Patent Publication Number: US-10782105-B2

Title: Vehicle stabilization

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     Embodiments of the present invention relate to vehicle stabilization. In particular, they relate to stabilizing an armoured vehicle in response to an explosion. 
     BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION 
     Armoured vehicles comprise armour for protecting the vehicle and its occupants against projectiles, shrapnel and blast emanating from explosive devices, such as mines or improvised explosive devices (IED&#39;s). 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF VARIOUS EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION 
     According to various, but not necessarily all, embodiments of the invention there is provided a vehicle, comprising: pressure detection means; vehicle stabilizing means; means for receiving an input from the pressure detection means, in response to the pressure detection means detecting an increase in pressure caused by an explosion; and control means for controlling, in response to reception of the input from the pressure detecting means, the vehicle stabilizing means to apply a force to the vehicle, in order to stabilize the vehicle in response to the explosion. 
     According to various, but not necessarily all, embodiments of the invention there is provided apparatus, comprising: pressure detection means; vehicle stabilizing means for applying a force to a vehicle; means for receiving an input from the pressure detection means, in response to the pressure detection means detecting an increase in pressure caused by an explosion; and control means for controlling, in response to reception of the input from the pressure detecting means, the vehicle stabilizing means to apply a force to the vehicle, in order to stabilize the vehicle in response to the explosion. 
     The control means may be for controlling the vehicle stabilizing means in dependence upon at least one characteristic of the input from the pressure detecting means. The at least one characteristic of the input may indicate, to the control means, the magnitude of the increase in pressure caused by the explosion. The control means may be for controlling the vehicle stabilizing means in dependence upon the indicated magnitude. 
     The at least one characteristic may indicate, to the control means, a position at which pressure has increased due to the explosion. The control means may be for controlling the vehicle stabilizing means in dependence upon the indicated position. 
     The control means may be for controlling the vehicle stabilizing means in dependence upon predetermined control information. The predetermined control information may depend upon the shape, material of construction, weight and/or the centre of gravity of the vehicle. 
     The vehicle may comprise a body. The pressure detection means may be provided at the underside and/or sides of the body. The pressure detection means may comprise one or more pressure detectors. 
     The vehicle stabilizing means may be for applying a force having a groundwards component to the vehicle, in order to stabilize the vehicle in response to the explosion. The vehicle stabilizing means may comprise one or more vehicle stabilizing devices. The one or more vehicle stabilizing devices may include one or more rocket motors. 
     The vehicle may be an armoured vehicle. The armoured vehicle may be land-based. 
     According to various, but not necessarily all, embodiments of the invention there is provided a method, comprising: detecting an increase in pressure caused by an explosion; and controlling, in response to detection of the increase in pressure, vehicle stabilizing means to apply a force to a vehicle, in order to stabilize the vehicle in response to the explosion. 
     The vehicle stabilizing means may be controlled in dependence upon at least one characteristic of the increase in pressure. The vehicle stabilizing means may be controlled in dependence upon the magnitude of the increase in pressure caused by the explosion. 
     The vehicle stabilizing means may be controlled in dependence upon a position at which the pressure has increased due to the explosion. The vehicle stabilizing means may be controlled in dependence upon the velocity, weight and/or the location of the centre of gravity of the vehicle. 
     A computer program comprising computer program instructions that, when executed by a processor, enable the method as described above to be performed. 
     According to various, but not necessarily all, embodiments of the invention there is provided a processor, comprising: a processor interface configured to receive an input from at least one pressure detector, in response to the at least one pressure detector detecting an increase in pressure caused by an explosion; and functional processing circuitry configured, in response to reception of the input from the at least one pressure detector, to control the vehicle stabilizing means to apply a force to the vehicle, in order to stabilize the vehicle in response to the explosion. 
     According to various, but not necessarily all, embodiments of the invention there is provided a vehicle, comprising: at least one pressure detector; at least one vehicle stabilizing device; an interface configured to receive an input from the at least one pressure detector, in response to the at least one pressure detector detecting an increase in pressure caused by an explosion; and processing circuitry configured, in response to reception of the input from the at least one pressure detector, to control the at least one vehicle stabilizing device to apply a force to the vehicle, in order to stabilize the vehicle in response to the explosion. 
