Ballistic tire-deflation device for security vehicles

1. A ballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus comprising:

an optical module adapted to provide visual feedback to a user to aim at an object;

a firing mechanism adapted to fire a projectile towards the object;

a control computer comprising:

a communication mechanism;

a processor; and

a memory;

wherein the communication mechanism is operable to communicate information between the control computer and the ballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus;

wherein, responsive to the speed of a vehicle falling below a pre-determined threshold speed, the control computer communicates information to the firing mechanism that causes the ballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus to disarm; and

wherein the ballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus is mounted to the vehicle.

2. The ballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the firing mechanism comprises a plurality of projectile barrels.

3. The ballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus of claim 2 , wherein at least one of the plurality of projectile barrels is fired singularly.

4. The ballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of projectile barrels are fired simultaneously.

5. The ballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of projectile barrels are mounted behind a sacrificial cover; and

the sacrificial cover prevents foreign objects from entering the plurality of projectile barrels.

6. The ballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the ballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus further comprises:

at least one radiation module adapted to project infrared (IR) radiation towards the object; and

a range-detector module adapted to project laser light towards the object.

7. The ballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the at least one radiation module comprises at least one infrared illuminator.

8. The ballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the range-detection module comprises a laser symbol projector.

9. The ballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the range-detector module is operable as a range finder.

10. The ballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the range-detector module is operable as an aiming mechanism.

11. The ballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the ballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus is manually aimed by aligning the vehicle so that the laser light is on the object.

12. The ballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the control computer is interoperably connected to at least one of the optical module, the range-detector module, and the firing mechanism.

13. The ballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the ballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus is operable in an assisted mode.

14. The ballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the ballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus is operable in an automatic mode.

15. The ballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the optical module comprises an infrared camera.

16. The ballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the optical module utilizes infrared radiation to illuminate the object.

17. The ballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a cover.

18. The ballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the cover is adapted to protect against inadvertent firing of the firing mechanism.

19. The ballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the cover prevents foreign objects from entering the firing mechanism.

20. The ballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the cover is adapted to be rotated and positioned to cover substantially an entire front surface of the ballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus.

21. The ballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the cover is adapted to be slid into to cover substantially an entire front surface of the ballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus.

22. The ballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the cover is adapted to be rotated and positioned to cover the firing mechanism.

23. The ballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the cover comprises at least one of plastic and metal.

24. The ballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the cover is sacrificial.

25. The ballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the ballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus is operable in at least one of a manual mode, an assisted mode, and an automatic mode.

26. The ballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the ballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus is mounted on a front portion of the vehicle.

27. The ballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the ballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus is mounted adjacent a license plate on the driver's side of the vehicle.

28. The ballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the ballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus is adapted to fire frangible ammunition.

29. A vehicle-mounted ballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus comprising:

an optical module adapted to provide visual feedback to a user to aim at an object;

a firing mechanism adapted to fire a projectile towards the object;

a control computer comprising:

a communication mechanism;

a processor; and

a memory;

wherein the communication mechanism is operable to communicate information between the control computer and the ballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus; and

wherein, responsive to the speed of a vehicle to which the ballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus is mounted exceeding a pre-determined threshold speed, the control computer communicates information to the firing mechanism that causes the ballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus to disarm.