Dynamic canine tracking method for hazardous and illicit substances

• US 9,763,426 B2
• Filed: 07/18/2016
• Issued: 09/19/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Auburn University
• Original Assignee: Auburn University
• Inventors: Pearce, John, Waggoner, L. Paul, Brock, Jeanne S., Baird, Timothy, Baffa, David A., McAfee, Daniel, Leonard, Robert E.
• Primary Examiner(s): TSANG, LISA L
• Application Number:
  US15/212,467
• Publication Number:
  US 20160316718A1
• Time in Patent Office: 428 Days
• Field of Search: 119417, 119420, 119421, 119174, 119905, 119712, 73 2334, 73 232, 73 234, 73 2342, 7386433, 738658
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 15/00 Devices for taming animals, e.g. nose-rings or hobbles; Devices for overturning animals in general; Training or exercising equipment; Covering boxes
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 15/02 Training or exercising equipment, e.g. mazes or labyrinths for animals A01K15/04 takes precedence; Electric shock devices circuits therefor H03K3/537; Toys specially adapted for animals
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 27/003 Leads, leashes
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 11/132 Biological systems, e.g. with detection by animals or plants
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 13/00 Means of attack or defence not otherwise provided for details of radar or sonar systems G01S7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/0001 by organoleptic means

Abstract

Vapor wake detection is a highly advantageous method and system for detecting explosives and other illicit substances. With vapor wake detection, a canine and a handler are used; however, unlike other detection schemes, the canine leads the handler. After the handler positions the canine in a desired location, the canine detects scents in the air that come to the canine. When the canine detects a trained scent, the canine leads the handler to or follows behind the carrier of the item with the scent. Once the carrier is identified by the handler, the proper personnel are contacted. To implement vapor wake detection effectively, specific rigorous training is utilized.

Claims

1. A method of implementing vapor wake detection comprising:

defining a location to be monitored, wherein the location is one of a plurality of location types;

positioning a canine by a handler in the location to be monitored;

sampling the air with the canine for a vapor trail generated by a moving carrier;

detecting with the canine a target odor emitted from a target object, wherein the target object is a hazardous or illicit substance carried by the moving carrier, and the target odor is emitted from the target object at the time the moving carrier is moving through the location to be monitored, and the canine has been positioned in the location to the monitored, and

without further influence from the handler, following the carrier with the canine, wherein the canine works independently of the handler and follows the moving carrier once the hazardous or illicit substance is detected; and

identifying the carrier based on a change of behavior of the canine recognized by the handler.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising notifying security personnel following the identifying step.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising utilizing leash manipulation prior to detecting the target odor to position the canine and navigate the canine through and around a crowd of a plurality of moving people, moving generally in the same direction, such that the canine is navigated in a side-to-side manner behind the crowd while moving within the vapor trail in the same direction as the crowd in order to detect the target odor.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising utilizing leash manipulation prior to detecting the target odor to position the canine and navigate the canine through and around a crowd of a plurality of moving people, wherein the plurality of moving people are each of the plurality of moving people moving generally in different directions, such that the canine is positioned and navigated in order to take advantage of any available air currents while the canine is moved in and out of the crowd.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the canine samples the air for a plurality of vapor trails simultaneously generated by a plurality of potential carriers, further wherein the plurality of potential carriers are moving.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the vapor trail is a thermal and aerodynamic plume of the moving carrier.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein positioning the canine in the location to be monitored depends on the location type and air currents throughout the location.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the location type is selected from the group consisting of a choke point, a crowd, people standing in line, people moving and people standing still.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the vapor wake is a thermal and aerodynamic plume of the moving carrier.

10. A method of implementing vapor wake detection in a defined location to be monitored, comprising:

positioning a canine in the defined location;

following a vapor-wake of a moving target with the canine, wherein the moving target is moving through the defined location, and further wherein the vapor-wake includes a target odor of the moving target, wherein the target odor is a hazardous or illicit substance and the target odor is emitted from the moving target at the time the moving target is moving through the defined location, and the canine has been positioned in the defined location;

detecting the target odor in the vapor-wake with the canine;

recognizing a change of behavior of the canine when the target odor is detected;

allowing the canine to move without influence to a source of the target odor, wherein the canine works independently of a handler and follows the moving target once the hazardous or illicit substance is detected; and

identifying a carrier of the source of the target odor.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising notifying security personnel of the carrier following identification.

12. The method of claim 10 further comprising sampling with the canine air currents in the vapor-wake.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising utilizing leash manipulation prior to detecting the target odor to position the canine and navigate the canine through and around a crowd of a plurality of moving people, wherein the plurality of moving people are moving generally in the same direction, such that the canine is positioned and navigated in a side-to-side manner behind the crowd while moving in the same direction as the crowd in order to detect the target odor.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising utilizing leash manipulation prior to detecting the target odor to position the canine and navigate the canine through and around a crowd of a plurality of moving people, each of the plurality of moving people moving generally in different directions, such that the canine is positioned and navigated in order to take advantage of any available air currents while the canine is moved in and out of the crowd.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the canine samples the air for a plurality of vapor trails simultaneously generated by a plurality of moving targets.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein positioning the canine in the location to be monitored depends on a location type and air currents throughout the location.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the location type is selected from the group consisting of a choke point, a crowd, people standing in line, people moving and people standing still.