     According to various, but not necessarily all, embodiments of the invention there is provided apparatus, comprising: at least one pressure detector; at least one vehicle stabilizing device; an interface configured to receive an input from the at least one pressure detector, in response to the at least one pressure detector detecting an increase in pressure caused by an explosion; and processing circuitry configured, in response to reception of the input from the at least one pressure detector, to control the vehicle stabilizing means to apply a force to a vehicle, in order to stabilize the vehicle in response to the explosion. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a better understanding of various examples of embodiments of the present invention reference will now be made by way of example only to the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates an apparatus; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates the underside of a vehicle; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a side view of the vehicle; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a plan view of the roof of the vehicle; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a schematic of a method; 
         FIG. 6A  illustrates a cross section of an exemplary rocket motor; 
         FIG. 6B  illustrates a first perspective view of the exemplary rocket motor; and 
         FIG. 6C  illustrates a second perspective view of the exemplary rocket motor. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF VARIOUS EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION 
     The Figures illustrate a vehicle  2 , comprising: pressure detection means  16 ; vehicle stabilizing means  18 ; means  14  for receiving an input from the pressure detection means  16 , in response to the pressure detection means  16  detecting an increase in pressure caused by an explosion; and control means  12  for controlling, in response to reception of the input from the pressure detecting means  16 , the vehicle stabilizing means  18  to apply a force to the vehicle  2 , in order to stabilize the vehicle  2  in response to the explosion. 
     An explosive event can cause significant trauma to a vehicle and/or a vehicle&#39;s occupants. In order to protect the occupants of the vehicle from shrapnel and blast emanating from an explosive such as a bomb, mine or improvised explosive device (IED), some vehicles comprise armour. 
     However, while the armour may protect the occupants against injury caused directly from the shrapnel and blast effects, an explosion underneath or to the side of a vehicle may cause the vehicle to accelerate rapidly into the air, resulting in injury to the occupants either when being accelerated upwards or when the vehicle lands on the ground. 
     The main upwards acceleration that is generated by the explosion does not occur instantaneously in response to the initial blast shockwave produced by the explosion. Immediately after the explosion occurs, there is an input of energy from the initial shockwave, the following reflected pressure waves, ejecta, and from localised very high pressure gas. There is then a short time interval while gases produced by decomposition of the explosive expand underneath the vehicle. Once sufficient expansion has occurred, the gases may apply a large enough force to cause the vehicle to accelerate upwards into the air and fall onto its side or top. The primary effect of the expanding gases can be likened to a large airbag expanding very rapidly under the vehicle. 
     Embodiments of the invention relate to an apparatus for stabilizing a vehicle in response to an explosion, in order to prevent or limit injury to the vehicle&#39;s occupants, and to maintain the vehicle upright and in fighting condition. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an apparatus  10  for stabilizing a vehicle in response to an explosion. The apparatus  10  may be applied to a vehicle during manufacture or post manufacture. The apparatus  10  may, for example, be a kit of parts. The vehicle may be a land-based armoured vehicle. For example, the vehicle may be an armoured car, an armoured personnel carrier or a tank. 
     The apparatus  10  comprises control means in the form of a processor  13 , pressure detectors  16 , vehicle stabilizing devices  18 , accelerometers  19  and a memory  20 . The processor  13  comprises functional processing circuitry  12  and a processor input interface  14 . 
     The processor input interface  14  is configured to receive inputs from the pressure detectors  16  and the accelerometers  19 . The processor input interface  14  is also configured to provide the inputs to the functional processing circuitry  12 . The functional processing circuitry  12  is configured to provide an output to the vehicle stabilizing device  18  and to write to and read from the memory  20 . 
     The pressure detectors  16  may, for example, be piezoelectric pressure detectors. Advantageously, piezoelectric pressure detectors operate effectively in adverse weather and ground conditions. 
     The vehicle stabilizing devices  18  are configured to apply a force having a groundwards component to a vehicle. In some embodiments of the invention, some or all of the vehicle stabilizing devices  18  are rocket motors. 
     The memory  20  is configured to store a computer program  21  comprising computer program instructions  22  and data  24 . The data  24  may include control information. The control information is explained in more detail below. 
     The computer program instructions  22  control the operation of the apparatus  10  when loaded into the processor  13 . The computer program instructions  22  provide the logic and routines that enables the apparatus  10  to perform aspects of the method illustrated in  FIG. 5 . 
