PROJECTILE CONSTRUCTION, LAUNCHER, AND LAUNCHER ACCESSORY

Abstract

A device may include a housing and a payload disposed within the housing, and a release mechanism. The payload may include a material having a composition and distribution. The release mechanism may be configured to deploy, based on a condition associated with movement of the device along the trajectory, the payload to disperse the material and form a region of the material. The region may be configured to interact with a sensing system of an object and to alter operation of the sensing system.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/787,683, filed Apr. 11, 2025, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/791,865, filed Apr. 21, 2025, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

Airborne devices, such as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), include systems that enable the airborne devices to fly (e.g., along a flight path through air). For example, the systems may include flight control, propulsion, vision, and/or navigation systems, which allow the airborne devices to fly autonomously and/or through remote operation.

SUMMARY

In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a device configured to travel along a trajectory, the device including: a housing; a payload disposed within the housing and including a material having a composition and distribution; and a release mechanism configured to deploy, based on a condition associated with movement of the device along the trajectory, the payload to disperse the material and form a region of the material, the region being configured to interact with a sensing system of an object and to alter operation of the sensing system.

In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a system, including: a launcher configured to initiate movement along a trajectory; and a device configured to travel along the trajectory, the device including: a housing; a payload disposed within the housing and including a material having a composition and distribution; and a release mechanism configured to deploy, based on a condition associated with movement of the device along the trajectory, the payload to disperse the material and form a region of the material, the region being configured to interact with a sensing system of an object and to alter operation of the sensing system.

In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a system configured to be integrated with a device traveling along a trajectory, the system including: a payload including a material having a composition and distribution; and one or more elements configured to disperse the material from the device during movement of the device along the trajectory to form a region of the material, the region being configured to interact with a sensing system of an object and to alter operation of the sensing system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram of an example associated with deploying one or more payloads.

FIG. 2 is a diagram of an example configuration of a system associated with deploying one or more payloads.

FIG. 3 is a diagram of an example configuration of a system associated with deploying one or more payloads.

FIG. 4 is a diagram of an example configuration of a system associated with deploying one or more payloads.

FIG. 5 is a diagram of an example configuration of a system associated with deploying one or more payloads.

FIG. 6 is a diagram of a method associated with deploying one or more payloads.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

The following detailed description of example implementations refers to the accompanying drawings. The same reference numbers in different drawings may identify the same or similar elements.

FIG. 1 is a diagram of an example 100 associated with deploying one or more payloads. As shown in FIG. 1, the example 100 includes a device 102 (e.g., associated with deploying one or more payloads). As further shown in FIG. 1, the device 102 includes a launching mechanism 104, a magnetic field source 106 (e.g., at least one magnetic field source configured to generate at least one magnetic field), a projectile 108, a payload 110, a set of initiators (e.g., shown as a first initiator 112 and a second initiator 146 in FIG. 1), a control circuit 116, an energy storage element 118, and a set of sensors (e.g., shown as a sensor 120 in FIG. 1), and an object 122.

In some implementations, the object 122 may include any target, platform, and/or system with which the device 102 may interact. For example, the object 122 may include a target, an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), an unmanned aircraft system (UAS), a drone, a manned vehicle, a sensor platform, a surveillance system, and/or another device including one or more sensing systems (e.g., optical and/or thermal sensing systems), among other examples.

In some implementations, the launching mechanism 104 may be configured to launch the projectile 108 along a trajectory. For example, the launching mechanism 104 may be configured to impart motion to the projectile 108 such that the projectile 108 travels along a trajectory (e.g., a ballistic trajectory or another path associated with movement of the projectile 108).

In some implementations, the launching mechanism 104 may include a manually-operated launching mechanism, a vehicle-mounted launching mechanism, a ground-based launching mechanism, an aerial launching mechanism, a remotely-operated launching mechanism, and/or an automated launching mechanism, among other examples.

In some implementations, physical characteristics of the launching mechanism 104 may conform to a standardized form factor. For example, the launching mechanism 104 may be configured to launch a projectile conforming to a 40-millimeter form factor or another standardized configuration.

