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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Prior art remote controlled, video monitored weapon systems have generally
involved a combination of a whole television camera and a conventional
weapon. Such combinations are inherently so bulky and space-consuming,
both in the axial and vertical depth directions that they have not been
usable for anti-hijacking purposes in commercial airplanes. There is
simply not enough space available in the ceiling area of the conventional
airplane to accommodate such TV camera/weapon combination therein. It was
inconceivable that such a bulky combination could be adapted to linear
travel, pan and tilt movements so as to cover the entire passenger
compartment area of an aircraft, or that it could be obscured from view of
the passengers behind a one-way vision screen. Similarly, the amount of
space occupied by such prior art television camera and conventional weapon
combinations generally precluded the adaptation thereof for protective
systems to be used in banks, prisons, stores, office buildings, or the
like.
All prior art remote control, video monitored weapon systems of which the
applicant is aware could be seen by a potential hijacker or criminal or
the like, and hence could be defended against by retaliatory action, or
could be avoided, so as to minimize the effectiveness thereof. A further
problem in connection with these prior art weapon systems utilizing a TV
camera and conventional type weapon, relates generally to the optics
thereof. Such prior art systems embodied vertically or laterally spaced
optical and weapon axes, thereby having a parallax inaccuracy inherent in
the aiming thereof. This becomes a critical problem in a remote controlled
weapon system for aircraft protection, because of the necessity for
pinpoint accuracy to avoid damaging critical aircraft parts, and to be
assured of a completely incapacitating offensive action against a hijacker
or the like without danger to other occupants. This parallax problem
becomes more acute as the weapon is moved closer to the subject in an
attempt at increased accuracy.
The optics problem associated with a conventional television camera-weapon
combination also involves an orientation problem between the subject as
viewed by the television camera and the subject as displayed on a remote
video monitor. Tilting movements of the television camera, and
particularly tilting movements beyond the vertical axis, and also panning
movement beyond 90.degree., with the conventional television camera optics
employed in such prior art camera-weapon combinations, tended to provide a
badly disoriented image at the remote monitoring station, making it
difficult to track a subject in movement, and often dangerous to employ
the weapon.
Prior art automatically operable weapons in general are not of unobstructed
tubular configuration, and hence are incapable of having coaxially
arranged optics directly mounted therein. Thus optical aiming systems for
automatic weapons are conventionally laterally or vertically offset from
the firing axis of the weapon, requiring that the reticle in any optical
scope aiming system associated therewith also be spaced from the firing
axis. Such spacing not only involves a parallax problem between reticle
and weapon axis, but also involves a sometimes even more serious axial
alignment problem. This can raise doubts as to the accuracy of alignment
and aiming, where such doubts cannot be tolerated in the close confines
and with the critical surrounding areas in an aircraft protective system.
The requirement of axially offset optics with conventional automatic
weapons also detracts from the compactness thereof, making them further
unsuitable for use in a protective system for aircraft or the like.
Referring particularly to the commercial aircraft protection problem, the
protective measures currently in use are (1) attempting to identify and
observe persons who are considered by mannerism or appearance to be of a
high risk "type" likely to be involved in hijacking; (2) inspecting the
persons and/or baggage of airplane passengers; (3) the use of sky marshals
riding the aircraft; and (4) the use of snipers to shoot hijackers if they
can be lured out of the airplanes.
All of these currently used measures have serious drawbacks. In order to be
effective, baggage and personal inspections are much too time-consuming to
be used on any substantial scale and yet be compatible with heavy airline
schedules as presently followed. Attempting to identify and watch high
risk type persons is a very chancy thing, as often a highjacker wll look
like a very ordinary person. FBI agents have sniped or shot at hijackers
with high powered rifles from stategic airport locations whenever
possible, but this requires that the hijacker be lured out of the
airplane, which only occasionally occurs.
