PROJECTILE WITH TAGGING CAPABILITY

Description

This application claims priority to U.S. provisional application 63/568,883, filed Mar. 22, 2024. U.S. provisional application 63/568,883 and all other extrinsic references contained herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The field of the invention is projectiles.

BACKGROUND

The background description includes information that may be useful in understanding the present invention. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art or relevant to the presently claimed invention, or that any publication specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.

Information is of paramount importance on a battlefield. The ability to know an enemy's movements and locations can be the difference between winning and losing.

Visual reconnaissance has been the primary source of information for centuries. With the sudden rise of drones on the battlefield, this continues even in the information age. However, visual information can only go so far. If an enemy moves out of sight, then it becomes difficult to keep track of where the enemy might be. For vehicles, it is desirable to know the location of the vehicle even after it is no longer visually tracked.

Location-based or other type of sensors can be deployed, but existing solutions offer limited deployment options and do not have a way to stay with a vehicle. Thus, the ability to track a target vehicle is limited.

All publications herein are incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication or patent application were specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference. Where a definition or use of a term in an incorporated reference is inconsistent or contrary to the definition of that term provided herein, the definition of that term provided herein applies and the definition of that term in the reference does not apply.

The following description includes information that may be useful in understanding the present invention. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art or relevant to the presently claimed invention, or that any publication specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.

In some embodiments, the numbers expressing quantities of ingredients, properties such as concentration, reaction conditions, and so forth, used to describe and claim certain embodiments of the invention are to be understood as being modified in some instances by the term “about.” Accordingly, in some embodiments, the numerical parameters set forth in the written description and attached claims are approximations that can vary depending upon the desired properties sought to be obtained by a particular embodiment. In some embodiments, the numerical parameters should be construed in light of the number of reported significant digits and by applying ordinary rounding techniques. Notwithstanding that the numerical ranges and parameters setting forth the broad scope of some embodiments of the invention are approximations, the numerical values set forth in the specific examples are reported as precisely as practicable. The numerical values presented in some embodiments of the invention may contain certain errors necessarily resulting from the standard deviation found in their respective testing measurements.

As used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, the meaning of “a,” “an,” and “the” includes plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Also, as used in the description herein, the meaning of “in” includes “in” and “on” unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

The recitation of ranges of values herein is merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range. Unless otherwise indicated herein, each individual value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g. “such as”) provided with respect to certain embodiments herein is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element essential to the practice of the invention.

Groupings of alternative elements or embodiments of the invention disclosed herein are not to be construed as limitations. Each group member can be referred to and claimed individually or in any combination with other members of the group or other elements found herein. One or more members of a group can be included in, or deleted from, a group for reasons of convenience and/or patentability. When any such inclusion or deletion occurs, the specification is herein deemed to contain the group as modified thus fulfilling the written description of all Markush groups used in the appended claims.

Thus, there is still a need for a projectile with an electronics payload that can stay with a targeted vehicle for tracking and/or electronic disabling.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The inventive subject matter provides apparatus, systems and methods in which a projectile is capable of attaching to a surface such as a structure, a vehicle, etc.

The projectile includes a projectile body that has a coupling mechanism that is used to couple to a surface. The projectile body also houses an electronics component, the electronics component comprising at least a processor and a communications component. In embodiments, the electronics components can include a location component (e.g., GPS component or other component used to determine location).

In embodiments of the inventive subject matter, the coupling mechanism comprises at least one of a magnet, an adhesive, or a hook.

In embodiments of the inventive subject matter, the coupling mechanism is disposed on a nose section of the projectile.

In embodiments of the inventive subject matter, the electronic component can further include an electronic warfare component. Examples of the electronic warfare component include one or more of a jamming component, a disabling component, or a software-delivery component.

In embodiments of the inventive subject matter, the processor can be further programmed to receive, from a sensor, a signal indicating that the projectile has attached to the surface and initiate, via the communications component, transmission of information to a remote computing device (e.g., at a vehicle, command center, body-worn computer device worn by a soldier, etc.). In embodiments of the inventive subject matter, the information transmitted can include location information. Other contemplated types of information can include information such as information regarding the surface to which the projectile is attached, audio information, video information, or other types of environmental information.

