WO2020073074A1

WO2020073074A1 - Systems and methods for mitigating against threats posed by vehicles at a location

Info

Publication number: WO2020073074A1
Application number: PCT/AU2019/050668
Authority: WO
Inventors: Leo BROWNE
Original assignee: Early Warning Systems Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2018-10-11
Filing date: 2019-06-27
Publication date: 2020-04-16

Abstract

A method and system for mitigating against threats posed by vehicles at a location, the method including the steps of: detecting characteristics of vehicles at or approaching the location; identifying exceptions to expected vehicle characteristics that may pose a threat of damage or injury; and outputting an alarm signal indicative of a threat being posed when an exception is identified.

Description

SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MITIGATING AGAINST THREATS POSED BY

VEHICLES AT A LOCATION

Technical Field

The present invention relates to systems and methods for mitigating against threats posed by vehicles at a location. The invention has particular application in mitigating against the threat of a vehicle colliding with one or more pedestrians. The invention may also be used to mitigate against the threat of a vehicle being used to deploy an explosive device at a location.

Background to the Invention

There is an increasing number of hostile vehicle attacks by extremists, terrorists, and the mentally unstable where the modus operandi is to drive into pedestrians and bystanders to cause mass casualties and terror amongst civilians and governments. These attacks typically occur at highly populated roadways, driveways, pathways, places of mass gathering as well as roadways in front of embassies, palaces, parliament buildings and other high-profile government and other facilities and nationally significant locations.

In addition, an attack can be mounted using a vehicle which is laden with explosives. Such an attach typically involves positioning the explosive laden vehicle close to a target and then detonating the explosive payload.

It has been tried to deter hostile vehicle attacks by use of physical measures such as fixed barriers, rising barriers, traffic calming devices and bollards. However, whilst these are suitable for some locations such as malls, many walkways and general foot paths, they are not suitable for use in all areas. In areas such as busy intersections, where pedestrians cross roads, and walk in areas where vehicles and pedestrians are required to share access & on roadways directly in front of high-risk facilities (eg embassies, palaces, parliament buildings, entrances to defence bases and security check points etc) where standoff is limited or very shallow; the application of physical vehicular access restrictions are typically not feasible. In particular, the use of rising bollards if deployed rapidly would pose a material risk to pedestrians by the shear velocity in which they would need to be deployed.

There remains a need to provide improved measures for mitigating against threats posed by vehicles.

Summary of the Invention

In a first aspect the present invention provides a method of mitigating against threats posed by vehicles at a location including the steps of: detecting characteristics of vehicles at or approaching the location; identifying exceptions to expected vehicle characteristics that may pose a threat of damage or injury; and outputting an alarm signal indicative of a threat being posed when an exception is identified.

The step of detecting may be carried out using a ranging detector.

The ranging detector may include a radar detector.

The ranging detector may include a LIDAR detector.

The detected characteristics may include vehicle size.

The detected characteristics may include vehicle velocity.

The detected characteristics may include vehicle position.

The detected characteristics may include vehicle trajectory.

The step of identifying exceptions may be based on the operations of traffic signals at the location.

The outputting of the alarm signal may cause the generation of an audible alert at the location.

The audible alert may be in the form of a vehicle horn sound.

The audible alert may be configured to rise over time commencing from the beginning of the sounding of the alert.

The audible alert may be generated by multiple speakers in a sequence over an area to create movement of sound in the alert.

The audible alert may be directed towards participants at the location who are deemed to be at most risk from the threat.

The outputting of the alarm signal may give rise to the generation of a visual alert.

The outputting of the alarm signal may give rise to the activation of a physical barrier.

The outputting of the alarm signal may cause the generation of an alert at another remote location.

In a second aspect the invention provides a system for mitigating against threats posed by vehicles at a location including: at least one detector to detect characteristics of vehicles at or approaching the location; identifying means for identifying exceptions to expected vehicle characteristics that may pose a threat of damage or injury; and outputting means for outputting an alarm signal indicative of a threat being posed when an exception is identified.

