Method and system for tracking a vehicle

• US 7,990,265 B2
• Filed: 10/06/2008
• Issued: 08/02/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SC Holdings LLC
• Original Assignee: Starchase Llc
• Inventors: Sawyer, P. Sean, Fischbach, Trevor A., McCall, Amanda D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu; Daniel
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tang; Son M
• Application Number:
  US12/287,124
• Publication Number:
  US 20090195369A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,030 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.1, 340/539.13, 340/990, 340/572.1, 701/101, 701/213
• US Class Current: 340/539.13
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/04 operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/33 of global position, e.g. by providing GPS coordinates
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 5/14 for vehicle-borne guns
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 13/0031 for remote electrical discharge by means of a wireless projectile
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/382 emitting an electromagnetic radiation, e.g. laser beam or infrared emission
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2205/002 for traffic control, mobile tracking, guidance, surveillance or anti-collision
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0027 of actual mobile position, i.e. position determined on mobile

Abstract

A system for tracking a fleeing vehicle, using optional remote sensing to identify a payload contained in the vehicle or asset, and an optional device disabling the fleeing vehicle via disrupting the vehicle'"'"'s onboard computer or electrical system. The system includes a tracking device or carrier containing tracking components, sensing equipment, and the vehicle disabling device. A launcher of the tracking device may be handheld or vehicle mounted, and may use high pressure gas or another propellant to launch the projectile at a fleeing vehicle. The electronics package may include tracking hardware, sensing hardware, and the vehicle disabling hardware. Once launched and affixed to the suspect vehicle or stationary target, the vehicle'"'"'s location can be tracked while sensors detecting any trace elements of explosives, IED (Improvised Explosive Device) materials, WMD (Weapons of Mass Destruction), biochemical materials, drugs, or any form of contraband can be monitored from a safe distance. In the case of a vehicle or moving target, the vehicle may then be disabled from a safe distance if sensors detect any abnormality in the targeted vehicle'"'"'s payload.

Claims

1. A method for tagging and tracking a target vehicle for the purpose of gathering sensor based information and deploying an electrical charge to incapacitate the vehicle, the method comprising:

providing a launcher having at least one barrel, a carrier having an electronics package, and sufficient propellant to launch the carrier from the launcher in order to affix the carrier to a fixed or moving target at a range, the carrier electronics package having a tracking system, at least one sensor, and a vehicle stopping system;

sighting the target vehicle using a target acquisition device;

launching the carrier from the launcher towards the target vehicle;

attaching the carrier, with the electronics package within the carrier, to the target vehicle, thereby tagging the target vehicle;

causing a tracking signal to be emitted from the tracking system;

receiving the tracking signal emitted by the tracking means, the tracking signal including information identifying the electronics package, location, and any sensor data;

converting the received tracking signal into an image of the tagged target vehicle and sensor data;

determining the need to stop the target vehicle based on target vehicle characteristics determined from the tracking signal and from the sensor data;

displaying the image on a display system, the image representing the location of the tagged target vehicle and sensor data identifying a payload on the vehicle; and

providing a remote actuator for stopping the target vehicle using the vehicle stopping system that discharging electricity to incapacitate the vehicle.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving the tracking signal and sensor data at a static location using a computer system selected from the group of static computer, networked computer, mobile computer, handheld computing device, and cellular phone.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the target vehicle is selected from the group of an automobile, a trailer, a trailer attached to a tractor trailer truck, a boat, an aircraft, a military vehicle, a motorcycle, an off terrain vehicle.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the tracking signal comprises information from a global positioning system.

5. A tagging device for tagging a target vehicle, the tagging device comprising:

(a) a tracking chip having a microprocessor, a power source, and an emitting means for emitting a tracking signal, the tracking signal emitted being a unique representation of the tracking chip;

(b) a vehicle stopping technology, said vehicle stopping technology is an electrical charge to incapacitate vehicle;

(c) an attachment means for attaching the tagging device to the target vehicle, wherein the attachment means is shot from a remote launcher and is capable of adhering to a target vehicle, the attachment means containing an electronics package therein, such that when the attachment means attaches to the target vehicle, the electronics package contained therein is not damaged;

(d) the electronics package further comprises at least one sensor and a receiving means for receiving an arming signal, the arming signal causing the electronics package to emit the tracking signal and transmit sensor data;

(e) wherein the tagging device is configured to receive a vehicle stopping signal which is determined by a remote controller, based upon the emitted tracking signal and transmitted sensor data received at the remote controller; and

wherein the sensor data identifies a payload on the target vehicle.