In some implementations, the projectile 108 may include one or more portions. For example, and as shown in FIGS. 1-3, one or more portions may include a first portion 124 and a second portion 126.

In some implementations, the first portion 124 may be a base (e.g., a base portion) of the projectile 108 configured to interface with the launching mechanism 104 and/or to facilitate energy transfer to the projectile 108. For example, the first portion 124 may be configured to be received within and/or otherwise interact with the launching mechanism 104 such that movement of the projectile 108 is initiated and/or controlled. In some implementations, the first portion 124 may be associated with transfer of energy from the launching mechanism 104 to the projectile 108 during movement of the projectile 108, including via interaction with one or more components configured to generate and/or receive energy, among other examples.

In some implementations, the first portion 124 may include a volume within which one or more components associated with generation and/or transfer of energy may be disposed. For example, the first portion 124 may include the magnetic field source 106, the first initiator 112, and/or the conductive element 114, among other examples.

In some implementations, the first portion 124 may be configured to facilitate interaction between the projectile 108 and the launching mechanism 104, such as by being configured to transfer energy to the projectile 108 during movement of the projectile 108. For example, the first portion 124 may include one or more components configured to receive energy from the launching mechanism 104 based on relative movement between the projectile 108 and the launching mechanism 104, where the received energy may be stored, conditioned, and/or made available to one or more components of the projectile 108.

In some implementations, the second portion 126 may be a housing (e.g., a housing portion) of the projectile 108 configured to contain, support, position, and/or enable deployment of one or more components associated with the device 102. For example, the second portion 126 may be configured to contain the payload 110 and to enable deployment of the payload 110 during and/or after movement of the projectile 108 along a trajectory.

In some implementations, the distribution of the material may be associated with at least one of a spatial distribution, a density distribution, a particle size distribution, and/or a temporal distribution of the material within a region formed by dispersal of the material. For example, the material may be distributed uniformly, non-uniformly, directionally, and/or in a gradient distribution within the region, among other examples.

Accordingly, in some implementations, a region of material may include any spatial distribution of material formed after deployment, such as a cloud, a mist, a plume, a trail, a volumetric dispersion, and/or a layer configured to form a layer on one or more surfaces (e.g., one or more surfaces of the object 122, among other examples). For example, the region of material may be continuous and/or discontinuous and may extend along, across, and/or outward from at least a portion of the trajectory of the projectile 108, among other examples.

In some implementations, the region may be configured such that an object (e.g., the object 122) need not be directly impacted by the projectile 108 to experience an effect. Rather, for example, interaction between the object 122 (e.g., one or more sensing systems and/or surfaces of one or more sensing systems of the object 122) and the region of material may occur when the object travels through and/or is otherwise exposed to the region of material. This enables an area denial and/or stand-off impairment of one or more surfaces associated with the object (e.g. one or more surfaces of one or more sensing systems of the object 122), among other examples.

In some implementations, the payload 110 may be configured to be dispersed (e.g., dispersed continuously) during at least a portion of flight of the projectile 108 (e.g., along the trajectory) to form an extended region (e.g., a trailing plume of material) along the trajectory. For example, such dispersal may be achieved through one or more openings, nozzles, and/or flow paths that release the material (e.g., within the payload 110) as the projectile 108 travels, such as to form a region of the material (e.g., a persistent region of the material) that increases a probability of interaction with the object 122, among other examples.

Accordingly, and in some implementations, dispersal of the material may be configured to produce a region of the material associated with one or more characteristics based on one or more parameters. For example, the one or more characteristics may be associated with a density, a thickness, and/or persistence of the region of the material based on the one or more parameters, such as one or more of a flow rate, a distribution of the material, a particle size of the material, and/or a velocity of the projectile 108, among other examples. In this way, the region of material may be tuned to impair one or more sensing systems of the object 122, such as one or more optical and/or thermal sensing systems, over a volume of space, among other examples. For example, the region of the material may be associated with a density, a particle concentration, and/or optical attenuation sufficient to attenuate electromagnetic radiation associated with the sensing system of the object 122, among other examples.

