Method for surveillance to detect a land target

• US 8,026,842 B2
• Filed: 06/08/2007
• Issued: 09/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Aerostar International LLC (CNH Industrial N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Vista Research, Inc. (Guidepoint Global LLC)
• Inventors: Fox, Phillilp A., Maresca, Joseph W. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): SOTOMAYOR, JOHN B
• Application Number:
  US11/811,271
• Publication Number:
  US 20100283662A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,572 Days
• Field of Search: 342 52- 55, 342/62, 342/90, 342 95- 97
• US Class Current: 342/52
• 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) a 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 of a border to detect, track, and classify a land target from one or more measurement locations located along and on or inside of said border using a two-zone method comprising:

(a) detecting and tracking said land target as said target approaches said border in a first outer zone with a first sensor system, wherein an outer boundary of said first outer zone is limited by the maximum detection range of said first sensor system beyond said border and an inner boundary of said first outer zone is defined by said one or more measurement locations;

(b) collecting data for classification of said target being tracked after said target moves into a first inner zone and toward said border using a second sensor system, wherein an outer boundary of said first inner zone is limited by the maximum detection range of said second system beyond said border and an inner boundary of said first inner zone is defined by said one or more measurement locations;

(c) further collecting data for classification of said target being tracked after said target moves past said border and into a second inner zone using said second sensor system, wherein an outer boundary of said second inner zone is limited by the maximum detection range of said second sensor system within said border and an inner boundary of said second inner zone is defined by said one or more measurement locations; and

(d) further tracking said target inside said border in a second outer zone with said first sensor system, wherein an outer boundary of said second outer zone is limited by the maximum detection range of said first detection system within said border and an inner boundary of said second outer zone is defined by said one or more measurement locations;

wherein said target continues to be tracked by said first sensor system as said target moves in or through said first and second inner zones and wherein said measurement locations and said border are located in said first and second inner zones.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of said first and second sensor systems is mounted on a measurement platform.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein one of said first and second sensor systems includes a non-coherent radar.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein at least one of said first and second sensor systems is mounted on two or more measurement platforms with overlapping coverage.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein one of said sensor systems on said two or more measurement platforms includes a non-coherent radar.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the coverage area for said first and second sensor systems at each measurement platform includes adjacent measurement platforms.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein said measurement platform is a stationary platform selected from the group consisting of a tower, a pole, and a building structure.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein said measurement platform is a structure that allows said at least one of said first and second sensor systems to be positioned at a specified elevation.

9. The method of claim 2, wherein said at least one of said first and second sensor systems includes an imaging sensor.

10. The method of claim 2, wherein at least one of said sensor systems includes a non-coherent radar and at least one of said sensor systems includes an imaging sensor.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of said sensor systems is mounted on a mobile platform.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein at least one of said sensor systems is mounted on a plurality of mobile platforms.

13. The method of claim 11, where said at least one of said sensor systems includes a non-coherent radar.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein said at least one of said sensor systems includes an imaging sensor.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein at least one of said sensor systems includes a non-coherent radar and at least one of said sensor systems includes an imaging sensor.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein said mobile platform is selected from the group consisting of trucks, vans, SUVS, and military vehicles.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein said mobile platform is kept stationary during sensor measurements.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein said mobile platform is moving during sensor measurements.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein said target is classified in said first outer zone with said first sensor system.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein said target is classified in said first outer zone with a third sensor system.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein said target is classified in said first outer zone with a coherent radar.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein said target is detected and tracked in said first and second inner zones with said second sensor system.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein said first sensor system includes a non-coherent radar.

24. The method of claim 1, wherein said first sensor system includes a coherent radar.

25. The method of claim 1, wherein said second sensor system is an optical sensor system.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein said optical sensor system can operate in any frequency band from visible to long wavelength IR.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein said second sensor system is an electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) sensor system.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein said second sensor system is a long wavelength IR sensor system.

29. The method of claim 26, wherein said second sensor system is a mid-wave IR sensor system.

30. The method of claim 1, wherein said land target is classified in said first and second inner zones with a coherent radar.

31. The method of claim 1, wherein the dimensions of said first and second inner and outer zones can change as a function of location.

32. The method of claim 1, wherein the dimensions of said first and second inner and outer zones can change as a function of time or target threat.

33. The method of claim 1, wherein said land target is moving.

34. The method of claim 1, wherein said land target is comprised of two or more targets.

35. The method of claim 1, wherein said land target includes a person, a vehicle, or an animal.

36. The method of claim 1, wherein an image of said land target is sent to a person for validation of the existence and type of target present.

37. The method of claim 1, wherein said second sensor system may also be used to detect said land target as said target moves in or through said first and second inner zones.

38. The method of claim 1, where said second sensor system may also be used to track said targets as said targets move in or through said first and second inner zones.

39. The method of claim 1, wherein an unmanned airborne vehicle (UAV) with at least one imaging sensor system is said second sensor system.

40. The method of claim 1, wherein a UAV with at least one imaging sensor system is used in conjunction with said second sensor system in said first and second inner zones.

41. The method of claim 1, wherein a UAV with at least one sensor system is said first sensor system.

42. The method of claim 1, wherein a UAV with a non-coherent radar system is said first sensor system.

43. The method of claim 1, wherein a UAV with a non-coherent radar system is said second sensor system.

44. The method of claim 1, wherein said land target is stationary.

45. The method of claim 1, further comprising classifying said land target.

46. The method of claim 1, further comprising dispatching border patrol agents to apprehend said land target at a pre-computed intercept point.

47. The method of claim 1, further comprising continuing to track said land target until a border patrol agent is available to intercept and apprehend said land target.

48. The method of claim 1, further comprising dispatching an unmanned asset to collect further data on said land target.

49. The method of claim 1, further comprising dispatching an unmanned asset to continue tracking said land target.

50. The method of claim 1, wherein said border is an international border.