Various objects, features, aspects and advantages of the inventive subject matter will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, along with the accompanying drawing figures in which like numerals represent like components.

All publications identified herein are incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication or patent application were specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference. Where a definition or use of a term in an incorporated reference is inconsistent or contrary to the definition of that term provided herein, the definition of that term provided herein applies and the definition of that term in the reference does not apply.

The following description includes information that may be useful in understanding the present invention. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art or relevant to the presently claimed invention, or that any publication specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.

In some embodiments, the numbers expressing quantities of ingredients, properties such as concentration, reaction conditions, and so forth, used to describe and claim certain embodiments of the invention are to be understood as being modified in some instances by the term “about.” Accordingly, in some embodiments, the numerical parameters set forth in the written description and attached claims are approximations that can vary depending upon the desired properties sought to be obtained by a particular embodiment. In some embodiments, the numerical parameters should be construed in light of the number of reported significant digits and by applying ordinary rounding techniques. Notwithstanding that the numerical ranges and parameters setting forth the broad scope of some embodiments of the invention are approximations, the numerical values set forth in the specific examples are reported as precisely as practicable. The numerical values presented in some embodiments of the invention may contain certain errors necessarily resulting from the standard deviation found in their respective testing measurements.

Unless the context dictates the contrary, all ranges set forth herein should be interpreted as being inclusive of their endpoints and open-ended ranges should be interpreted to include only commercially practical values. Similarly, all lists of values should be considered as inclusive of intermediate values unless the context indicates the contrary.

As used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, the meaning of “a,” “an,” and “the” includes plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Also, as used in the description herein, the meaning of “in” includes “in” and “on” unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

The recitation of ranges of values herein is merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range. Unless otherwise indicated herein, each individual value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g. “such as”) provided with respect to certain embodiments herein is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element essential to the practice of the invention.

Groupings of alternative elements or embodiments of the invention disclosed herein are not to be construed as limitations. Each group member can be referred to and claimed individually or in any combination with other members of the group or other elements found herein. One or more members of a group can be included in, or deleted from, a group for reasons of convenience and/or patentability. When any such inclusion or deletion occurs, the specification is herein deemed to contain the group as modified thus fulfilling the written description of all Markush groups used in the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1A shows a projectile according to embodiments of the inventive subject matter.

FIG. 1B illustrates an embodiment wherein the front section can include a reservoir for an adhesive.

FIG. 1C illustrates an embodiment of the inventive subject matter wherein coupling mechanism comprises a plurality of hooks or other fasteners.

FIG. 2A shows an alternative embodiment of the inventive subject matter, having a coupling mechanism between the front section and rear section.

FIG. 2B shows the embodiment of FIG. 2A, showing the front section falling off upon impact with the target such that the coupling mechanism is exposed to the target for attachment.

FIG. 3A illustrates a variation of the embodiments of FIG. 2A, 2B, having a perforated or weakened area for the separation of the front section from the rear section.

FIG. 3B illustrates the separation of the front section along the weakened line during impact with a target.

FIG. 4 illustrates the deployment of the projectile onto a target vehicle, according to embodiments of the inventive subject matter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

It should be noted that any language directed to a computer should be read to include any suitable combination of computing devices, including servers, interfaces, systems, databases, agents, peers, engines, controllers, or other types of computing devices operating individually or collectively. One should appreciate the computing devices comprise a processor configured to execute software instructions stored on a tangible, non-transitory computer readable storage medium (e.g., hard drive, solid state drive, RAM, flash, ROM, etc.). The software instructions preferably configure the computing device to provide the roles, responsibilities, or other functionality as discussed below with respect to the disclosed apparatus. In especially preferred embodiments, the various servers, systems, databases, or interfaces exchange data using standardized protocols or algorithms, possibly based on HTTP, HTTPS, AES, public-private key exchanges, web service APIs, known financial transaction protocols, or other electronic information exchanging methods. Data exchanges preferably are conducted over a packet-switched network, the Internet, LAN, WAN, VPN, or other type of packet switched network.

