Debido al notable crecimiento del empleo de Dispositivos Explosivos Improvisados (IED), que \u00a0ocasionan \u00a0enorme cantidad de bajas a las tropas org\u00e1nicas, empe\u00f1adas en escenarios de guerra asim\u00e9trica, los desarrolladores e ingenieros del US Army Armament Research, Development \u00a0and Engineering Center (ARDEC), avanzaron en buscar soluciones para enfrentar estas amenazas.\u00a0Una de ellas, ha sido el desarrollo y patentamiento del \u201cUniversal Smart Fuze\u201d para su empleo desde UAVs, capaces de cumplir diversas funciones, entre ellas, desactivar IEDs. Se trata de un programa de UAV letal que es capaz de neutralizar peque\u00f1os dispositivos explosivos, causando el menor da\u00f1o colateral.\u00a0La falta de estos sistemas, restringe enormemente el normal desenvolvimiento de las tropas desplegadas en \u00e1reas urbanas, por lo que este desarrollo constituir\u00e1 una gran ayuda.\u00a0El sistema, consiste en una c\u00e1mara de video, una carga de explosiva de hasta 1.5kg y un sistema de detonaci\u00f3n que permite operarlo desde una distancia segura.\u00a0Este nuevo y accesible \u00a0Drone, a ser empleado por las menores fracciones, aporta una nueva \u201ccapacidad \u00a0letal\u201d a los sistemas UAV no t\u00e1cticos y constituye un primer paso en la b\u00fasqueda de soluciones pr\u00e1cticas para mitigar el flagelo de las bajas producidas por los IED en medios urbanos.<\/p>\n
Even after the height of improvised explosive device threats to U.S. troops deployed abroad, they remain a key concern for researchers and engineers. To combat the ongoing IED threat, small cadre of engineers working for the Army Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center have been granted a patent for development of a universal \u201csmart fuze\u201d for unmanned aerial systems (UAS) capable of several tasks, one being disarming IEDs.<\/p>\n
\u201cCurrently, there are very few man-portable unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) that can effectively identify and neutralize light-armored targets or [IEDs] with energetic warheads while minimizing collateral damage,\u201d the patent<\/a>\u00a0notice stated. \u201cThe lack of such tactical capabilities constrains the warfighter’s ability to function in an urban environment where the targets might be in areas where the potential for civilian casualties is relative high. This lethal UAV program is a first step toward achieving a solution to such needs.\u201d<\/p>\n The team of three researchers filed the patent application in 2014 as a continuation of a 2011 patent; the latest patent was awarded in August 2016.<\/p>\n Despite the boom of UAS in combat operations in recent years, which in many respects protect human assets by conducting the intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, the patent notes these systems are typically only capable of identifying threats, not eliminating them — still putting humans at risk. As such, there is a demand for a lethal UAS that can identify hostile targets and defeat them in the same mission.<\/p>\n \u201cBy using a small remote armament system (RAS) camera and sensors capable of delivering warheads, we can neutralize the IED and urban warfare targets,\u201d Lloyd Khuc, a patent recipient, said in an Army release<\/a>. \u201cThere currently are very few man-portable UAVs that can effectively identify and neutralize light-armored targets through the utilization of energetic warheads while minimizing collateral damage.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cUsing the robot or [UAV] which has the camera, fuze and warhead provides the ability to remotely detonate a low-cost explosive charge to defeat the IED from a safe location without putting any soldiers in danger,” Kuhc said.<\/p>\n According to the ARDEC, this new lethal UAS, or L-UAS, program is the first step toward generating a solution to mitigate casualties related to ordnance disposal in urban environments. L-UAS could have a variety of capabilities to include:<\/p>\n Targets, the patent states, could be identified, targeted and neutralized by a small RAS equipped with energetic warheads, with the RAS remotely destroying IEDs. The universal smart fuze would be provided in the UAS platform serving as the warhead, making it a lethal aircraft.<\/p>\n Both the aircraft and the fuze would be controlled by a remote operator at a ground control station. The UAS platform the patent specifies was used in testing is three feet long, with a three foot wingspan, a range of 1.2 hours, a speed of about 30-45 nautical miles per hour and the ability to \u201ccarry a 0.5- to 3-pound explosive warhead such as C-4 explosive (or a fragmentation warhead) in a space about 1 inch by 4.25 inches, set off 8 inches from the nose of the UAV.\u201d<\/p>\n\n