Dynamic canine tracking method for hazardous and illicit substances

• US 10,123,509 B2
• Filed: 09/11/2017
• Issued: 11/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Auburn University
• Original Assignee: Auburn University
• Inventors: Pearce, John, Waggoner, L. Paul, Brock, Jeanne S., Baird, Timothy, Baffa, David A., McAfee, Daniel, Leonard, Robert E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsang, Lisa L
• Application Number:
  US15/701,077
• Publication Number:
  US 20180007866A1
• Time in Patent Office: 428 Days
• Field of Search: 73 2334
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 15/00 Devices for taming animals, e.g. nose-rings or hobbles; Devices for overturning animals in general; Training or exercising equipment; Covering boxes
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 15/02 Training or exercising equipment, e.g. mazes or labyrinths for animals A01K15/04 takes precedence; Electric shock devices circuits therefor H03K3/537; Toys specially adapted for animals
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 27/003 Leads, leashes
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 11/132 Biological systems, e.g. with detection by animals or plants
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 13/00 Means of attack or defence not otherwise provided for details of radar or sonar systems G01S7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/0001 by organoleptic means

Abstract

Vapor wake detection is a highly advantageous method and system for detecting explosives and other illicit substances. With vapor wake detection, a canine and a handler are used; however, unlike other detection schemes, the canine leads the handler. After the handler positions the canine in a desired location, the canine detects scents in the air that come to the canine. When the canine detects a trained scent, the canine leads the handler to or follows behind the carrier of the item with the scent. Once the carrier is identified by the handler, the proper personnel are contacted. To implement vapor wake detection effectively, specific rigorous training is utilized.

Claims

1. A method of implementing vapor wake detection in a defined location to be monitored, comprising:

positioning a canine;

utilizing leash manipulation to navigate the canine through and around a crowd of a plurality of moving people, such that the canine does not impede the movement of the crowd;

detecting with the canine a target odor in a vapor-wake from one of the plurality of moving people, wherein the vapor-wake includes a target odor, and further wherein the target odor is a hazardous or illicit substance;

recognizing a change of behavior of the canine when the target odor is detected;

allowing the canine to move without influence to the target odor; and

identifying a carrier of the target odor.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein when the plurality of moving people are moving generally in the same direction, the canine is navigated prior to the detecting in a side-to-side manner behind the crowd while the canine is moving within the vapor wake in the same direction as the crowd in order to detect the target odor.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein when each of the plurality of moving people are moving generally in different directions, the canine is positioned and navigated prior to the detecting in order to take advantage of any available air currents while the canine is moved in and out of the crowd.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising notifying security personnel following the identifying step.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising sampling the air for a plurality of vapor trails simultaneously generated by the plurality of moving people.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the plurality of vapor trails are thermal and aerodynamic plumes of each of the plurality of moving people.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the positioning of the canine in the location to be monitored depends on a location type and air currents throughout the location.

8. A method of implementing vapor wake detection in a defined location to be monitored, comprising:

positioning a canine in the defined location;

sampling the air with the canine for a plurality of vapor trails simultaneously generated by a plurality of people, wherein the plurality of people are moving;

detecting a target odor in a vapor-wake from one of the plurality of moving people with the canine, wherein the vapor-wake includes a target odor, and further wherein the target odor is a hazardous or illicit substance;

recognizing a change of behavior of the canine when the target odor is detected;

allowing the canine to move without influence to the target odor; and

identifying a carrier of the target odor.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein when the plurality of moving people are moving generally in the same direction, the canine is navigated utilizing leash manipulation prior to the detecting in a side-to-side manner behind the plurality of people while the canine moving within the vapor wake in the same direction as the plurality of people in order to detect the target odor.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein when each of the plurality of moving people are moving generally in different directions, the canine is positioned and navigated utilizing leash manipulation prior to the detecting in order to take advantage of any available air currents while the canine is moved in and out of the plurality of moving people.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising notifying security personnel following the identifying step.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the vapor wake is a thermal and aerodynamic plume of the carrier when the carrier is moving.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein positioning the canine in the location to be monitored depends on a location type and air currents throughout the location.

14. A method of implementing vapor wake detection in a defined location to be monitored, comprising:

positioning a canine in the defined location;

utilizing leash manipulation to navigate the canine through and around the defined location;

detecting a target odor in a vapor-wake of a target object with the canine, wherein the target odor is a hazardous or illicit substance, and further wherein the target object is moving through the defined location while the canine is positioned or being navigated through or around the defined location;

recognizing a change of behavior of the canine when the target odor is detected;

allowing the canine to move without influence to the target odor; and

identifying a carrier of the target odor.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising simultaneously sampling the air for a plurality of vapor wakes simultaneously generated by a plurality of moving people in the defined location.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising, when the plurality of moving people are moving generally in the same direction, navigating the canine prior to the detecting in a side-to-side manner behind the plurality of people while moving within the vapor wake in the same direction as the plurality of people in order to deter the target odor.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising, when each of the plurality of moving people are moving generally in different directions, positioning and navigating the canine prior to the detecting in order to take advantage of any available air current while the canine is moved in and out of the plurality of moving people.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the plurality of vapor wakes are thermal and aerodynamic plumes of each of the plurality of moving people.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the positioning of the canine in the location to be monitored depends on a location type and air currents throughout the location.

20. The method of claim 14, further comprising notifying security personnel following the identifying step.