Robotic sentry with low dispersion acoustic projector

• US 20080084787A1
• Filed: 10/05/2006
• Published: 04/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Curtis E. Graber
• Original Assignee: Curtis E. Graber
• Inventors: Graber, Curtis E.
• Granted Patent: US 8,248,473 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 367/96
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 29/16 using sound waves
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 31/002 Detecting animals in a given area
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19615 wherein said pattern is defined by the user
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19641 Multiple cameras having overlapping views on a single scene
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19643 wherein the cameras play different roles, e.g. different resolution, different camera type, master-slave camera
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19645 Multiple cameras, each having view on one of a plurality of scenes, e.g. multiple cameras for multi-room surveillance or for tracking an object by view hand-over
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1965 the vehicle being an aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19673 Addition of time stamp, i.e. time metadata, to video stream
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 31/00 Predictive alarm systems characterised by extrapolation or other computation using updated historic data

Abstract

A system of remotely locatable sentries or watchtowers operate as part of a network of such sentries or towers for securing a border or perimeter over a wide area. A sensor array, including particularly an array of video cameras, provides for detection, tracking and identification of a target. The sentry or watch towers include non-lethal, sound-based instrumentalities for discouraging entry into and passage through a secured zone of the target.

Claims

1. An automated wide area sentry comprising:

a redoubt;

a video sensor for capturing video images located on the redoubt to cover a field of view at least partially surrounding the redoubt;

a local data processor including a video signal processor for processing the video images to locate and track targets from the video images; and

a steerable energy projector located on the redoubt which may be aimed by the local data processor in any direction covered by the field of view of the sensors to direct an energy beam toward a selected target.

2. An automated wide area sentry as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a source of audio messages accessible to the local data processor;

the steerable energy projector being or including an acoustic energy projector; and

the local data processor being coupled to transmit selected intelligible messages over the acoustic projector.

3. An automated wide area sentry as claimed in claim 2, further comprising:

manual overrides to the local data processor allowing an operator to control aiming of the steerable energy projector and to provide directly audio messages for transmission by the acoustic projector.

4. An automated wide area sentry as claimed in claim 3, wherein the manual overrides are located remotely with respect to the redoubt.

5. An automated wide area sentry as claimed in claim 4, further comprising:

an acoustic source selectively connectable to the acoustic projector by the local data processor for applying intense acoustic signals to the acoustic projector.

6. An automated wide area sentry as claimed in claim 5, further comprising:

the acoustic projector including microphones allowing audio monitoring of targets identified by the video processor.

7. An automated wide area sentry as claimed in claim 5, further comprising:

the video sensor array including sensors covering different spectrums.

8. An automated wide area sentry as claimed in claim 5, further comprising:

the local data processor further including programming for identifying geographical location form the video images.

9. An automated wide area sentry as claimed in claim 2, further comprising:

a microwave energy projector as part of the steerable energy projector.

10. A perimeter and border security system comprising:

at least a first guard tower;

surveillance sensors mounted at an elevated location on the guard tower to cover a field at least partially surrounding the guard tower allowing objects passing into or through the field to be sensed;

a computer located at the first guard tower coupled to receive output from the security sensors for detecting and tentatively identifying the objects;

an acoustic projector installed on said at least first guard tower;

controls for aiming the acoustic projector;

the computer being further connected to the controls for directing the acoustic projector toward a selected object from among the objects detected and tentatively identified and for applying an audio signal to the acoustic projector targeted on the detected and tentatively identified object.

11. The perimeter and border security system of claim 10, further comprising:

an operator station located remote to said at least first guard tower; and

a bidirectional communication link between the computer and the operator station allowing an operator located at the operator station to direct aiming of the acoustic projector and to apply acoustic signals to the acoustic projector.

12. The perimeter and border security system of claim 11, further comprising:

the acoustic projector further including acoustic sensors allowing use of the acoustic projector as a listening device.

13. The perimeter and border security system of claim 12, further comprising:

the operator station further including audio and visual reproduction elements allowing an operator to monitor the area using the visual and audio sensors.

14. The perimeter and border security system of claim 13, further comprising:

the operator station further including inputs allowing the operator to suspend local control over direction of the acoustic projector and to assume such control.

15. The perimeter and border security system of claim 14, further comprising:

a steerable microwave projection system.

16. Apparatus for the automated surveillance of and entry deterrence to an area, comprising:

a camera system having a field of view covering the area;

a targeting camera;

a sound projector;

a steerable mount supporting the sound projector and the targeting camera;

a data processing system connected to receive data from the camera system for identifying a target within the field of view and further connected to the steerable mount for controlling the steerable mount to aim the targeting camera and the sound projector toward the identified target; and

the data processing system further providing for using the sound projector to broadcast messages toward the target based on the identification of the target.

17. Apparatus for the automated surveillance of and entry deterrence to an area as claimed in claim 16, further comprising:

a microwave projector.