Combining Mobility and Precision: Bosch’s New Patent on Electromagnetic Jamming UAVs Aims to Redefine Counter-Drone Defense
by DRONELIFE Staff Writer Ian J. McNabb
As the C-UAS (counter-UAS) space explodes and governments scramble to acquire effective drone-fighting technologies, German industrial giant Robert Bosch GmbH recently received a patent (serial #WO2023135017) for a new UAV-based anti-drone system that relies on short-range powerful electromagnetic jamming signals to take out unwanted UAV threats.
While other counter UAV systems use ground or vehicle-based signal jammers or heavy kinetic drones designed to literally smack threats out of the sky, Bosch’s proposed method combines the two by placing the jammers on a UAV. This approach has obvious advantages (it’s as portable as a UAV is and has a range as far as a UAV can go) and could provide a compelling alternative to existing options, which are often stationary or extremely bulky.
The full text of the patent reads as follows:“The invention relates to a method for defence against a foreign drone (20) by means of a defence drone (10) comprising a jamming device (18) which is designed to emit an electromagnetic jamming signal (19) after activation, said method comprising activating (160) the jamming device when or while the defence drone assumes a defence position (22) relative to the foreign drone (20), wherein, in the defence position, a distance and a relative height of the defence drone with respect to the foreign drone are within a predefined distance range and a predefined relative height range. The invention also relates to a defence drone and to a defence system.”
While we may be some distance away from actually seeing drone-based C-UAS system, the appeal of fighting fire with fire will no doubt lead to further development on this concept. As government funding for C-UAS products skyrockets, Bosch is placing themselves in a great position to offer a compelling alternative to existing counter drone products.
More information on the patent, including authors, is available here.
Miriam McNabb is the Editor-in-Chief of DRONELIFE and CEO of JobForDrones, a professional drone services marketplace, and a fascinated observer of the emerging drone industry and the regulatory environment for drones. Miriam has penned over 3,000 articles focused on the commercial drone space and is an international speaker and recognized figure in the industry. Miriam has a degree from the University of Chicago and over 20 years of experience in high tech sales and marketing for new technologies.
For drone industry consulting or writing, Email Miriam.
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