Vehicle for deploying a mobile surveillance module

• US 8,172,265 B2
• Filed: 05/19/2010
• Issued: 05/08/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TerraHawk LLC
• Original Assignee: TerraHawk LLC
• Inventors: James, Tom R., Spence, John R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Winner, Tony H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Knutson, Jacob
• Application Number:
  US12/782,734
• Publication Number:
  US 20110101719A1
• Time in Patent Office: 720 Days
• Field of Search: 280/6.R, 280/6.H, 280/6.1, 280/764.1, 352/132, 354/81, 358/108, 521/15, 521/16, 521/18, 212/189, 296/39.3, 296/24.1, 296/35.1, 414/495, 624/40
• US Class Current: 280/764.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 7/165 at least a major part of the roof being lifted on all corners
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 1/02 with parallel up-and-down movement of load supporting or containing element in combination with tipping B60P1/34; devices for lifting or lowering bulky or heavy goods for loading or unloading purposes, movable on wheels or the like, e.g. fork-lift trucks, B66F9/06 ; suspensions with electronic levelling control during loading or unloading B60G17/0157
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 9/02 for only lifting or supporting

Abstract

A surveillance module may be deployed from a vehicle. The vehicle to deploy the surveillance module includes a first portion configured to accommodate a user to operate the vehicle. A second portion includes a module configured to accommodate the user and comprising a roof and an entrance accessible through an interior of the vehicle from the first portion. The second portion also includes a lifting mechanism coupled to the module and operable to move the module vertically from a retracted position to an extended position. A third portion defines an opening to accommodate the module, wherein the roof of the module couples to a periphery of the opening in the retracted position.

Claims

1. A method for deploying a surveillance module from a vehicle, the method comprising:

providing a module in a vehicle that comprises an enclosed housing that accommodates a user;

positioning the vehicle at a location for surveillance;

stabilizing the vehicle;

if the vehicle is stabilized, moving the module vertically from a retracted position to an extended position through an opening in a top of the vehicle using a lifting mechanism, wherein the module is completely above the opening in the extended position.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a deploy signal from a user interface before moving the module vertically from the retracted position.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein stabilizing the vehicle comprises extending at least two jacks from the vehicle to a surface, each jack comprises a sensor to generate a signal responsive to a condition of the surface contacted by the jacks.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

initiating adjustment of the jacks after contact with the surface in response to the signal from the sensor;

determining whether the jacks have reached an adjustment limit;

adjusting the jacks if the jacks have not reached the adjustment limit;

positioning the vehicle at a different location if the jacks have reached the adjustment limit.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising determining whether a selected one of the following safety conditions is met before moving the module vertically from the retracted position:

the vehicle is stationary for a predetermined period of time;

the jacks are stabilized;

a gear shift of the vehicle is in park;

an emergency parking brake is engaged;

the entrance to the module is closed; and

the vehicle is level within a range of degrees.

6. The method of claim 3, further comprising accessing sensor data to control a selected one of the jacks and the module, wherein the sensor data comprises at least one of the following:

a maximum wind speed for the module to be in the extended position;

a predetermined stationary time of the vehicle before the module is moved;

a range of degrees for the vehicle to be considered level; and

a maximum adjustment capability of each jack.

7. The method of claim 3, further comprising distributing hydraulic fluid to the lifting mechanism and the jacks to control a position of the lifting mechanism and the jacks, wherein distributing hydraulic fluid comprises distributing the hydraulic fluid through a control valve to a selected one of the lifting mechanism and the jacks.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether to lower the module, wherein determining whether to lower the module comprises receiving a signal from a user interface to initiate a retraction sequence;

moving the module from the extended position to the retracted position if it is determined to lower the module.

9. A method for deploying a surveillance module from a vehicle, comprising:

providing a module in a vehicle that comprises an enclosed housing that accommodates a user;

positioning the vehicle at a first location for surveillance of a first geographical area;

extending at least two jacks of a set of jacks from the vehicle, at the first location, to a surface to stabilize the vehicle, each extended jack comprises a sensor to generate a signal responsive to a condition of the surface contacted by the jacks if the vehicle is stabilized, moving the module, at the first location, vertically from a retracted position to an extended position through an opening in a top of the vehicle using a lifting mechanism, wherein the module is completely above the opening in the extended position;

moving the module, at the first location, from the extended position to the retracted position;

positioning the vehicle at a second location for surveillance of a second geographical area;

extending at least two jacks of the set of jacks from the vehicle, at the second location, to a surface to stabilize the vehicle, each extended jack comprises a sensor to generate a signal responsive to a condition of the surface contacted by the extended jacks;

if the vehicle is stabilized, moving the module, at the second location, vertically from a retracted position to an extended position using a lifting mechanism, wherein the module is completely above the opening in the extended position;