In some implementations, deployment of the payload may include a release of the material (e.g., a rapid and/or a substantially instantaneous release of the material) to form a volumetric cloud (e.g., a cloudburst dispersion of the material). For example, such dispersal of the material may occur in response to activation of one or more initiators, rupture of a housing portion, and/or expansion of a volume, which results in formation of the region of the material, such as a three-dimensional region of the material, among other examples.

In some implementations, the volumetric cloud may be configured to occupy a space (e.g., a predefined space) and may include a distribution of particles and/or droplets that remain suspended for a duration sufficient to interact with the object 122. For example, the volumetric cloud may be configured to expand to a volume and maintain a concentration sufficient to interact with the object 122, among other examples.

In some implementations, the volumetric cloud may be configured to expand in one or more directions. For example, the volumetric cloud may be configured to expand radially, axially, and/or omnidirectionally relative to the projectile 108, such as by release of pressurized material, expansion of gases generated within the projectile 108, rupture and/or separation of one or more portions of a housing of the projectile 108, and/or actuation of one or more dispersal elements configured to direct the material outward.

In some implementations, the expansion may be influenced by one or more openings, nozzles, and/or flow paths that shape the distribution of the material, such as to form a volumetric region having a selected size, density, and spatial distribution associated with the material dispersed from the payload 110.

In some implementations, the second portion 126 may include a volume within which one or more components associated with deployment and/or operation of the payload 110 may be disposed. For example, the second portion 126 may include the payload 110, the second initiator 146, the control circuit 116, the energy storage element 118, and/or the sensor 120, among other examples.

For example, the condition may be associated with one or more of a time after launch, a distance traveled by the projectile 108, a position of the projectile 108 along a trajectory, a signal detected by the sensor 120, and/or a level of energy stored by the energy storage element 118, where satisfaction of the condition may be associated with operation of an initiation element that enables deployment of the payload 110, among other examples.

In some implementations, the magnetic field source 106 may be configured to generate a magnetic field. For example, the magnetic field source 106 may include one or more permanent magnets and/or one or more electromagnets configured to generate a magnetic field within and/or adjacent to the launching mechanism 104 and/or the projectile 108.

In some implementations, the conductive element 114 (e.g., which may include a conductive coil, a winding, and/or a trace, among other examples) may be configured to move relative to the magnetic field generated by the magnetic field source 106. For example, during movement of the projectile 108 relative to the launching mechanism 104, the conductive element 114 may pass through and/or otherwise experience a magnetic field such that a magnetic flux associated with the conductive element 114 varies as a function of the movement of the projectile 108.

In some implementations, the conductive element 114 and the magnetic field source 106 may be arranged such that relative motion between the conductive element 114 and the magnetic field results in a change in magnetic flux exposed to the conductive element 114. In this way, the change in magnetic flux associated with the conductive element 114 may be associated with generation of electrical energy (e.g., via electromagnetic induction).

In some implementations, the conductive element 114 may be configured to be inductively charged, such as during launch via interaction between the conductive element 114 and the magnetic field source 106. For example, relative motion between the conductive element 114 and the magnetic field may generate electrical energy that is stored and subsequently used to power one or more components, including initiation elements and the control circuit 116, among other examples.

In some implementations, characteristics of the material and dispersal may be selected based on target sensing modalities. For example, particle sizes may be selected to enhance scattering of visible and/or infrared radiation, and viscosity may be selected to balance airborne persistence with surface adhesion. The material may be configured to achieve a desired optical density within the region.

In some implementations, the generated electrical energy may be accumulated, stored, and/or conditioned by the energy storage element 118. For example, the energy storage element 118 may include a capacitor and/or another energy storage structure configured to receive electrical energy generated during movement of the projectile 108 and to maintain the stored energy for use by one or more components of the projectile 108.

FIG. 2 is a diagram of an example configuration of the device 102. As shown in FIG. 2, the projectile 108 may be associated with a configuration (e.g., a self-contained configuration) in which one or more components associated with generating energy, storing energy, initiating actions, sensing data, containing one or more components, and/or deploying one or more components associated with the device 102 may be provided within the first portion 124 and/or the second portion 126 (e.g., disposed within the first portion 124 and/or the second portion 126 of the projectile 108).

