WO2003035475A1

WO2003035475A1 - Security apparatus and method for transport vehicles, in particular aircraft

Info

Publication number: WO2003035475A1
Application number: PCT/IT2002/000558
Authority: WO
Inventors: Roberto Scarica
Original assignee: Firaco S.R.L.
Priority date: 2001-10-26
Filing date: 2002-08-29
Publication date: 2003-05-01
Also published as: ITPR20010072A1

Abstract

Security apparatus for transport vehicles, in particular aircraft, originally comprising means for monitoring persons aboard the vehicle, electronic means for acquiring and processing data received from the monitoring means and comparing them with any reference parameters in order to identify persons who are not authorised to access a cockpit and/or to detect anomalies in the vital functions of the monitored persons and means for automatically activating a remote control of vehicle and/or sending an alarm signal to a unit outside the vehicle itself in case of presence, in the cockpit, of persons identified as not authorised and/or in the presence of said anomalies. The means for activating a remote control of the vehicle are operatively associated to the electronic means. Security method for activating a remote control of a vehicle and/or sending an alarm signal to an outside unit.

Description

SECURITY APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR TRANSPORT VEHICLES, IN PARTICULAR AIRCRAFT

TECHNICAL FIELD AND BACKGROUND ART. The present invention relates to a security apparatus for transport vehicles and a security method for activating a remote control of a vehicle and/or sending an alarm signal to a unit outside the vehicle itself, in particular for aircraft. As is well known, in the aeronautical field one of the major problems connected with flight safety pertains to the possibility that exterior factors may take control of the aircraft away from one or more pilots, thereby leading to emergency and danger situations.

Currently, one of the most critical emergency situations is represented by the presence of terrorists aboard an aircraft, for the purpose of hijacking it to kidnap the passengers or to crash it on civilian and/or military targets. A second emergency situation relates to the eventuality that one or both pilots flying an aircraft are not able to control the aeroplane because of sudden physical problems deriving, for instance, from the ingestion of spoiled food, the inhalation of toxic substances, the depressurisation of the cabin and/or from heart attacks. Heretofore, to prevent hijacking, security measures aimed at preventing the terrorists from intruding into the cockpit, or at capturing or eliminating them. In particular, such security measures provide for employing armoured cockpits and/or for the presence, aboard the aircraft, of armed agents, trained to neutralise terrorists. However, although armoured cockpits are an effective deterrent, they nonetheless have the drawback of adding considerable weight to the structure of the aircraft, forcing airlines to reduce, all other parameters being equal, the payload, with consequent economic disadvantages.

In regard to the presence of armed agents aboard the aircraft, it may lead to an armed confrontation between the agents and the terrorists, with consequent loss of human life also among the passengers, and/or structural damage to the aircraft.

The French patent application for utility model FR 2728993 discloses an apparatus for injecting immobilising gas into a passenger compartment of an aircraft, for the purpose of temporarily drugging the terrorists, and consequently the passengers, during a hijacking attempt. The pilots are located in an area that is insulated from the rest of the aircraft and therefore do not suffer from the effects, which in any case are reversible, of the immobilising gas, which causes, for a short duration, the total rigidity of the body's limbs. The apparatus is activated and controlled from an insulated station, but it can also be managed from a command post external thereto. The apparatus for injecting immobilising gas briefly described above has the main drawback of not preventing terrorists from accessing the cockpit, if the terrorists do not reveal themselves until the last possible moment or are equipped with gas masks. In this case, after taking control of the aircraft, the terrorists could decide to crash it on civilian and/or military targets. In the second place, the subject apparatus acts not only on the terrorists, but also on the passengers and it may cause, in predisposed individuals, particular allergic reactions. As disclosed in US Patent 4522359, there is a door for an aircraft cockpit that is provided with an electronic lock, which operates only when an electrical power generator is active. The lock allows to open the door by means of a switch located on the pilot's panel, and/or in the presence of an electrical power outage, and/or by means of a knob on the side of the cockpit and/or from the exterior by means of a key.

Said door is also provided with a manual decompression mechanism. Disadvantageously, the technical solution described above is complex to construct and entails an increase in the structural weight of the aircraft. The patent application for industrial invention FR 2584842 discloses an anti- hij acking security system that comprises means for automatically transferring control of the aircraft to the control tower, which, through radio commands, causes the aircraft to fly back to the departure aircraft if a hijacking attempt is in progress. Said security system provides for transferring control of the aircraft to the control tower upon the reception of an alarm that is activated automatically in the presence of acceleration to the crew members' heart rates as a result of terrorist threats. The system is also provided with means for returning control of the aircraft to the pilots in case of a false alarm. The main drawback of the security system described above is represented by the fact that, by detecting accelerations to the heart rate, it does not activate the intervention of the control tower if the pilots suffer from physical problems that, while not entailing heart rate variations, may nonetheless inhibit their piloting ability. DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION. An aim of the present invention is to eliminate the aforesaid drawbacks, making available a security apparatus and a method for transport vehicles, in particular aircraft, which are able to recognise persons who are not authorised to access the cockpit.