The sky marshal approach has been used extensively, and it has the
advantage of providing offensive action against a hijacker when the
hijacker has been positively identified during flight. However, sky
marshals have a tendency to place everyone in the airplane under great
risk, and their effectiveness has proven to be quite limited in scope for
a number of reasons. Thus, the sky marshal cannot take offensive action
without danger of retaliatory action from the hijacker either against the
sky marshal or perhaps indiscriminately against one or more passengers, or
against a hostage. Another problem is that a weapon in the hand of a sky
marshal tends to be unstable, being adversely affected by turbulence, the
urgency of the situation, the danger to other persons or aircraft systems,
and the like. The sky marshal cannot always choose the time or place to
act, and he can be seen and acted against by the hijacker. Also, once the
sky marshal precipitates action against a hijacker, he has no choice but
to proceed, despite dangers that may arise to passengers. Because the sky
marshal can be seen by the hijacker, it is difficult for him to cope with
or to avoid the hostage problem. Finally, the deterrent effect of a sky
marshal is minimal, because a potential hijacker is aware of the sky
marshal's limitations, and can retaliate and defend against him.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of these and other problems in the art, it is an object of the
present invention to provide a generally annularly symmetrical multiple
fire weapon having an open and generally unobstructed throat extending
through the axial center thereof.
Another object of the invention is to provide a surveillance and weapon
system comprising such a generally annularly symmetrical multiple fire
weapon which has optical scope means coaxially arranged in the otherwise
generally unobstructed axial throat thereof.
Another object of the invention is to provide a generally annularly
symmetrical multiple fire weapon of the character described which
comprises a series of annularly arranged barrels with respective cartridge
chambers, a series of respective precocked firing pin units arranged
behind the respective chambers, rotatably shiftable firing pin release
means, and indexing drive means adapted to shift the firing pin release
means so as to release successive firing pins and thereby energize a
succession of cartridges. In presently preferred forms of this weapon
diametrically opposed pairs of the cartridges are simultaneously energized
to produce a double helix fire pattern that is dynamically balanced about
the axis of the weapon.
Another object of the invention is to provide a tubular, generally
annularly symmetrical multiple fire weapon of the character described
which includes a nonrotating firing pin unit having a pair of
diametrically opposed firing pins, and wherein a tubular barrel body
having a series of regularly spaced barrels about its annulus is indexed
between successive firing events to shift successive adjacent pairs of
diametrically opposed barrels into axial alignment with the diametrically
opposed firing pins, so as to provide a planar or 180.degree., nonrotating
firing pattern that is dynamically balanced about the axis of the tubular
weapon.
Another object of the invention as related to the generally annularly
symmetrical, tubular multiple fire weapon per se is to provide both
external and internal stepper motor drive means for actuating a tubular
weapon of this character.
Another object of the invention is to provide a surveillance and weapon
system which comprises a tubular, generally annularly symmetrical multiple
fire weapon which has an optical scope mounted in the axial throat
thereof, and which also includes a video image sensor optically coupled to
the scope so as to provide a remote video image that is directly related
to the central axis of the weapon. In one such weapon-optical scope-image
sensor arrangement the optical scope and image sensor are both coaxially
arranged, in tandem in the axial throat of the tubular weapon, and this
combination is movable for surveillance and weapon aiming. In another such
weapon-optical scope-image sensor form the optical scope that is mounted
in the tubular weapon is only the forward portion of the system optics,
the optics including a tiltable portion to provide an optical image to the
electronic image sensor which is nontiltably positioned, thereby
substantially reducing the axial length of the tiltable part of the
weapon-optics-image sensor combination for use thereof in confined spaces,
as for example in the ceiling are of an airplane as a part of an
anti-hijacking system. Such tiltable optics include one form having a
45.degree. optical deflection wherein the optics-weapon combination on
the one hand and the image sensor on the other hand are rotatable or
tiltable in opposite directions about the image sensor axis for variable
tilting or panning movements, while nevertheless producing a properly
oriented, generally untilted remote image. Another optics form involves a
single right angle optical deflection, with the forward optical scope and
weapon directed at right angles to the image sensor axis and tiltable
about the image sensor axis; while a third optics form is of periscopic
configuration involving two right angle optical deflections, and wherein
the forward optical scope and weapon combination is tiltable about a
horizontal axis that is normal to the image sensor axis. In such second
and third optics forms, the forward optics and weapon on the one hand and
image sensor on the other hand are rotated in opposite directions during
part of a tilting sweep and in the same direction in other parts of a
tilting sweep, and the polarity of the magnetic yoke coil for the image
sensor is reversed during portions of the sweep, whereby to provide a
generally correctly oriented, untilted remote image from the system.