In some implementations, the magnetic field source 106 may be configured to generate a magnetic field, the conductive element 114 may be configured to interact with the magnetic field (e.g., based on movement of the projectile 108) to facilitate generation of electrical energy, and/or the first initiator 112 may be configured to initiate operation of one or more components, such as by initiating a mechanical, electrical, and/or chemical process associated with separation of the first portion 124 and the second portion 126 and/or deployment of the payload 110, among other examples.

In some implementations, a structure 128 (e.g., shown as structure 128 in FIG. 2) may be configured as a portion of the projectile 108 disposed within the first portion 124. In some implementations, the structure 128 may be configured to support, position, and/or enable operation of one or more components associated with initiation and/or separation of the first portion 124 and the second portion 126. For example, the structure 128 may be configured as a cartridge, a housing, a compartment, and/or another portion of the projectile 108 configured to contain and/or support one or more initiation elements, energy sources, and/or components associated with enabling separation of the second portion 126 from the first portion 124 and/or deployment of the payload 110 after launch of the projectile 108, among other examples.

In some implementations, operation of the first initiator 112 may be associated with energy made available by the energy storage element 118 and may be associated with satisfaction of a condition related to movement of the projectile 108. For example, the condition may be associated with one or more of a level of energy stored by the energy storage element 118, a time after launch of the projectile 108, a distance traveled by the projectile 108, a position of the projectile 108 along a trajectory, and/or a signal provided by the sensor 120, where satisfaction of the condition may be associated with enabling operation of the first initiator 112 to initiate a process associated with separation of the first portion 124 and the second portion 126 and/or deployment of the payload 110.

FIG. 3 is a diagram of an example configuration of the device 102. As shown in FIG. 3, the projectile 108 may be configured such that the first portion 124 and the second portion 126 are separated and/or in the process of separating from one another during movement of the projectile 108 along the trajectory. In some implementations, separation of the first portion 124 and the second portion 126 may be associated with operation of one or more initiation elements (e.g., the first initiator 112 and/or the second initiator 146), among other examples.

In some implementations, separation of the first portion 124 and the second portion 126 may be associated with enabling deployment of the payload 110 from the second portion 126. For example, separation may expose one or more openings, channels, and/or structures configured to facilitate dispersal of the payload 110. In some implementations, operation of one or more initiation elements associated with separation may be based on a condition associated with movement of the projectile 108 and/or a level of energy stored by the energy storage element 118, among other examples.

In some implementations, the conductive element 114 and the magnetic field source 106 may remain associated with one another after separation such that electrical energy continues to be generated and/or made available to one or more components of the projectile 108.

In some implementations, the energy storage element 118 may be associated with providing energy to the first initiator 112 and/or the second initiator 146, such as when a condition associated with movement of the conductive element 114 and/or the projectile 108 is satisfied. In this way, operation of the first initiator 112 and/or the second initiator 146may be associated with enabling separation of the first portion 124 and the second portion 126 and/or release of the payload 110 from the second portion 126, among other examples.

FIG. 4 is a diagram of an example configuration of the device 102. As shown in FIG. 4, the projectile 108 may be configured to deploy the payload 110 in one or more forms. For example, the payload 110 may include one or more elements such as entanglement elements 132, particulate elements 134, and/or dispersed material 136, among other examples.

In some implementations, the payload 110 may include a material configured to impair a sensing system of the object 122. For example, the material may include one or more particulate materials, liquid materials, adhesive materials, and/or tackifying materials, such as carbon-based materials, pigments, polymers, and/or other materials capable of interacting with sensing systems (e.g., optical and/or thermal sensing systems) of the object 122.

In some implementations, the material may be configured to be dispersed from the projectile 108 to form a region, a layer, a plume, mist, and/or cloud of the material that interacts with one or more systems of the object 122, such as sensing systems of the object 122. As an example, the material may be configured to alter transmission, reflection, absorption, and/or scattering of electromagnetic radiation, such as to degrade detection, imaging, and/or ranging performance of the one or more systems of the object 122.

