Vehicle stabilization in the event of large detonation

Abstract

A vehicle, apparatus, method and computer program are provided. The vehicle comprises: vehicle stabilizing means for ejecting at least one non-gaseous mass; means for detecting an explosion local to the vehicle; and control means for controlling, in response to detection of an explosion local to the vehicle, the vehicle stabilizing means to eject at least one non-gaseous mass in order to apply a force to the vehicle and stabilize the vehicle in response to the explosion.

1 - 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . A vehicle, comprising:
 one or more detectors positioned to detect an explosion, local to the vehicle, occurring in or on ground;   one or more vehicle stabilizing devices configured to apply a force to the vehicle in order to stabilize the vehicle in response to detection of an explosion, local to the vehicle, occurring in or on ground;   a base;   a structural member, coupled to the base, at least partially positioned within an internal enclosure of the vehicle and extending upwardly from the base to a part of the vehicle where at least one of the one or more vehicle stabilizing devices is situated, the structural member being configured to channel the force, generated by the one or more vehicle stabilizing devices above the base, towards the base; and   distributing members, coupled to the structural member and extending outwardly from the structural member across the base, the distributing members being configured to distribute the force in a plurality of different directions across the base.   
     
     
         16 . The vehicle of  claim 15 , wherein the one or more vehicle stabilizing devices are configured to apply a groundwards force to the vehicle in response to detection of an explosion. 
     
     
         17 . The vehicle of  claim 15 , wherein the one or more detectors are configured to detect an explosion underneath an underside of the vehicle. 
     
     
         18 . The vehicle of  claim 15 , wherein the one or more detectors are configured to detect an explosion, local to the vehicle, occurring on or in ground. 
     
     
         19 . The vehicle of  claim 15 , wherein the distributing members comprise at least one interconnecting member, interconnecting at least two of the distributing members. 
     
     
         20 . The vehicle of  claim 15 , wherein the structural member comprises a column or a wall. 
     
     
         21 . The vehicle of  claim 15 , wherein the part of the vehicle to which the structural member extends is a roof of the vehicle. 
     
     
         22 . The vehicle of  claim 15 , further comprising a belly plate providing an armored layer, wherein the structural member is coupled to the belly plate. 
     
     
         23 . The vehicle of  claim 15 , wherein the internal enclosure of the vehicle is for housing occupants of the vehicle. 
     
     
         24 . An apparatus, comprising:
 one or more detectors configured to detect an explosion, local to a vehicle, occurring on or in ground; and   processing circuitry configured to respond to at least one input from the one or more detectors that is indicative of an explosion having occurred in or on ground local to the vehicle, by causing groundwards forces to be sequentially applied to the vehicle in order to stabilize the vehicle in response to the explosion.   
     
     
         25 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 24 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured to respond to the at least one input from the one or more detectors that is indicative of an explosion having occurred in or on ground local to the vehicle, by sequentially activating a plurality of vehicle stabilizing devices in order to cause the groundwards forces to be sequentially applied the vehicle and stabilize the vehicle in response to the explosion. 
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein an order in which the vehicle stabilizing devices are activated depends upon at least one characteristic of a detected explosion. 
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein the at least one characteristic includes at least one of: a position of the explosion or a magnitude of the explosion. 
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured to determine the at least one characteristic of the detected explosion from the at least one input provided by the one or more detectors. 
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein an order in which the vehicle stabilizing devices are activated is determined from control information stored in memory. 
     
     
         30 . A vehicle comprising the apparatus of  claim 24  and the vehicle stabilizing devices. 
     
     
         31 . The vehicle of  claim 30 , wherein each vehicle stabilizing device comprises a housing positioned on at least one exterior surface of the vehicle and the vehicle stabilizing devices are configured to eject mass from the housing, in an upwards direction, away from ground in order to cause a reactionary groundwards force to be applied to the vehicle. 
     
     
         32 . The vehicle of  claim 31 , wherein the mass comprises a solid. 
     
     
         33 . The vehicle of  claim 31 , wherein the one or more detectors are positioned to detect an explosion underneath an underside of the vehicle, and the at least one exterior surface on which the housings of the vehicle stabilizing devices are positioned is different from the underside of the vehicle. 
     
     
         34 . A method, comprising:
 receiving at least one input from one or more detectors that is indicative of an explosion having occurred in or on ground local to a vehicle; and   responding to the at least one input from the one or more detectors that is indicative of an explosion in or on ground local to the vehicle by sequentially applying groundwards forces to the vehicle in order to stabilize the vehicle in response to the explosion.