A still further object of the invention is to provide a remotely controlled
surveillance and weapon system for the protection of aircraft and other
confined regions, as for example other vehicles such as ships, trains, or
the like, and various enclosures that are frequently subject to criminal
attacks such as banks, prisons, courtrooms, stores, offices, and the like,
which includes a weapon-optical scope-electronic image sensor combination
wherein the weapon and optical scope are in fixed alignment and are
movable in at least pan and tilt movements for tracking a criminal subject
throughout at least a substantial portion of the protected enclosure; the
weapon-optics combination being completely hidden from the protected
region behind a one-way vision screen, thereby enabling the same to be
remotely driven so as to track a criminal subject without the subject
being aware of either the presence or the positioning of the weapon-optics
combination. In the preferred form of the invention, the
weapon-optics-electronic image sensor combination is mounted on a mobile
unit for linear travel as well as for pan and tilt movements of at least
the weapon-optics part of the combination, and this entire mobile unit is
completely hidden from the protected region behind the one-way vision
screen, whereby the mobile unit may be driven to a strategic placement
relative to the criminal subject so that the subject can be made a close
target without intervention of other persons such as bystanders, hostages
or the like.
Another object of the invention is to provide a remote surveillance and
weapon system wherein remote control is effected from a remote station
that includes a video surveillance screen, a manual control unit that is
drivingly coupled to the remote unit and to the weapon-scope combination
thereon to produce linear travel, pan and tilt movements of the
weapon-optics combination which correspond directly to similar movements
of the manual control unit. In the preferred form of the invention the
image on the video surveillance screen at the control station is directly
aligned with the weapon axis and is tilt-compensated to provide an
accurate, properly coordinated, generally untilted image, and reticle
lines are also preferably provided by reticle means that is directly in
the centered optical path in the throat of the weapon for accuracy of
aiming. It is also preferred to have the manual control unit physically
positioned at the control station directly in the front of the video
surveillance screen so that the controller will have a direct coordination
between his manual movements of the control unit and the resulting visual
movements observed on the video surveillance screen.
In the application of the present invention as an anti-hijacking system for
aircraft, it is also preferred to have a seat exhibit board as a part of
the control station, the board being responsive to pressure switch means
in the individual passenger seats to indicate both seat occupancy for a
particular flight and the temporary vacating of an occupied seat.
In the adaptation of the present invention as an anti-hijacking system for
aircraft, it is also preferred to include a weapon fire control panel as a
part of the control station, such panel having electrical circuit means
associated therewith, and including switching means and light indicator
means for both controlling the operation of the weapon and exhibiting to
the operator the state or operative condition of the weapon at all times.
In the application of the present invention as an anti-hijacking system for
aircraft, another important part of the system is the inhibit system which
provides a no-go signal to the weapon control circuit to prevent firing of
the weapon when it is aimed at a certain part of the aircraft which might
damage some critical aircraft part, or which may endanger crew members of
the aircraft. This inhibit system preferably includes an encoder unit for
each type of movement of the weapon, so that in the usual anti-hijacking
form of the invention, there will be separate encoder units for the
linear, tilt, and pan movements of the weapon. Each of these encoder units
preferably comprises either a single analog encoder wheel, or a plurality
of coupled analog encoder wheels, having segments thereon which correspond
to go/no-go areas in the aircraft; i.e., having such segments arranged in
a binary go/no-go form. The individual encoder wheel outputs are fed to a
decoder which is programmed for the particular type of aircraft, and for
the particular accessory and seating arrangement therein. When the outputs
of all of the encoder wheels are "no-go", then the decoder will provide a
no-go signal to the weapon fire control circuit, thereby preventing the
weapon from firing. However, it is preferred to have a deliberate manual
override of such no-go condition of the weapon in the weapon electronic
control circuit, so that the operator of the system, in a situation of
dire emergency, can override the no-go signal. One example of a situation
where such an override is practical is when the aircraft is on the ground,
and there is no danger of loss of flight control and consequent crashing
of the aircraft in the event some critical aircraft structural member is
damaged.
