of an abrasive substance, an opaque substance, and a thermobaric substance or element,
 wherein said projectile separates after launch to release said payload,   wherein, upon release from said projectile, said payload may interfere with optics, guidance, navigation, or other sensors of a target of the projectile.   
     
     
         2 . The payload of  claim 1 , wherein said payload further comprises at least one of a tackifier, glue or other adhesive element which promotes adhesion of the payload to the target. 
     
     
         3 . The projectile system of  claim 2 , wherein the adhesive element comprises at least one of cyanoacrylate, polyurethane, epoxy, glycerin, gelatin, xanthum gum, sugar or cornstarch. 
     
     
         4 . The payload of  claim 1  further comprising at least one of streamers and entanglement materials. 
     
     
         5 . The payload of  claim 1 , wherein the opacity of said opaque substance may range from 0.2 to 1.0. 
     
     
         6 . The payload of  claim 1  wherein said opaque substance interferes with at least one of a vision system and an infrared and or vision sensing of a target. 
     
     
         7 . The projectile system of  claim 1  wherein the opaque substance comprises one of a carbon, charcoal, titanium dioxide, silica aerogel, carbon aerogel, cornstarch, talc or calcium carbonate. 
     
     
         8 . The payload of  claim 1  wherein the particle size of said opaque substance is less than 150 microns. 
     
     
         9 . The payload of  claim 4 , said wherein said at least one of streamers and entanglement materials comprise an adhesive coating. 
     
     
         10 . The projectile of  claim 1 , said projectile comprising a diameter, and said diameter comprising one of between 12 and 45 millimeters. 
     
     
         11 . A launchable projectile comprising a payload, said payload comprising an opaque substance, and said projectile comprising a sensor and control circuit,
 wherein said projectile separates after launch to release said payload,   wherein, upon release from said projectile, said payload may interfere with optics, guidance, navigation, or other sensors on a target.   
     
     
         12 . The projectile of  claim 11 , wherein said sensor comprises at least one of an acoustic sensor, a barometric sensor, a radio frequency sensor, a magnetic sensor and an infrared sensor, and
 wherein said sensor provides input to said control circuit to initiate separation of the projectile.   
     
     
         13 . The payload of  claim 11  further comprising a thermobaric element or substance. 
     
     
         14 . The projectile of  claim 11 , said projectile comprising a diameter, and said diameter comprising one of between 12 and 45 millimeters. 
     
     
         15 . A projectile system comprising a projectile,
 said projectile comprising a payload, said payload comprising at launch an electrostatic charge,   wherein said system is capable of launching said projectile with said electrostatic charge,   wherein said system launches said projectile toward a target,   wherein said projectile separates after launch to release said payload, and   wherein said electrostatically charged payload is attracted to said target after release from said projectile via charge attraction between payload and target.   
     
     
         16 . The payload of  claim 15 , wherein, said electrostatically charged payload comprises one of an abrasive powder, streamers, a carbon, charcoal, titanium dioxide, silica aerogel, carbon aerogel, cornstarch, talc or calcium carbonate. 
     
     
         17 . The projectile of  claim 15 , said projectile comprising a diameter, and said diameter comprising one of between 12 and 45 millimeters. 
     
     
         18 . The payload of  claim 1 , wherein said payload further comprises at least one of a ferrofluid, a magnetic powder, and a ferromagnetic powder. 
     
     
         19 . The payload of  claim 11 , wherein said payload further comprises at least one of a ferrofluid, a magnetic power and a ferromagnetic powder.