     The computer program may arrive at the apparatus  10  via any suitable delivery mechanism  26 . The delivery mechanism  26  may be, for example, a computer-readable storage medium, a computer program product, a memory device, a record medium such as a CD-ROM or DVD, an article of manufacture that tangibly embodies the computer program instructions  22 . The delivery mechanism may be a signal configured to reliably transfer the computer program instructions  22 . 
     In an alternative implementation, the processor  13  and/or the memory  20  may be provided by an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC). 
       FIG. 2  illustrates an example of the underside  104  of a vehicle  2  comprising the apparatus  10 . The illustrated vehicle  2  comprises a body  100 , wheels  28   a  to  28   d , a plurality of pressure detectors  16   a  to  16   j  and a plurality of accelerometers  19   a  to  19   j.    
     Other implementations may have different quantities of wheels, pressure detectors  16  and accelerometers  19  than those illustrated in  FIG. 2 . Also, in other implementations, the positions of the wheels, pressure detectors  16 , accelerometers  19  and may be different to those illustrated in  FIG. 2 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a side view of the vehicle  2  of  FIG. 2 . The vehicle  2  comprises a plurality of vehicle stabilizing devices  18   a  to  18   d  attached to the roof  108  of the vehicle  2 . 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a plan view of the roof  108  of the vehicle  2 . Each vehicle stabilizing device  18   a  to  18   d  comprises a housing  200   a  to  200   d  which is coupled to the vehicle  2 . In  FIG. 4 , each vehicle stabilizing device  18   a  to  18   d  is illustrated as comprising four rocket motors  71 - 74 . However, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that each vehicle stabilizing device  18   a  to  18   d  may comprise any number of rocket motors. Each rocket motor may be wholly contained within its corresponding housing. 
     In the  FIG. 4  example, the vehicle stabilizing devices  18   a  to  18   d  are located at the four corners of the roof  108 . Two of the vehicle stabilizing devices  18   a  and  18   b  are located towards the front  102  of the vehicle  2 . Two of the vehicle stabilizing devices  18   c  and  18   d  are located towards the rear  106  of the vehicle  2 . 
     While four vehicle stabilizing devices  18  are illustrated in  FIG. 4 , different quantities of vehicle stabilizing devices  18  may be provided in other implementations. The vehicle stabilizing devices  18  may also be situated in different positions to those illustrated in  FIG. 4 . 
     A method according to the embodiments of the invention will now be described in relation to  FIG. 5 . Initially, an explosion occurs at a position that is external to the vehicle  2 . The explosion may, for example, occur underneath, in front of, behind or at a side of the vehicle  2 . The explosion may occur as a result of the triggering of a bomb, mine or IED (by the vehicle  2  or otherwise). 
     The explosion causes an initial blast shockwave. At block  400  of  FIG. 5 , the pressure detectors  16  of the apparatus  10  detect that an increase in pressure has occurred, local to the vehicle, as a result of the initial blast shockwave. The pressure detectors  16  may, for example, detect that pressure has increased underneath the vehicle  2 , at a side of the vehicle  2 , at the front of the vehicle  2  or at the rear of the vehicle  2 . 
     In response to detecting the increase in pressure, the pressure detectors  16  provide an input to the processor input interface  14 . The input may, for example, indicate the direction in which pressure increased as a result of the explosion, the duration of time over which the pressure increased and/or the extent to which the pressure increased as a result of the explosion. 
     The processor input interface  14  provides the input from the pressure detectors  16  to the functional processing circuitry  12 . The functional processing circuitry  12  then analyzes the input in order to determine whether the input is indicative of an explosion having occurred. An input provided by the pressure detectors  16  following an explosion will have particular characteristics (and will reflect the characteristics of the initial blast shockwave). For example, the input may be indicative of a very large increase in pressure over a very short period of time. 
     After the functional processing circuitry  13  has determined that an explosion has occurred, at block  410  of  FIG. 5 , the functional processing circuitry  14  controls the vehicle stabilizing devices  18  to apply a force having a groundwards component to the vehicle  2 , in order to stabilize the vehicle  2  in response to the explosion. 
     The functional processing circuitry  12  may, for example, control the vehicle stabilizing devices  18  in dependence upon one or more characteristics of the input from the pressure detectors  16 . The input from the pressure detectors may indicate, to the functional processing circuitry  12 , the magnitude of the increase in pressure caused by the explosion, and/or the position(s) at which pressure has increased due to the explosion. 