The detector may be a ranging detector.

The ranging detector may include a radar detector.

The ranging detector may include a LIDAR detector.

The outputting means may include a speaker and the alarm signal is an audible alert.

The audible alert may be in the form of a vehicle hom sound.

The volume of the audible alert may be configured to rise over time commencing from the beginning of the sounding of the alert.

The system may include multiple speakers and the audible alert is arranged to be generated by the speakers in a sequence over an area to create movement of sound in the alert.

Brief Description of the Drawings

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic view of a system for mitigating against threats posed by vehicles at a location;

Figure 2 is a schematic view of the server of the system of figure 1;

Figures 3 and 4 illustrate use of the system of figure 1 in a shared space scenario; and

Figures 5 and 6 illustrate use of the system of figure 1 in a shallow stand-off scenario.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment

Referring to figure 1, a system 10 for mitigating against threats posed by vehicles (hereinafter referred to as“hostile vehicles”) at a location is shown including a number of detectors in the form of ground based radar nodes 20 to detect characteristics of vehicles at or approaching the location. The system further includes identifying means for identifying exceptions to expected vehicle characteristics that may pose a threat of damage or injury in the form of a network attached computing device in the form of server 111. Computing device is configured to output an alarm signal indicative of a threat being posed when an exception is identified. The output of an alarm signal can activate warning lights 40 and signs 42 and can also give rise to an audio alert by speakers 44. The operations of system 10 are controlled by server 111.

Radar Nodes

When installed for use, the radar nodes 20 are strategically situated to“view” vehicular traffic from optimal locations, at high risk or other nominated locations. The radar nodes 20 are positioned in such a way as to enable them to detect forward motion (radial velocity) of objects at or approaching the location. The radar node 20 is Doppler based but in other embodiments could be based on Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave (FMCW) or Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR).

The Doppler radar works by bouncing a microwave signal off objects within its transmitter beam and analysing how the object's motion has altered the frequency of the returned signal. This provides detail of the radial component of an object’s velocity relative to the radar which allows for an estimation of both the position of the object and the velocity of the object. From this, the trajectory of the object can be ascertained and thus by extrapolation it can be deduced where the object is heading and thus where it is likely to be in the next few moments. The radar also provides detail of the radar cross section of the object which allows for an estimation to be made of the size of the object. The Doppler radar used will operate in either the 4 - 8 gigahertz (GHz), 8.0 - 12.0 GHz, 12 to 18 GHz or 24.0 to 24.85 GHz wavebands.

To provide coverages of the intended areas the radar nodes is positioned between 2m and 50m above street level. The radar nodes can cover between 50m and lOOOm of roadway with the possibility of utilizing multiple radar nodes used in series, orientated to face the same direction to provide an infinite area of coverage. Or with multiple radar nodes facing towards each other (in a Janus configuration) to extend a single nodes area of coverage and to provide data on single or multiple objects from more than one radar node to increase the quantity of object detection data and increase or improve the target identification accuracy.

To enable differentiation between differing sized objects the radar nodes have the ability to detect an object with a very high (300m²) or one with low (0.000 lm²) radar cross section.

The radar has a basic software built in for setup and fundamental operation and also includes an open API which enables the development of custom intelligent analytic features as well as integration into PSIM (physical security information management) or other situational awareness software which might typically be utilised for monitoring and management purposes at a police or incident monitoring assessment centres, or other such management control locations.

The Minimum Detectable Velocity (MDV) is the slowest speed of an object that is able to be detected by the radar. This is typically an advantage with the detection of slower moving targets, however refresh rates and resolution of detection is important when in this situation requiring analysis of speed, direction and velocity.

The radar nodes 20 each provide a continuous stream of data for analysis. The radar provides ability to monitor multiple tracks simultaneously. Each track is analysed to determine the activity against pre-defmed rules. The rules are tailored to suit the specific location and objectives.

