Harbor fence

• US 6,980,483 B2
• Filed: 06/09/2004
• Issued: 12/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• 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:
  US10/863,986
• Publication Number:
  US 20050232079A1
• Time in Patent Office: 566 Days
• Field of Search: 367/93, 367/136, 114/240.A, 114/240.B, 114/240.C, 114/240.D, 114/240.R, 114/241, 340/522, 340/541, 340/566
• US Class Current: 367/93
• 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 communicate with a 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. Spars may communicate wirelessly and may also be solar powered. 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 detect whether an intruder passes through a security perimeter of the system at a corresponding location;

a first control module that communicates with the first sensor array over a first communications channel 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 control unit that communicates with the first control module over a second communications channel, and that receives an indication whether the intruder is detected by the first control module, wherein the control unit provides a security status.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the control unit comprises a first wireless module, wherein the first control module comprises a second wireless module, wherein the first sensor array comprises a third wireless module, wherein the control unit communicates with the first control module over the second communications channel through the first wireless module and the second wireless module respectively, and wherein the first control module communicates with the first sensor array over the first communications channel through the second wireless module and the third wireless module respectively.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the first communications channel and the second communications channel utilize a wireless protocol.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the wireless protocol is compatible with a protocol selected from the group consisting of a Bluetooth protocol and an IEEE 802.11 protocol.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the first control module comprises a first solar power module to provide electrical power to the first control module, and wherein the first sensor array comprises a second solar power module to provide electrical power to the first sensor array.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the first solar module comprises a battery, wherein the battery stores electrical energy when adequately illuminated by sunlight, and wherein the battery provides electrical power to the first control module when not adequately illuminated by the sunlight.

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

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the first sensor element debounces an output of the immersion sensor.

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

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the pair of immersion sensors detects the intruder when neither sensor of the pair is in contact with the body of water.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the pair of immersion sensors detects the intruder when both sensors of the pair are in contact with the body of water.

12. 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.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the acceleration-sensitive sensor is selected from the group consisting of an accelerometer and a hydrophone.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the first sensor element integrates an output of the acceleration-sensitive sensor.

15. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a second sensor array comprising 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 communicates with the second sensor array over a third communications channel 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, and wherein the control unit communicates with the second control module over the second communications channel.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the second control module comprises a fourth wireless module, wherein the second sensor array comprises a fifth wireless module, wherein the second control module communicates with the control unit over the second communications channel through fourth wireless module and the first wireless module respectively, and wherein the second control module communicates with the second sensor array over the third communications channel through the fourth wireless module and the fifth wireless module respectively.

17. The system of claim 15, 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.

18. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

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

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the notification component comprises at least one light.

20. The system of claim 19, 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.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein the control unit configures a pattern for activating the at least one light.

22. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

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

23. 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.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein 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.

25. The system of claim 24, 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.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the keel is selected from the group consisting of a rod, a shaft, and a tube.

27. The system of claim 25, wherein the keel retracts into the upper section.

28. 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.

29. 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.

30. The system of claim 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.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein the processor is configured to perform:

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

32. The system of claim 30, wherein the processor is configured to perform:

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

33. 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.

34. 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.

35. 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 communicates with the first sensor array over a first wireless channel 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 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 a second wireless communications channel, 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.

36. 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 the first sensor array obtains electrical power from a corresponding solar power module, 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, wherein the first control module obtains electrical power from an associate solar power module, and wherein each signal is indicative whether a corresponding sensor detects the intruder passing through the system at a corresponding location;

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, 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.