RESPONSE VEHICLE SYSTEMS AND METHODS

• US 20160304051A1
• Filed: 04/12/2016
• Published: 10/20/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oshkosh Corporation
• Original Assignee: Oshkosh Corporation
• Inventors: Archer, David W., Bjornstad, Neil, Holeton, Michael J., Martin, Patrick D.
• Granted Patent: US 10,144,389 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 27/00 Fire-fighting land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/46 for giving flashing caution signals during drive, other than signalling change of direction, e.g. flashing the headlights or hazard lights
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0081 Working vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/06 operating on the vehicle transmission
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/08 operating on brakes or brake systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/23 using manual input of alphanumerical codes
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/24 using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/25 using biometry
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00769 with data transmission performed by wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0825 using optical means
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00571 operated by interacting with a central unit

Abstract

A response vehicle includes a transmission, a braking subsystem, and a vehicle management system coupled to at least one of the transmission and the braking subsystem. The vehicle management system includes an interlock module configured to provide a signal to switch the at least one of the transmission and the braking subsystem from a locked condition to an operational condition only in response to an authenticated user request thereby preventing undesired operation of the response vehicle.

Claims

1. A response vehicle, comprising:

a transmission;

a braking subsystem; and

a vehicle management system coupled to at least one of the transmission and the braking subsystem, the vehicle management system including an interlock module configured to provide a signal to switch the at least one of the transmission and the braking subsystem from a locked condition to an operational condition only in response to an authenticated user request thereby preventing undesired operation of the response vehicle.

2. The response vehicle of claim 1, wherein the vehicle management system is coupled to both the transmission and the braking subsystem, wherein the interlock module is configured to provide the signal to switch the transmission and the braking subsystem from locked conditions to operational conditions only in response to the authenticated user request.

3. The response vehicle of claim 2, wherein the interlock module is configured to provide the signal to switch the transmission from the locked condition to the operational condition, wherein the locked condition corresponds to a parking gear of the transmission, and wherein the operational condition corresponds with at least one of a neutral gear and a drive gear of the transmission.

4. The response vehicle of claim 3, wherein the interlock module is configured to provide the signal to switch the braking subsystem from the locked condition to the operational condition, wherein the locked condition corresponds to an engaged configuration whereby the braking subsystem is configured to limit movement of the response vehicle, and wherein the operational condition corresponds to a disengaged configuration whereby the braking subsystem is configured to not limit movement of the response vehicle.

5. The response vehicle of claim 1, wherein the interlock module is configured to provide a second signal to switch the at least one of the transmission and the braking subsystem into the locked condition in response to the vehicle management system entering a scene mode.

6. The response vehicle of claim 5, wherein the vehicle management system is configured to enter the scene mode at least one of:

(a) in response to a user request, (b) automatically based on an indication relating to the response vehicle arriving at a scene, and (c) automatically based on an indication relating to the presence of an operator.

7. The response vehicle of claim 6, wherein the vehicle management system is configured to facilitate operation of at least one of an engine, a pump, a water system, a foam system, a siren, and a lighting system in the scene mode.

8. The response vehicle of claim 6, wherein the vehicle management system is configured to enter the scene mode in response to the user request, wherein the vehicle management system is configured to receive the user request from at least one of a display device, a button, a switch, a parking brake, and wireless control interface.

9. The response vehicle of claim 6, wherein the interlock module is configured to provide the signal to switch the at least one of the transmission and the braking subsystem from the locked condition to the operational condition only in response to an authenticated user request signal provided by at least one of:

(a) an access code system, (b) a username and password system, (c) a switch, (d) a button, (e) a fingerprint scanner, and (f) a retinal scanner.

10. A response vehicle management system, comprising:

a vehicle subsystem comprising at least one of a command system, a siren, a lighting system, a generator, a water pump system, a foam system, a water tank, a foam tank, a fuel tank, and a governor;

a sensor configured to monitor the vehicle subsystem and provide a sensor signal corresponding thereto;

a transceiver; and

a processing circuit coupled to the sensor and the transceiver, wherein the processing circuit is configured to;

(a) evaluate data relating to the vehicle subsystem based on the sensor signal and (b) provide the data for transmission by the transceiver in response to an authenticated user request.

11. The response vehicle management system of claim 10, further comprising a repeater configured to receive, amplify, and retransmit a signal transmitted by the transceiver.

12. The response vehicle management system of claim 11, further comprising a first response vehicle and a second response vehicle, wherein the transceiver is provided as part of the first response vehicle and the repeater is provided as part of the second response vehicle.

13. The response vehicle management system of claim 11, further comprising a response vehicle, wherein the transceiver and the repeater are provided as part of the response vehicle.

14. The response vehicle management system of claim 11, further comprising a response vehicle having a chassis, wherein the repeater comprises a portable unit releasably coupled to the chassis and configured to be selectively deployed by a user, the repeater thereby facilitating remote communication between the user and the response vehicle.

15. The response vehicle management system of claim 10, wherein the data relating to the vehicle subsystem comprises at least one of logged information and a status.

16. A response vehicle control system, comprising:

a response vehicle comprising a vehicle subsystem including at least one of a command system, a siren, a lighting system, a generator, a water pump system, a foam system, and a governor;

a transceiver; and

a processing circuit coupled to the transceiver and configured to;

(a) evaluate an access level of a user;

(b) provide user interface data for transmission by the transceiver;

(c) evaluate an authenticated command provided by the user; and

(d) provide a control signal to the vehicle subsystem in response to the authenticated command, wherein the user interface data provided by the processing circuit varies based on the access level of the user thereby preventing unauthorized control of the response vehicle.

17. The response vehicle control system of claim 16, further comprising a memory coupled to the processing circuit and disposed onboard the response vehicle, wherein the user interface data is stored in the memory onboard the response vehicle.

18. The response vehicle control system of claim 17, wherein the user interface data comprises a webpage format.

19. The response vehicle control system of claim 18, wherein the processing circuit is configured to provide user interface data having a first permission level in response to a determination that the access level of the user corresponds with a responder and provide user interface data having a second permission level in response to a determination that the access level of the user corresponds with at least one of a chief and a commander.

20. The response vehicle control system of claim 19, the vehicle subsystem defining a first vehicle subsystem, the response vehicle further comprising a second vehicle subsystem, wherein the user interface data having the first permission level includes control functionality of the first vehicle subsystem, and wherein the user interface data having the second permission level includes control functionality of both the first vehicle subsystem and the second vehicle subsystem.