In some implementations, the region of the material may be configured to extend along at least a portion of a trajectory of the projectile 108 and/or may be configured to occupy a volume through which the object 122 travels, such that direct impact with the object 122 is not required to impair operation of the one or more systems of the object 122 (e.g., the one or more sensing systems of the object 122).

In some implementations, the material may include one or more components configured to provide one or more properties, such as an optical obscurant component configured to interact with electromagnetic radiation, an adhesive component configured to promote adherence to a surface, a tackifying component configured to increase surface retention, and/or a carrier medium component configured to facilitate dispersal and transport of the material, among other examples.

In some implementations, the optical obscurant component may include materials (e.g., particulate materials), such as carbon black, titanium dioxide, and/or other pigments configured to scatter, absorb, and/or reflect electromagnetic radiation. In this way, the optical obscurant component may be configured to reduce transmission of electromagnetic radiation, increase optical density within a region, and/or degrade contrast, resolution, and/or signal strength of one or more sensing systems (e.g., one or more optical and/or thermal sensing systems of the object 122).

In some implementations, the adhesive component and/or the tackifying component may include one or more materials, such as cyanoacrylates, polyurethanes, and/or other polymers configured to promote adherence of the material to one or more surfaces (e.g., of the one or more sensing systems of the object 122, among other examples). In this way, the adhesive component and/or the tackifying component may be configured to increase retention of the material on a surface, form a coating (e.g., a continuous or discontinuous coating), and/or maintain contact between the optical obscurant component and a sensing system for a duration sufficient to impair operation of the sensing system.

In some implementations, the adhesive component and/or the tackifying component may be configured to change at least one of a viscosity, an adhesion, and/or a phase after deployment, such as by curing and/or polymerization in response to exposure to one or more conditions, among other examples.

In some implementations, the carrier medium component may include a liquid, such as glycerin, water, alcohols, oils, and/or other fluids configured to suspend, disperse, and/or transport one or more components of the material. In this way, the carrier medium component may be configured to control viscosity, promote formation of droplets and/or particles during dispersal (e.g., via atomization through one or more openings or nozzles), and/or enhance persistence of the region of the material, such as by reducing settling, evaporation, and/or dispersion loss, among other examples. In some implementations, the carrier medium component may be configured to cooperate with the adhesive component and/or the tackifying component to facilitate deposition and retention of the material on one or more surfaces of the object 122.

In some implementations, the material may include one or more surface-active agents, such as one or more surfactants configured to modify properties (e.g., interfacial properties) between components of the material and/or between the material and an environment. For example, the one or more surfactants may be configured to promote dispersion of particulate components, stabilize droplets formed during atomization, enhance wetting and/or spreading of the material on one or more surfaces, and/or control formation and persistence of a mist, cloud, and/or region of the material, among other examples. In some implementations, the one or more surfactants may include nonionic surfactants, anionic surfactants, cationic surfactants, amphoteric surfactants, fluorosurfactants, silicone-based surfactants, and/or polymeric surfactants, among other examples. In some implementations, the one or more surfactants may be selected based on compatibility with one or more other components of the material to control aggregation, adhesion, and/or optical properties of the material.

In some implementations, the material may be configured to be deployed in one or more dispersal modes, such as a continuous dispersal mode in which the material is released during movement of the projectile 108 to form a trailing mist and/or a trailing plume (e.g., along and/or relative to the trajectory, among other examples), and/or a burst dispersal mode in which the material is released to form a volumetric cloud.

In some implementations, dispersal may be driven by internal pressure, such as from a compressed gas, gas-generating reaction, and/or movement of a piston and/or another movable element and may be directed through one or more openings and/or nozzles (e.g., one or more radial and/or axial openings and/or nozzles), among other examples.

In some implementations, the material may include a combination of liquid and solid components, such as dispersions of carbon black in a glycerin-based carrier, mixtures including titanium dioxide particles and a polymeric binder, and/or compositions including a cyanoacrylate adhesive combined with a particulate obscurant. As an example, relative proportions and/or properties of the components may be selected to achieve one or more characteristics, such as one or more optical densities, adhesions, dispersal characteristics, and/or persistence of the region of the material, among other examples.

