Authorized personnel biometric detection system preventing unauthorized use of aircraft and other potentially dangerous instruments

Abstract

An authorized pilot detection system and method for controlling a variety of potentially dangerous instrumentalities such as aircraft, land vehicles, amphibious vehicles and other hand-controllable equipment, is disclosed. The system with respect to aircraft includes an interlock for enabling / disabling one of a control wheel and a joystick for controlling movement of an aircraft; a biometric grip detector arranged on said one of a control and joy stick, said biometric grip detector comprising a plurality of pressure sensors for sensing a handgrip of a user on said one of a control wheel and joystick; a comparator for comparing a pressure signature profile compiled from an output from the plurality of pressure sensors with at least one pressure signature profile including: (a) hand position of the user's handgrip on said one of a control wheel and joystick as indicated by a change in pressure on at least one of the plurality of pressure sensors; (b) pressure as a function of position on the control wheel and joystick; and (c) pressure as a function of time. A control unit may disable the interlock to permit at least partial manual control of movement of the aircraft by the control wheel / joy stick when the comparator indicates that the signature profile matches at least one pressure signature profile in storage. Authorized access to other hand operated equipment such as power tools and heavy equipment are prevented according to the present invention.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 09 / 858,682 filed May 16, 2001, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Applicant claims the benefit hereof under 35 U.S.C. §120.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] The present invention relates to security systems for preventing unauthorized access and / or use of certain machinery and / or equipment. More particularly, the present invention relates to preventing access and / or use of aircraft and potentially dangerous instruments. [0004] 2. Description of the Related Art [0005] The tragic events that took place on Sep. 11, 2001 in the United States resulted in more than 3,000 lives lost because of the unauthorized hijacking of aircraft and the subsequent use of the aircraft as weapons to cause massive amounts of fatalities. Aircraft, as well as other common carriers (e.g. trains, buses, cruise ships, tractor trailers) are all ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0017] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a system and method prevents unauthorized control of an aircraft by using biometric sensing to detect the grip of the pilot, or co-pilots. If the system does not recognize the user attempting to control the aircraft, the plane automatically overrides instructions and uses the autopilot system to bring the plane to its intended destination. Optionally, the plane may also notify FAA or other authorities that unauthorized users have attempted to fly the aircraft, permitting the military time to scramble any jet fighters that might be needed to intercept the aircraft.

Problems solved by technology

Optionally, the plane may also notify FAA or other authorities that unauthorized users have attempted to fly the aircraft, permitting the military time to scramble any jet fighters that might be needed to intercept the aircraft.

Whether that unauthorized use is a teenager operating a bulldozer, or someone with a more sinister purpose in mind, both types of unauthorized use are effectively thwarted.

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