EFFICACY IN LOW-COST KINETIC APPREHENSION COUNTER DRONE SYSTEM
This dissertation presents the design, development, and testing environment of a low-cost, self-built ground based Counter Unmanned Aerial or Aircraft Vehicle (CUAV) system aimed at providing effective aerial security solutions in resource-limited environments. The kinetic CUAV technique was selected and identified for the current study as it is the most feasible, low-cost and reusable mitigation path as last-resort defense. Utilizing commonly available materials, including parts from online retailers and hardware stores, and incorporating a self-made pneumatic system with a reusable 3D-printed projectile and interchangeable parts design. This study explores the feasibility of cost-effective drone defense and introduces a short-range accuracy metric to evaluate the system’s trajectory behavior. Through rigorous indoor testing in Purdue University Hangar 4, the research evaluates the system's performance in terms of projectile height, range, and accuracy under various environmental conditions. A 90 degrees field of view of pneumatic launcher was tested with a small error margin comparison table to highlight on areas for potential technical refinement. TPU filament was found to be the best material for this study, with 10% infill, printing temperature in 225°C (437°F), and 70 mm/s printing speed settings for the 3D-printed projectile (4.16a). These findings in Figures 4.10, 4.11, 4.12, 4.13 will significantly advance the research of low-cost drone defense technologies by providing empirical evidence on material and design choices that will impact the system performance. Findings indicate that the system’s performance is affected by the climate temperatures, which influences its consistency in different settings. This offers practical implications for enhancing security measures against unauthorized drones using similar technology. The study fills a significant gap in current drone defense technologies with kinetic apprehension by proving that effective solutions can be both affordable and accessible. This work not only contributes to the advancement of counter drone technology but also encourages ongoing design innovation in the field, paving the way for further research and development into scalable and adaptable drone defense systems.
History
Degree Type
- Doctor of Philosophy
Department
- Technology
Campus location
- West Lafayette