dynamic barrier system

Another US patent of interest - granted on 13th July 2010

Assignee:The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army (Washington, DC)

Title ~ Dynamic barrier system

Abstract..

A dynamic barrier system including a number of sensors that monitor a barrier area to determine specific types of objects approaching, within, or exiting the barrier area. Depending upon the type of object(s), the dynamic barrier system initiates an appropriate action, both lethal and non-lethal. The barrier system may advantageously deactivate after its intended period of operation eliminating difficult and/or dangerous removal.

In the contents we find the following:

In one embodiment, the UGV 210 may employ METAL STORM.RTM. pod capable of deploying both sensors and munitions. METAL STORM technology is an electronically initiated, stacked projectile system that eliminates the mechanisms required to fire a conventional weapon. Effectively, the only parts that move in a METAL STORM pod are the projectiles contained within individual barrels comprising the pod. Multiple projectiles are stacked within the barrels. As a result, each projectile may be fired sequentially fired from an individual barrel, with multiple barrels being fired simultaneously.

As a result, METAL STORM barrels are individual weapons, without traditional ammunition feed or ejection system, breech opening or any other moving part (other than the vehicle carrying the pod and the pod itself). METAL STORM barrels may be grouped in multiple configurations to meet a diversity of applications. Each individual projectile stacked in a barrel includes its own propellant load, such that a leading propellant may fire its projectile, without resulting in an unplanned ignition of propellant of following projectile(s). As a result, such systems may advantageously deploy a wide variety of projectile(s), including sensory projectiles (for deployment) or munition projectiles that may attack a target with both lethal or non-lethal force as appropriate.

Also later in the patent

Advantageously, our inventive dynamic barrier system may employ a variety of sensors and/or munitions. One such munition, a dual purpose munition (DPM) is shown in FIG. 3a. The DPM 310 shown in FIG. 3a may be realized in the form of a 40 mm grenade, although other sizes are within the scope of the invention. The 40 mm size allows the emplacement of the DPM 310 with a METALSTORM dispenser system as part of the Dynamic Barrier System (DBS)--thereby providing a lethal reaction force to appropriate sensed/identified objects. The small, hardened configuration allows it to be emplaced on an as-needed basis using the METALSTORM dispenser thereby providing a temporary, and nearly instantaneous barrier where needed.

It is important to note at this point that the METALSTORM dispenser is but one means of emplacement. Accordingly, other emplacement systems/methods could be effectively utilized with our inventive dynamic barrier system and in preferred embodiments, such systems/methods would provide the remote emplacement whereby the munitions are delivered from a safe distance as needed. In this inventive manner, the sensing and attack or lethal aspects of the munitions are separable.

Full contents here:

http://patft1.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser...p;RS=PN/7752952