Apparatus, system and method for aircraft security and anti-hijacking intervention

• US 20040267412A1
• Filed: 07/19/2004
• Published: 12/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Arnouse Digital Devices Corporation
• Original Assignee: Michael Arnouse
• Inventors: Arnouse, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 7,376,494 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/2
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 45/0031 means for overriding or restricting access to flight controls
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 45/0034 by ground-control override
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 45/0056 detecting passenger or crew behavior by sensors, e.g. biometrics
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 23/005 Flight directors indicating arrangements specially adapted for rotary gyroscopes G01C19/32
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/257 electronically G07C9/26 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/37 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0013 with a ground station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0021 located in the aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0034 Assembly of a flight plan
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0039 Modification of a flight plan
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0052 for cruising combined instruments indicating more than one navigational value G01C23/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0056 in an emergency situation, e.g. hijacking
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/006 in accordance with predefined flight zones, e.g. to avoid prohibited zones

Abstract

A security mechanism identifies users, so as to restrict access and operation to authorized users, such as to persons authorized to access and fly a particular aircraft. The security mechanism comprises one or more security devices to identify the user attempting to gain access or operate the controller; and one or more monitoring devices to determine whether or not the user identified is authorized to have access or operate the controller. Methods of safely operating aircraft are also described. The methods include protocols for limiting access to the aircraft and assuming remote control of the aircraft if a possibly hostile situation is detected.

Claims

1. A method of operating an aircraft in which automated or remote control can be assumed in the event of a possibly hostile situation, the method comprising the steps of:

inputting flight plan information into a monitoring system;

calculating acceptable deviation tolerances relating to the flight plan;

operating the aircraft according to the flight plan;

deviating from the flight plan if a modification to the flight plan is desired;

after deviating from the flight plan, assessing whether a possibly hostile situation exists; and

if a potentially hostile situation cannot be ruled out within a reasonable time, assuming control of the aircraft by

(i) remotely controlling the aircraft from the ground or other location remote from the aircraft, or

(ii) engaging an automated control unit on the aircraft to execute a pre-programmed flight path or contingency protocol that contradicts the modification.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein, after deviating from the flight plan, the step of assessing whether a possibly hostile situation exists comprises the steps of:

monitoring information relating to the position and course of the aircraft; and

based on the position- and course-related information, determining if a potential threat exists.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of providing information relating to prohibited airspace.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the step of calculating acceptable deviation tolerances comprises calculating tolerances with respect to prohibited airspace.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the step of assessing whether a possibly hostile situation exists comprises the step of calculating whether or not the aircraft is proximate to prohibited airspace or whether the course of the aircraft will violate prohibited airspace.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the step of assessing whether a possibly hostile situation exists further comprises the step of determining whether or not a prohibited airspace violation is imminent.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the step of determining whether or not a prohibited airspace violation is imminent comprises the step of assessing whether or not the vector of the aircraft is directed at a potential terrorist target or whether the altitude of the aircraft is below a pre-selected flight floor limit.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein, after deviating from the flight plan, the step of assessing whether a possibly hostile situation exists comprises the steps of assessing, from the ground or other location remote from the aircraft, the state of control of the aircraft by monitoring automated communications received from the aircraft, listening to voice communications from the aircraft, or monitoring a video signal from a cockpit camera on the aircraft.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising, if the state of control of the aircraft is not found to be acceptable, the steps of:

declaring an alarm condition;

on the ground or other location remote from the aircraft, continuously monitoring the video signal from the cockpit camera or other monitoring device on the aircraft; and

preparing to assume control of the aircraft from the ground or other location remote from the aircraft.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising the step of assuming control of the aircraft from the ground or other location remote from the aircraft if

(i) evidence of hostile activity on board the aircraft is detected, or

(ii) the elapsed time of continuously monitoring the cockpit camera or other monitoring device exceeds a pre-selected threshold time without ruling out the possibility of hostile activity.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of determining whether or not there is adequate time to notify ground control of the desired modification prior to deviating from the flight plan.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein, if there is not adequate time to notify ground control of the desired modification, the step of assessing whether a possibly hostile situation exists comprises the steps of:

determining if the deviation is outside of acceptable deviation tolerance; and

(i) if the deviation is outside of acceptable deviation tolerance, declaring an alarm condition, and

(ii) if the deviation is not outside of acceptable deviation tolerance, continuing flight operations.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein, if the deviation is outside of acceptable deviation tolerance, the step of assessing whether a possibly hostile situation exists further comprises the step of:

from the ground or other location remote from the aircraft, determining the state of control of the aircraft by monitoring automated communications received from the aircraft, listening to voice communications from the aircraft, or monitoring a video signal from a cockpit camera on the aircraft.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising, if the state of control of the aircraft is not found to be acceptable, the steps of:

declaring a second alarm condition;

on the ground or other location remote from the aircraft, continuously monitoring the video signal from the cockpit camera or other monitoring device on the aircraft; and

preparing to assume control of the aircraft from the ground.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of assuming control of the aircraft from the ground or other location remote from the aircraft if

(i) evidence of a hostile situation on board the aircraft is detected, or

(ii) the elapsed time of continuously monitoring the cockpit camera or other monitoring device exceeds a pre-selected threshold time without ruling out the possibility of hostile activity.

