Systems and methods for interaction with thermal detectors
AssigneeLMD Power of Light Corporation
InventorsSusan Houde-Walter, Christopher Gagliano
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system for interacting with a thermal detector includes at least one unmanned aerial vehicle and a sensor mounted to the at least one unmanned aerial vehicle. The sensor is configured to determine the presence of a component of the thermal detector and to generate a signal indicative of the presence of the component. The system also includes a beam emitter mounted to the at least one unmanned vehicle and in communication with the sensor. The beam emitter includes a beam source configured to direct a beam of thermal radiation to the thermal detector in response to the signal from the sensor.
Claims13
A system for interacting with a thermal detector, comprising:
- a plurality of unmanned aerial vehicles, wherein each vehicle of the plurality of unmanned aerial vehicles includes a beam emitter having a quantum cascade laser, and a sensor configured to determine the presence of a component of the thermal detector and to generate a signal indicative of the presence of the component,
- wherein the plurality of unmanned aerial vehicles is configured to move, in concert, relative to the thermal detector and each quantum cascade laser is configured to impinge a respective beam of thermal radiation upon a focal plane array of the thermal detector in response to the signal, thereby rendering a portion of the focal plane array inoperable;
- and
- a remote source in communication with the plurality of unmanned aerial vehicles.
A method of interacting with a thermal detector, comprising:
- determining the presence of the thermal detector by detecting a wavefront of radiation reflected by a lens of the thermal detector;
- moving at least one unmanned aerial vehicle from a first location outside of a detection range of the thermal detector to a location within the detection range of the thermal detector;
- and impinging a beam of thermal radiation onto a component of the thermal detector with a beam source carried by the at least one unmanned aerial vehicle, wherein impinging the beam onto the component renders the component inoperable.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.