Disruptor guidance system and methods based on scatter imaging

• US 8,532,823 B2
• Filed: 01/31/2011
• Issued: 09/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: American Science and Engineering Incorporated (OSI Systems Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: American Science and Engineering Incorporated (OSI Systems Incorporated)
• Inventors: McElroy, Terry, Pascoe, Jim
• Primary Examiner(s): Jen, Ian
• Application Number:
  US13/017,197
• Publication Number:
  US 20120221144A1
• Time in Patent Office: 953 Days
• Field of Search: 700/245, 700/259, 901/1, 901/2, 901/4, 901/5, 901/14, 340/539.1, 340/539.13, 340/572.2, 348/143, 348/152, 102/351, 102/357, 102/403, 102/439, 102/475, 102/504, 102/505, 342/13, 342/22, 342/27, 342/90
• US Class Current: 700/259
• CPC Class Codes: F41B 9/0046 Disruptors, i.e. for neutralising explosive devices
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 11/16 Self-propelled mine-clearing vehicles; Mine-clearing devices attachable to vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 11/28 using brushing or sweeping means or dozers to push mines lying on a surface aside; using means for removing mines intact from a surface
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 11/32 Decoy or sacrificial vehicles; Decoy or sacrificial devices attachable to vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 7/005 Unmanned ground vehicles, i.e. robotic, remote controlled or autonomous, mobile platforms carrying equipment for performing a military or police role, e.g. weapon systems or reconnaissance sensors F41H11/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F42D 5/04 Rendering explosive charges harmless, e.g. destroying ammunition F42B39/14 and F42B39/20 take precedence ; extracting primers, dismantling ammunition F42B33/04, F42B33/06 ; chemical deactivating of explosives C06B21/0091; Rendering detonation of explosive charges harmless

Abstract

A system and method for guiding a disruptor robot in disruption of an explosive device. The system includes a source of penetrating radiation, having a coordinated position on the robot with respect to a disrupter coupled to robot, and at least one detector for detecting radiation produced by the source and scattered by the explosive device. An analyzer produces an image of the explosive device and facilitates identification of a disruption target of the explosive device. A controller positions the disruptor with respect to the explosive device so that the disruptor is aimed at the disruption target.

Claims

1. A system for guiding a disruptor robot in disruption of an explosive device, the system comprising:

a source of penetrating radiation, having a coordinated position on the robot with respect to a disruptor coupled to the robot;

at least one detector for detecting radiation produced by the source and scattered by the explosive device;

an analyzer for producing an image of the explosive device including a disruption target of the explosive device; and

a controller for positioning the disruptor with respect to the explosive device so that the disruptor is aimed at the disruption target.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein positioning the disruptor comprises positioning the robot.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the radiation is x-ray radiation.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the radiation scattered by the explosive device includes backscattered radiation.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the image is a 3-dimensional image.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the source includes a collimator adapted to collimate the penetrating radiation into a pencil beam of penetrating radiation.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein the source includes a scanner adapted to displace the pencil beam of penetrating radiation.

8. The guided system for the disruption of an explosive device, the system comprising,

a mobile robot;

a disruptor coupled to the robot;

an imaging system coupled to the robot in coordination with the disruptor, the imaging system including;

a source of penetrating radiation, the source having a coordinated position on the robot with respect to the disruptor,

at least one detector for detecting radiation produced by the source and scattered by the explosive device, and

an analyzer for producing an image of the explosive device including a disruption target for the explosive device; and

a controller for positioning the disruptor with respect to the explosive device so that the disruptor is aimed substantially at the disruption target.

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein positioning the disruptor comprises positioning the robot.

10. A method of guiding a disruptor robot in disruption of an explosive device, the method comprising,

inspecting the explosive device with an inspection system coupled to the robot in coordination with a disruptor, wherein inspecting the explosive device includes, irradiating the explosive device with radiation produced by a source of the inspection system, detecting, with at least one detector of the inspection system radiation produced by the source and scattered by the explosive device, generating detector output signals based on radiation received by the at least one detector, and characterizing the explosive device on the basis of the detector output signals;

identifying a disruption target of the explosive device based on the characterization of the explosive device; and

positioning the disruptor of the robot with respect to the explosive device so that the disruptor is aimed substantially at the disruption target.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein irradiating the explosive device includes scanning the radiation source across the explosive device.

12. The method according to claim 10, wherein characterizing the explosive device includes creating an image of the explosive device based on the detector output signals.

13. The method according to claim 10, wherein positioning the disruptor comprises positioning the robot.