moving the module, at the second location, from the extended position to the retracted position.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the vehicle is positioned at a selected one of a first location and a second location, further comprising:

initiating adjustment of the extended jacks after contact with the surface in response to the signal from the sensor;

determining whether the extended jacks have reached an adjustment limit;

adjusting the extended jacks if the extended jacks have not reached the adjustment limit;

positioning the vehicle at a different location if the extended jacks have reached the adjustment limit.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the vehicle is positioned at a selected one of a first location and a second location, further comprising determining whether a selected one of the following safety conditions is met before moving the module vertically from the retracted position:

the vehicle is stationary for a predetermined period of time;

the extended jacks are stabilized;

a gear shift of the vehicle is in park;

an emergency parking brake is engaged;

the entrance to the module is closed; and

the vehicle is level within a range of degrees.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the vehicle is positioned at a selected one of a first location and a second location, further comprising accessing sensor data to control a selected one of the extended jacks and the module, wherein the sensor data comprises at least one of the following:

a maximum wind speed for the module to be in the extended position;

a predetermined stationary time of the vehicle before the module is moved;

a range of degrees for the vehicle to be considered level; and

a maximum adjustment capability of each extended jack.

13. A vehicle for deploying a surveillance module, comprising:

a first portion configured to accommodate a user to operate the vehicle;

a second portion comprising;

a module as an enclosed housing configured to accommodate the user and comprising a roof and an entrance accessible by the user through an interior of the vehicle from the first portion; and

a lifting mechanism coupled to the module and operable to move the module vertically from a retracted position to an extended position; and

a third portion defining an opening to accommodate the module, wherein the module is completely above the opening in the extended position.

14. The vehicle of claim 13, further comprising:

at least two jacks, each jack operable to extend from the vehicle to a surface to stabilize the vehicle;

a plurality of sensors operable to generate a plurality of signals responsive to a condition of the surface contacted by the jacks; and

a processor coupled to the sensors and operable to receive the signals to control the jacks, wherein the processor is further operable to initiate adjustment of the jacks after contact with the surface in response to the signals.

15. The vehicle of claim 14, further comprising a user interface mounted inside the module, wherein the processor is further operable to receive a deploy signal from the user interface before moving the module vertically from the retracted position.

16. The vehicle of claim 14, further comprising a hydraulic unit coupled to the lifting mechanism and the jacks and operable to distribute hydraulic fluid to the lifting mechanism and the jacks, wherein:

the processor is coupled to the hydraulic unit and is further operable to control a flow of the hydraulic fluid to the lifting mechanism and the jacks; and

the hydraulic unit further comprises a manifold to distribute hydraulic fluid to the lifting mechanism and the jacks, wherein the manifold comprises a plurality of control valves and is operable to distribute the hydraulic fluid through a control valve to a selected one of the lifting mechanism and the jacks.

17. A vehicle for deploying a surveillance module, comprising:

a module as an enclosed housing configured to accommodate a user and comprising an entrance accessible by the user through an interior of the vehicle;

a lifting mechanism coupled to the module and operable to move the enclosed housing of the module vertically from a retracted position to an extended position through an opening in a top of the vehicle;

a plurality of jacks operable to extend from the vehicle to a surface to stabilize the vehicle prior to moving the enclosed housing of the module vertically from the retracted position; and

a hydraulic unit coupled to the lifting mechanism and the jacks and operable to distribute hydraulic fluid to the lifting mechanism and the jacks.

18. The vehicle of claim 17, wherein the hydraulic unit comprises a pump to pressurize the hydraulic fluid for delivery to both the lifting mechanism and the jacks.

19. The vehicle of claim 17, further comprising:

a plurality of sensors operable to generate a plurality of signals responsive to a condition of the surface contacted by the jacks; and

a processor coupled to the sensors and operable to receive the signals to control the jacks, wherein the processor is further operable to;

initiate adjustment of the jacks after contact with the surface in response to the signals; and

perform at least one of the following steps before moving the enclosed housing of the module vertically from the retracted position;

determine the vehicle is stationary for a predetermined period of time;

determine the jacks are stabilized;

determine a gear shift of the vehicle is in park;

determine an emergency parking brake is engaged;

determine the entrance to the enclosed housing of the module is closed; and

determine the vehicle is level within a range of degrees.

20. The vehicle of claim 17, further comprising a memory having sensor data accessible by the processor to control a selected one of the jacks and the module, the sensor data comprises at least one of the following:

a maximum wind speed for the enclosed housing of the module to be in the extended position;

a predetermined stationary time of the vehicle before the enclosed housing of the module is moved;

a range of degrees for the vehicle to be considered level; and

a maximum adjustment capability of each jack.