     The data  24  stored in the memory  20  may include predetermined control information specifying how the vehicle stabilizing devices  18  are to be controlled when different inputs are received from the pressure detectors  16 . The data  24  may, for example, be stored in the form of a look up table. 
     The control information may be determined during a testing procedure. Different control information may be provided for different vehicles. The control information may, for example, depend upon the shape, material of construction, weight and/or the centre of gravity of the vehicle. Different portions of the control information may specify how the vehicle stabilizing devices  18  are to be controlled when the vehicle is travelling at different velocities. 
     When the input from the pressure detectors  16  is received by the functional processing circuitry  12 , the functional processing circuitry  12  matches the input with the appropriate portion of control information. The functional processing circuitry  12  determines how to control the vehicle stabilizing devices from the identified portion of control information and controls the vehicle stabilizing devices  18  appropriately. 
     In some embodiments of the invention, the functional processing circuitry  12  may obtain inputs (via the input interface  14 ) from the accelerometers  19  to verify that an explosion has occurred. For example, a mine explosion under a vehicle causes the structure of the vehicle to vibrate in a particular manner. In these embodiments of the invention, the functional processing circuitry  12  may only activate the vehicle stabilizing devices  18  if the input from accelerometers  19  verifies that an explosion has occurred. 
     In some examples, the input from the pressure detectors may indicate to the functional processing circuitry  12  that some pressure detectors have detected a larger increase in pressure than others. The functional processing circuitry  12  may control a vehicle stabilizing device  18   a ,  18   b ,  18   c ,  18   d  to apply a force (having a groundwards component) to the vehicle  2  that depends upon the increase in pressure that is detected by a pressure detector (or pressure detectors) adjacent to that vehicle stabilizing device  18   a ,  18   b ,  18   c ,  18   d . When a vehicle stabilizing device  18   a  to  18   d  is activated, some of all of the rocket motors within that vehicle stabilizing device  18   a ,  18   b ,  18   c ,  18   d  may be activated, depending upon the groundwards force that is required. 
     The order in which each of the pressure detectors  16   a  to  16   j  are activated may, for example, indicate the position at which the explosion has occurred to the functional processing circuitry  12  (relative to the vehicle  2 ). The functional processing circuitry  12  may activate the vehicle stabilizing devices  18   a  to  18   d  in dependence upon the order in which the pressure detectors  16   a  to  16   j  is activated. 
     By way of example, consider a situation where an explosion occurs close to the front-right wheel  28   b . The pressure detectors  16   b  and  16   d  illustrated in  FIG. 2  detect a larger increase in pressure than the other pressure detectors  16   a ,  16   c  and  16   e  to  16   j . The functional processing circuitry  12  may control the vehicle stabilizing device  18   b  situated closest to the pressure detectors  16   b  and  16   d  to apply a larger groundwards force to the vehicle  2  than the other vehicle stabilizing devices  18   a ,  18   c ,  18   d . The other vehicle stabilizing devices  18   a ,  18   c  and  18   d  may or may not be activated. 
     The location of the vehicle stabilizing devices  18  may, for example, depend upon the shape of the vehicle  2 , and how the vehicle&#39;s weight is distributed throughout the vehicle  2 . The torque provided to the vehicle  2  by the vehicle stabilizing devices  18  (following activation) may be maximised by locating the vehicle stabilizing devices  18  close to or at the periphery of the vehicle  2 . For example, in this regard, the vehicle stabilizing devices  18  may be towards the four corners of the vehicle (see  FIG. 4 ). 
     The groundwards force applied to the vehicle  2  by the vehicle stabilizing devices  18  acts to mitigate the effects of the total forces generated by the combination of the initial blast shockwave, any reflected shockwaves, ejecta, and the expanding gases resulting from the explosion. Consequently, upwards acceleration of the vehicle  2  is reduced or eliminated, enabling trauma to the vehicle&#39;s occupants to be minimised. 
     In some embodiments of the invention, each of the rocket motors  71 - 74  of the vehicle stabilizing devices  18   a  to  18   d  may be configured to expel gas in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to and away from the plane defined by the ground that the vehicle  2  is situated on, in order to provide a groundwards force to the vehicle  2 . In other embodiments of the invention (depending, for example, on the vehicle design) the direction in which gas is expelled by the rocket motors  71 - 74  may be offset from the vertical to produce a sidewards force to counteract the effect of mine blasts acting on sloped undersides of the vehicle. In these embodiments of the invention, the groundwards component of the force applied by the rocket motors  71 - 74  may be larger than the sidewards component. 