Server

Referring to figure 2, central server computer 111 is shown in enlarged detail. The central processor/server 111 contains an Application Program Interface (API) to facilitate the communication of data from the radar antenna nodes 20 and edge processors 45 to a user interface 115. The server 111 contains a radar data analysis application which communicates internally to other applications, including the audio alert application, within the CPU or externally via input/output devices 210, such as, for example an Ethernet port, a USB port etc. Server 111 includes a processing unit 202, read-only memory ROM 204, a graphics processing unit 205, a random-access memory RAM 206, input/output devices such as disk drives 208. Server 111 includes instructions that may be stored in ROM 204, RAM 206 or disk drives 208 and may be executed by the CPU 202. There may be provided additional communications links 214, which may variously connect to one or more computing devices, such as a server, personal computers, terminals, wireless or handheld computing devices. Server 111 includes a suitable operating system which resides on the disk drive 208 or in ROM 204 of the server 111. The server 111 includes a database 220 residing on a disk or other storage device, which is arranged to store one or more data elements or sets of data such as, for example, a training data set or other data relating that can be used in filtering the signals from the radar nodes 20 or object identification by the server 111. The database 220 may also store Doppler

characteristics or signatures relating to known objects i.e. objects of interest, and / or objects not of interest.

Speakers

The speakers 44 used are directional planar speakers which are used to reproduce audible alerts or announcements. Directional planar speakers produce clear sound which assist in the sounds being produced by the speakers being understandable even with loud background noise. As a result, people can hear clear announcements over a wider area without the volume being raised which may potentially cause distortion. The output of the speakers can be also be directed towards a particular target direction. In the embodiment described below, the directional ability of the speakers is used to direct an alert sound towards participants at the location who are deemed to be at most risk from the threat

The speakers 44 can be programmed to systematically get louder over the period of alert or be programmed to systematically alert with the sound being transmitted on one speaker at a time or multiple speakers in a sequence over an area to create the movement of sound in an alert causing the sound to be heard in such a way that the sound will emulate that of the hostile vehicle beeping its hom in an effort to alert the people whilst getting closer, creating greater urgency (quite the opposite to that which the Hostile is actually trying to do). The audio alert software enables a uniquely tailored response to any event or required action by integrating a definable range of alert inputs with the audio alert notification for the ultimate in situational awareness and response.

System

The radar nodes 20 communicate with server computer 111. The computer 111 processes the data received from the radar nodes 20. The analytical software determines the size, shape and other object characteristics. Processing the analytical software locally decreases processing time and ensures the localization of control and operation, eliminating the dependence on remote servers or internet connectivity. This means the system functionality is not reliant on the cloud or internet. All

communications pertaining to the decision making processes are performed as close to the radar nodes 20 as possible minimizing system latency for increased reliability.

The audio software is integrated with pre-recorded, optimized messages (which may be voice messages, tones or any other audible or visual triggers to signal) to allow the radar to trigger the output upon the breach of any analytic rules. When deployed at intersections or pedestrian crossings, the system integrates with the traffic light signals to ensure legitimate traffic flow does not trigger an alert. The system is a scalable and expandable to an infinite number of speakers, relays or outputs.

The radar data analysis software.

The radar data analysis algorithm application will differentiate between detected objects of differing radar cross section (“RCS”), providing alerts based against predetermined exception criteria such as, detection of targets with RCS between 20m² and 200m² (cars) or all targets above lm² (human).

The system is configured to ignore detected objects with a RCS smaller or larger than that of the target size of concern. For example the system may detect and alert or detect and ignore targets with a cross section of 0.0 lm² or greater

The software can differentiate between detected objects with differing velocities, providing alerts based against predetermined exception criteria such as, when an object’s velocity exceeds lOkph or more or when target velocity slows to l5kph or below

The radar data analysis software application can simultaneously accept positional data of multiple independent objects in the form of GPS and/or longitude and latitude coordinates. The software continually compares the positional data of all objects in its antenna beam and compares these positional details against a

predetermined set of rules. The software identifies a target that is not moving within the criteria of the rules and then initiates the appropriate alert response.

