Vehicle-based threat detection system

• US 8,643,507 B2
• Filed: 03/28/2006
• Issued: 02/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: David Loda, Edward Britt, Gary Rodriguez, William Good
• Original Assignee: David C. Loda, Edward J. Britt, Gary G. Rodriguez, William A. Good
• Inventors: Good, William A., Britt, Edward J., Loda, David C., Rodriguez, Gary J.
• Primary Examiner(s): HUNNINGS, TRAVIS R
• Application Number:
  US12/085,862
• Publication Number:
  US 20100277345A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,870 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 340/945
• CPC Class Codes: G01T 1/167 Measuring radioactive content of objects, e.g. contamination whole body counters G01T1/163
• CPC Class Codes: G01T 3/00 Measuring neutron radiation G01T5/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01T 7/00 Details of radiation-measuring instruments
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 5/26 Passive interrogation, i.e. by measuring radiation emitted by objects or goods
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 5/271 using a network, e.g. a remote expert, accessing remote data or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1965 the vehicle being an aircraft

Abstract

A vehicle-based threat detection system (10) for detecting weapons in a vehicle includes at least one sensor (12) in a cargo holding area of the vehicle. The sensor (12) is connected to at least one detector (14) that detects presence of a weapon in the cargo holding area. A warning system (16) is capable of communicating detection of a weapon to a location remote from the cargo holding area.

Claims

1. A vehicle-based threat detection system for detecting a weapon of mass destruction (WMD) in a vehicle, the threat detection system comprising:

at least one WMD sensor mounted to the vehicle in a cargo holding area of the vehicle wherein the at least one WMD sensor includes a radiation sensor for sensing gamma rays, neutrons, or both;

at least one WMD detector connected to the at least one WMD sensor to detect presence and type of a weapon of mass destruction in the cargo holding area; and

a warning system capable of communicating detection of a weapon of mass destruction and an indication of a type of WMD detected to personnel on board the vehicle at a location remote from the cargo holding area and to recipients located remote from the vehicle.

2. The threat detection system of claim 1, wherein the at least one WMD sensor includes a sensor mounted within the vehicle at a location adjacent to an entrance to the cargo holding area for screening cargo being loaded into the cargo holding area.

3. The threat detection system of claim 1, wherein the at least one WMD sensor further includes at least one of:

a chemical sensor that samples surrounding air for detecting chemical agents, and a biological sensor that samples surrounding air for detecting biological agents.

4. The threat detection system of claim 1, wherein the radiation sensor includes at least one of a gamma ray detector and a neutron counter.

5. The threat detection system of claim 1, wherein the at least one WMD sensor includes at least one of:

sensors capable of detecting a dirty bomb containing an explosive and radioactive material, and electromagnetic sensors to detect electromagnetic signals from electronic devices located inside cargo and capable of triggering an explosion or dispersal of a weapon.

6. The threat detection system of claim 1 further comprising a radio frequency identification reader for providing an identification of a cargo item causing a detection of a weapon.

7. The threat detection system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle is one of an aircraft, a marine vehicle, and a land vehicle.

8. The threat detection system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle is an aircraft and the warning system communicates detection of a weapon of mass destruction to at least one of:

a cockpit of the aircraft and a government agency responsible for dealing with terrorist threats.

9. The threat detection system of claim 1, wherein the warning system includes a vehicle-based computer network that creates a wireless system around the vehicle and has a web page dedicated to the vehicle.

10. A method of detecting a weapon of mass destruction WMD inside a vehicle, the method comprising:

sensing parameters indicative of presence of a weapon of mass destruction inside the vehicle using at least one WMD sensor mounted inside the vehicle, wherein the at least one WMD sensor is configured to detect nuclear weapons and radiological weapons;

detecting presence of a weapon of mass destruction inside the vehicle based upon parameters sensed by the at least one WMD sensor; and

communicating detection of a weapon of mass destruction inside the vehicle to a recipient on board the vehicle and to a recipient, responsible for dealing with terrorist threats, at a location remote from an area in which the detected weapon of mass destruction is located.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising at least one of:

inhibiting operation of the vehicle if a weapon of mass destruction is detected; and

responding to detection of a weapon of mass destruction with countermeasures designed to eliminate or minimize an intended impact of the weapon of mass destruction.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein countermeasures include at least one of:

suppressing detonation or dispersal of a weapon of mass destruction, jamming a signal capable of detonating or dispersing a weapon of mass destruction, and preventing the vehicle from entering a populated area.

13. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

detecting any tampering with the at least one WMD sensor; and

communicating a detection of tampering to a location remote from the at least one WMD sensor.

14. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

analyzing data from the at least one WMD sensor and performing additional tests to confirm or invalidate whether an actual weapon of mass destruction was detected.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein communicating detection of a weapon of mass destruction is performed by a network system within the vehicle that hosts a web page and allows wireless communication between the vehicle and a remote location.

16. A vehicle-based threat detection system for detecting a weapon of mass destruction (WMD) on an aircraft, the threat detection system comprising:

at least one WMD sensor mounted within and transportable with the aircraft for sensing gamma rays, neutrons, or both;

a WMD detector inside the aircraft for detecting presence of a weapon of mass destruction inside the aircraft based upon signals from the at least one WMD sensor; and

a network inside and around the aircraft for communicating presence of a detected weapon of mass destruction to a cockpit area of the aircraft and to a recipient remote from the aircraft that is responsible for dealing with terrorist threats.

17. The threat detection system of claim 16, wherein the at least one WMD sensor includes at least one of:

a radiation sensor mounted within the aircraft and located around an opening of a door for sensing entrance of a weapon of mass destruction onto the aircraft.

18. The threat detection system of claim 16, wherein the at least one WMD sensor further includes sensors capable of sensing a dirty bomb.

19. The threat detection system of claim 16, wherein the at least one WMD sensor includes sensors located in at least one of:

a cargo holding area of the aircraft, a landing gear bay, a maintenance panel, and a luggage compartment.

20. The threat detection system of claim 16, wherein the network includes a microserver that hosts a web page and generates a wireless system around the aircraft.

21. A vehicle-based threat detection system for detecting a weapon of mass destruction (WMD) in a cargo holding area of a vehicle, the threat detection system comprising:

one or more vehicle-mounted WMD sensors mounted within the vehicle in or near a cargo holding area of the vehicle, wherein the WMD sensors are configured to detect at least one of;

neutrons, gamma rays, nuclear weapons, radiological weapons, and combinations thereof; and

at least one WMD detector in the vehicle for detecting presence of a weapon in the cargo holding area based upon signals from the WMD sensors.

22. The threat detection system of claim 21, wherein at least one of the WMD sensors is mounted above an entrance to the cargo holding area for screening cargo being loaded into the cargo holding area.

23. The threat detection system of claim 21, wherein the WMD sensors further include a sensor configured to detect at least one of chemical weapons, biological weapons, and explosives.

24. The threat detection system of claim 21 further comprising:

a warning system capable of communicating detection of a weapon of mass destruction to personnel on board the vehicle and to a recipient at a location remote from the vehicle that is responsible for dealing with terrorist threats.