The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 20, 2021
Filed:
May. 14, 2019
Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems, Inc., Plymouth, MN (US);
David Sharpin, Simi Valley, CA (US);
James Kolanek, Goleta, CA (US);
Mark A. Cvetnic, Chaska, MN (US);
Mike Hutchings, Newbury Park, CA (US);
James Tennison, Ventura, CA (US);
Kent Carl Nelson, Simi Valley, CA (US);
Harold Kregg Hunsberger, Simi Valley, CA (US);
Behshad Baseghi, Santa Barbara, CA (US);
Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation, Plymouth, MN (US);
Abstract
Embodiments include active protection systems and methods for an aerial platform. An onboard system includes one or more radar modules, detects aerial vehicles within a threat range of the aerial platform, and determines if any of the plurality of aerial vehicles are an aerial threat. The onboard system also determines an intercept vector to the aerial threat, communicates the intercept vector to an eject vehicle, and causes the eject vehicle to be ejected from the aerial platform to intercept the aerial threat. The eject vehicle includes a rocket motor to accelerate the eject vehicle along an intercept vector, alignment thrusters to rotate a longitudinal axis of the eject vehicle to substantially align with the intercept vector, and divert thrusters to divert the eject vehicle in a direction substantially perpendicular to the intercept vector. The eject vehicle activates at least one of the alignment thrusters responsive to the intercept vector.