6. The tagging device of claim 5, wherein the attachment means has an outer surface.

7. A tracking system comprising:

(a) a tracking device comprising

a tracking chip having a microprocessor, an antenna, a power source, and an emitting system for emitting a tracking signal, the tracking signal emitted including a unique representation of the tracking chip;

an attachment means for attaching the tracking device to a target vehicle such that the tracking device is adhered to the target vehicle, the attachment means containing the tracking chip therein, such that when the attachment means attaches to target vehicle, an electronics package contained therein is not damaged;

wherein the tracking device further comprises a vehicle stopping device that discharges electricity to incapacitate the target vehicle, and the vehicle stopping device is contained within the attachment means;

wherein the tracking device further comprises at least one onboard data gathering sensor to detect substances, the sensor being in communication with the emitting system for inclusion of sensor data within the tracking signal;

(b) a launching device having at least one barrel capable of receiving the tracking device, a sighting device, a rangefinder, a source of pressure to expel the tracking device from the barrel to the target vehicle;

(c) a receiver system comprising a receiver capable of receiving the tracking signal and an interpretation device for interpreting the received tracking signal to identify the tracking chip and to indicate location of the tracking chip and represents the location of the tagged target vehicle;

(d) a display in communication with the receiver system and responsive to the interpreted tracking signal from the receiver system so as to provide a visual image of the location of the target vehicle and a visual image of the sensor data;

(e) a controller system having a controller, an input device, and a transmitter, the controller system in communication with the receiver system, capable of actuating the tracking system, and wherein the controller system is capable of transmitting a signal to activate the vehicle stopping device in response to determination of the received tracking signal and the onboard gathering sensor data that meet a predetermined set of parameters.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the controller system further comprises an actuator for arming the tracking device and a firing means for firing the tracking device, the actuator adapted, upon launching of a tracking device from the launching device, to cause the tracking device to emit the tracking signal.

9. A system for tagging, tracking, sensing data from, and disabling a target vehicle, the system comprising:

(a) a tracking device comprising

a tracking chip having a microprocessor, an antenna, a power source, and an emitting system for emitting a tracking signal, the tracking signal emitted including a unique representation of the tracking chip;

at least one onboard data gathering sensor to detect substances, the sensor in communication with the emitting system for inclusion of sensor data within the tracking signal;

a vehicle stopping device that discharges electricity to incapacitate the target vehicle;

an attachment means for attaching the tracking device to the target vehicle, the attachment means containing the tracking chip, sensor, and vehicle stopping device therein, the attachment means is capable of adhering to the target vehicle, such that when the attachment means attaches to the target vehicle, electronics package contained therein is not damaged;

(b) a launching device having at least one barrel capable of receiving the tracking device, a laser sighting device, a rangefinder, a source of pressure to expel the tracking device from the barrel;

(c) a receiver system comprising a receiver capable of receiving the tracking signal and an interpretation device for interpreting the received tracking signal and sensor data to identify the tracking chip and to indicate the location of the tracking chip such that when the tracking device is adhered to a target vehicle the tracking signal represents the location of the tagged target vehicle, and further for interpreting sensor data, wherein the sensor data is identifying payload on the target vehicle;

(d) a display in communication with the receiver system and responsive to the interpreted tracking signal and sensor data from the receiver system so as to provide a visual image of the location of the target vehicle and sensor data; and

(e) a controller system having a controller, an input device, and a transmitter, the controller system in communication with the receiver system, capable of transmitting a disabling signal to activate the vehicle stopping device in response to the receiver system receiving a tracking signal and sensor data that meet a predetermined set of parameters.