Method, apparatus and system for sensing air borne hazardous materials
First Claim
1. Apparatus, for mounting on an aircraft, for detecting hazardous materials, comprising:
- a global positioning system unit, a heading module, and a sensor having a probe, an electronics module, and means for measuring airspeed, said probe being mounted to protrude outside the skin of said aircraft, and including an enclosed, positive airflow, sensing chamber with a sensing element for a selected hazardous material mounted therein, said electronics module being connected to and configured to receive input from said global positioning system unit, said heading module, said sensing element and said means for measuring airspeed, said electronics module being configured to output data including position, altitude, wind velocity and hazardous material detection information, whereby distribution of said selected hazardous material may be mapped and dispersion of said selected hazardous material may be predicted.
3 Assignments
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus for detecting hazardous materials is mounted on an aircraft and has a sensor, a heading unit, a transceiver and a GPS unit. The sensor has an airfoil shaped probe and an electronics module. The probe has a positive airflow, enclosed sensing chamber with a hazardous material sensing element. The system for detecting hazardous materials includes aircraft with the hazardous material detecting apparatus and a ground network. The method for detecting hazardous materials includes the steps of providing aircraft with hazardous material sensing apparatus and a ground network, collecting hazardous material and atmospheric data with the sensing apparatus, transmitting the position, wind velocity and hazardous material data to the ground network, calculating distribution of hazardous materials in the atmosphere, generating a real-time map of distribution of hazardous materials and predicting dispersion of the hazardous materials in the atmosphere.
38 Citations
17 Claims
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1. Apparatus, for mounting on an aircraft, for detecting hazardous materials, comprising:
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a global positioning system unit, a heading module, and a sensor having a probe, an electronics module, and means for measuring airspeed, said probe being mounted to protrude outside the skin of said aircraft, and including an enclosed, positive airflow, sensing chamber with a sensing element for a selected hazardous material mounted therein, said electronics module being connected to and configured to receive input from said global positioning system unit, said heading module, said sensing element and said means for measuring airspeed, said electronics module being configured to output data including position, altitude, wind velocity and hazardous material detection information, whereby distribution of said selected hazardous material may be mapped and dispersion of said selected hazardous material may be predicted. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. Apparatus, for mounting on an aircraft, for detecting hazardous materials, comprising:
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a global positioning system unit, a heading module, a sensor having an airfoil shaped probe mounted to protrude outside the skin of said aircraft, and an electronics module, said probe having an outwardly located flow tube opening in the direction of airflow, an inwardly extending, enclosed, positive airflow, sensing chamber connected to said flow tube and at least one inwardly located outlet hole connected to said chamber opposite said flow tube, opening transverse to the direction of airflow, a forwardly opening pitot tube, and pair of spaced, side opening static ports, said chamber having a plug-in, chip based sensing element for a selected hazardous material, a temperature sensor and a humidity sensor mounted therein, said electronic module having a static pressure sensor connected to said static ports and a differential pressure sensor connected to said pitot tube and said static ports, said electronics module being connected to and configured to receive input from said global positioning system unit, said heading module, said sensing element, said temperature sensor, and said humidity sensor, said electronics module being configured to output data including position, altitude, wind velocity, temperature, humidity and hazardous material detection information, and a transceiver connected to said electronics module for transmitting said data to a ground network, whereby distribution of said selected hazardous material may be mapped and dispersion of said selected hazardous material may be predicted.
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10. A method of predicting hazardous material dispersion comprising the steps of:
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providing aircraft with hazardous material sensing apparatus for sensing position, altitude, wind velocity and a hazardous material mounted thereon, collecting position, altitude, wind velocity and hazardous material data with said sensing apparatus while said aircraft flies, and mapping distribution of said hazardous material and wind velocity from said data to predict dispersion of said hazardous material. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of predicting hazardous material dispersion comprising the steps of:
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providing aircraft with hazardous material sensing apparatus for sensing position, altitude, wind velocity and a hazardous material mounted thereon, including a global positioning system unit, a heading module and a sensor connected to said global positioning system unit and said heading module, said sensor having an airfoil shaped probe mounted to protrude outside the skin of said aircraft and an electronics module, said probe including an enclosed, positive airflow, sensing chamber with a sensing element for said hazardous material mounted therein, collecting position, altitude, wind velocity and hazardous material data with said sensing apparatus while said aircraft flies, providing a ground network, transmitting said data from said aircraft to said ground network, receiving weather forecast information from a weather forecast service, combining said forecast information with said data, and mapping distribution of said hazardous material and wind velocity from said forecast information and said data to predict dispersion of said hazardous material.
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15. A system for detecting and mapping distribution of a hazardous material comprising:
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aircraft mounted sensing apparatus configured to collect position, altitude, wind velocity and hazardous material data, and including a global positioning system unit, a heading module, a transceiver and a sensor having a probe and an electronics module, said probe being mounted to protrude outside the skin of said aircraft, and including an enclosed, positive airflow, sensing chamber with a sensing element for said hazardous material mounted therein and pressure, temperature and humidity sensors, said electronics module being connected to and configured to receive input from said global positioning system unit, said heading module, and said probe, and to output said data, said transceiver being configured to transmit said data, and a ground network configured to receive said data and, from said data, to map distribution and predicted dispersion of said hazardous material. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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Specification