RESPONSE VEHICLE SYSTEMS AND METHODS

• US 20190106083A1
• Filed: 12/03/2018
• Published: 04/11/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oshkosh Corporation
• Original Assignee: Oshkosh Corporation
• Inventors: Archer, David W., Bjornstad, Neil, Holeton, Michael J., Martin, Patrick D.
• Granted Patent: US 10,981,538 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 27/00 Fire-fighting land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/46 for giving flashing caution signals during drive, other than signalling change of direction, e.g. flashing the headlights or hazard lights
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0081 Working vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/06 operating on the vehicle transmission
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/08 operating on brakes or brake systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/23 using manual input of alphanumerical codes
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/24 using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/25 using biometry
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00769 with data transmission performed by wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0825 using optical means
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00571 operated by interacting with a central unit

Abstract

A response vehicle includes a transmission, a braking subsystem, and a vehicle management system coupled to at least one of the transmission and the braking subsystem. The vehicle management system includes an interlock module configured to provide a signal to switch the at least one of the transmission and the braking subsystem from a locked condition to an operational condition only in response to an authenticated user request thereby preventing undesired operation of the response vehicle.

Claims

1. A vehicle, comprising:

a transmission;

a braking subsystem; and

a vehicle management system coupled to at least one of the transmission and the braking subsystem, the vehicle management system including a location module and an interlock module, wherein the location module is configured to provide location information relating to a location of the vehicle, wherein the vehicle management system is configured to use the location information to determine if the vehicle is arriving at a scene, and wherein the interlock module is configured to provide a signal to switch the at least one of the transmission and the braking subsystem from an operational condition to a locked condition in response to the vehicle management system entering a mode based on the vehicle arriving at the scene, thereby preventing undesired operation of the vehicle.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the vehicle management system is coupled to both the transmission and the braking subsystem, wherein the interlock module is configured to provide the signal to switch the transmission and the braking subsystem from operational conditions to locked conditions in response to the vehicle management system entering the mode.

3. The vehicle of claim 2, wherein the interlock module is configured to provide the signal to switch the transmission from the operational condition to the locked condition, wherein the locked condition corresponds to a parking gear of the transmission, and wherein the operational condition corresponds with at least one of a neutral gear and a drive gear of the transmission.

4. The response vehicle of claim 3, wherein the interlock module is configured to provide the signal to switch the braking subsystem from the operational condition to the locked condition, wherein the locked condition corresponds to an engaged configuration whereby the braking subsystem is configured to limit movement of the vehicle, and wherein the operational condition corresponds to a disengaged configuration whereby the braking subsystem is configured to not limit movement of the vehicle.

5. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the interlock module is configured to provide a second signal to switch the at least one of the transmission and the braking subsystem from the locked condition to the operational condition only in response to an authenticated user request.

6. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the vehicle management system is configured to facilitate operation of at least one of an engine, a pump, a water system, a foam system, a siren, and a lighting system in the mode.

7. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the vehicle management system is further configured to enter the mode in response to a user request, wherein the vehicle management system is configured to receive the user request from at least one of a display device, a button, a switch, a parking brake, and wireless control interface.

8. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the interlock module is configured to provide a second signal to switch the at least one of the transmission and the braking subsystem from the locked condition to the operational condition only in response to an authenticated user request signal provided by at least one of:

(a) an access code system, (b) a username and password system, (c) a switch, (d) a button, (e) a fingerprint scanner, and (f) a retinal scanner.

9. A response vehicle management system, comprising:

a vehicle subsystem comprising at least one of a command system, a siren, a lighting system, a generator, a water pump system, a foam system, a water tank, a foam tank, a fuel tank, and a governor;

a sensor configured to monitor the vehicle subsystem and provide a sensor signal corresponding thereto;

a transceiver; and

a processing circuit coupled to the sensor and the transceiver, wherein the processing circuit is configured to;

(a) evaluate data relating to the vehicle subsystem based on the sensor signal and (b) provide the data for transmission by the transceiver to a mobile device in response to an authenticated user request, wherein the data provided by the processing circuit to the mobile device varies based on an access level of a user associated with the authenticated user request.

10. The response vehicle management system of claim 9, further comprising a repeater configured to receive, amplify, and retransmit a signal transmitted by the transceiver.

11. The response vehicle management system of claim 10, further comprising a first response vehicle and a second response vehicle, wherein the transceiver is provided as part of the first response vehicle and the repeater is provided as part of the second response vehicle.

12. The response vehicle management system of claim 10, further comprising a response vehicle, wherein the transceiver and the repeater are provided as part of the response vehicle.

13. The response vehicle management system of claim 10, further comprising a response vehicle having a chassis, wherein the repeater comprises a portable unit releasably coupled to the chassis and configured to be selectively deployed by a user, the repeater thereby facilitating remote communication between the user and the response vehicle.

14. The response vehicle management system of claim 10, further comprising a second processing circuit coupled to the repeater, wherein the second processing circuit is configured to determine if a retransmission of the signal is necessary for the signal to reach the mobile device, and wherein the repeater is configured to retransmit the signal to the mobile device in response to a determination that the retransmission of the signal is necessary.

15. The response vehicle management system of claim 14, wherein determining if a retransmission of the signal is necessary for the signal to reach the mobile device includes determining the locations of the transceiver and the mobile device and determining a range of communication of the transmission.

16. The response vehicle management system of claim 15, wherein the second processing circuit includes a telemetry data module configured to analyze telemetry data to determine the range of communication of the transmission.

17. The response vehicle management system of claim 14, further comprising a first response vehicle and a second response vehicle, wherein the transceiver is provided as part of the first response vehicle and the repeater is provided as part of the second response vehicle.

18. The response vehicle management system of claim 9, wherein the data relating to the vehicle subsystem comprises at least one of logged information and a status.

19. A response vehicle control system, comprising:

a response vehicle comprising a first vehicle subsystem and a second vehicle subsystem, the first vehicle subsystem including at least one of a command system, a siren, a lighting system, a generator, a water pump system, a foam system, and a governor;

a transceiver;

a processing circuit coupled to the transceiver and configured to;

evaluate an access level of a user;

provide user interface data having a first permission level for transmission by the transceiver to a mobile device in response to a determination that the access level of the user corresponds with a responder;

provide user interface data having a second permission level for transmission by the transceiver to the mobile device in response to a determination that the access level of the user corresponds with at least one of a chief and a commander, thereby preventing unauthorized control of the response vehicle;

evaluate an authenticated command provided by the user; and

provide a control signal to the first vehicle subsystem in response to the authenticated command; and

a memory coupled to the processing circuit and disposed onboard the response vehicle, wherein the user interface data is stored in the memory onboard the response vehicle,

wherein the user interface data comprises a webpage format, wherein the user interface data having the first permission level includes control functionality of the first vehicle subsystem, and wherein the user interface data having the second permission level includes control functionality of both the first vehicle subsystem and the second vehicle subsystem.

20. The response vehicle control system of claim 19, wherein the user interface data having the first permission level is configured to be displayed by the mobile device through a first user interface, and wherein the user interface data having the second permission level is configured to be displayed by the mobile device through a second user interface different from the first user interface.