US 11,947,349 B2
Methods and apparatuses for engagement management of aerial threats
James Kolanek, Goleta, CA (US); Behshad Baseghi, Santa Barbara, CA (US); David Sharpin, Simi Valley, CA (US); Anthony Visco, Woodland Hills, CA (US); and Falin Shieh, Calabasas, CA (US)
Assigned to Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation, Plymouth, MN (US)
Filed by Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation, Plymouth, MN (US)
Filed on Mar. 16, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/202,696.
Application 17/202,696 is a continuation of application No. 16/296,742, filed on Mar. 8, 2019, granted, now 10,948,909.
Application 16/296,742 is a continuation of application No. 15/355,839, filed on Nov. 18, 2016, granted, now 10,228,689, issued on Mar. 12, 2019.
Application 15/355,839 is a continuation of application No. 13/839,176, filed on Mar. 15, 2013, granted, now 9,501,055, issued on Nov. 22, 2016.
Application 13/839,176 is a continuation in part of application No. 13/455,831, filed on Apr. 25, 2012, granted, now 9,170,070, issued on Oct. 27, 2015.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/736,440, filed on Dec. 12, 2012.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/606,010, filed on Mar. 2, 2012.
Prior Publication US 2022/0026179 A1, Jan. 27, 2022
Int. Cl. G05D 1/00 (2006.01); F41G 7/00 (2006.01); F41G 7/30 (2006.01); F41H 11/02 (2006.01); F42B 15/01 (2006.01); G01S 13/88 (2006.01); G01S 13/00 (2006.01)
CPC G05D 1/0022 (2013.01) [F41G 7/306 (2013.01); F41G 7/308 (2013.01); F41H 11/02 (2013.01); F42B 15/01 (2013.01); G01S 13/883 (2013.01)] 34 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An active protection system comprising:
a controller comprising:
at least one processor; and
at least one computer-readable storage medium storing instructions thereon that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the active protection system to:
deploy a first intercept vehicle and a second intercept vehicle, each carried by a platform, from the platform and cause each of the first intercept vehicle and the second intercept vehicle to exit a vicinity of the platform;
cause each of the first intercept vehicle and the second intercept vehicle to perform a pitch maneuver to align the first intercept vehicle and the second intercept vehicle along an intercept vector pointed substantially toward a projected intercept point with an identified aerial threat after the first intercept vehicle and the second intercept vehicle exit the vicinity of the platform; and
cause each of the first intercept vehicle and the second intercept vehicle to perform a thrust maneuver to accelerate the first intercept vehicle and the second intercept vehicle along the intercept vector.