FIG. 1A shows a projectile 100 according to embodiments of the inventive subject matter.

The projectile 100 includes a projectile body 110 that can be generally considered to have a front section 120 and a rear section 130. The front section 120 is generally considered to be the nose or other aerodynamic forward component, and the rear section 130 is generally considered to comprise the rest of the projectile 100 rearward of the front component 121.

In order to adhere to a target, the projectile 100 must include a coupling mechanism that allows the adherence. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the front section 120 comprises the coupling mechanism 150. As such, when the front section 120 strikes the target, it sticks or otherwise couples to the target.

The coupling mechanism 150 can include one or more types of coupling mechanisms that are designed to couple the projectile 100 to the target and maintain the coupling. For example, in FIG. 1A, the coupling mechanism 150 can be a magnet. In other embodiments, the coupling mechanism 150 can be an adhesive.

In embodiments where the coupling mechanism 150 is a magnet, the front section 120 can be of a metal that deforms by spreading upon impact. This way, the surface area of the target that is covered by the magnet is maximized.

In embodiments where the coupling mechanism is an adhesive, the front section 120 can be coated in the adhesive in such a way that the projectile 100 sticks to a surface upon impact.

In a variation of these embodiments such as the one shown in FIG. 1B, the front section 120 can be a reservoir 151 for an adhesive. When the projectile 100 impacts a target, the deformation of the front section 120 due to the impact punctures the reservoir and exposes the adhesive to the target surface, causing the adhesion.

In addition to the adhesive reservoir or the magnet, the coupling mechanism 150 can, in embodiments, include hooks or other fasteners 152 that are arranged to penetrate the surface of the target when the front section 120 deforms, providing an additional way to hold the projectile 100 onto the target. The fasteners 152 can be arranged along the front cross-section of the rear section 130 or directly onto the front section 120. This variation is shown in FIG. 1C.

The projectile 100 can include an electronics component 160 as a payload disposed in the rear section 130. The electronics component 160 can include a processor and a memory, as well as a communications interface (e.g., antennas and radio hardware for radio communications, cellular communications, WiFi communications and other types of data exchanges).

The electronics component 160 can include one or more of a tracking component or an electronic warfare component.

A tracking component is an electronics component that is programmed to obtain the location information of the projectile 100 and transmit it to another computing device (e.g., GPS). The location information can be obtained continuously or periodically, or according to a predetermined schedule, and transmitted continuously, periodically, or according to another predetermined schedule.

An electronic warfare component is an electronics component that is capable of affecting nearby computing devices (including vehicle on-board devices) via infiltration, disruption, or other type of interference or intrusion.

Examples of electronic components can include those from Applicant's applications and patents including US issued patents U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,446,319, 9,316,469, 9,964,384, 10,119,798, 10,746,515, 11,248,891, 11,846,495, 11,644,289 and patent applications Ser. Nos. 17/844,457, 17/845,273, 18/527,727, 18,244,148, and Ser. No. 18/411,639. All of these patents and applications are incorporated by reference in their entirety. Stated another way, the systems and methods discussed herein can also be used in projectiles discussed in Applicant's other issued patents and patent applications.

FIG. 2A shows an alternative embodiment of the inventive subject matter.

In the embodiment of FIG. 2A, the coupling mechanism 150 is disposed between the front section 120 and the rear section 130.

In these embodiments, the front section 120 is designed to separate from the rear section 130 upon impact such that the coupling mechanism 150 can attach to the target. The front section 120 can be filled with a compressible material such that it acts as a shock absorber prior to separating from the rear section 130 upon impact with the target. FIG. 2B shows the front section 120 falling off upon impact with the target such that the coupling mechanism 150 is exposed to the target for attachment.

FIG. 3A illustrates a variation of these embodiments of the inventive subject matter.

