Announcing the Organic Force-multiplier Law Enforcement Vehicle
Still in development and moving to prototype during 2024, CIROS is an actual force multiplier; it’s design and functionality is a disruptive innovation and is patent-pending. CIROS recalls the days when a horse-riding US Marshall called on his stead to be a partner in his law enforcement operations. CIROS is the process that links the vehicle to its driver, enabling the vehicle to participate and support its driver from inside the vehicle or on any mobile computer officers are wearing.
How is this linkage accomplished? As a sub-system of EREBUS (the incident response, comms, command & control app), CIROS loads a mission straight into the vehicle at the same moment it’s loaded and communicated to officers. When installed, a vehicle is partnered to its driver, set up and configured to assign the vehicle for its driver, department and mission types.
Example: A school active-shooter is called in. The Ops Commander dispatches the appropriate team to head to the school and activates the relevant operation in ARTEMIS. The mission, mapping and guidance is loaded to the vehicle before the driver opens the door. All vehicle systems are now live and loaded, GPS invoked. When arriving at the school, weapons in the vehicle have been unlocked by CIROS, giving the LEO access to his AR or M4. Vicinity threat radar is turned on to ID anyone in the vehicle’s general location, all video gear is active and recording. Vehicles could be driven as close to the school as possible. Exterior Threat Radar and aural sensors will search and can identify any bullets or gunshots in the vehicle’s area. Multiple vehicles around the school may be able to compare data and “see” where the shooter is. The Commander at the station has the ability to see real time the various video feeds from vehicles as well as officers. ARTEMIS can be programmed to sent directive to EMT and other needed participants. If the school is also registered for ARTEMIS use, it can send pre-written messages to all parents instantly, followed by later confidential/secure messages with pickup data.
How is threat detection handled? Current radar capability is present on newer vehicles, or radar upgrades can be added to older models. CIROS includes millimeter wave technology that can detect ballistic threats; this includes software tweaks for CIROS which are under development for the 2022 prototype.
CIROS can create layers to identify actors in the vehicle’s vicinity. If a person approaches wearing a law enforcement radio, CIROS video and sensors will detect that person as a friend and electronically paint them green; an unknown will be painted yellow and those observed as aggressors will be red – all can be painted on visual overlays. The vehicle is constantly scanning the environment.
Continual integration is used to upgrade CIROS as new sensing technologies come available; CIROS is built open source as an integrated platform, enabling plug-ins; the improved version (or new tool) is simply plugged into the core processor, the operating system. Law Enforcement should not have to wait for next year’s version. Wee expect plug-ins to be added to CIROS frequently and quickly.
Drone operations and control are in development, also. Small CIROS drones could be carried in a charge-and-launch container mounted on the vehicle roof. These would be continually charged by the vehicle and could be launched, controlled and retrieved by the driver or in-vehicle operator from inside the vehicle. Future larger drones could be towed with remote launch, control and retrieval. Erebus has a history of drone and aerospace work, and a partnership with Imperia Aerospace. EREBUS CEO and Chief Engineer was involved with drone weaponry in the Middle East during multiple tours with the 101st. Following his military service, he designed software being used at Imperia and Erebus has a rocket Launch & Command system under development.
CIROS vehicles can be assigned on a long duration sit-down if needed. For example, FORD LE vehicles offer robust electrical systems for the ever-increasing presence of devices and technology. The hybrid model engines shut down to save fuel, will automatically sense a low battery and turn on the engine for battery recharge. This feature is native to the Explorer Hybrid model, but CIROS Version 1 may feature a similar function for all LE vehicles. Optimum use may call for added batteries, large alternators, etc. so that a vehicle could stay on site for long periods as needed.
Self-driving police vehicles are in the planning stage at FORD and in other companies for possible release within the next five years. In this case, CIROS vehicles could be positioned in a protection placement to shield officers. Multiple cars could be sent to form a ring around a known assailant(s) position, preventing escape. The vehicle is a shield. No one has to drive it, no one is in it to get injured. The vehicle would function as a moving shield to protect officers, who could advance and retreat as needed, or maneuver using the vehicle as a self-propelled, self-guided shield.
CIROS is backward compatible to 2014 models – testing to support this statement has already been completed. The only aftermarket add-on that may be needed is for radar, not included in some older vehicles. What about CIROS for other brands, Dodge, Chevy, etc.? CIROS is designed for FORD vehicles; however, it’s expected that other brand vehicles may be able to run after wiring and pinouts/connectors are customized for the make of vehicle. All have the universal OBDII system and Bluetooth.
Installing and configuring CIROS is as easy as entering the vehicle’s VIN – this can be done in batches by batching a group of VINs for a set of vehicles. Following that, CIROS would need the department where the vehicle is assigned and the driver’s identity data and the Patrol number. So the vehicle will need to know what department it belongs to, what officer is its driver, those are imperatives that it must know. A CIROS vehicle will adjust itself based on who is using it. So if a firefighter gets in, it will display red and white strobes. If a police officer gets in, it will go to white and blue strobes. If a paramedic it gets in, it will display red only. CIROS adjusts to the purpose and configures to the mission – on the fly. This will reduce the number of assets needed and in some respects, makes the vehicle as valuable as an employee – what we call a “force multiplier.”