In some implementations, the material may be configured to form a layer on a surface of the object 122. For example, the material may form a continuous layer, a discontinuous layer, a patterned layer, and/or a gradient distribution across the surface. In some implementations, the layer may include droplets, streaks, patches, and/or other distributed configurations, among other examples. In some implementations, interaction between the material and a sensing system may be associated with scattering, absorption, reflection, refraction, and/or attenuation of electromagnetic radiation.

In some implementations, deployment of the payload 110 may be associated with a formation of a mist, a cloud, and/or a region of the material positioned along and/or adjacent to the trajectory of the projectile 108 (e.g., through which the object 122 travels and/or is intended to travel). For example, the payload 110 may be configured to be dispersed from the projectile 108 during movement of the projectile 108 along a trajectory to form a region extending along at least a portion of the trajectory, and an interaction between the payload 110 and the object 122 within the region may be associated with degradation in sensing performance of a sensing system of the object 122.

FIG. 5 is a diagram of an example configuration of the device 102. As shown in FIG. 5, the projectile 108 may include one or more structures configured to direct and/or influence dispersal of the payload 110. For example, the projectile 108 may include one or more openings (e.g., shown as a first opening 138 and a second opening 140 formed in the second portion 126 in FIG. 5) through which the payload 110 may be deployed (e.g., dispersed).

In some implementations, one or more elements may be configured to facilitate dispersal of the payload 110. For example, the one or more elements may be configured to facilitate dispersal of the payload 110 in one or more directions, such as one or more radial directions relative to a longitudinal axis of the projectile 108 and/or one or more axial directions relative to the longitudinal axis, among other examples.

In some implementations, dispersal of the payload 110 in the one or more directions may be associated with formation of a mist, a cloud, and/or a region extending along and/or outward from a trajectory of the projectile 108. In some implementations, one or more structures of the projectile 108 may be configured to atomize the material during dispersal. For example, the one or more openings and/or internal flow paths may be configured to convert the material into droplets and/or particles to form a mist and/or a cloud.

For example, and as shown in FIG. 5, the one or more components configured to facilitate dispersal of the payload 110 may include the second initiator 146, an element (e.g., shown as an element 142 in FIG. 5) configured to translate, expand, and/or otherwise move within the projectile 108, such as a ram element, and a third initiator (e.g., shown as a third initiator 144 in FIG. 5) configured to operate in coordination with the second initiator 146.

In some implementations, dispersal of the payload 110 may be driven by a pressure source within the projectile 108. For example, the pressure source may include a compressed gas, a mechanically actuated element (e.g., a spring-driven piston), and/or a gas-generating reaction (e.g., initiated by one or more initiators). As an example, activation of the pressure source may cause translation of a movable element to expel the material through one or more openings.

In some implementations, the one or more openings include nozzles configured to atomize the material as it is expelled. For example, a geometry of the openings and/or the nozzles may be configured to produce droplets and/or particles within a size range to optimize interaction with one or more sensing systems of the object 122 (e.g., one or more optical and/or thermal sensing systems of the object 122), among other examples.

In some implementations, operation of one or more of the second initiator 146and/or the third initiator 144 may be associated with movement of the element 142 such that the payload 110 is urged, expelled, and/or distributed from the projectile 108 (e.g., through the first opening 138 and the second opening 140), among other examples.

In some implementations, movement of the element 142 and/or interaction between the payload 110 and one or more internal surfaces of the projectile 108 may be associated with rotational and/or radial dispersal of the payload 110, such that the payload 110 forms a mist, a cloud, and/or a region extending outward from the projectile 108 during movement of the projectile 108 along a trajectory.

FIG. 6 is a diagram of an example method 600 associating with deploying a payload including a material. As shown in FIG. 6, the method 600 may include, at block 610, initiating movement of a device along a trajectory. At block 620, the method 600 may include determining a condition associated with movement of the device along the trajectory. At block 630, the method 600 may include deploying a payload of the device based on the condition. At block 640, the method 600 may include dispersing a material of the payload to form a region of the material. In some implementations, dispersing the material may include forming a mist, a cloud, and/or another distribution of the material. At block 650, the method 600 may include interacting, via the region, with a sensing system of an object such that operation of the sensing system is altered. In some implementations, the method 600 may further include generating electrical energy based on movement of the device relative to a magnetic field and deploying the payload based on the electrical energy.