The one-way vision screen forming a part of the invention in applications
of the invention to protect an enclosed region can be in the form of a
bubble or curved panel for weapon-optics installations which involve only
pan and tilt type movements. However, in forms of the invention which also
include linear travel movements, it is preferred to embody the one-way
vision screen as a ceiling panel, wherein the one-way screen can be
arranged so as to be unobtrusive and a part of the decorative motif of the
enclosure. In most current commercial aircraft the passenger compartment
can be substantially completely covered by having ceiling panels of the
one-way vision screen extend substantially the entire length of the
passenger compartment, being generally centrally arranged over the length
of the aisle. Since most hijackers will at some time attempt to reach the
cockpit area, if desired a special weapon-optics installation that may
only involve pan and tilt movements may be installed in the forward part
of the passenger compartment near the cockpit entrance, either in the
ceiling or in a forward bulkhead or in a side compartment. In this case, a
curved or flat panel, or a bubble of the one-way vision screen may be
employed. An example of such an installation is in the Boeing 747 aircraft
wherein a spiral staircase leading from the main passenger compartment
upwardly to the cockpit area can be commanded from a central ceiling
directly above the staircase, so that a weapon-optics combination having
just pan and tilt mobility will provide good protection for the cockpit
against entry from the passenger compartment.
Most modern building construction utilizes "drop ceilings" to provide space
for air conditioning ducts, lighting fixtures and the like. Also, in the
modernization of old buildings to add air conditioning, such drop ceilings
are conventional. The present surveillance and weapon system will normally
be applied in drop ceiling enclosures, for the protection of banks,
prisons, stores, offices, courtrooms, and the like, by embodying the
one-way screen panels as a part of the drop ceiling paneling, and there is
normally ample free space between the drop ceiling and the floor above to
accommodate the mobile unit of the present invention, which can be
lineally movable along suitable track means, either in a straight line or
in appropriate curved paths, and also movable in pan and tilt movements.
While the unique compactness of the coaxial weapon-optics combination of
the present invention is important in the aircraft anti-hijacking form of
the invention because of the limited vertical space available, such
compactness is also important in other forms of the invention so that the
weapon-optical scope combination can be disposed in spaced relationship
substantially above the one-way screen. This permits a relatively wide
sweep in the tilt movement direction, while still maintaining a
substantial angle of incidence of the axis of the optical scope to the
plane of the one-way screen, to minimize reflective light loss from the
one-way screen.
In addition to the video monitoring at the control station, it is also
preferable as a part of the invention to include audio monitoring so that
the controller can hear what the observed subject is saying, and thereby
know better what he is doing or is about to do. It is also desirable to
have the audio communication two-way so that the controller can talk to
the hijacker or other criminal, if this is appropriate. Additionally, it
is preferable to include a video and audio recorder so as to keep a video
and audio history of the hijacking or other criminal event for insurance
and court purposes.
While the weapon forms are shown in detail in the present application as
being adapted for conventional type firearm cartridges, it is to be
understood that other types of missiles may be fired from the weapon. For
example, the weapon may be adapted to shoot tranquillizer darts or
pellets; it may be adapted to simply temporarily disable or distract the
subject by a volley of nonlethal impact pellets; or it may be adapted to
shoot chemically disabling shells. Thus, it is to be understood that the
weapon can be of either lethal or nonlethal character. If desired, part of
the weapon barrels may be loaded with lethal cartridges, and another part
thereof may be loaded with non-lethal cartridges; and the weapon actuating
circuit can be arranged for selection of either part by the operator.
