Systems and methods for preventing friendly fire through infrared recognition and authentication

• US 9,473,712 B2
• Filed: 11/29/2013
• Issued: 10/18/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Waba Fun, LLC
• Original Assignee: Waba Fun, LLC
• Inventors: McCloskey, David C., Barnett, Jeffrey L., James, Stanley R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Czekaj, Dave
• Assistant Examiner(s): Haque, Md
• Application Number:
  US14/093,383
• Publication Number:
  US 20140152840A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,054 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/74 Systems using reradiation of electromagnetic waves other than radio waves, e.g. IFF, i.e. identification of friend or foe
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4802 using analysis of echo signal for target characterisation; Target signature; Target cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/611 where the recognised objects include parts of the human body
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/33 Transforming infrared radiation cameras or camera modules for generating image signals from infrared radiation H04N23/20; circuitry of SSIS for transforming infrared radiation into image signals H04N25/20

Abstract

Systems and methods prevent friendly fire using infrared object recognition. An IR projector projects a beam of IR radiation at a first wavelength onto the object and an IR detector, having a field of view of the object, detects IR fluorescence from the object, where a wavelength of the fluorescence is a function of the first wavelength. The system includes a memory for storing software having machine readable instructions that, when executed by a processor, perform the steps of: (a) controlling the IR projector to generate IR at the first wavelength; (b) controlling the IR detector to capture the object fluorescence; and (c) identifying the object as friendly or non-friendly based upon the object fluorescence. The system further includes an inhibitor for preventing firing of a gun or missile when the object is identified as friendly.

Claims

1. A system for preventing friendly fire using infrared (IR) object recognition, comprising:

an IR projector for projecting a beam of IR radiation at a first wavelength onto the object;

an IR detector having a field of view of the object for detecting IR fluorescence from the object, a wavelength of the fluorescence having a second wavelength that is a function of the first wavelength;

a processor executing an algorithm to perform the steps of;

controlling the IR projector to generate IR at the first wavelength and project the IR onto the object;

controlling the IR detector to detect the object fluorescence; and

identifying the object as friendly when the object fluorescence is detected; and

an inhibitor for preventing firing of a gun or missile when the object is identified as friendly, and a memory storing an IR wavelength list of inhibitory wavelengths;

wherein the inhibitor is activated when the IR detector detects IR with an inhibitory wavelength.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising an activator for initiating projection by the IR projector, the activator being in communication with or configured with an activating area of the gun or missile.

3. The system of claim 2, the activating area being the trigger of a gun.

4. The system of claim 1, the inhibitor being or being in communication with an electronic safety of the gun, to lock the gun when the object is identified as friendly.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a band-pass filter for filtering out IR at wavelengths other than fluorescence wavelengths of friendly IR fluorescing material.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is incorporated with a gun.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is incorporated with a military aircraft.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is incorporated with a tank.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is incorporated with an anti-aircraft gun.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is incorporated with heavy artillery.

11. The system of claim 6, the IR projector and the IR detector being configured with a cartridge that permanently or removably attaches with the gun.

12. A system for preventing friendly fire using infrared object recognition, comprising:

an IR projector for projecting a beam of IR radiation at a first wavelength onto the object;

an IR detector having a field of view of the object for detecting IR fluorescence from the object, the fluorescence having a second wavelength that is a function of the first wavelength;

an RGB camera for capturing a still or moving picture of the object;

a processor;

a memory for storing software having machine readable instructions that, when executed by the processor, perform the steps of;

identifying the object from an object list, based upon the still or moving picture from the RGB camera;

controlling the IR projector to generate IR at the first wavelength;

controlling the IR detector to capture the object fluorescence; and

identifying the object as friendly or non-friendly based upon the object fluorescence; and

an inhibitor for preventing firing of a gun or missile when the object is identified as friendly;

wherein the inhibitor is activated when the IR detector detects IR with an inhibitory wavelength.

13. A system for preventing friendly fire using infrared (IR) recognition of an object, comprising:

an IR detector having a field of view of the object for detecting IR fluorescence from the object when illuminated by an IR beam, wherein the IR fluorescence has a wavelength that is a conversion of the IR beam;

a processor executing an algorithm to perform the steps of;

controlling the IR detector to detect the object fluorescence; and

identifying the object as friendly or non-friendly based upon whether the object fluorescence is detected; and

an inhibitor for preventing firing of a gun or missile when the object is identified as friendly, and a memory storing an IR wavelength list of inhibitory wavelengths;

wherein the inhibitor is activated when the IR detector detects IR with an inhibitory wavelength.