Unmanned aerial vehicle with non-lethal neuromuscular incapacitation system

Abstract

The present invention provides an unmanned aerial vehicle with non-lethal neuromuscular incapacitation system comprising a body, a plurality of rotary assemblies secured to the body and configured to provide lift, a control system disposed within the body, and a telescoping stinger assembly mounted on the body. The telescoping stinger assembly comprises an elongated projectile having a barb at a first end thereof, a wire having a first end attached to a second end of the elongated projectile, a high voltage pulse power supply attached to a second end of the wire, and firing mechanism for launching the projectile from the telescoping stinger assembly toward a target. A protective cage may be attached to and surround the body of the UAV. The non-lethal incapacitation mechanism may include a plurality of stinging stickers attached to a periphery of the protective cage, a RF power supply and RF transmitter attached to the body of the unmanned aerial vehicle, or a mechanism affixed to the body of the unmanned aerial vehicle for discharging a liquid or powder substance at a target. Alternatively, a rotary sting arm may be affixed to the body by a rotary brush high-voltage connection; and a sting arm motor mounted proximate to a center of the body may be used to impart rotary motion to the rotary sting arm.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An unmanned aerial vehicle with non-lethal neuromuscular incapacitation system comprising:
 a body;   a plurality of rotary assemblies secured to the body and configured to provide lift;   a control system disposed within said body;   a protective cage attached to said body and surrounding said body and said plurality of rotary assemblies; and   nonlethal incapacitation means attached to said protective cage.   
     
     
         2 . The unmanned aerial vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein said protective cage is attached to said body by a plurality of leaf springs. 
     
     
         3 . The unmanned aerial vehicle of  claim 2 , wherein said protective cage is spherically shaped. 
     
     
         4 . The unmanned aerial vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein said nonlethal incapacitation means comprises a plurality of stinging stickers attached to a periphery of the protective cage, each of said stinging stickers comprising a plurality of metal barbs projecting outwardly from the stinging sticker and the protective cage, said metal barbs further being electrically coupled to a high voltage pulse supply affixed to the body of the unmanned aerial vehicle. 
     
     
         5 . The unmanned aerial vehicle of  claim 4 , wherein said plurality of stinging stickers comprises a plurality of positively charged stinging stickers, the metal barbs of which are electrically coupled to a positive terminal of said high voltage pulse supply, and a plurality of negatively charged stinging stickers, the metal barbs of which are electrically coupled to a negative terminal of said high voltage pulse supply, said plurality of negatively charged stinging stickers being alternatively placed on the protective cage between and adjacent to corresponding positively charged stinging stickers. 
     
     
         6 . The unmanned aerial vehicle of  claim 5 , wherein the metal barbs of said negative stinging stickers are located in a central area surrounded by a surface with an adhesive thereon. 
     
     
         7 . The unmanned aerial vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein said nonlethal incapacitation means comprises a RF power supply and RF transmitter attached to the body of the unmanned aerial vehicle, said RF transmitter capable of transmitting a narrow beam of electromagnetic energy. 
     
     
         8 . The unmanned aerial vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein said nonlethal incapacitation means comprises a mechanism affixed to the body of the unmanned aerial vehicle for discharging a liquid or powder substance at a target. 
     
     
         9 . The unmanned aerial vehicle of  claim 8 , wherein the liquid/powder discharging mechanism comprises:
 a reservoir affixed to the body of the unmanned aerial vehicle for holding a liquid or a powder to be discharged;   a pump having an inlet attached to said reservoir to draw said liquid or powder from said reservoir;   a tube having an inlet end attached to an outlet of said pump and an outlet end positioned at a periphery of the protective cage to discharge said liquid or powder at said target.   
     
     
         10 . The unmanned aerial vehicle of  claim 9 , comprising two liquid/powder discharging mechanism and wherein said nonlethal incapacitation means further comprises a high voltage power supply having a positive post connected by a first lead wire to the tube of the first liquid/powder discharging mechanism and a negative post connected by a second lead wire to the tube of the second liquid/powder discharging mechanism, said tubes being formed from an electrically conductive material and said liquid or powder being capable of conducting electricity.