Additionally, the functionality of the elements described herein may be implemented using circuitry or processing circuitry, including general-purpose processors, special-purpose processors, integrated circuits, application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), conventional circuitry, or combinations thereof, configured or programmed to perform the disclosed functionality. A processor is a type of processing circuitry, as it includes transistors and other physical circuit components. A processor may execute instructions stored in a memory, thereby operating as a programmed processor. In this disclosure, the terms “circuitry,” “units,” or “means” refer to hardware that performs, or is programmed to perform, the described functionality. Such hardware may include any disclosed hardware or other known hardware that is configured or programmed to execute the described functions. When the hardware includes a processor, which is a type of circuitry, the circuitry, means, or units refer to a combination of hardware and software, where the software configures the hardware and/or processor to perform the specified functions.

In the preceding specification, various example embodiments have been described with reference to the accompanying drawings. It will, however, be evident that various modifications and changes may be made thereto, and additional embodiments may be implemented, without departing from the broader scope of the invention as set forth in the claims that follow. The specification and drawings are accordingly to be regarded in an illustrative rather than restrictive sense.

Claims

1. A device configured to travel along a trajectory, the device comprising:

a housing;

a payload disposed within the housing and including a material having a composition and distribution; and

a release mechanism configured to deploy, based on a condition associated with movement of the device along the trajectory, the payload to disperse the material and form a region of the material, the region being configured to interact with a sensing system of an object and to alter operation of the sensing system.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the region extends along at least a portion of the trajectory.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein interaction with the sensing system is associated with at least one of scattering, absorption, reflection, refraction, or attenuation of electromagnetic radiation.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the material is dispersed to form a mist.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the material is dispersed to form a cloud.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the material is configured to change at least one of a viscosity, an adhesion, or a phase after deployment.

7. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

an energy storage element and a conductive element configured to interact with a magnetic field during movement of the device such that electrical energy is generated and stored by the energy storage element, and deployment of the payload is based on the electrical energy.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the payload is configured to be dispersed from the device to form a region through which the object travels, such that direct contact between the device and the object is not required to impair a sensing system of the object.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the material is configured to form at least one of a continuous layer, a discontinuous layer, a patterned layer, or a gradient distribution on a surface of the object.

10. A system, comprising:

a launching mechanism configured to initiate movement along a trajectory;

a device configured to travel along the trajectory, the device comprising:

a housing;

a payload disposed within the housing and including a material having a composition and distribution; and

a release mechanism configured to deploy, based on a condition associated with movement of the device along the trajectory, the payload to disperse the material and form a region of the material, the region being configured to interact with a sensing system of an object and to alter operation of the sensing system.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the condition is associated with at least one of a time after launch, a distance traveled, a position along the trajectory, or a signal.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the device includes a sensor configured to generate a signal during movement along the trajectory, and the release mechanism is configured to deploy the payload based on the signal.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the material is dispersed in one or more radial directions relative to a longitudinal axis of the device.

14. The system of claim 10, further comprising an energy storage element and a conductive element configured to interact with a magnetic field during movement of the device such that electrical energy is generated and stored by the energy storage element.

15. A system configured to be integrated with a device traveling along a trajectory, the system comprising:

a payload including a material having a composition and distribution; and

one or more elements configured to disperse the material from the device during movement of the device along the trajectory to form a region of the material, the region being configured to interact with a sensing system of an object and to alter operation of the sensing system.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the one or more elements include a movable element configured to translate within a housing of the device to disperse the material outward.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the one or more elements include a charge configured to rupture at least a portion of a housing of the device to release the material.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the material includes at least one of a cyanoacrylate, carbon black, titanium dioxide, a polyurethane, a tackifier, a surfactant, or glycerin.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the material includes a liquid component and a solid component, the liquid component configured to promote persistence of the solid component.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the one or more elements include a nozzle configured to atomize the material during dispersal.