GB2434349A

GB2434349A - Remotely operated reconnaissance vehicle

Info

Publication number: GB2434349A
Application number: GB0601289A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jason Philip Lewis
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-01-24
Filing date: 2006-01-24
Publication date: 2007-07-25
Also published as: GB0601289D0

Abstract

A small, light weight, man portable, remotely operated vehicle that is deployed to reconnoitre a suspicious area prior to troops from a Coalition Forces patrol moving through. The vehicle consists of a robust non-fragmenting plastic chassis (2) on which is mounted a high power Infra-red energy source (1), and a small light weight video camera (3) and transmitter (4). The live video feed from the video camera will allow the operator to search for anything suspicious, and the Infra-red energy source will saturate the area with Infra-red energy, detonating any Passive Infra-red Improvised Explosive Devices. Control is provided via a command wire (6), contained with in a self dispensing cable drum, upon which the operators control box is mounted. The live video feed is sent back along a cable (6), to a small hand held video monitor with the operator.

Description

I

Remotely Operated Reconnaissance Vehicle The Coalition Forces in Iraq are facing a growing problem from the use of Improvised Explosive Devices, (JEDs), in particular IEDs which are initiated using a Passive Infra-Red, (PIRIED), sensor. Passive lnfra-red sensors are commercially available and widely used to turn on such things as security lights or to initiate intruder alarms. The terrorists simply replace the light with an Improvised Explosive Device, and a growing number of troops and vehicles are being lost to this world wide. These PIRIEDs are initiated upon the detection of the JR energy emitted by all objects natural or man made, in this case the Coalition Forces, moving into an area in front of them. There is currently no way of detecting, jamming or stopping these PIRIEDs from detonating. The terrorist modus operandi is to deploy these PIRIEDs in an area that requires vehicles to slow down, or troops to dismount their vehicles and move forward on foot, and in area where there is minimal civilian vehicle or foot traflic, (to prevent them being prematurely detonated). They then lie in wait for a coalition patrol to approach. On the appearance of a patrol the terrorist uses a conventional Radio Transmitter to activate the PIR sensor just out side the effective range of our existing counter measures and thus leaving the patrol completely open to attack.

To overcome this problem I propose a small, light weight, man portable, sacrificial, Remotely Operated Reconnaissance Vehicle, (RORV). This can be deployed to reconnoitre an area prior to Coalition Forces moving through. On the vehicle is mounted an Infra-red, (IR), energy source, and a small light weight video camera and transmitter. The live video feed from the video camera will allow the operator to search for anything suspicious, and the JR energy source will saturate the area with JR energy, detonating any PIRIED.

The RORV can be remotely controlled via a command wire from a safe distance, leaving the operator and remaining troops with in the protective area provided by existing counter measures, to reconnoitre the suspicious area and thus remove the threat posed to troops and vehicles from PIRLEDs, and greatly reducing the threat posed by more traditional forms of lED.

The RORV is cheap to manufacture using existing technology. Each armoured Land Rover, of the type used by the British Forces used in Iraq, destroyed costs in excess ofl 10,000.

The vehicle should be constructed out of a robust, light weight non-fragmenting plastic.

The RORV is light weight in construction and man portable. This allows it to be easily transported on patrol with dismounted troops.

The RORV is easy to use and therefore requires minimal specialist training.

The command wires are contained in a self dispensing cable drum to allow for easy use and stowage.

This is currently the only way for the Coalition Forces patrolling troops to defeat terrorist PIRIEDs.

Preferably, a rotating light with JR filter can be fitted to the top to assist in saturating the area in JR energy. This would need to be used in conjunction with the existing concentrated JR energy source.

I? èrably, the vehicle and control unit are stored in a tough, light weight bag that can be worn or canied by the operator.

An example of the RORV will now be described using the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 shows a side elevation.

Figure 2 shows a plan view.

The Remotely Operated Reconnaissance Vehicle consists of a light weight, robust non-fragmenting plastic chassis (2). Drive is provided via electric motors to a 4 wheel drive system with integrated suspension, similar to that found in remote controlled toy vehicles. To allow the vehicle to cross firm to soft terrain over sized wheels are fitted. The power supply for the vehicle is by means of rechargeable batteries.

The JR energy source is provided by a high power rechargeable torch with an JR filter. This is mounted on top of the chassis (1). To help in the saturation of the area with JR energy, a possible variation would be to mount a rotating JR filtered light above the video receiver to the rear of the torch (8). This would need to be used in conjunction with the more concentrated JR source provided by the torch.

The JR filter removes most of the white light in order to give a more tactical signature, but this can be removed to enhance its reconnaissance capability, when used in conjunction with the small light weight video camera which is mounted on top of the torch (3). This sends a wireless feed to the receiver that is mounted to the rear of the vehicle behind the torch (4). Both the camera and receiver are powered by 9 volt batteries (7). The video feed is sent from the receiver via a 100 meter cable (6) to a handhold monitor with the operator. This allows the operator to see what the vehicle is looking at, and help in the confirmation of any more traditional JEDs.

The vehicle movement is controlled by a 100 meter single strand plastic sheathed copper command wire (6), from a control box which is also powered by a 9 volt battery. This in turn is mounted on top of the self dispensing cable drum. The vehicle can be controlled to go forward, backwards, left, and right to allow it to be easily manoeuvred and provide maximum saturation of the search area with JR energy.

Claims

Claims 1. A small, light weight, man portable, remotely operated

vehicle, on which is mounted an Infra-red energy source and a small light weight video camera and transmitter.

2. A vehicle in accordance with claim 1, where the Infra-red energy source is provided by a high powered torch with an Infra-red filter.

3. A vehicle in accordance with claim 1, on which is mounted a small video camera and transmitter to enhance the vehicles recognisance capability.

4. A rotating light with an Infra-red filter could be fitted to enhance claim
2.

5. The performance of claim 3 can be improved by removing the filter mentioned in claim 2.

6. The vehicle in accordance with claim I is controlled from a control box via a command wire.

7. The live video feed from the items referred to in claim 3 is fed via a cable back to a small hand held video monitor positioned with the operator.

8. The cables referred to in claims 6 and 7 can be removed from the vehicle referred to in claim I and stored with in a self dispensing cable drum, upon which the control box is mounted.

9. As the vehicle in accordance with claim 1 is driven off the cables referred to in claims 6 and 7 are automatically deployed from the self dispensing cable drum.