Live human presence detection kit for vehicles having a goods compartment with cab or trailer and separate tractor compartment

Abstract

Live human presence detection apparatus for vehicles having a goods compartment with cab or trailer and separate tractor compartment. The apparatus comprises in use a of console or tablet inside a fi

Description

Abstract The present invention provides live human presence detection kit for vehicles having a goods compartment with cab or trailer and separate tractor compartment typically this would include Large Goods Vehicles (LGV and Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGV); comprising in use a console or tablet inside a first compartment in wireless communication with at least one radar module optimised to detect the presence of live humans. The radar module(s) is / are located within the vehicle goods compartment or trailer and monitors the space for the presence of live humans. Field of the Invention The invention relates to a live human presence detection kit for vehicles having a goods compartment with cab or trailer and separate tractor compartment, for example articulated goods vehicles such as large or heavy goods vehicles (LGV, HGV) or goods vehicles with a load area and separate cab compartment. Background Most of the goods, produce and everything we eat drink, wear and consume are transported in many countries by road haulage in HGVs or trucks. For example, the UK road haulage industry includes approximately 523,400 such vehicles. Data capture systems currently exist for the remote monitoring by the driver or operator of the location of vehicles through Global Positioning Systems (GPS), diagnostics on the vehicle and trailer and even Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) of the vehicle trailer or goods area. However it is not possible for a HGV / LGV driver or operator to adequately monitor the goods area or internal area of a trailer for the presence of humans without opening and visually examining the goods area or trailer. Goods areas or trailers may be sealed or otherwise secured by the operator or driver or possibly by Customs and Boarder agencies. There may aiso be times when a vehicle or trailer is left unsupervised. The construction of goods vehicles with a load compartment or goods trailers necessitate that they must be accessible for the practice of loading and unloading. Historically and currently, it is difficult to adequately secure many HGVs and LGVs particularly those of a soft or material sided construction. This can result in persons gaining access for the purpose of theft, criminal damage or illegal immigration as stowaways. Drivers and operators of HGVs and LGVs are responsible for the in person monitoring of their vehicles, trailers and loads through regular physical checks. Border and Customs officials frequently use handheld monitors or sensors and large X-Ray machines to check vehicles, trailers and load areas for the presence of humans. If persons are found during these checks drivers and operators are often held responsible and fined. Summary of the Invention The present invention provides a live human presence detection kit for vehicles having a goods compartment with cab or trailer and separate tractor compartment. Typically this would include Large Goods Vehicles (LGV) and Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGV); comprising in use a console or tablet inside a first compartment in wireless communication with at least one radar module optimised to detect the presence of live humans. The radar module(s) is / are located within the vehicle goods compartment or trailer and monitor the space for the presence of live humans. Preferred iterations combine the radar module with a thermal camera within a unit or multiple units that may be secured to the internal structure of the trailer or goods area compartment. The unit(s) may be secured with a magnet, suction cup device or mounting plate in order that the unit may be transferred from one goods compartment to another by the user as necessitated. The unit(s) may be secured to any surface within the goods compartment or goods trailer for example the doors, bulkhead or internal ceiling. The mounting is ideally very secure to prevent accidental displacement or unauthorised removal. Security devices such as a key or combination lock may be utilised in conjunction with the mounting plate or suction cup to prevent unauthorised removal. The unit(s) may be either powered with an internal battery or hardwired into the trailer power system whichever is deemed more suitable for the individual application. The console or tablet is located within the vehicle cab or tractor compartment, in a visible location to the driver or user, and / or in a portable format. This allows the driver or user to be alerted by audio or visual alarms should the radar module detect the presence of live humans within the monitored space. The console or tablet may be either powered with an internal battery or hardwired into the cab or tractor power system possibly via USB whichever is deemed more suitable for the individual application. The presence of live humans will be easily detected by the radar module optimised for such an operation using technology such as to identify the shape of a human torso and life vital signs associated with live humans. In further iterations of the unit, the radar would trigger the thermal camera to operate and provide an image of any thermal hotspots present within the monitored area. The image would be transferred to the consol or tablet within the cab or tractor through an internet or wireless uplink. The driver or user once alerted to an activation of the presence of live humans within the monitored space can then take necessary action informing the relevant law enforcement or authorities based on the confirmed activation, thermal image and peripheral data such as global positioning data or iocai law enforcement resources. Multiple consoles or tablets should be able to upstream activity data to a central repository via cellular or wireless data transfer for monitoring by interested parties for example haulage companies, unit providers or border agencies. Yet further iterations of the console or tablet have a facility to locally upload or download data, software, or other information for example through a universal serial bus (USB) or wireless connectivity. This enables software updates to upgrade functionality of the human presence detection kit. Therefore, the console or tablet and unit may have integrated GPS tracker technology to assist in locating the kit in the case of loss or theft. If the trailer is left unattended or parked separately to the cab, it is preferable that the monitoring module and consol or tablet can still link wirelessly to a remote monitoring site. With their own rechargeable power supply, which is charged when connected to a lorry. This ensures the kit is highly portable and can continue to provide monitoring whilst the vehicle and / or trailer is unattended. This also allows the kit to be utilised across multiple vehicles and trailers dependant on the circumstances. The invention has been described byway of examples only and it will be appreciated that variations may be made to the above-mentioned iterations without deviating from the scope of the invention. With respect to the above description then, it is to be appreciated that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention. Prior Patents A number of previous patents have been filed in an attempt to identity the presence of humans in a goods compartment with cab or trailer and separate tractor compartment, including the following: United States patent application US 20Q6 170 537 (MARRIOTT) discloses an intrusion detector for a vehicle, the defector being attachable to the