Method for surveillance to detect a land target

• US 20100283662A1
• Filed: 06/08/2007
• Published: 11/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aerostar International
• Original Assignee: Vista Research, Inc. (Guidepoint Global LLC)
• Inventors: Maresca, Joseph W. JR., Fox, Phillilp A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,026,842 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 342/53
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/522 using transmissions of interrupted pulse modulated waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/723 by using numerical data
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/86 Combinations of radar systems with non-radar systems, e.g. sonar, direction finder
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/867 Combination of radar systems with cameras
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/886 for alarm systems alarms with electrical actuation G08B13/22
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/2922 by using a controlled threshold

Abstract

A land-based Smart-Sensor System and several system architectures for detection, tracking, and classification of people and vehicles automatically and in real time for border, property, and facility security surveillance is described. The preferred embodiment of the proposed Smart-Sensor System is comprised of (1) a low-cost, non-coherent radar, whose function is to detect and track people, singly or in groups, and various means of transportation, which may include vehicles, animals, or aircraft, singly or in groups, and cue (2) an optical sensor such as a long-wave infrared (LWIR) sensor, whose function is to classify the identified targets and produce movie clips for operator validation and use, and (3) an IBM CELL supercomputer to process the collected data in real-time. The Smart Sensor System can be implemented in a tower-based or a mobile-based, or combination system architecture. The radar can also be operated as a stand-alone system.

Claims

1. A method for surveillance to detect the presence of a land target from a single measurement location using a two-zone method comprising:

(a) an outer zone for wide area surveillance with a first sensor system to detect targets of interest; and

(b) an inner zone for classification of the targets detected with the first sensor system after the target moves into the inner zone, using a second sensor system.

2. The method of claim 1, where a UAV with the imaging sensor system detects or tracks the land target.

3. The method of claim 1, where a UAV with an imaging sensor system is used in addition to the wide area surveillance sensor system in the outer zone and the second sensor system.

4. The method of claim 1, where a UAV with at least one imaging sensor system is used as the inner zone sensor system.

5. The method of claim 1, where a UAV with at least one imaging sensor system is an added sensor system cued by the wide area surveillance sensor system.

6. The method of claim 1, where a UAV with at least one imaging sensor system is cued by a non-coherent radar.

7. The method of claim 1, where a UAV with at least one imaging sensor system is an added sensor system cued by the imaging sensor system.

8. The method of claim 1, where a UAV with at least one imaging sensor system is an added sensor system to the combined sensor system.

9. The method of claim 1, where a UAV with at least one imaging sensor system is cued by an incoherent radar.

10. The method of claim 1, where a UAV with at least one imaging sensor system is cued by an optical sensor system.

11. The method of claim 1, where a UAV with at least one imaging sensor system is cued by an image or video/movie clip from the imaging sensor system.

12. The method of claim 1, where a UAV with at least one imaging sensor system is cued by an image or video/movie clip from a long wavelength IR sensor system.

13. The method of claim 1, where at least one of the sensor systems is mounted on a stationary platform.

14. The method of claim 13, where one of the sensors is a non-coherent radar.

15. The method of claim 13, one where at least one of the sensors is mounted on two or more stationary platforms with overlapping coverage.

16. The method of claim 15, where one of the sensors on each stationary platform is a non-coherent radar is used.

17. The method of claim 15, where the coverage area for the sensor systems at each stationary platform includes the adjacent stationary platforms.

18. The method of claim 13, where the stationary platform is selected from the group consisting of a tower, a pole, and a building structure.

19. The method of claim 13, where the stationary platform is a structure that allows the sensor system to be positioned at a specified elevation.

20. The method of claim 1, where at least one of the sensor systems is mounted on a mobile platform.

21. The method of claim 20, including sensor systems mounted on a plurality of mobile platforms.

22. The method of claim 20, where at least one of the sensors is a non-coherent radar.

23. The method of claim 20, where at least one of the sensors is an imaging sensor.

24. The method of claim 20, where at least one of the sensors is a non-coherent radar and at least one of the sensors is an imaging sensor system.

25. The method of claim 20, where the mobile platform is selected from the group consisting of trucks, vans, SUVS, and military vehicles.

26. The method of claim 20, where the mobile platform is kept stationary during the sensor measurements.

27. The method of claim 20, where the mobile platform is moving during the sensor measurements.

28. A method for surveillance to detect the presence of a land target from a single measurement location using a two-zone method comprising

(a) an outer zone used for wide area surveillance with a first sensor system to detect targets of interest;

and

(b) an inner zone used for classification of the targets detected with the first sensor after moving into inner zone with a second sensor system.

29. The method of claim 28, where the target is tracked in the outer zone with the wide area surveillance sensor system.

30. The method of claim 28, where the target is classified in the outer zone with the wide area surveillance sensor system.

31. The method of claim 28, where the target is classified in the outer zone with another sensor system other than said first sensor system.

32. The method of claim 28, where the target is classified in the outer zone with a coherent radar.

33. The method of claim 28, where the target is tracked in the inner zone with the wide area surveillance sensor system.

34. The method of claim 28, where the target is tracked in the inner zone with the wide area surveillance sensor system.

35. The method of claim 28, where the target is detected in the inner zone with said second sensor system.

36. The method of claim 29, where the target is tracked in the inner zone with said second sensor system.

37. The method of claim 28, where the target is detected and tracked in the inner zone with said second sensor system.

38. The method of claim 28, where the wide area surveillance sensor in the outer zone is a non-coherent radar.

39. The method of claim 28, where the wide area surveillance sensor in the outer zone is a coherent radar.

40. The method of claim 28, where the inner zone sensor system is an optical sensor system.

41. The method of claim 40, where said optical sensor system can operate in any frequency band from visible to long wavelength IR.

42. The method of claim 41, where the inner zone sensor system is an EO/IR sensor system.

43. The method of claim 41, where the inner zone sensor system is a long wavelength IR sensor system.

44. The method of claim 41, where the inner zone sensor system is a mid-wave IR sensor system.

45. The method of claim 28, where the target is classified in the inner zone with a coherent radar.

46. The method of claim 28, where the dimensions of the inner and outer zones can change as a function of location.

47. The method of claim 28, where the dimensions of the inner and outer zones can change as a function of time or target threat.

48. The method of claim 28, where the inner and outer zones can be located on both sides of the sensor measurement location.

49. The method of claim 28, where inner zone is included at a subset of the outer zone.

50. The method of claim 28, where two measurement locations can be used.

51. The method of claim 28, where the target is moving.

52. The method of claim 28, where the target is comprised of two or more targets.

53. The method of claim 28, where the target is at least one person, vehicle, or animal.

54. The method of claim 28, where an image of the target is sent to a person for validation of the existence and type of target present.