Systems and methods for repeating area denial

• US 8,087,335 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2010
• Issued: 01/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Axon Enterprise, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Taser International Incorporated
• Inventors: Shekarri, Nache D.
• Primary Examiner(s): DAVID, MICHAEL D
• Application Number:
  US12/974,898
• Publication Number:
  US 20110090084A1
• Time in Patent Office: 378 Days
• Field of Search: 42/10.8, 89/11.1, 89/410.3, 119/220, 119/721, 119/908, 340/573.1, 340/573.3, 361/232
• US Class Current: 89/1.11
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 13/0025 for remote electrical discharge via conducting wires, e.g. via wire-tethered electrodes shot at a target
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 13/0031 for remote electrical discharge by means of a wireless projectile
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 119/908 Electrical animal control or handling

Abstract

Systems and methods inhibit locomotion of a human or animal target in a denial zone. Acquiring the target includes forming a prediction of at least two locations of impact on the target and testing the prediction according to criteria that may include whether the locations are within a boundary corresponding to the target and whether the locations are separated by a minimum physical and/or electrical distance. The two locations may serve for conducting a current through the target for impeding locomotion by the target. The current may be repeated in response to determining that locomotion was not sufficiently impeded. Determination may depend on analysis of video of the target.

Claims

1. A method for area denial, performed by an apparatus that inhibits locomotion in or through an area by a human or animal target using a current between a plurality of electrodes, the method comprising:

deploying a plurality of electrodes;

applying a voltage across the electrodes to pass the current through the target;

acquiring surveillance data that describes the target; and

determining, in accordance with the surveillance data, a status of the target.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein determining comprises determining whether deploying resulted in inhibiting of locomotion of the target.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising, in response to determining, repeating the step of deploying.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein repeating is further in accordance with stored tactics and criteria for successful immobilization.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising, in response to determining, repeating the step of applying.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein repeating is further in accordance with stored tactics and criteria for successful immobilization.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the surveillance data comprises an image; and

determining comprises analyzing the image.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the status of the target corresponds to at least one of moving, stopped, and fallen.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the status of the target corresponds to at least one of exiting denial zone, and not exiting denial zone.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein determining comprises monitoring changes in a travel vector of the target.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising in response to determining and in accordance with stored tactics and criteria for successful immobilization, issuing an audible message to the target to encourage the target to move toward a position associated with less risk of injury to the target.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising in response to determining and in accordance with stored tactics and criteria for successful immobilization, issuing an audible message to the target to encourage the target to move toward a position associated with increased likelihood that a repeat deployment will be successful.