The software simultaneously compares the data from multiple objects identifying a target if one or more objects displays behaviours that fall within a predetermined behaviour criterion such as an object increasing in velocity when all other objects in its vicinity are decreasing velocity.

The software will also accept and consider data from an external device, such as traffic lights, and make alert-based decisions when considering this data with behaviour from one or more objects. For example, an object increasing in velocity as it approaches a red traffic light. Data for external sources may be received in multiple formats from mediums such as digital data from Ethernet connected devices and/or serial data via external analogue to digital converters.

The system may further comprise comparing the detected objects Doppler radar characteristics with known Doppler signatures associated with known objects not of interest; and, in the case that the characteristics correlate to one such known object, ignoring the Doppler data from the spurious object and subsequently not classifying the object as a target and not issuing the alert.

The software can also identify an object as a target or threat and generate hostile target alerts based open any given parameters or any combinations of object or object’s physical, geospatial behaviour.

Upon identifying a target by comparing its behaviour against predetermined exception criteria, the software application will instruct the audio alert application to generate an audible and/or visual alert via a connected edge processor or processors and associated audio amplifiers and speakers, or any associated visual medium such as strobe lights, public display monitors or other such visual medium.

It is important that the software conducts some or all comparisons, calculations and decision making activities at a speed such that it enables an instruction to be issued to the audio alert system in sufficient time for it to initiate an audible or visual alert to a person or persons in such time and in such a way that it will enable them to take evasive measures to get out of the path of the oncoming hostile vehicle or take evasive action in the case of an explosive device or vehicle..

Example - Shared Space

Referring to figures 3 and 4, the operation of the system 10 will be explained in an application where the system monitors a space which is shared by both pedestrian and vehicular traffic.

Referring to figure 3, an embodiment of system 10 is installed at an inner city location where three streets 51, 52, 53 meet at a junction 54. Junction 54 is adjacent to a railway station and a high level of pedestrian foot traffic occurs at junction 54, which is regulated by vehicle traffic lights and pedestrian walk signals in a usual manner.

Referring to figure 4, a radar node 20 is set up in the vicinity of the junction 54 which is directed towards the flow of oncoming traffic. In this example, three radar nodes 20 are used, each one facing the direction of oncoming traffic approaching from streets 51, 52, 53. System 10 also receives information regarding the operations of the traffic and pedestrian signals at junction 54. System to then monitors the output of the radar nodes 20 to state the radar nodes are angled to monitor the stretch of road from about 30m to l50m away. The system monitors the output of the radar nodes 20 to identifying exceptions to expected vehicle characteristics that may pose a threat of damage or injury.

Expected vehicle characteristics are programmed into server 111 as“rules”. For instance, in a shared space or designated“lane”, a vehicle may be permitted to drive in a particular direction or on a particular“nominated path” at a maximum nominated speed on certain days, or between certain hours. The rules are established and programmed into the system for operational use in a specific location. If, for example, the vehicle accelerates too quickly, or drives outside a permissible designated path, or combines a number of broken rules, the system will trigger“responses”.

For each location, the software allows calibration to allow the specific rules to be applied, measured and subsequently to initiate the relevant trigger of the audio warning or other actions to take effect without delay.

The system is programmed to interact with the traffic lights, such that when vehicular traffic is legitimately travelling forward, the alert is disabled, or muted. The radar continuously monitors the traffic, speed, direction, velocity and trajectory, assessing the data in context with the rules. For example when the traffic lights switch to red, the vehicles should be slowing down or stopped, and the system understands the rules relative to the status of the traffic lights and or mall conditions.

A driver may be legitimately moving forward, accelerating slightly, then slowing and or stopping at the lights, or behind or adjacent to another vehicle in readiness to stop for the traffic lights, which is normal practice when approaching lights, or moving in traffic toward lights which are red or turning red. The system analytics are programmed to accept these events as they fall within the scope of an acceptable rule or threshold.