Another aim of the present invention is to propose a security apparatus that is able to recognise the pilots who are at the controls of the aircraft.

A further aim of the present invention is to provide a security apparatus and method that are able to send an alarm signal to a unit outside the vehicle and/or to inhibit the flight controls if the pilots attempting the fly the aircraft are not authorised. In particular, the security system must also allow the remote control of the aircraft by means of a dedicated unit, external to the aircraft.

Said aims are fully achieved by the security apparatus for transport vehicles, in particular aircraft, and by the method of the present invention, which are characterised by the contents of the claims set out below and in particular by the fact that the apparatus comprises in combination:

- means for monitoring persons aboard the vehicle;

- electronic means for acquiring and processing data received from the monitoring means and comparing them with any reference parameters in order to identify persons who are not authorised to access a cockpit and/or to detect anomalies in the vital functions of the monitored persons;

- means for automatically activating a remote control of the vehicle and/or sending an alarm signal to a unit outside the vehicle itself in case of presence, in the cockpit, of persons identified as unauthorised and/or in the presence of said anomalies, said means for activating a remote control of the vehicle and/or sending an alarm signal being operatively associated to the electronic means. The method is characterised in that it comprises the following phases:

- acquisition of the somatic traits of persons aboard the vehicle and/or of any anomalies in their vital functions; - comparison, with reference parameters, of any somatic traits acquired, in order to identify persons who are not authorised to access a cockpit;

- automatic activation of a remote control of the vehicle and/or indication of an alarm to a unit outside the vehicle itself if persons identified as unauthorised are present in the cockpit and/or in the presence of said anomalies.

BEST MODE FORCARRYINGOUT OF THEINVENTION.

This and other characteristics shall become more readily apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment, illustrated purely by way of non limiting example. The security apparatus for transport vehicles, of the present invention, originally comprises:

- means for monitoring persons aboard the vehicle;

- means for automatically activating a remote control of the vehicle and/or sending an alarm signal to a unit outside the vehicle itself in case of presence, in the cockpit, of persons identified as unauthorised and/or in the presence of said anomalies, said means for activating a remote control of the vehicle and/or sending an alarm signal being operatively associated to the electronic means.

In the preferred embodiment, the monitoring means provide for the use of optical viewing means, preferably a television camera, and/or means for measuring the vital functions of the persons present in the cockpit.

Specifically, the means for measuring the vital functions comprise one or more heart rate monitors operatively active on at least the crew members present in the cockpit. In regard to the data acquired by the optical means, they are somatic traits of persons aboard the vehicle, typically an aircraft. In particular, said somatic traits are compared with a database of somatic traits of a predetermined number of persons authorised to access the cockpit, database that is stored on dedicated data supports, such as CD-ROM's or magnetic cards, able to be associated to the aforesaid electronic processing means. In the preferred embodiment, the aforementioned electronic means comprise a processor based on a functional mode called neural network, able rapidly to process the somatic traits acquired by the optical means, in order to compare them with the somatic traits present in the database to identify persons who are not authorised to access the cockpit. Secondarily, the electronic means also monitor the vital functions of the persons present in the cockpit, in particular of the pilots, to detect any anomalies that may compromise the safety and normal operation of the aircraft. The results of the processing operations obtained from a processor with neural network are achieved with multiple unitary calculating units operating in parallel and in collaboration, unlike standard processors, in which processing is always linear and the result of a single calculation in the unit of time.

In regard to the means for activating a remote control of the aircraft in case of presence, in the cockpit, of persons identified as unauthorised and/or in the presence of anomalies in the vital functions of the monitored persons, they comprise at least an automatic piloting device and command means slaved to a control station outside the aircraft and able to be operatively associated to the automatic piloting device. In the preferred embodiment, the automatic piloting device is an automatic pilot of the kind commonly installed on almost all passenger aircraft, whilst the command means comprise electronic means that interface with the automatic pilot to communicate thereto the orders coming from the external control station, which is preferably based on the ground and located in the vicinity of, if not within, an airport.

The control station is provided with means for remotely piloting the aircraft, both in automatic mode and manually.

In particular, the means for effecting the automatic remote piloting of the aircraft are based on the known technology for instrument landing, more commonly known by the English acronym ILS (Instrument Landing System), or on other similar technologies, such as the one that exploits microwaves, known by the name of MLS (Microwave Landing System). Alternatively, the manual remote piloting provides for the use of radio commands based on technology of the type used by the military to remotely pilot unmanned tactical reconnaissance aircraft. In the aeronautical field, the means for sending an alarm signal to a unit outside the vehicle itself may comprise a transponder whereon a predetermined alarm code can be set, after an emergency situation has arisen aboard the aircraft. In particular, the transponder is an electronic device that communicates to an air traffic operator at least altitude, position and identification code of an aircraft in flight.

