Detection system employing trained animals

• US 20080163671A1
• Filed: 01/05/2007
• Published: 07/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RedXDefense LLC
• Original Assignee: RedXDefense LLC
• Inventors: Dugan, Regina Elvira
• Granted Patent: US 7,633,397 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/23.34
• 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: F41H 11/132 Biological systems, e.g. with detection by animals or plants
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/0073 Control unit therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 9/00 Prospecting or detecting by methods not provided for in groups G01V1/00 - G01V8/00

Abstract

A detection system includes a mobile unit in the form of a trained/in-training animal controlled, either directly or indirectly, by a handler. The mobile unit carries a portable electronics package linked to a remote unit. The animal is trained to search for target odors originating from a specified object, such as drugs, weapons, chemicals, a person or the like. Once a target odor is detected, data generated by the animal, as determined through body position, biometric or other sensors provided in the portable electronics, is either stored in memory for later review or forwarded to a remote unit for immediate evaluation. In this manner, the handler is provided with confirmation that the animal has sensed a target odor, thereby increasing the overall efficacy of the detection system and reducing the possibility of incorrectly reinforcing responses that are not associated with the desired target odors.

Claims

1. A detection system for detecting target odors through a mobile detection unit comprising:

a portable electronics package adapted to be carried by the mobile detection unit, said portable electronics package including a sensor unit having at least one of a biometric sensor adapted to receive biometric signals emanating from the mobile detection unit and a body position sensor adapted to sense changes in body position of the mobile detection unit; and

a remote unit operatively connected to the portable electronics package, said remote unit including a data analysis portion that receives and analyzes signals from the at least one biometric sensor to determine whether the mobile detection unit has identified a target odor.

2. The detection unit according to claim 1, wherein the portable electronics package includes a position identification unit adapted to locate a position of the mobile detection unit.

3. The detection unit of claim 2, wherein the position identification unit is constituted by a GPS unit emitting signals geospatially locating a position of the mobile detection unit.

4. The detection unit according to claim 3, wherein the portable electronics package further includes an inertial navigation system.

5. The detection system according to claim 3, wherein the remote unit includes a GPS analysis portion that receives signals from the GPS unit.

6. The detection system according to claim 2, wherein the portable electronics package includes a communication unit.

7. The detection system according to claim 6, wherein the communication unit includes a local portion and a remote portion.

8. The detection unit according to claim 6, wherein the remote unit includes a communication portion operatively connected to the communication unit in the portable electronics package.

9. The detection system according to claim 1, wherein the remote unit is constituted by a hand held device.

10. The detection system according to claim 1, wherein the sensor unit includes a body position sensor that senses changes in posture and/or behavior of the mobile detection unit.

11. The detection system according to claim 1, wherein the sensor unit includes a biometric sensor adapted to receive biometric signals from the mobile detection unit.

12. The detection unit according to claim 1, wherein the sensor unit includes both a biometric sensor and a body position sensor.

13. The detection system according to claim 1, wherein the portable electronics package includes a memory for storing signals received from the at least one biometric sensor.

14. A method of detecting target odors through the use of a mobile detection unit comprising:

attaching a portable electronics package to the mobile detection unit;

directing the mobile detection unit about an area of interest;

determining a potential presence of a target odor;

sensing, through the portable electronics package, a change in a physical and/or behavioral characteristic in the mobile detection unit; and

analyzing the change in the physical characteristic to confirm an actual presence of the target odor.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

relaying signals from the portable electronics package to a remote unit.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

sensing a change in posture of the mobile detection unit through a body position sensor located in the portable electronics package.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

tracking the mobile detection unit through position identification unit.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

tracking the mobile detection unit through a GPS device located in the portable electronics package, said GPS device being linked to a GPS analysis portion in the remote unit.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

supplementing the GPS device with an additional positioning system.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the GPS device is supplemented with an inertial navigation system.

21. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

communicating with the mobile detection unit through the remote unit.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein communicating with the mobile detection unit includes sending tone commands from the remote unit.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein communicating with the mobile detection unit includes sending verbal commands from the remote unit.

24. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

receiving auditory signals from the mobile detection unit at the remote unit.

25. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

storing the signals of the change in the physical characteristic of the mobile detection unit in a memory provided in the portable electronics package.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising:

transmitting the stored signals to a central depository.

27. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

learning the changes of the mobile detection unit that indicate the presence of the target odor in order to increase detection accuracy.