In most uses of the present invention manual control by the operator of the
position of the remote control unit is preferred. However, if desired,
automatic positioning control may be embodied in the system, which can be
programmed in connection with a seat exhibit board or the like so that the
mobile unit can be automatically moved to a position proximate a
particular seat or other designated area, and then manually controlled at
that point.
It will be apparent from the foregoing summary, and from the following
description that the present surveillance and weapon system has a number
of important advantages over currently used protective measures,
particularly those employed in the protection of enclosed regions such as
aircraft, bnaks, prisons, and the like. Thus, a hijacker or other criminal
suspect cannot retaliate against the system, because he cannot see the
weapon, and does not know where it may be at any given time. This helps to
avoid the precipitation of critical confrontation, which is likely with
present sky marshal or guard protection. The present system, by its
complete mobility, also lessens the seriousness of the hostage problem,
because the hijacker or other criminal does not know where the weapon is,
and the weapon can be moved to a position in command of the suspect
without intervention from the hostage.
The accuracy of the coaxial weapon-optics of the present system is
important in confined areas, generally enabling the system to be used
offensively against the subject without danger to nearby persons. The
accuracy is not only directly accomplished through the coaxial
weapon-optics arrangement, but is aided by the capability of the weapon to
fire diametrically opposed barrels simultaneously, thereby balancing
torque about the weapon axis; and the accuracy is also aided by the
optical scope-electronic image sensor correlation to provide a properly
oriented, generally untilted video image to the operator. Accuracy is also
much better for the present system than for a sky marshal, in that the
weapon of the present system is supported fixedly at the time of firing
relative to the airframe, whereas the weapon in the hand of a sky marshal
is subject to the movability of his arm, and hence likely to be adversely
affected by turbulence, or simply by the urgency of a critical situation.
A particularly important aspect of the present invention is that because it
is difficult to defend against, and cannot be seen by a suspect, it has an
excellent deterrent effect. Even if a complete system according to the
invention were only installed in occasional aircraft, if ceiling paneling
resembling that used with the present system were employed in all
commercial aircraft, the deterrent effect would operate, since potential
hijackers would not know whether or not a particular airplane had a
complete system therein.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is an isometric view, with portions broken away, illustrating one
form of the present surveillance and weapon system operatively deployed in
a typical commercial aircraft of conventional construction.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged isometric view of the control console and base in the
operative position of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2, but with the console folded and locked
in the base to give the appearance of a conventional worktable.
FIG. 4 is a further enlarged isometric view illustrating the control
console and the various functional portions thereof.
FIG. 5 is an isometric view illustrating a presently preferred control unit
associated with the console for remotely controlling movement of the
remote mobile unit and actuation of the weapon portion thereof.
FIG. 6 is a side elevation, with portions broken away, illustrating one
form of mobile unit according to the invention wherein the optical scope
and electronic image sensor are linearly, coaxially arranged.
FIG. 7 is a front end elevation, partly in transverse section, further
illustrating the form of the mobile unit shown in FIG. 6.
FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic side elevational view illustrating a first form of
optics employed in the present system for compacting the weapon-image
sensor combination, this form utilizing acute angle light deflection.
FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic front end elevational view illustrating the
tilting movements of the weapon and forward optics in the first optics
form of FIG. 8.
FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic side elevational view similar to FIG. 8, but
illustrating a second form of optics utilizing a 90.degree. angle light
deflection.
FIG. 11 is a diagrammatic front end elevational view illustrating the
manner in which tilting movements of the weapon-forward optics combination
occur in the second optics form of FIG. 10.
FIG. 12 is a diagrammatic top plan view illustrating a third, periscopic
optics form utilizing a succession of two right-angle light deflections to
provide maximum flexibility of the optics without sacrificing compactness.
