Covert surveillance using multi-modality sensing
The present specification discloses a covert mobile inspection vehicle with a backscatter X-ray scanning system that has an X-ray source and detectors for obtaining a radiographic image of an object outside the vehicle. The systems preferably include at least one sensor for determining a distance from at least one of the detectors to points on the surface of the object being scanned, a processor for processing the obtained radiographic image by using the determined distance of the object to obtain an atomic number of each material contained in the object, and one or more sensors to obtain surveillance data from a predefined area surrounding the vehicle.
1. A mobile inspection system comprising:
a first sensor, wherein the first sensor is at least one of a laser scanner, a GPS device, a video camera, an X-ray scanner, an infrared imaging system, a directional radio frequency antenna, a wide band antenna, a chemical sensor, a camera system configured to capture and detect license plate data, or an audio microphone and wherein the first sensor is configured to generate first data;
a second sensor, wherein the second sensor is at least one of the laser scanner, the GPS device, the video camera, the X-ray scanner, the infrared imaging system, the directional radio frequency antenna, the wide band antenna, the chemical sensor, the camera system configured to capture and detect license plate data or the audio microphone, wherein the second sensor is different from the first sensor and wherein the second sensor is configured to generate second data; and
a processor configured to receive the first data from the first sensor and the second data from the second sensor, to process the first data and the second data, to determine a presence of one or more risks associated with the first data and the second data, to determine if the one or more risks are correlated, and based on determining if the one or more risks are correlated, to generate a threat alarm.
2. The inspection system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first sensor or second sensor is the infrared imaging system and wherein at least one of the first data or the second data comprises data indicative of a temperature of persons who are proximate the inspection system.
3. The inspection system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first sensor or second sensor is the directional radio frequency antenna and wherein at least one of the first data or the second data comprises data indicative of a presence of electronic devices.
4. The inspection system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first sensor or second sensor is the wide band antenna and wherein at least one of the first data or the second data comprises data indicative of communications across one or more communication channels.
5. The inspection system of claim 4 , wherein the communications include text messages.
6. The inspection system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first sensor or second sensor is the chemical sensor and wherein at least one of the first data or the second data comprises data indicative of a composition of air around the inspection system.
7. The inspection system of claim 6 , wherein the chemical sensor is configured to detect trace quantities of explosives or narcotics.
8. The inspection system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first sensor or second sensor is the camera system configured to capture and detect license plate data and wherein at least one of the first data or the second data comprises the license plate data.
9. The inspection system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to access a law enforcement database to check the license plate data.
10. The inspection system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first sensor or second sensor is the audio microphone, wherein at least one of the first data or the second data is audio data, and wherein the processor is configured to analyze the audio data for information related to a threat.
11. The inspection system of claim 1 , further comprising a jamming device configured to block mobile phone communications.
12. A mobile inspection system comprising:
a first sensor, wherein the first sensor is an infrared imaging system wherein the first sensor is configured to generate first data indicative of a temperature of persons who are proximate the inspection system;
a second sensor, wherein the second sensor is at least one of a laser scanner, a GPS device, a video camera, an X-ray scanner, a directional radio frequency antenna, a wide band antenna, a chemical sensor, a camera system configured to capture and detect license plate data or an audio microphone, and wherein the second sensor is configured to generate second data; and
a processor configured to receive the first data from the first sensor and the second data from the second sensor, to process the first data and the second data, to determine a presence of one or more risks associated with the first data and the second data, to determine if the one or more risks are correlated, and based on determining if the one or more risks are correlated, to generate a threat alarm.
13. The inspection system of claim 12 , wherein the second sensor is the directional radio frequency antenna and wherein the second data comprises data indicative of a presence of electronic devices.
14. The inspection system of claim 12 , wherein the second sensor is the wide band antenna and wherein the second data comprises data indicative of communications across one or more communication channels.
15. The inspection system of claim 14 , wherein the communications include text messages.
16. The inspection system of claim 12 , wherein the second sensor is the chemical sensor and wherein the second data comprises data indicative of a composition of air around the inspection system.
17. The inspection system of claim 16 , wherein the chemical sensor is configured to detect trace quantities of explosives or narcotics.
18. The inspection system of claim 12 , wherein the second sensor is the camera system configured to capture and detect license plate data and wherein the second data comprises the license plate data.
19. The inspection system of claim 18 , wherein the processor is configured to access a law enforcement database to check the license plate data.
20. The inspection system of claim 12 , wherein the second sensor is the audio microphone, wherein the second data is audio data, and wherein the processor is configured to analyze the audio data for information related to a threat.
21. The inspection system of claim 12 , further comprising a jamming device configured to block mobile phone communications.