STUDY OF THE EFFECT OF LASER RADIATION ON POLYMERIC MATERIALS

Abstract

FPV (First Person View) drones have developed significantly due to rapid advances in electronics and technology. They are widely used in sports racing, videography, cargo delivery, monitoring, and military applications, especially for reconnaissance and delivery of explosive devices. Modern FPV drones range in size from 50 mm to over 300 mm, with propellers made of polycarbonate or carbon fibre materials. These materials provide lightweight construction and high impact resistance, making them challenging for traditional methods of neutralisation. Given the growing threat of their use in military and terrorist operations, new systems are being developed to counter FPV drones. In particular, laser systems are becoming one of the most promising means of countering drones, as they allow for targeted effects on drones from a distance without the need for ammunition. In such systems, the main goal is to destroy key components of the drone, in particular the propellers, which are vulnerable to laser radiation due to their high thermal sensitivity. To investigate the effect of laser radiation on FPV drone propellers, tests were conducted using a DY044 Nd:YAG laser with a power of up to 4.4 kW and a wavelength of λ = 1.06 μm. The test propellers were made of polycarbonate with a diameter of 7.5 inches. The tests were carried out at different laser powers and beam diameters. The propeller was mounted on the drill and rotated at a speed of 2000 revolutions per minute at a 90° angle to the laser beam, whose diameter varied from 4 to 10 mm. According to the results of the study, an exposure time of less than 2 seconds and a power of 2 kW were insufficient to guarantee the destruction of the propeller. However, with a power of 4 kW and an irradiation time of 1–2 seconds, guaranteed destruction of polycarbonate was observed. When the laser beam diameter was increased to 10 mm and the power was 4 kW, destruction occurred only when the irradiation time was increased to 2 seconds. The analysis of energy absorption by the propeller showed that at a radiation power of 500 W, 290 W was absorbed by the material after passing through the polycarbonate propeller, which is 58%. The results confirm the prospects of using laser systems for the effective neutralisation of FPV drones, especially due to the possibility of adjusting the radiation parameters to achieve guaranteed destruction of critical components such as propellers.