FIG. 13 is a diagrammatic side elevational view illustrating tilting
movements of the weapon-forward optics combination in the third optics
form of FIG. 12.
FIG. 14 is an angle and wiring diagram illustrating the manner in which the
image sensor is rotated on its axis in FIGS. 12 and 13 according to
tilting movements of the weapon-forward optics combination through
successive tilting quadrants.
FIG. 15 is a diagrammatic illustration of a lineal image sensor and scope
optics combination which may be employed in the present system, wherein
the reticle patterns are provided in a reticle lens disposed intermediate
objective and field lenses.
FIG. 16 is an isometric view illustrating the provision of the reticle
patterns directly on the electronic image sensor tube.
FIG. 17 is a schematic isometric view illustrating a second form of remote
mobile unit with operative connections to the manual control unit of the
console, the mobile unit of FIG. 17 employing the periscopic optics form
illustrated in FIGS. 12, 13 and 14.
FIG. 18 is a side elevational view of the mobile unit shown in FIG. 17.
FIG. 19 is a rear end elevational view of the mobile unit shown in FIGS. 17
and 18, with portions illustrated in transverse, vertical section.
FIG. 20 is a front end elevational view of the mobile unit shown in FIGS.
17 to 19, with portions illustrated in transverse, vertical section.
FIG. 21 is a block diagram of a complete surveillance and weapon system in
accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 22 is an isometric view, with portions broken away, and partly in
axial section, illustrating a first weapon form according to the
invention, wherein the optics and electronic image sensor are linearly
arranged concentric of the weapon.
FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 23--23 in FIG. 22, with
portions removed, illustrating the manner in which diametrically opposed
pairs of fire pins are releasable through opposed cutouts in the fire pin
release ring.
FIGS. 24 and 25 are diagrammatic illustrations illustrating the inclined
cam ramp configuration of one of the fire pin release ring cutouts, and
the manner in which this cooperates with a fire pin for rapid fire
operation.
FIG. 26 is a fragmentary side elevational view, partly in axial section,
illustrating the lineal relationship of the optics and image sensor in the
weapon form of FIGS. 22 to 25.
FIG. 27 is an isometric view similar to FIG. 22, with portions broken away
and partly in axial section, but illustrating a second weapon form which
also has a lineal optics-image sensor combination, but which differs from
the first weapon form in having a self-contained stepper motor; the weapon
form of FIG. 27 being similar to that employed in the mobile unit shown in
FIGS. 6 and 7.
FIG. 28 is an exploded isometric view, with portions broken away and partly
in axial section, showing further details of the second weapon form shown
in FIG. 27.
FIG. 29 is an isometric view, with portions broken away and partly in axial
section, similar to FIGS. 22 and 27, but illustrating a third weapon form
which is particularly compact in the axial direction and is adapted to be
employed in non-lineal relationship with the electronic image sensor,
utilizing optics arrangements similar to those illustrated in FIGS. 8 to
11; this third, compact weapon form being the form illustrated in
connection with the mobile unit shown in FIGS. 17 to 20.
FIG. 30 is an exploded isometric view, with portions broken away and partly
in axial section, illustrating further details of construction of the
third weapon form shown in FIG. 29.
FIG. 31 is a fragmentary cross-section taken on the line 31--31 in FIG. 30,
illustrating in detail the manner in which the firing pins are tripped in
the weapon form of FIGS. 29 and 30.
FIG. 32 is a diagrammatic isometric view illustrating the weapon form of
FIGS. 29 to 31 in combination with the optics form illustrated in FIGS. 10
and 11.
FIG. 33 is a plan view of the fire control panel which constitutes a
portion of the control and surveillance console.
FIG. 34 is a wiring diagram of a weapon fire control system that may be
employed in the present invention.