16. The method of claim 11 further comprising, if an authorized pilot is not at a controller of the aircraft, the steps of

declaring an alarm condition;

on the ground or other location remote from the aircraft, continuously monitoring a video signal from the cockpit camera or other monitoring device on the aircraft; and

preparing to assume control of the aircraft from the ground.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising the step of assuming control of the aircraft from the ground or other location remote from the aircraft if

(i) evidence of a hostile situation on board the aircraft is detected, or

(ii) the elapsed time of continuously monitoring the cockpit camera or other monitoring device exceeds a pre-selected threshold time without ruling out the possibility of hostile activity.

18. A method of limiting access to an aircraft comprising:

maintaining a database having identity and associated biometric information relating to crew members;

downloading a subset of information from the database to the aircraft, the subset consisting essentially of information relating to crew members that are assigned to the aircraft for a particular flight;

reading biometric information of an individual requesting access to the aircraft;

comparing the biometric information read from the individual requesting access to the information downloaded to the aircraft to determine if there is a match;

if a match is determined, granting the individual access to the aircraft.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising the steps of preparing a report relating to aircraft access, including any access violations, and reviewing the report as part of a preflight checklist.

20. The method of claim 18 further comprising the step of remotely monitoring the cockpit until the cockpit is secured.

21. The method of claim 18 further comprising the step of monitoring any access violations with automated means.

22. The method of claim 21 further comprising the steps of declaring an alarm and initiating a response if the automated means detects an access violation.

23. The method of claim 18 further comprising the step of securing the exterior of the aircraft after passengers, crew and cargo is aboard the aircraft.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein if an additional crew member, passenger, or cargo is to be added to the aircraft after the exterior of the aircraft has been secured, the method further comprises the step of triple authenticating the additional crew member, passenger, or cargo.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein the step of triple authenticating comprises the steps of reading biometric information of the newly added crew member, passenger or cargo, the person bringing that newly added crew member, passenger or cargo to the aircraft, and the person allowing the newly added person or cargo access to the aircraft.

26. The method of claim 24 further comprising the step of preparing a report relating to aircraft access, including any access violations, and reviewing the report as part of a preflight checklist.

27. The method of claim 26 further comprising the steps of:

updating the report after an additional crew member, passenger, or cargo is added to the aircraft after the exterior of the aircraft has been secured; and

reviewing the updated report as part of the preflight checklist.

28. The method of claim 27 further comprising the sten of granting departure approval after clearing any access violations noted in the report.

29. The method of claim 18 further comprising the steps of:

downloading a second subset of information from the database to a point of access to a tarmac on which the aircraft is found, the subset consisting essentially of information relating to ground crew members that are assigned to any aircraft on the tarmac;

reading biometric information of an individual requesting access to the tarmac;

comparing the biometric information read from the individual requesting access to the information downloaded to the point of access to determine if there is a match;

if a match is determined, granting the individual access to the tarmac.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein the step of granting the individual access to the aircraft comprises opening a hatch.

31. The method of claim 30 wherein the step of opening a hatch comprises opening an electronic lock after the match is determined.

32. The method of claim 29 further comprising the step of providing an electronic display that displays the number of ground crew members that have been authorized to load cargo onto the aircraft.

33. The method of claim 32 further comprising the step of visually observing the number of ground crew members and comparing the number visually observed with the number displayed on the electronic display.

34. The method of claim 33 wherein, if the number of ground crew members visually observed does not match the number displayed on the electronic display, the method further comprises the step of notifying security personnel.

35. The method of claim 29 further comprising the step of securing the exterior of the aircraft after cargo is aboard the aircraft.

36. The method of claim 35 wherein, if additional cargo is to be added to the aircraft after the exterior of the aircraft has been secured, the method further comprises the step of authenticating the additional cargo.

37. The method of claim 36 wherein the step of authenticating the additional cargo comprises the steps of reading biometric information of the person bringing the newly added cargo to the aircraft and reading biometric information of the person allowing the newly added cargo access to the aircraft.