In the embodiment of FIG. 3A, the front section 120 includes a perforation or weakened area 121 that causes the front section 120 to split apart and then separate from the rear section 130 upon impact with the target. The separation of the front section 120 along the weakened line 121 during impact with a target is illustrated in FIG. 3B.

In variations of these embodiments of the inventive subject matter, the front section 120 can be made of a soft metal or other material that is highly deformable upon impact such that the material either separates from the rear section 130 or otherwise becomes sufficiently thin that it does not prevent the coupling mechanism 150 to attach with a target.

FIG. 4 illustrates the deployment of the projectile 100 onto a target vehicle 400. As seen in FIG. 4, the projectile 100 has been fired at and then attached to the tank 400.

The processor of projectile 100 can be programmed to begin transmitting location and other information based on one or more conditions.

For example, the electronics component 160 can include sensors disposed within the projectile 100. The sensors can include accelerometers, proximity sensors, electronic sensors, etc. Thus, a condition can be that a sensor detects a stop in motion, indicative of the projectile 100 being attached to the target. Another condition can be a combination of a stop in motion and a detection of electronic signals, which would be indicative of the attachment of the projectile to a vehicle or other target with sensitive electronics equipment.

Based on a satisfaction of one or more conditions, the processor begins transmission of location information and other information to a remote computing device. Additional actions can include deploying electronic warfare measures, sampling or otherwise capturing electronic emissions data, etc.

In embodiments of the inventive subject matter, the electronics component can include sensors such as a temperature sensor, an audio sensor (e.g., microphone), a camera, a barometer, a chemical sensor, or other sensors.

These sensors can enable the processor to carry out additional functions of data gathering and analysis that can be transmitted. For example, based on a vibration of a target and/or a sound, the processor can determine the type of vehicle that the projectile 100 is attached to. Suitable methods to do this are described in Applicant's own issued U.S. Pat. No. 11,846,495, issued Dec. 19, 2023 entitled “Projectile With Target Categorization”, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Other capabilities enabled by these sensors can include determination of changes in altitude of a target, environmental conditions, capture and transmit video data of the surroundings, capture audio data including speech of enemy soldiers, etc.

In embodiments of the inventive subject matter, the transmission of location information can be managed by the processor according to a predetermined timer, a scheduled, a detected movement, etc.

For example, the processor can be programmed to detect when the projectile 100 has slowed or stopped below a certain velocity threshold (indicative of being attached to a still or moving vehicle, for example), and only begin transmission after the processor has determined that the projectile 100 (attached to the target) has travelled a certain distance or exceeded a certain speed. This way, the projectile can track movement of a target without initiating transmission too soon (and thus threatening detection and removal).

In another embodiment, the processor can be programmed to wait a predetermined amount of time after detecting attachment to begin transmission.

The discussion herein provides many example embodiments of the inventive subject matter. Although each embodiment represents a single combination of inventive elements, the inventive subject matter is considered to include all possible combinations of the disclosed elements. Thus, if one embodiment comprises elements A, B, and C, and a second embodiment comprises elements B and D, then the inventive subject matter is also considered to include other remaining combinations of A, B, C, or D, even if not explicitly disclosed.

As used herein, and unless the context dictates otherwise, the term “coupled to” is intended to include both direct coupling (in which two elements that are coupled to each other contact each other) and indirect coupling (in which at least one additional element is located between the two elements). Therefore, the terms “coupled to” and “coupled with” are used synonymously.

It should be apparent to those skilled in the art that many more modifications besides those already described are possible without departing from the inventive concepts herein. The inventive subject matter, therefore, is not to be restricted except in the spirit of the appended claims. Moreover, in interpreting both the specification and the claims, all terms should be interpreted in the broadest possible manner consistent with the context. In particular, the terms “comprises” and “comprising” should be interpreted as referring to elements, components, or steps in a non-exclusive manner, indicating that the referenced elements, components, or steps may be present, or utilized, or combined with other elements, components, or steps that are not expressly referenced. Where the specification claims refers to at least one of something selected from the group consisting of A, B, C . . . and N, the text should be interpreted as requiring only one element from the group, not A plus N, or B plus N, etc.