Tactical mobile surveillance system

• US 9,648,256 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2015
• Issued: 05/09/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Black Diamond Xtreme Engineering, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Black Diamond Xtreme Engineering, Inc.
• Inventors: Ramsey, Brent, Schoenfelder, Ray, Hail, David
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAN, HAU VAN
• Application Number:
  US14/871,367
• Publication Number:
  US 20160090132A1
• Time in Patent Office: 587 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 8/10 Detecting, e.g. by using light barriers by reflection from the object G01S17/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/11 for generating image signals from visible and infrared light wavelengths
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/50 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/555 for picking-up images in sites, inaccessible due to their dimensions or hazardous conditions, e.g. endoscopes or borescopes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/57 Mechanical or electrical details of cameras or camera modules specially adapted for being embedded in other devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/66 Remote control of cameras or camera parts, e.g. by remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source

Abstract

A system for inspection of the undercarriage of a vehicle. The system may comprise a mobile unit or a stationary unit configured to fit in a space below the vehicle for gathering and transmitting data, images and or recordings, of the undercarriage of the vehicle. The system comprises at least one camera and preferably a plurality of cameras and at least one light source and preferably a plurality of light sources mounted on a device configured to fit in the space below a vehicle without hindering the inspection of the undercarriage of the vehicle. Photoelectric lasers or laser scanning systems may also be incorporated into the device. Data gathered by the cameras and/or laser systems can be transmitted to a controller and in some embodiments compared to standard data for recognition and potentially warning of an unexpected condition of the undercarriage without requiring physical human inspection.

Claims

1. An undercarriage inspection system, the system comprising:

a motorized wheeled cart having;

a frame having a center platform mounted thereon;

at least one retractable arm extending outwardly from the frame; and

at least one lighting element mounted on the cart;

at least one camera mounted on the cart; and

wherein the system is configured to fit in a space below a vehicle and the at least one camera is configured to capture at least one image of the undercarriage of the vehicle.

2. The system of claim 1, and further comprising a controller in wireless communication with the motorized wheeled cart and configured to remotely move the cart in the space below the vehicle.

3. The system of claim 1, and further comprising a controller in wireless communication with the at least one lighting element and the at least one camera and configured to control the lighting element and the camera for inspection of the undercarriage.

4. The system of claim 3, and further comprising a monitor wirelessly connected to the controller and positioned away from the cart, wherein the monitor is configured to receive and display images transmitted from the at least one camera as the motorized wheeled cart is in the space below the vehicle.

5. The system of claim 1, and further comprising at least one infrared camera positioned on the cart, the infrared camera configured to capturing images of the undercarriage and configured to transmit the images to a monitor.

6. The system of claim 1, and further comprising at least one laser source for laser scanning the undercarriage and configured to transmit data related to the laser scan to the controller.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one lighting element is an LED light mounted on the cart and configured to illuminate the field of the view the at least one camera.

8. An undercarriage inspection system, the system comprising:

a ground engaging housing having an open top and a cavity configured to receive;

at least one camera mounted therein;

at least one laser source mounted therein;

at least one lighting element mounted therein; and

wherein the system is configured to fit in a space below a vehicle and the at least one camera is configured to capture at least one image of the undercarriage of the vehicle and the at least one laser source is configured to produce a laser beam to laser scan the undercarriage of the vehicle.

9. The system of claim 8, and further comprising a protective cover configured to fit the open top of the housing, the protective cover comprising a transparent material.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the housing is configured to accommodate two or more cameras spaced apart therein and two or more lighting elements positioned therein.

11. The system of claim 8, and further comprising a controller in wireless communication with the at least one lighting element and the at least one camera and configured to control the lighting element and the camera for inspection of the undercarriage.

12. The system of claim 11, and further comprising a monitor wirelessly connected to the controller and positioned away from the housing, wherein the monitor is configured to receive and display images transmitted from the at least one camera as the housing is in the space below the vehicle.

13. The system of claim 8, and further comprising at least one infrared camera positioned in the housing, the infrared camera configured to capture images of the undercarriage and further configured to transmit the images to a monitor.

14. A method of remotely inspecting an undercarriage of a vehicle, the method comprising:

providing at least one camera and at least one lighting source to a housing configured to fit in a space below the vehicle;

providing at least one laser source to the housing;

providing a controller wirelessly connected to the at least one camera, the at least one lighting source, and the at least one laser source and configured to provide instructions to the at least one camera and the at least one lighting source for inspecting the undercarriage and to provide instructions to the at least one laser source for producing a laser beam and scanning the undercarriage;

providing a remote display configured to receive and display data transmitted from the at least one camera and the at least one laser source for inspecting the undercarriage; and

remotely inspecting the undercarriage for the vehicle.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the camera, laser source and the lighting source are provided in a movable housing comprising a remotely controlled movable cart configured to fit in the space below the vehicle and driving the movable cart through the space underneath the vehicle for inspecting the undercarriage of the vehicle.

17. The method of claim 14, and transmitting the data from the at least one camera or the at least one laser source to a controller configured to compare the data received to a database of stored data for recognition of an unexpected condition of the undercarriage.

18. The method of claim 17, and sending one of a first signal to the remote display indicating a status of the recognition of an unexpected condition of the undercarriage indicating or a second signal indicating a status of the recognition of an expected undercarriage configuration.

16. The method of 14, where in the camera, laser source and the lighting source are provided in a stationary housing positioned on a ground engaging surface below the vehicle and configured to fit in the space below the vehicle and further comprising moving the vehicle over the housing for inspecting the undercarriage of the vehicle.