vehicle, wherein the intrusion detector comprises a carbon dioxide detector responsive to the presence of carbon dioxide in a compartment of the vehicle, and wherein the intrusion detector is operable to generate an alarm if the concentration of carbon dioxide in the compartment exceeds a selected level. Granted United States patent US 2005 280 515 (MAREK et al) discloses a device to detect the presence of a living being in a motor vehicle, comprising: a carbon dioxide sensor to measure a concentration value representing a carbon dioxide concentration in the motor vehicle; an analysis unit to compare at least one of the concentration value and a change value representing a change in the concentration value overtime with at least one threshold; a transmitting device activated when at least one of the concentration value and the change value exceeds the threshold and emitting radiated signals; and a receiving device to activate an indicator device when the radiated signals are received. Granted united States patent US 6 424 267 (SCHELL) discloses a method for determining a presence of an occupant in a trunk compartment based on a rate of change of carbon dioxide concentration in the compartment, said method comprising:(a) determining carbon dioxide leakage conditions into the trunk compartment; (b) determining a rate of change of carbon dioxide concentration over a predetermined period of time, in the trunk compartment; (c) establishing one or more carbon dioxide rate of change trigger values for said trunk compartment including: determining carbon dioxide rate of change data resulting from predetermined factors involving the presence of one or more persons in the trunk compartment, calculations involving at least a volume of the trunk compartment, assumptions for air leakage rates for the trunk compartment, one of natural and mechanical methods of ventilation in the trunk compartment, and carbon dioxide production rates for each occupant; (d) determining whether said rate of change of carbon dioxide concentration either one of meets and falls within a range of said respective one or more carbon dioxide rate of change trigger values; and (e) activating one or more alarm responses when said rate of change of carbon dioxide concentration either one of meets and falls within said range of said respective one or more carbon dioxide rate of change trigger values. Granted European patent EP 1 932 338 (CHINIGO) discloses a security system for mass transit and mass transportation, whereby a substantial number of passengers and / or cargo items are transported by an inter-modal transportation vehicle, such as a bus, ship, train, subway, or aircraft, and comprising: a) a vehicle that transports substantial cargo and / or passengers, including a plurality of seats for crew and / or passengers, and a cargo hold whereby cargo is stored for transit and said vehicle having at least one seat for a driver, pilot or operator, and said vehicle having at least one door or entry point through which people and / or cargo enter and exit; b) a first sensor and associated at each doorway and other predetermined points within the vehicle for sensing and outputting a first signal regarding the identity and presence of any identification media passing within detectable proximity of said first sensor; c) a second sensor mounted on the vehicle for sensing and outputting a second signal indicative of radioactive, explosive and / or bio-hazardous material located in the interior of the vehicle or in close outer proximity to the vehicle; d) a third sensor associated with each designated operator and passenger seat, for sensing and outputting a third signal indicative of a person occupying the associated seat; e) a fourth sensor associated with each seat belt associated with each seat for sensing and outputting a fourth signal indicative of a person seated in the associated seat and buckled in; f) an alarm actuated responsive to a predetermined signal; g) a display located within the vision of the vehicle operator for displaying collected data and information specifically correlated with the respective occupancy of seats and other conditions about the vehicle, and said display comprised of one or more selectable screens available to an operator with manual control by the operator of input and screen selection; h) means for indicating and displaying the identification and presence and location of each cargo item or person in the vehicle in response to the first signals received, and for comparing to any preloaded manifest in memory for generating a first difference signal; i) means for indicating and displaying all designated seating positions within the vehicle including information regarding the status of occupancy and seat belt use in accordance with the third and fourth signals; j) means for indicating and displaying any alarm within the system; k) a computer system for controlling the security system including an ItO for generating an input signal by a driver, operator, or authorized person, a memory and a processor to receive the signals and to initiate an alarm responsive thereto, said memory being enabled to store collected and collated data concerning the signals, the status of sensors and the status of the display, data including manifests and itinerary downloads; I) three modes of communication including i) a wireless dedicated communication network, ii) a conventional cellular wireless protocol, and ill) a satellite transceiver for satellite based communication outside modes i) and ii); m) a cellular wireless jamming device responsive to a signal generated by the processor; n) means for inputting information into the memory via the processor from hard-wired and wireless sources; o) whereby said processor is enabled to compare the identification of cargo or persons within the vehicle as received from the first sensor to relevant data stored into memory with information such as a passenger or cargo manifest, and to identify expected, permitted, or disallowed passengers or cargo, and responsive to a mismatch, initiate the predetermined signai to activate the appropriate alarm, and additionally, enables selection of differing methods of communication, and responsive to a predetermined alarm signal initiated from a sensor, to select or de-select a mode of communication to a remote location, and, in addition to the activate the cellular wireless jamming device. United States patent application US 2009 005 936 (BROWNE et al) discloses a sensor assembly comprising: a sensor configured to detect a predetermined condition; a transmitter operativeiy connected to the sensor and configured to selectively transmit a wireless signal when the sensor detects the predetermined condition; at least one energy harvester configured to capture energy from the environment; wherein the sensor assembly is configured to transmit energy captured by the energy harvester to the transmitter. By contrast the present Invention utilises emerging technology as a means of focused monitoring of a vehicle goods compartment with cab or trailer and separate tractor compartment for the presence of live humans. Description of Figures Figure 1 shows a view of the preferred embodiment of a console or tabiet in the kit; Figure 2 shows a view of the preferred embodiment of the radar and thermal camera module for use in a goods compartment

Claims

1. A live human presence detection kit for vehicles having a goods compartment with cab or trailer and separate tractor compartment. Comprising in use a of console or tablet inside a first compartment in wireless communication with at least one radar module optimised for this activity inside a second compartment.

2. A kit according to claim 1 wherein the module is equipped with a thermal camera.

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