Distances and measurements are indicative & subject to design for each location. If, however, a vehicle is accelerating beyond an acceptable threshold or not slowing down or not braking at an adequate rate so as to avoid impacting a crowd of pedestrians crossing the road or driving through the mall, the system will automatically identify this behaviour and initiate the alert to the pedestrians, enabling them to take evasive action.

The radar nodes 20 are constantly measuring and analysing the traffic flow, acceleration and deceleration rates. If the radar detects a vehicle acting in contravention to the rules, the system will initiate a response.

One available response is to immediately broadcast the sound of a“vehicle horn” signal through the directional planar speakers, which alerts pedestrians of the impending Hostile Vehicle from the direction of the approaching hostile vehicle enabling“reflex response” by the pedestrians.

The speakers will be situated to alert the immediate area within a designated alert zone. As the speakers have extremely high audio intelligibility and clarity, the speakers are directed toward the alert zone such that their field of coverage is designed to minimise overspill and thereby reduce the potential for widespread panic for those not immediately affected by the incident.

The speakers will automatically sound an alert toward the pedestrians at risk upon detection of a Hostile Vehicle. The speakers may also be connected to the relevant Police or Incident Monitoring Assessment Centre (or approved alternative location) providing Police, Authorities and / or Monitoring Centre staff the ability to gain use of the speakers to provide immediate active instruction and support to first responders and the public.

The speakers in a dormant state are connected, awaiting a signal from the local “Hostile Vehicle Early Warning System” and are typically only to be utilised by the Police or Incident Monitoring Assessment Centre in the case of an emergency or post detection of a Hostile Vehicle attack; an example of which may include an emergency vehicle such as police, ambulance or fire truck breaching the“rules” causing the localised warning alert. In this situation, the Police or Incident Monitoring Assessment Centre might wish to intervene to advise the public of the alert resulting from the emergency vehicle.

Similar installations can be used to monitor various types of shared space including:

• Outdoor Markets • Festivals

• Parades

• Political Rallies

• Conventions

• Celebrations

• Malls

• Pedestrian crossings

Shallow Standoff

Referring to figures 5 and 6, the operation of the system 10 will be explained in an application where the system monitors a space adjacent to facility identified as“high risk”, such as a foreign embassy building 60, which has a region of shallow stand-off with its perimeter relatively close to a vehicular access roadway 56.

The roadway 56 is signposted to not permit large vehicles such as trucks or vans to travel in the lane 58 nearest the building because of the risk that a large vehicle could be used to deploy an IED or other explosive device or weapon against building 60 or its occupants. Of course, sign posting on the road alone will not physically prevent nor provide assurance that vans & trucks etc do not travel in the restricted lane.

Referring also to figure 6, an embodiment of system 10 has been installed at the location and a radar node 20 is installed to monitor objects in the lane 58. The radar node is set up to view over 250m of the lane 58. System 10 is configured with rules which include the rule that larger vehicles are not permitted to travel or stop in lane 58. System 10 identifies the difference between passenger cars, small vans, trucks and larger articulated trucks. The detection of unauthorized vehicles will interact with the intelligent analytics which would include the location, speed, direction, size of the vehicle, as well as the time, date and any specific influences, such as the relevant traffic flow in relation to the lane being monitored.

Identified exceptions to expected vehicle behaviour trigger silent and/or audible warnings, protective automation and monitoring to enable the occupants of any facility at risk, to take life saving evasive actions. When vehicular traffic is legitimately travelling in the correct lanes or departs the lane within the threshold and parameters of the“rules”, the alert and response is disabled, or muted. The radar continuously monitors the traffic, assessing the information in context with the rules, and can be integrated with an LNPR (License Plate Recognition System), allowing“white list” legitimate vehicles to enter or travel in the lane without triggering an alert. The system can be programmed to interact with rising steps, window barriers, gates and audible alerts, CCTV and more.

Similar installations can be used to monitor various types of buildings with regions of shallow stand-off, such as one or more lanes of roadways or any other corridor of access, including:

• Embassies

• Parliament

• Palaces

• Consulates

• Defence Bases

• Nuclear Facilities

Although the embodiments described above utilised a ranging detector in the form of a radar detector, other types of ranging detectors can be used including LIDAR detectors. In other embodiments other detection devices can be used such as cameras, video cameras or thermal imaging devices. The outputs of detection devices can be analysed and utilised by the system and can either be used alone or in combination with the outputs of other detection devices.