FIG. 35 is a wiring diagram of a seat monitoring circuit.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring to the drawings, and at first particularly to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3
thereof, the present invention is illustrated as a total surveillance and
weapon system in connection with a commercial airplane 10 of generally
conventional, current design, having a forward cockpit area generally
designated 12, and elongated, rearward passenger area generally designated
14, with a bulkhead 16 and doorway 18 shown in phantom separating the
cockpit and passenger areas. A plurality of rows of seats 20 is disposed
on opposite sides of an aisle 22 extending the length of the passenger
area 14. The present surveillance and weapon system as it is employed
within a commercial airplane constitutes an effective anti-hijacking
system, and accordingly the system is illustrated in an operatively
deployed condition in FIG. 1 relative to a hijacker or extortionist 24
shown in a typical position standing in the aisle 22 in the passenger area
14.
For most commercial aircraft applications of the present invention as an
anti-hijacking system, the system includes four principal portions,
namely, (1) a control or surveillance console 26, sometimes hereinafter
simply referred to as the control console, which is disposed in the
cockpit area; (2) a remote mobile unit 28 which includes drive means,
weapon means, optical scope and video sensing means for surveillance and
weapon aiming, audio means and inhibit encoder means defining weapon go
and no-go areas; (3) an overhead track 30 extending over substantially the
entire length of the aisle 22; and (4) a one-way screen 32 preferably
arranged as a decorative ceiling element extending substantially the
entire length of the aisle, the one-way screen obscuring the mobile unit
28 and track 30 and their associated parts from the view of the
passengers, while nevertheless permitting surveillance and weapon aiming
therethrough from the mobile unit 28.
The one-way screen may be made of conventional glass or plastic sheet
material having one-way visibility, and this one-way screen 32 is uniquely
employed in the present system for both its capacity to transmit light
therethrough in only one direction, and also its penetrability, by either
breakage or performation, upon actuation of the weapon. Thus, although
such one-way screens have heretofore been employed for a variety of
surveillance purposes, in the present surveillance and weapon system the
one-way screen functions as a replaceable entity that allows surveillance
and weapon aiming through it while at the same time hiding the weapon and
surveillance equipment from passengers and hijacker or potential hijacker
alike; and upon the necessity for firing the screen permits passage of
fired missiles therethrough and is thereby damaged and must be replaced as
a physical working part of the system.
The reference numeral 34 designates a sky marchal, flight engineer or other
crew member in operative position before the control and surveillance
console 26. Such crew member 34 may continuously attend the console 26
during flight, or may attend the console 26 only when alerted by an alarm
from a stewardess or upon noting a seat absence signal as hereinafter
described.
Also seen in FIG. 1 is a cable 38, which contains video coax and audio
lines extending from the mobile unit 28 to a retracting and tensioning
reel 40 that is overhead proximate the cockpit area 12, a cable section 41
then extending from the reel 40 to the console 26.
Visible in FIG. 1 as portions of the mobile unit 28 are the weapon and
coaxial forward scope optics combination generally designated 42,
periscope-type weapon and scope mounting means generally designated 44
which contains part of the optics; an eletronic image sensor 46 which may
be a diode face tube, vidicon, or other electronic image sensor; an
electronics support package generally designated 48 which includes the
chassis for the electronic image sensor 46; linear travel gear 50 which is
a spur gear forming part of the drive system; and linear encoder gear 52,
which forms part of the inhibit system.
The space that is available between ceiling and hull is so confined and
restricted in commercial airplanes of present conventional construction
that a present requirement of the system is that the image sensor 46 and
its electronics support package 48 be spaced apart on the mobile unit 28.
Factors that contribute to this requirement for separation of the
electronic image sensor 46 and its support package 48 are the bulk of both
the image sensor and its support package according to the present state of
the electronics art, and also the requirement in the present system that
the electronic image sensor 46 be rotated on on its axis or be otherwise
pivoted synchronously with tilting movements of the weapon and optics
combination 42 in order to provide the crew member 34 with an untilted
video image at the control and surveillance console 26. Such rotational or
tilting movements of the electronic image sensor 46 will be described
hereinafter in more detail, particularly with relation to FIGS. 8 to 14 of
the drawings.
