Event detection system having multiple sensor systems in cooperation with an impact detection system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2015114122-A1
Application number	US-201414230230-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 31, 2014
Priority date	Jan 21, 2011
Publication date	Apr 30, 2015
Grant date	—

Abstract

A damage detection and remediation system includes a sensing device for detecting damage events related to a structure of interest. Such damage events may include impact from a ballistic object, a tamper event, a physical impact, or other events that may affect structural integrity or cause failure. Illustratively, the sensing device is in communication with a measurement system to determine damage criteria, and a processing system which is configured to use the damage criteria to determine, for example, a direction of the initiation point of a ballistic causing the damage event.

First claim

1 . An event detection system comprising:
an impact sensing device including a layer, and a plurality of measuring portions supported by the layer, each of the measuring portions including an input coupling point and an output coupling point and adapted to conduct an electrical signal from the input coupling point to the output coupling point; a measurement system in electrical communication with the measuring portions of the impact sensing device, the measurement system configured to provide electrical signal inputs to the input coupling points of the sensing device, and configured to measure electrical signal outputs at the output coupling points of the sensing device; an acoustic detection system including a plurality of microphones configured to detect soundwaves generated by an event, the acoustic detection system configured to process time offsets from the soundwaves at the plurality of microphones for determining the direction of the source of the event; a processor operably coupled to the measurement system and the acoustic detection system for determining a damage event origination axis directed to the point of origin of the event; wherein the damage event origination axis is determined by the processor based on changes between the electrical signal input at the input coupling point and the electrical signal output at the output coupling point of the impact sensing device, and time offsets from the soundwaves at the plurality of microphones of the acoustic detection system; a portable illumination beacon configured to transmit coded signals for detection by the imaging system; and an actuator operably coupled to a weapon supported by a vehicle, the actuator in communication with the processor and configured to move the weapon in the direction of the damage event origination axis in response to the data from the processor.

2 . The event detection system of claim 1 , further comprising an imaging system in communication with the processor, the imaging system including at least one camera configured to detect weapon fire flash events which is correlated by the processor with data from the impact sensing device.

3 . The event detection system of claim 2 , wherein the processor includes a look-up table of signature data associated with a plurality of impact event origination devices to correlate data from the impact sensing device, the acoustic detection system, and the imaging system with a specific impact event origination device.

4 . (canceled)

5 . The event detection system of claim 1 , further comprising a user interface operably coupled to the damage detection processing system and configured to provide a visual display of the damage data including a representation of a damage alert, the damage event location and the damage event origination axis.

6 . The event detection system of claim 5 , wherein the visual display includes a plurality of light sources selectively illuminated in alignment with the damage event origination axis.

7 . (canceled)

8 . An event detection system comprising:
an impact sensing device including a layer, and a plurality of measuring portions supported by the layer, each of the measuring portions including an input coupling point and an output coupling point and adapted to conduct an electrical signal from the input coupling point to the output coupling point; a measurement system in electrical communication with the measuring portions of the impact sensing device, the measurement system configured to provide electrical signal inputs to the input coupling points of the sensing device, and configured to measure electrical signal outputs at the output coupling points of the sensing device; an acoustic detection system including a plurality of microphones configured to detect soundwaves generated by an event, the acoustic detection system configured to process time offsets from the soundwaves at the plurality of microphones for determining the direction of the source of the event; a processor operably coupled to the measurement system and the acoustic detection system for determining a damage event origination axis directed to the point of origin of the event; wherein the damage event origination axis is determined by the processor based on changes between the electrical signal input at the input coupling point and the electrical signal output at the output coupling point of the impact sensing device, and time offsets from the soundwaves at the plurality of microphones of the acoustic detection system; a portable illumination beacon configured to transmit coded signals for detection by the imaging system; and a coupler securing the impact sensing device to an exterior of a vehicle.

9 . An impact detection system comprising:
a first sensing device including a first layer for sensing impacts, the first layer including a plurality of measuring portions, each of the measuring portions adapted to conduct an electrical signal from an input coupling point to an output coupling point; a first measurement system in electrical communication with the first sensing device, the first measurement system including a multiplexer configured to provide electrical signal inputs to the input coupling points of the first sensing device, and configured to measure electrical signal outputs at the output coupling points of the first sensing device; a second sensing device positioned in spaced relation to the first sensing device, the second sensing device including a second layer operably coupled to the vehicle for sensing impacts, the second layer including a plurality of measuring portions, each of the measuring portions adapted to conduct an electrical signal from an input coupling point to an output coupling point; a second measurement system in electrical communication with the second sensing device, the second measurement system including a multiplexer configured to provide electrical signal inputs to the input coupling points of the second sensing device, and configured to measure electrical signal outputs at the output coupling points of the second sensing device; an acoustic detection system including a plurality of microphones configured to detect soundwaves generated by an event, the acoustic detection system configured to process time offsets from the soundwaves at the plurality of microphones for determining the direction of the source of the event; an imaging system including at least one camera configured to detect weapon fire flash events; a processor operably coupled to the measurement system, the acoustic detection system, and the imaging system for determining a damage event origination axis directed to the point of origin of the event; and a portable illumination beacon configured to transmit coded signals for detection by the imaging system.

10 . The impact detection system of claim 9 , wherein the damage event origination axis is determined by the processor based on changes between the electrical signal input at the input coupling point and the electrical signal output at the output coupling point of the impact sensing device, and correlated with time offsets from the soundwaves at the plurality of microphones of the acoustic detection system, and the flash events from the imaging system.

11 . (canceled)

12 . (canceled)

13 . The impact detection system of claim 9 , further comprising a user interface operably coupled to the damage detection processing system and configured to provide a visual display of the damage data including a representation of a damage alert, the damage event location and the damage event origination axis.

14 . The impact detection system of claim 13 , wherein the

Assignees

• Us Navy

Inventors

• Soles Alexander M
• Walsh Matthew R
• Scott Eric B

Classifications

• G06T7/0004

  Industrial image inspection · CPC title

• G08B13/126 Primary

  for a housing, e.g. a box, a safe, or a room · CPC title

• F41H5/24

  for stationary use, e.g. fortifications {; Shelters; Guard Booths (air-raid shelters E04H9/04)} · CPC title

• G01N27/20

  Investigating the presence of flaws · CPC title

• H05K13/00

  Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing or adjusting assemblages of electric components · CPC title