Method and system for tracking and/or disabling a vehicle

• US 8,436,730 B2
• Filed: 06/27/2011
• Issued: 05/07/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SC Holdings LLC
• Original Assignee: SC Holdings LLC
• Inventors: Fischbach, Trevor A., Sawyer, P. Sean, McCall, Amanda D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tang, Son M
• Application Number:
  US13/169,810
• Publication Number:
  US 20120166021A1
• Time in Patent Office: 680 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.1, 340/539.13, 340/990, 340/572.4, 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 25/045 by limiting or cutting the electrical supply to the propulsion unit
• 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 13/0025 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: 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 disabling a fleeing vehicle via disrupting the vehicle'"'"'s onboard computer or electrical system. The system optionally includes a tracking system for tracking the vehicle'"'"'s location and/or a remote sensing system for identifying a payload contained in the vehicle or asset. A launcher of the disabling/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 system may include a tether for connecting the disabling device to a power supply disposed on a pursuit vehicle or a handheld launcher.

Claims

1. A method for tagging a target vehicle for the purpose of deploying an electrical charge to incapacitate the vehicle, the method comprising:

providing a pursuit vehicle with a launcher having at least one barrel, a carrier having an electronics package, a tether having a first end attached to the carrier and a second end attached to the pursuit vehicle, the launcher being configured to launch the carrier in order to affix the carrier to a fixed or moving target at a range, the carrier electronics package having a vehicle stopping system;

providing the pursuit vehicle with a power supply configured to supply power to the vehicle stopping system via said tether;

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;

providing a remote actuator for stopping the target vehicle using the vehicle stopping system, the vehicle stopping system being configured to discharge electricity to incapacitate the target vehicle;

providing the electronics package with a tracking device configured to emit a tracking signal containing information regarding the target vehicle'"'"'s location;

receiving the tracking signal emitted by the tracking device;

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

providing the electronics package with at least one sensor configured to detect the presence of one or more substances of interest; and

transmitting sensor data collected from the at least one sensor.

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. The method of claim 1, wherein the tether comprises first and second electrically-insulated conductive wires.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle stopping system includes first and second electrodes configured to contact a surface of the target vehicle.

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

(a) a vehicle stopping technology, said vehicle stopping technology being configured to deliver an electrical charge to incapacitate the target vehicle;

(b) an attachment means for attaching the tagging device to the target vehicle, wherein the attachment means is configured to be 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;

(c) a tether for connecting the tagging device to a pursuit vehicle, the tether configured to serve as a conduit for electrical power delivered to the vehicle stopping technology from a power supply disposed on the pursuit vehicle;

(d) wherein the tagging device is configured to receive a vehicle stopping signal which is transmitted from a remote actuator;

(f) the electronics package with a tracking device configured to emit a tracking signal containing information regarding the target vehicle'"'"'s location;

(g) a receiver configured to receive the tracking signal emitted by the tracking device;

(h) converts the received tracking signal into an image of the tagged target vehicle;

(i) the electronics package with at least one sensor configured to detect the presence of one or more substances of interest; and

(j) a transmitter configured to transmit the sensor data collected from the at least one sensor.

8. The tagging device of claim 7, wherein the attachment means has an outer surface.

9. 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 the 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, the vehicle stopping device is contained within the attachment means, and wherein the tracking device is linked to a pursuit vehicle via a tether, the tether configured to transmit electrical power to the vehicle stopping device from a power supply located on the pursuit vehicle;

(b) a launching device having at least one barrel capable of receiving the tracking device and 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 represent 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

(e) a controller system having a controller, an input device, and a transmitter, the controller system in communication with the receiver system, and wherein the controller system is capable of transmitting a signal to activate the vehicle stopping device.

10. The system of claim 9, 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.

11. A system for tagging, tracking, 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, the tracking chip contained therein is not damaged;

a tether for linking the tracking device to a pursuit vehicle, the tether serving as a conduit for the delivery of electrical power to the vehicle stopping device from a power supply disposed on the pursuit vehicle;

(b) a launching device having at least one barrel capable of receiving the tracking device and 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 the sensor data;

(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.