FIG. 1 illustrates the control console 26 disposed in a convenient position
that is available in most large commercial aircraft of conventional
construction, namely, against the port side wall in the cockpit area
behind the pilot's seat. In this position, the console is substantially
completely shielded by the bulkhead 16 from view from the passenger area
14, even if the doorway 18 should be open. The console 26 is preferably
completely hidden when not in use, even from persons who may enter the
cockpit area 14, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, which show the console
26 as being foldable from the operative position illustrated in FIG. 2 to
a closed and locked position within its base 36 so as to form a desk-like
structure having the appearance of a simple utility table.
FIG. 4 illustrates the principal operative portions of the control and
surveillance console 26 in its presently preferred form. The console
includes an upper panel portion 54 primarily employed for surveillance
purposes, and a lower panel 56 primarily employed for control purposes.
The upper panel portion 51 includes a video screen 58 that is normally
employed for surveillance purposes, but which is also used by the operator
in aiming the weapon. A reticle image 60, preferably including both cross
hairs and centering rings, is visible on the screen 58. This reticle image
60 is preferably provided directly from reticle patterns disposed in
coaxially centered relationship with the weapon itself on the mobile unit
28, either in the optics or on the image sensor, so as to preclude any
possibility of misalignment or parallax in the aiming of the weapon.
Alternatively, the reticle image 60 may be derived from reticle patterns
provided directly in the console 26, as for example provided directly on
the screen 58; however, this approach requires assurance of proper
alignment between the optics-image sensor-weapon combination in the mobile
unit 28 on the one hand, and in the video portion of the control console
26 on the other hand. Highly refined accuracy in the ability to aim the
weapon from the remote control console 26 is critical in the commercial
aircraft environment because of such factors as the presence of large
numbers of persons in relatively closely confined quarters, the danger of
damage to perhaps critical aircraft structures in the event of a miss, and
the danger of retaliatory action by the hijacker in the event of a miss or
of an inaccurate shot which is not immediately totally incapacitating. The
provision of the reticle pattern in directly coaxial relationship with the
weapon is therefore much the preferred arrangement in the present system.
Similar factors also make the remote aiming critical in other environments
for which the invention is particularly well adapted, as for example in a
bank installation of the present surveillance and weapon system. A bank
presents a protection problem that is very similar to that of a commercial
airplane, in that it is a frequent target for the armed bandit; the
problem occurs in an enclosure, in this case generally a large room rather
than the passenger compartment of an aircraft, wherein there are likely to
be many persons in closely spaced relationship, and there is ceiling
structure above which the mobile portion of the present invention may be
disposed behind a one way screen. In the aircraft environment it is
important to have the control and surveillance portion of the system
isolated in a separate compartment from the compartment in which the
problem is likely to arise, and which can be locked so as to be completely
inaccessible to the hijacker. Similarly, in the bank environment it is
also important that the control and surveillance portion of the system be
located elsewhere than in the main bank room where the robbery is likely
to occur, so as to be inaccessible to the robber and not subject to
retaliatory action. Thus, in the bank installation, the control console
may simply be located in another room in the bank, and may either be
continually operative and monitored or may be turned on in response to an
alert from a teller or other person in the main banking room.
Alternatively, a plurality of banks may be monitored and controlled from a
single central station, as for example from a police station, and this may
be accomplished through either a closed circuit video system or an open
circuit video system. The open circuit-type video system can involve an
emergency takeover by the central controller of a local television
channel, as for example an educational channel, to provide the necessary
video connection from any one of a number of banks in the locale to the
central station.
Such monitoring and control of a plurality of banks from a single central
control station may involve the use of only a single control console which
can be switched into communication with any of the banks being serviced;
or alternatively a separate control console may be connected with the
remote unit in each bank.
In aircraft installations of the present invention it is preferred to have
each system individually controlled from the cockpit of the aircraft,
because the aircraft is in the nature of a "ship" and final authority and
decision is in the captain of the individual aircraft. Thus, although a
central ground control can be provided for a plurality of airplane | | |
