Harbor fence

• US 6,778,469 B1
• Filed: 02/12/2003
• Issued: 08/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Leidos, Inc. (Leidos Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Science Applications International Corporation
• Inventors: McDonald, Larry R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lobo, Ian J.
• Application Number:
  US10/365,357
• Publication Number:
  US 20040156266A1
• Time in Patent Office: 552 Days
• Field of Search: 114/240.R, 114/241, 114/240.A, 114/240.B, 114/240.C, 114/240.D, 340/522, 340/541, 340/566, 367/93, 367/136
• US Class Current: 367/136
• CPC Class Codes: B63G 2009/005 of sonic watch equipment, e.g. low-frequency or sonar
• CPC Class Codes: B63G 9/04 Nets or the like net barriers for harbour defence F41H11/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/04 Systems determining presence of a target
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/66 Sonar tracking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/87 Combinations of sonar systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/876 Combination of several spaced transmitters or receivers of known location for determining the position of a transponder or a reflector G01S15/872 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/003 Transmission of data between radar, sonar or lidar systems and remote stations
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/529 Gain of receiver varied automatically during pulse-recurrence period for seismic signals G01V1/245
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/539 using analysis of echo signal for target characterisation; Target signature; Target cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/54 with receivers spaced apart

Abstract

Methods and apparatus determine if an intruder passes into a security zone that is associated with a waterfront asset. An embodiment of the invention provides a harbor fence system that is designed to be deployed in water around ships or other waterfront assets to serve as a line-of-demarcation in order to provide protection. The harbor fence system comprises a series of spars that protrude above the water surface and that are connected with an electrical computer with a telemetry subsystem. Each spar contains electronic sensors, e.g. water immersion sensors and accelerometers, and circuitry to detect an intrusion and to communicate the location of the intrusion to a computer control station. The embodiment also facilitates deploying and retrieving the harbor fence system. Additionally, the embodiment may also determine whether an underwater intruder is passing under a protective boundary, in which the harbor fence system interfaces to an underwater sonar sensor subsystem.

Claims

1. A system for protecting an asset that abuts a body of water, the system comprising:

a flotation component that maintains the system at essentially a surface of the body of water;

a first sensor array comprising a first sensor element and a second sensor element, the first sensor element located at a first position along the flotation component and the second sensor element located at a second position along the flotation component, wherein the first sensor element and the second sensor element detects whether an intruder passes through a security perimeter of the system at a corresponding position;

a first control module that connects to the first sensor array and that receives a first signal from the first sensor element and a second signal from the second sensor element, wherein each signal is indicative whether a corresponding sensor detects the intruder passing through the system at the corresponding location;

a cable configuration that connects to the first control module and the first sensor array to provide electrical power to the first control module and the first sensor array;

a control unit that connects to the first control module through the cable configuration, that configures the system, and that receives an indication whether the intruder is detected by the first control module, wherein the control unit provides a security status to a user of the system.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first sensor element comprises an immersion sensor.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the first sensor element debounces an output of the immersion sensor.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the first sensor element comprises a pair of immersion sensors.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the pair of immersion sensors detects the intruder when neither sensor of the pair is in contact with the body of water.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the pair of immersion sensors detects the intruder when both sensors of the pair are in contact with the body of water.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the first sensor element comprises an acceleration-sensitive sensor, and wherein the acceleration-sensitive sensor detects when the intruder makes contact with the system at an approximate position of the acceleration-sensitive sensor.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the acceleration-sensitive sensor is selected from the group consisting of an accelerometer and a hydrophone.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the first sensor element integrates an output of the acceleration-sensitive sensor.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a second sensor array that is connected to the cable configuration to obtain electrical power from the cable configuration, wherein the second sensor array comprises a third sensor element and fourth sensor element, and wherein the third sensor element is located at a third position along the flotation component and the fourth sensor element is located at a fourth location along the flotation component; and

a second control module that connects to the second sensor array and that receives a third signal from the third sensor unit and a fourth signal from the fourth sensor unit, wherein the third and fourth signals are indicative of the intruder, wherein the second control module obtains electrical power from the cable configuration, and wherein the control unit connects to the second control module through the cable configuration.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the cable configuration comprises a first loop-around component and a second loop-around component from an opposite direction so that communications between the control unit and the control modules can continue and so that an availability of electrical power is maintained if the cable configuration is cut, or if one of the loop-around components becomes non-functional.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the control unit selects one of a plurality of control modules in order to determine whether the intruder has been detected in a proximity of said one of the plurality of control modules, wherein the plurality of control modules comprises the first and second control modules.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the cable configuration utilizes Electronic Industries Association (EIA) and Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) standard RS-485 for a physical layer when communicating with the first control module.

14. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a notification component that provides a warning about a presence of the system to the intruder.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the notification component comprises at least one light.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the at least one light comprises a first light that is associated with the first sensor element and a second light that is associated with the second sensor element, and wherein the first control module sequences the first and second lights.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the control unit configures a pattern for activating the at least one light.

18. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a mooring that anchors the flotation component in an approximate fixed position.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the flotation component comprises a plurality of spars and wherein a first spar is connected to an adjacent spar with at least one connecting line.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein said each spar comprises:

a sensor unit that detects the intruder when the intruder passes through the security perimeter of the system at an approximate position of the first spar.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein said each spar further comprises:

an upper section;

a keel that attaches to the upper section; and

a counterweight that attaches to the keel and that provides stability to the first spar in the body of water.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the keel is selected from the group consisting of a rod, a shaft, and a tube.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein the keel retracts into the upper section.

24. The system of claim 1, wherein the flotation component is selected from the group consisting of a plurality of floating elements on a line, a helix configuration, a floating ring configuration, a hollow cone configuration, and a concentric hoop configuration.

25. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

an underwater sonar sensor subsystem; and

an interface to the underwater sensor subsystem, wherein the control unit queries the underwater sonar sensor subsystem about an underwater target and determines whether the underwater target is deemed to be a threatening underwater intruder.

41. The system of claim 1, wherein the control unit provides the security status about an intruder that is approaching the system from the body of water.

42. The system of claim 1, wherein the control unit queries the first control module through the cable configuration.

43. The system of claim 1, wherein the control unit queries the first sensor element in order to obtain a sensor status relating to a direction of an underwater intruder.

26. The system of 1, wherein the control unit comprises a processor, and wherein the processor is configured to perform:

(a) selecting the first module to query whether associated sensor elements have detected the intruder;

(b) instructing, by the control unit, the first control module to sequence the associated collection of lights; and

(c) in response to (a), determining an approximate location of the intruder.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the processor is configured to perform:

(d) configuring a threshold level of the associated sensor elements for deeming whether the intruder is detected, wherein a degree of false detections is adjusted.

28. The system of claim 26, wherein the processor is configured to perform:

(d) querying an underwater sonar sensor subsystem about an underwater target.

29. A system for protecting an asset that abuts a body of water, the system comprising:

a flotation component that maintains the system at essentially a surface of the body of water, wherein the flotation component comprises a plurality of spars and wherein each spar is connected to an adjacent spar with at least one connecting line;

a first sensor array comprising a first sensor element and a second sensor element, the first sensor element located at a first location along the flotation component and the second sensor element located at a second position along the flotation component, wherein each sensor element comprises an immersion sensor pair and an acceleration-sensitive sensor and detects whether an intruder is cutting, submerging, or lifting a boom line in the proximity of said each sensor element;

a plurality of control modules, wherein the plurality of control modules comprises a first control module, wherein the first control module connects to the first sensor array and that receives a first signal from the first sensor element and a second signal from the second sensor element, and wherein each signal is indicative whether a corresponding sensor detects the intruder passing through the system at a corresponding location;

a cable configuration that connects to the first control module and the first sensor array to provide electrical power to the first control module and the first sensor array;

a notification component comprising a series of lights;

a control unit that controls a sequencing of the series of lights, that connects to the first control module through the cable configuration, that selects the first control module from the plurality of control modules, and that receives an indication whether the intruder is detected by the first control module, wherein the control unit provides a security status to a user of the system.

30. A method for protecting an asset that abuts a body of water, the method comprising:

(a) providing electrical power to a plurality of control modules, wherein the plurality of control modules comprises a first control module;

(b) communicating between the first control module and a plurality of sensor elements;

(c) detecting, by each sensor element, whether an intruder is cutting, submerging, or lifting a boom line in the proximity of each said sensor element;

(d) generating an alarm signal in response to (c); and

(e) selecting the first control module to query whether associated sensor elements have detected the intruder in accordance with the alarm signal.

31. The method of claim 30, further comprising:

(f) configuring a threshold level of said each sensor element for deeming whether the intruder is detected, wherein a degree of false detections is adjusted.

32. The method of claim 30, further comprising:

(f) warning the intruder about a presence of a protective system for the asset.

33. The method of claim 30, further comprising:

(f) deploying a protective system in a plurality of sections, wherein the protective system protects the asset, and wherein the protective system is stowable and portable.

34. The method of claim 33, further comprising:

(g) retrieving a protective system in said plurality of sections.

35. The method of claim 32, wherein (f) comprises:

(i) sequencing, by the first control module, an associated collection of lights, wherein the associated collection of lights is located along an approximate perimeter of the protective system.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein (f) further comprises:

(ii) activating, by the first control module, each light of the associated collection of lights in accordance with a lighting pattern.

37. The method of claim 35, wherein (f) further comprises:

(ii) instructing, by the control unit, the first control module to sequence the associated collection of lights.

38. The method of claim 30, further comprising:

(f) querying an underwater sonar sensor subsystem about an underwater target.

39. The method of claim 38, further comprising:

(g) determining whether the underwater target is deemed to be a threatening underwater intruder.

40. The method of claim 30, further comprising:

(f) in response to (d), determining an approximate location of the intruder.