     The rocket motors may, for example, be very short burn motors (e.g. having a burn time of the order of tens of milliseconds) that enable the apparatus  10  to provide a fast response to lifting forces caused by an explosion. 
     For instance, the upwards force created by typical explosive devices, such as anti-tank mines in the 6 to 10 kg range, may be counteracted by rocket motors containing a weight of propellant that may be approximately the same as, or less than the amount of the explosive substance contained in the device causing the explosion. 
     In some embodiments of the invention, the thrust profile of the rocket motors may be such that the rocket motors provide a maximum thrust for a short period of time such as 20 to 30 milliseconds after activation, followed by a longer period of lower thrust. This enables the rocket motors to counteract the initially relatively large force that immediately follows the explosion, and then later the lower force that results from residual quasi-static pressure from gaseous detonation products after they have spread out underneath the vehicle. 
     A tubular rocket motor having the above mentioned thrust profile may be produced by providing propellant having a relatively large diameter near the exit nozzle of the rocket motor, with the diameter of the propellant tapering to a lower diameter along the length of the rocket motor. This may, for example, provide a very rapidly generated, very short maximum thrust burn time of 10 to 20 milliseconds, followed by a further 30 to 150 millisecond sustaining thrust at a lower thrust level. The durations and magnitudes may be adjusted, depending upon the type of the vehicle the rocket motors are fitted to and depending upon the type of explosive device the rocket motors are intended to counteract. 
     In some implementations, the longer period of lower thrust may not be provided. In these implementations, it is not necessary to taper the diameter of the propellant in the rocket motor. 
       FIGS. 6A, 6B and 6C  illustrate an exemplary rocket motor  500 . The illustrated rocket motor  500  is substantially cylindrical in shape. The rocket motor  500  comprises a substantially circular base  520  and an annular side wall  516 . A cover  514  is provided to protect the rocket motor  500  from projectiles, shrapnel and blast. 
       FIG. 6A  illustrates a cross section of the rocket motor  500 . The reference numeral  540  and  560  denote the length and diameter of the rocket motor  500  respectively. 
     A plurality of propellant regions  522   a - 522   c  is defined in the rocket motor  500  by a plurality of internal dividers  524   a  to  524   c . An open space  510  is provided between the propellant regions  522   a  to  522   c  and an initiator system  512  of the rocket motor  500 . 
     In this example, the internal dividers  524   a  to  524   c  are fastened to the base  520  by fasteners  518  (for example, bolts). A first divider  524   c  is positioned at the centre of the cross section of the rocket motor  500 . A second divider  524   b  provides a first internal annular wall around the first divider  524   c  and within the exterior side wall  516 . A third divider  524   c  provides a second internal annular wall around the second divider  524   b  and within the exterior side wall  516 . 
     Each divider  524   a  to  524   c  has, at its distal end, an outwardly tapered region  528  followed by an inwardly tapered region  526 . The inwardly tapered region  526  is positioned at the extremity of the distal end of each divider  524   a  to  524   c . The outwardly tapered regions  528  provide an exit choke which causes exhaust gases resulting from propellant burning in the propellant regions  522   a  to  522   c  to compress. The inwardly tapered regions  526  cause the exhaust gases to expand, following compression. 
     The cross-sectional area defined by the outwardly tapered regions  528  provides an exit choke that is a relatively high proportion of the total cross-sectional area of the rocket motor  500  (for example, the cross-sectional area of the exit choke may be anything from 30% to 70% of the total cross sectional area of the rocket motor  500 ). A large exit choke minimises internal pressure in the rocket motor  500 , enabling the rocket motor  500  to be formed from relatively low-weight materials. 
     As mentioned above, the rocket motor  500  comprises an initiator system  512 . In this example, the initiator system  512  is provided by a wire arrangement that extends above each of the propellant regions  522   a  to  522   c . The initiator system  512  may be made from a material that causes the propellant to ignite a very short time after activation of the initiator system  512 . For instance, the initiator system  512  may be made from materials such as aluminium/iron oxide, copper oxide/aluminium, copper oxide/magnesium, polytetrafluoroethylene/magnesium or aluminium/palladium-ruthenium alloys. The apparatus  10  may further comprise a capacitor of an appropriate size in order to activate the initiator system  512  with a sufficiently large electrical current. 
