Non-lethal projectile

Abstract

A non-lethal projectile is provided in the illustrative embodiments. An ammunition cartridge includes a propulsion mechanism and a non-lethal projectile. The non-lethal projectile is configured to impair a target without a risk of causing permanent harm to the target. The non-lethal projectile is further configured to detach from a launching device when propelled from the launching device. The non-lethal projectile includes a set of electrodes concealably configured in the non-lethal projectile, and an electrical power source electrically coupled to the set of electrodes, such that an electrode in the set of electrodes is at a positive potential.

1 . An ammunition cartridge, comprising:
 a propulsion mechanism; and   a non-lethal projectile configured to impair a target without a risk of causing permanent harm to the target, the non-lethal projectile further configured to detach from a launching device when propelled from the launching device, the non-lethal projectile comprising:
 a set of electrodes concealably configured in the non-lethal projectile; and 
 an electrical power source electrically coupled to the set of electrodes, such that an electrode in the set of electrodes is at a positive potential. 
   
     
     
         2 . The ammunition cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the non-lethal projectile further includes:
 a first circuit configured to change the potential difference from a first potential difference available at the electrical power source to a second potential difference available at a pair of electrodes in the set of electrodes.   
     
     
         3 . The ammunition cartridge of  claim 2 , wherein the first circuit is further configured to regulate a current flowing across the pair of electrodes. 
     
     
         4 . The ammunition cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the electrical power source is a capacitor. 
     
     
         5 . The ammunition cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the electrical power source is rechargeable. 
     
     
         6 . The ammunition cartridge of  claim 5 , wherein the non-lethal projectile further includes:
 a second circuit configured to electrically charge the electrical power source.   
     
     
         7 . The ammunition cartridge of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a pair of charging leads, the pair of charging leads electrically coupled to the electrical power source and configured to accept electrical current from a second electrical power source.   
     
     
         8 . The ammunition cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein a shape and a size of the ammunition cartridge is similar to a second shape and a second size respectively of a conventional ammunition, and wherein the ammunition cartridge is capable of being launched from a weapon designed to fire the conventional ammunition. 
     
     
         9 . The ammunition cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the set of electrodes are concealed within the non-lethal projectile, and wherein a subset of electrodes protrudes from the non-lethal projectile and is available to complete an electrical circuit using the target when the propulsion mechanism propels the non-lethal projectile. 
     
     
         10 . The ammunition cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein a component in the non-lethal projectile is configured to cause the electrical power source to discharge at a first rate above a threshold rate for a predetermined first period of time, and at a second rate one of (i) at, and (ii) below the threshold rate for a second period of time. 
     
     
         11 . The ammunition cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the non-lethal projectile is propelled, discharged, reclaimed, and reused in a second ammunition cartridge. 
     
     
         12 . The ammunition cartridge of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a protrusion mechanism coupled with the set of electrodes, wherein the protrusion mechanism causes an electrode in the set of electrodes to protrude from the non-lethal projectile after the non-lethal projectile is propelled.   
     
     
         13 . The ammunition cartridge of  claim 12 , comprising:
 a cover, configured in the non-lethal projectile to conceal an electrode in the set of electrodes while the non-lethal projectile is coupled with the propulsion mechanism, wherein, propelling the non-lethal projectile causes the cover to expose an opening in the non-lethal projectile and causes the protrusion mechanism to protrude the electrode in the set of electrodes through the opening.   
     
     
         14 . The ammunition cartridge of  claim 12 , wherein the protrusion mechanism includes a spring. 
     
     
         15 . The ammunition cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein an electrode in the concealably configured set of electrodes is exposed from the non-lethal projectile by an inertia of the non-lethal projectile. 
     
     
         16 . The ammunition cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein an electrode in the concealably configured set of electrodes is exposed from the non-lethal projectile by using an expansive gas produced by the propulsion mechanism.