The security apparatus of the present invention further comprises means for inhibiting the operation of the flight controls aboard the aircraft, after the means for activating a remote control of the aircraft have started to operate. In the absence of justified emergency situations, to prevent erroneously transferring the control of the vehicle to an external control station, the subject security apparatus further comprises means for identifying false alarms. Moreover, said means, in addition to intervening a priori to prevent false alarms, are also able to intervene a posteriori, restoring the operation of the flight controls aboard the vehicle.

In accordance with a first embodiment, the means for identifying false alarms comprise electronic means for recognising the voice of at least one person who is authorised to access the cockpit, preferably a pilot. Said electronic voice recognition means comprise at least a processor with at least a neural network associated with known means for acquiring the human voice.

In particular, the electronic means could acquire the human voice based on the repetition of predetermined words or sentences by the interrogated person or on his/her reply to pre-set random questions. In both cases, the processor compares the acquired voice to a pre-constituted database, able to be associated to the processor itself and contained on traditional computer supports (CD-ROM or magnetic cards), in order to identify the person who underwent the voice recognition procedure.

Alternatively, a second embodiment provides for said means for identifying false alarms to comprise electronic means for recognising the fingerprints of at least one person authorised to access the cockpit. Specifically, said electronic means for recognising fingerprints provide for the use of at least a processor with at least a neural network associated to optical scanning means for acquiring an image of said fingerprints. In particular, said optical scanning means may be a television camera position to the rear of a screen whereon the person who undergoes the recognition procedure places at least a finger of a hand. Once the fingerprints are acquired, the processor compares them with fingerprints stored in a pre- constituted database contained on conventional magnetic supports. A third embodiment provides for the means for identifying false alarms to comprise electronic means for scanning the retina and/or the iris of at least a person authorised to access the cockpit. In particular, said means for scanning the retina and/or the iris provide for the use of at least a processor with at least a neural network associated with optical scanning means, for instance a television camera.

The security method for activating a remote control of a vehicle and/or sending an alarm indication to a unit outside the vehicle itself, in particular an aircraft, of the present invention comprises the following phases: - acquiring the somatic traits of persons aboard the vehicle and/or anomalies in their vital functions; - comparing any somatic traits acquired to reference parameters, in order to identify persons who are not authorised to access a cockpit;

- automatically activating a remote control of the vehicle and/or indication of an alarm to a unit outside the vehicle itself in case of presence, in the cockpit, of persons identified as unauthorised and/or in the presence of said anomalies.

In particular, said method provides for the remote control to take place through command means slaved to a control station outside the aircraft and able to be associated to an automatic piloting device installed on the aircraft itself. Said method also comprises a phase of inhibiting the piloting controls aboard the vehicle.

To implement the aforesaid method, the control station is provided with means for remotely piloting the aircraft both automatically and manually, for instance in the manners described for the apparatus of the present invention. The method of the invention further comprises a phase of identifying false alarms to suspend the remote control of the vehicle and restore the controls aboard it. Said phase can be carried out, for instance, through the means for identifying false alarms of the type illustrated in the description of the apparatus of the invention. The invention achieves important advantages. First of all, the security apparatus and method of the invention are able to recognise persons who are not authorised to access the cockpit. Secondly, such an apparatus, being able to recognise the pilots who are at the controls, inhibits, from the departure of the flight, any terrorist act aimed at replacing the pilots, thereby preventing terrorists from taking over an aircraft and crash it on civilian and/or military targets. Another advantage is represented by the fact that the apparatus, in addition to the optical means for recognising the persons who are authorised to access the cockpit, is provided with means for detecting anomalies in the vital functions of the monitored persons, allowing the intervention of means for remotely controlling the aircraft in case of illness of the pilots, due for instance to the inhalation of toxic substances, ingestion of spoiled food or heart attacks.

Advantageously, said apparatus is complemented by additional monitoring systems, aimed at identifying any false alarms to prevent the intervention of the remote control means or to restore the flight controls if they have already been disabled.

Another advantage is represented by the fact that such an apparatus is not expensive and can easily be integrated with the instrumentation and the systems present on current passenger aircraft, with minimal size and weight. An additional advantage is represented by the fact that the phase of identifying false alarms, for example, by means of voice or fingerprint or retina and/or iris recognition can also be carried out as a preventive measure, the departure of the vehicle, in particular of an aircraft. In particular, the identification of false alarms or the prevention of emergency situations can simultaneously involve all described systems, which can intervene at different times, providing, for example, for multiple alarm levels and entailing more or less resolute interventions.