     Use of one of the initiator systems  512  described above advantageously allows maximum thrust from the rocket motor  500  to be achieved within 5-10 milliseconds of detecting the initial blast shockwave from an explosion. This enables the apparatus  10  to counteract the forces produced from the explosion very quickly. 
     The rocket motor  500  may, for example, have a high diameter to length ratio (for instance, in the region of 3:1), to allow a large surface area of propellant (in the propellant regions  522   a  to  522   c ) to be exposed to sparks from the initiation system  512 . This enables a large amount of propellant to be ignited at a time, resulting in a very high thrust being provided for a very short duration. 
     The propellant regions  522   a - 522   c  may include a honeycomb structure (for example, made from aluminium or Nomex®) that is coated in propellant. The cells of the honeycomb structure provide sparks from the initiator system  512  with access to the propellant and hot gases. This also enables the rocket motor  500  to achieve high thrust levels in a very short space of the time (for example, 5 to 10 milliseconds). An alternative to the honeycomb structure might be open frame structure pellets, similar to wire wool, that have an open structure which provides the sparks from the initiator system  512  with access to the propellant. 
     It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that alternative rocket motor  500  designs to that illustrated in  FIGS. 6A to 6C  may be used in embodiments of the invention. In some alternative embodiments of the invention, a rocket motor may comprise a plate, positioned beneath the cover  514 , which provides an exit choke area instead of the internal dividers. Apertures in the plate may provide a plurality of exit chokes. The exit choke area provided by the apertures may be around 60% of the total cross-sectional area of the rocket motor. In other alternative embodiments of the invention, the rocket motors may not comprise any such plate or any internal dividers  524   a  to  524   c.    
     Following activation of one or more of the vehicle stabilizing devices  18 , the functional processing circuitry  12  may monitor inputs provided by one or more of the accelerometers  19  periodically to determine whether the vehicle  2  remains at risk of de-stabilization from the explosion. Once the functional processing circuitry  12  determines that the risk is no longer present (e.g. because the inputs provided by the accelerometers  19  have reduced beyond a threshold level), it may de-activate the vehicle stabilizing devices  18 . For example, the functional processing circuitry  12  may not fire any additional rocket motors. 
     It may be that the vehicle  2  comprises one or more weapons. The firing of a weapon may result in shockwaves, causing an increase in pressure local to the vehicle  2 . The functional processing circuitry  12  may be configured to receive an input from the weapon (or other electronic circuitry connected to the weapon) indicating that the weapon has been fired. This enables the functional processing circuitry  12  to differentiate between a local increase in pressure caused by a blast shockwave from a hostile explosion, and a shockwave caused by the vehicle&#39;s weaponry. 
     The blocks illustrated in  FIG. 5  may represent steps in a method and/or sections of code in the computer program  21 . The illustration of a particular order to the blocks does not necessarily imply that there is a required or preferred order for the blocks and the order and arrangement of the block may be varied. Furthermore, it may be possible for some steps to be omitted. 
     Although embodiments of the present invention have been described in the preceding paragraphs with reference to various examples, it should be appreciated that modifications to the examples given can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as claimed. For example, in some alternative embodiments of the invention, the functional processing circuitry  12  may not use stored control information to determine how to control the vehicle stabilizing devices  18  in response to a detected increase in pressure. The functional processing circuitry  12  may merely activate the vehicle stabilizing devices  18  if the input from the pressure detectors  16  indicates that the pressure has increased above a threshold level. 
     In the illustrated embodiments of the invention, the vehicle stabilizing devices  18  are attached to the roof of the vehicle  2  using a support  200 . However, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the vehicle stabilizing devices  18  could be situated in a number of other positions in or on the vehicle  2 , such as in the wings or in the engine bay above the front wheel suspension points. 
     The vehicle  2  is illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 3  as having wheels  28   a  to  28   d  that do not run on tracks. However, in some embodiments of the invention, the vehicle  2  may comprise wheels that run on tracks (e.g. where the vehicle  2  is a tank). 
     Features described in the preceding description may be used in combinations other than the combinations explicitly described. 
     Although functions have been described with reference to certain features, those functions may be performable by other features whether described or not. 
     Although features have been described with reference to certain embodiments, those features may also be present in other embodiments whether described or not. 
     Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.