Development of a UAV-Mounted System for Physical Interception of Aerial Vehicles
Author(s)
Bumbary, Turner McNeal
Advisor(s)
Editor(s)
Collections
Supplementary to:
Permanent Link
Abstract
Given the proliferation of low-cost, highly configurable unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), counter-UAV systems have arisen as an essential means for maintaining aerial security. However, current solutions present a trade-off: kinetic systems that physically capture vehicles require complex post-capture controllers, while non-kinetic methods like jamming pose collateral risk to the environment without capture. This research investigates the feasibility of a novel, UAV-mounted retractable cage mechanism designed to offer a stable, non-destructive, physically secure capture method. The objective is to demonstrate the mechanism’s capability at autonomously intercepting fixed aerial targets. This research presents the novel mechanism as well as a dynamic Simulink model to estimate the vehicle’s behavior and flight controller performance. Through experimental testing, the feasibility of the capture mechanism and autonomous algorithms have been validated. However, the intervehicle coordination between the capture mechanism and moving targets still remains a challenge. Future work should test the feasibility of the retractable cage mechanism when capturing moving targets.
Sponsor
Date
2025-12
Extent
Resource Type
Text
Resource Subtype
Thesis (Masters Degree)