A further advantage is represented by the fact that the somatic traits database, as well as the voice or fingerprint database, being on traditional and consolidated computer supports, can be easily modified and readily consulted by the electronic means.

Claims

1. Security apparatus for transport vehicles, in particular aircraft, characterised in that it comprises: means for monitoring persons aboard the vehicle; electronic means for acquiring and processing data received from the monitoring means and comparing them with any reference parameters in order to identify persons who are not authorised to access a cockpit and/or to detect anomalies in the vital functions of the monitored persons; and means for automatically activating a remote control of the vehicle and/or sending an alarm signal to a unit outside the vehicle itself in case of the presence, in the cockpit, of persons identified as unauthorised and/or in the presence of said anomalies, said means for activating a remote control of the vehicle and/or sending an alarm signal being operatively associated to the electronic means.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that said monitoring means comprise at least optical viewing means.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, characterised in that said optical viewing means comprise at least a television camera.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that said monitoring means comprise at least means for measuring the vital functions of at least the persons present in the cockpit.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, characterised in that said means for measuring the vital functions comprise at least a heart rate monitor operatively active on at least the persons present in the cockpit.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , characterised in that the data received from the optical means are somatic traits of persons aboard the vehicle and the reference parameters are a database of somatic traits of a predetermined number of persons authorised to access the cockpit.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6, characterised in that said electronic means comprise at least a processor with at least a neural network for processing the somatic traits acquired by the optical means and compare them with the reference somatic traits, in order to identify persons who are not authorised to access the cockpit.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6, characterised in that said database is at least partially contained on at least a dedicated data support, able to be associated to the electronic means.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the means for activating a remote control of the vehicle comprise: at least an automatic piloting device installed on the vehicle; command means slaved to a control station outside the vehicle and able to be operatively associated to the automatic piloting device.

10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 9, characterised in that the external control station comprises means for remotely piloting the vehicle automatically, said remote piloting means being operatively active on the command means.

11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 9, characterised in that the external control station comprises means for remotely piloting the vehicle manually, said remote piloting means being operatively active on the command means.

12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , characterised in that it comprises means for inhibiting the operation of piloting controls aboard the vehicle, after the means for activating a remote control of the vehicle itself have started to operate.

13. Apparatus as claimed in claim 12, characterised in that it comprises means for identifying false alarms in order to restore the operation of piloting control aboard the vehicle and/or to prevent the activation of the remote control of the vehicle.

14. Apparatus as claimed in claim 13, characterised in that said means for identifying false alarms comprise electronic means for recognising the voice of at least one person authorised to access the cockpit.

15. Apparatus as claimed in claim 14, characterised in that said electronic voice recognition means comprise at least a processor with at least a neural network associated to means for acquiring the human voice.

16. Apparatus as claimed in claim 12, characterised in that said means for identifying false alarms comprise electronic means for recognising the fingerprints of at least one person authorised to access the cockpit.

17. Apparatus as claimed in claim 16, characterised in that said electronic fingerprint recognition means comprise at least a processor with at least a neural network associated to optical scanning means for acquiring an image of said fingerprint.

18. Apparatus as claimed in claim 13, characterised in that said means for identifying false alarms comprise electronic means for scanning the retina and/or the iris of at least one person authorised to access the cockpit, said means comprising at least a processor with at least a neural network associated to optical scanning means.

19. Security method for activating a remote control of a vehicle and/or sending an alarm indication to a unit outside the vehicle itself, in particular an aircraft, characterised in that it comprises the phases of: acquiring the somatic traits of persons aboard the vehicle and/or anomalies in their vital functions; comparing any somatic traits acquired to reference parameters, in order to identify persons who are not authorised to access a cockpit; automatically activating a remote control of the vehicle and/or signalling an alarm to a unit outside the vehicle itself in case of presence, in the cockpit, of persons identified as unauthorised and/or in the presence of said anomalies.

20. Method as claimed in claim 19, characterised in that it comprises a phase of inhibiting the piloting controls aboard the vehicle.

21. Method as claimed in claim 20, characterised in that it further comprises a phase of identifying false alarms to suspend and/or prevent the remove control of the vehicle and restore the piloting controls aboard said vehicle.

22. Method as claimed in claim 19, characterised in that the remote control takes place through command means slaved to a control station outside the vehicle and able to be operatively associated to an automatic piloting device installed on the vehicle itself.

23. Method as claimed in claim 22, characterised in that the external control station comprises means for remotely piloting the vehicle automatically, said remotely piloting means being operatively active on the command means.

24. Method as claimed in claim 22, characterised in that the external control station comprises means for remotely piloting the vehicle manually, said remotely piloting means being operatively active on the command means.

25. Transport vehicle, characterised in that it comprises an apparatus as claimed in any of the previous claims from 1 to 18 or it implements a security method as claimed in any of the claims from 19 to 24.