公开(公告)号：US10073454B2

公开(公告)日：2018-09-11

申请号：US15073403

申请日：2016-03-17

Applicant: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION

Inventor： Omar Aboutalib ,  David W. Evans ,  Gregory L. Larson ,  Annie D. Nguyen ,  Richard R. Ramroth

IPC: G05D1/00 ,  B64C39/02 ,  G06K9/62 ,  G06K9/00 ,  H04N7/18 ,  G06T7/73 ,  B64C39/00

Abstract: A system and method for controlling a swarm of UAVs that are stored on and released from an airborne platform, fly to and destroy a target, where the UAVs download target information from the airborne platform before being released therefrom, do not communicate with each other or the airborne platform while in flight, and do not depend of the presence of GPS. Each UAV includes a vision sensor that provides image data, a navigation module that receives the image data and causes the UAV to navigate and fly towards the target, and a target destruction module that receives the image data and causes the UAV to destroy the target.

公开(公告)号：US10018569B2

公开(公告)日：2018-07-10

申请号：US15153565

申请日：2016-05-12

Applicant: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION

Inventor： David W. Evans

IPC: G01N21/88 ,  G01N21/27 ,  B64D45/00 ,  H04B10/079 ,  H04B10/25 ,  G01M17/007 ,  G01N21/84

CPC classification number: G01N21/8806 ,  B64D45/00 ,  B64D2045/0085 ,  B64F5/60 ,  G01L1/242 ,  G01M5/0016 ,  G01M5/0033 ,  G01M5/0066 ,  G01M17/007 ,  G01N21/27 ,  G01N2021/8472 ,  G01N2201/088 ,  H04B10/07953 ,  H04B10/25

Abstract: A method for detecting defects in a composite structure, such as in an aircraft structure, that includes sending an optical signal down an optical fiber embedded in the composite structure and analyzing the optical signal at a detector. If it is determined that the optical signal is turning on and off or an increase in the bit error rate is occurring at the detector, the composite structure may be delaminating or the composite structure may be somehow damaged. If it is determined that the composite structure is damaged, the optical signal can be sent down a different optical fiber that may not be at a location where the composite structure is damaged, and a continuous beam of light can be sent down the optical fiber that is at the damaged part of the composite structure to determine whether the damage is increasing.

公开(公告)号：US20180164820A1

公开(公告)日：2018-06-14

申请号：US15073403

申请日：2016-03-17

Applicant: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION

Inventor： OMAR ABOUTALIB ,  David W. Evans ,  Gregory L. Larson ,  Annie D. Nguyen ,  Richard R. Ramroth

IPC: G05D1/00 ,  H04N7/18 ,  G06K9/00 ,  G06T7/73 ,  G06K9/62 ,  B64C39/02

CPC classification number: G05D1/0094 ,  B64C39/02 ,  B64C39/024 ,  B64C2201/082 ,  B64C2201/102 ,  B64C2201/121 ,  G05D1/00 ,  G06K9/0063 ,  G06K9/6202 ,  G06K2209/21 ,  G06T7/74 ,  G06T2207/10048 ,  G06T2207/30212 ,  G06T2207/30252 ,  H04N7/185

Abstract: A system and method for controlling a swarm of UAVs that are stored on and released from an airborne platform, fly to and destroy a target, where the UAVs download target information from the airborne platform before being released therefrom, do not communicate with each other or the airborne platform while in flight, and do not depend of the presence of GPS. Each UAV includes a vision sensor that provides image data, a navigation module that receives the image data and causes the UAV to navigate and fly towards the target, and a target destruction module that receives the image data and causes the UAV to destroy the target.

公开(公告)号：US10116411B1

公开(公告)日：2018-10-30

申请号：US15249274

申请日：2016-08-26

Applicant: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION

Inventor： David W. Evans ,  Jeffrey M. Yang

IPC: H04K3/00 ,  H04B7/185 ,  H04W72/04

Abstract: A method for sending messages through the atmosphere. The method includes sending the messages to an intended recipient, such as an aircraft, on a data link over an operating frequency at or near an atmospheric absorption band, where the operating frequency is selected to be closer to or farther from the absorption band to control the attenuation of the messages in the atmosphere so that the intended recipient is able to receive the messages, but unintended recipients are unable to receive the messages or jamming signals are unable to jam the messages.

公开(公告)号：US20170254622A1

公开(公告)日：2017-09-07

申请号：US15057574

申请日：2016-03-01

Applicant: Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation

Inventor： David W. Evans ,  Gregory L. Larson ,  Jeffrey M. Yang

IPC: F41G7/22 ,  B64D7/00 ,  F41G7/00 ,  B64C39/02

CPC classification number: F41G7/2206 ,  B64C39/024 ,  B64C2201/121 ,  B64C2201/141 ,  B64C2201/146 ,  B64D7/00 ,  F41G3/04 ,  F41G7/007 ,  F41G7/2233 ,  F41G7/30

Abstract: A manned aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) fly on a mission as a team. The UAVs carry additional weapons and/or munitions that can be controlled by the manned aircraft. The pilot of the manned aircraft selects weapons or munitions carried by either the manned aircraft or one of the UAVs. A display in the manned aircraft illustrates weapons available on both the manned aircraft and UAVs. The pilot of the manned aircraft picks a weapon from the display and then targets and fires the weapon. The targeting and guidance of the weapon can be carried out using computers on the manned aircraft and/or computers on the UAV.