38. The method of claim 35 further comprising the step of preparing a report relating to aircraft access, including any access violations, and reviewing the report as part of a preflight checklist.

39. The method of claim 38 further comprising the steps of:

updating the report after additional cargo is added to the aircraft after the exterior of the aircraft has been secured; and

reviewing the updated report as part of the preflight checklist.

40. The method of claim 39 further comprising the step of granting departure approval after clearing any access violations noted in the report.

41. The method of claim 18 wherein the step of maintaining the database comprises the step of providing a central system for recording the identity and associated biometric information, the central system being capable of accepting and transmitting the information.

42. The method of claim 41 wherein the maintaining step further comprises the step of enrolling staff by capturing biometric information for new crew members and loading the biometric information into the central system.

43. The method of claim 42 wherein, if a match is not determined during the comparing step, the method further comprises repeating the step of reading biometric information of the individual requesting access to the aircraft a pre-selected number of times.

44. The method of claim 43 wherein, if a match is not determined during the comparing step after repeating the step of reading biometric information of the individual requesting access to the aircraft a pre-selected number of times, the method further comprises the steps of considering the individual to be potentially hostile and implementing security procedures.

45. The method of claim 44 wherein, if a match is not determined during the comparing step after repeating the step of reading biometric information of the individual requesting access to the aircraft a pre-selected number of times, the method further comprises the step of recording the individual'"'"'s biometric information and providing the biometric information to security personnel or other authority.

46. The method of claim 18 further comprising the step of downloading passenger-related information to the aircraft, the passenger-related information comprising biometric information for passengers expected to be on the aircraft for a particular flight.

47. The method of claim 46 further comprising the step of initially considering all individuals requesting access to the aircraft to be bystanders.

48. The method of claim 47 wherein, if a match is determined during the comparing step, the method further comprises the step of categorizing the individual.

49. The method of claim 48 wherein, if the biometric information read from the individual requesting access matches downloaded passenger-related information, the categorizing step comprises considering the individual to be a passenger.

50. The method of claim 49 wherein, if the biometric information read from the individual requesting access matches downloaded passenger-related information, the method further comprises granting passenger privileges to the individual.

51. The method of claim 48 wherein, if the biometric information read from the individual requesting access matches downloaded crew member-related information, the categorizing step comprises considering the individual to be a crew member.

52. The method of claim 51 wherein, if the biometric information read from the individual requesting access matches downloaded crew member-related information, the method further comprises granting crew member privileges to the individual.

53. The method of claim 48 further comprising the step of uploading additional crew member-related information to the aircraft while the aircraft is in flight.

54. The method of claim 53 further comprising the step of repeating the reading and comparing steps if an individual desires to be re-categorized during flight.

55. The method of claim 50 wherein, if an individual categorized as a passenger desires to be categorized as a crew member while the aircraft is in flight, the method further comprises the steps of:

uploading additional crew member-related information to the aircraft while the aircraft is in flight; and

repeating the reading and comparing steps.

56. The method of claim 48 wherein, if a match is not determined during the comparing step, the method further comprises the step of repeating the reading and comparing steps a pre-selected number of times.

57. The method of claim 56 wherein, if a match is not determined for an individual during the comparing step after the reading and comparing steps have been repeated the pre-selected number of times, the method further comprises the steps of considering the individual to be potentially hostile and implementing security procedures.

58. The method of claim 57 wherein, if a match is not determined during the comparing step after repeating the reading and comparing steps the pre-selected number of times, the method further comprises the steps of recording the individual'"'"'s biometric information and providing the biometric information to security personnel or other authority.

59. An apparatus for operating an aircraft in which automated or remote control can be assumed in the event of a possibly hostile situation, the apparatus comprising:

a monitoring system containing flight plan information and acceptable deviation tolerances relating to the flight plan; and

means for assuming control of the aircraft if a potentially hostile situation cannot be ruled out within a time period following a deviation from the flight plan,

wherein the means for assuming control comprises;

(i) means for remotely controlling the aircraft from the ground or other location remote from the aircraft, or

(ii) means for engaging an automated control unit on the aircraft to execute a pre-programmed flight path or contingency protocol that contradicts the deviation.

60. A system for limiting access to an aircraft comprising:

a database having identity and associated biometric information relating to crew members;

a storage device into which is downloaded a subset of information from the database, the subset consisting essentially of information relating to crew members that are assigned to the aircraft for a particular flight;

a biometric device for reading biometric information of an individual requesting access to the aircraft; and

means for comparing the biometric information read from the individual requesting access against the information downloaded to the storage device to determine if there is a match, and if a match is determined, granting the individual access to the aircraft.