It can be seen that embodiments of the invention have at least one of the following advantages:

• Identifying a potential threat“before” it impacts the property and

occupants.

• Providing a warning - clearly and concisely, with a highly intelligible alert using an easily identifiable sound. • Providing a trigger - initiating a response to deploy physical barriers, shutters or any other output triggerable response and alerts to minimise the impact of an IED.

• Localising the alert so it does not impact areas and persons who are not at risk

• Rugged, small form IP Network Edge Device enabling wide area network connectivity with an almost limitless range of alert, communication and display devices.

Any reference to prior art contained herein is not to be taken as an admission that the information is common general knowledge, unless otherwise indicated.

Finally, it is to be appreciated that various alterations or additions may be made to the parts previously described without departing from the spirit or ambit of the present invention.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A method of mitigating against threats posed by vehicles at a location

including the steps of:

detecting characteristics of vehicles at or approaching the location;

identifying exceptions to expected vehicle characteristics that may pose a threat of damage or injury; and

outputting an alarm signal indicative of a threat being posed when an exception is identified.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the step of detecting is carried out using a ranging detector.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein the ranging detector includes a radar detector.

4. A method according to claim 1 wherein the ranging detector includes a LIDAR detector.

5. A method according to any preceding claim wherein the detected

characteristics include vehicle size.

6. A method according to any preceding claim wherein the detected

characteristics include vehicle velocity.

7. A method according to any preceding claim wherein the detected

characteristics include vehicle position.

8. A method according to any preceding claim wherein the wherein the detected characteristics include vehicle trajectory.

9. A method according to any preceding claim wherein the step of identifying exceptions is based on the operations of traffic signals at the location.

10. A method according to any preceding claim wherein the outputting of the alarm signal causes the generation of an audible alert at the location.

11. A method according to claim 10 wherein the audible alert is in the form of a vehicle hom sound.

12. A method according to claim 10 wherein the volume of the audible alert is configured to rise over time commencing from the beginning of the sounding of the alert.

13. A method according to claim 10 wherein the audible alert is generated by multiple speakers in a sequence over an area to create movement of sound in the alert.

14. A method according to claim 10 wherein the audible alert is directed towards participants at the location who are deemed to be at most risk from the threat.

15. A method according to any preceding claim wherein the outputting of the alarm signal gives rise to the generation of a visual alert.

16. A method according to any preceding claim wherein the outputting of the alarm signal gives rise to the activation of a physical barrier.

17. A method according to any preceding claim wherein the outputting of the alarm signal causes the generation of an alert at another remote location.

18. A system for mitigating against threats posed by vehicles at a location

including:

at least one detector to detect characteristics of vehicles at or approaching the location;

identifying means for identifying exceptions to expected vehicle characteristics that may pose a threat of damage or injury; and

outputting means for outputting an alarm signal indicative of a threat being posed when an exception is identified.

19. A system according to claim 18 wherein the detector is a ranging detector.

20. A system according to claim 19 wherein the ranging detector includes a radar detector.

21. A system according to claim 19 wherein the ranging detector includes a

LIDAR detector.

22. A system according to claim 18 wherein the outputting means includes a

speaker and the alarm signal is an audible alert.

23. A system according to claim 22 wherein the audible alert is in the form of a vehicle hom sound.

24. A system according to claim 22 wherein the volume of the audible alert is configured to rise over time commencing from the beginning of the sounding of the alert.

25. A system according to claim 22 the system includes multiple speakers and the audible alert is arranged to be generated by the speakers in a sequence over an area to create movement of sound in the alert.

26. A system according to claim 18 wherein the outputting means is arranged to give rise to the generation of a visual alert.

27. A system according to claim 18 wherein the outputting means is arranged to give rise to the activation of a physical barrier.