ANTI-THEFT DEVICE FOR VEHICLES AND FUNCTIONING METHOD

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments described here concern an anti-theft device for vehicles, which is suitable both to prevent the removal of an unattended vehicle, and also to prevent a possible theft or violent removal of a vehicle when the engine is running and the driver is on board.

The anti-theft device according to the invention can be installed on motor vehicles, in particular cars, trucks, or suchlike, even if the use in other vehicles such as vans, motorcycles or possibly small boats or other types of vehicles is not excluded.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Vehicles, for example, cars, are known to have some characteristics which make them easy to steal, both for reselling the vehicle itself and also for recovering parts and components to be sold separately.

Over time, different types of anti-theft devices have been developed and designed to try to prevent these thefts, each of which adopts different countermeasures to mainly prevent the theft of an unattended vehicle.

For example, physical or mechanical anti-theft devices of a static type are known, that is, they provide to use components, usually made of metal material, such as columns or bars, which are connected with special stops to the wheels, the pedals, or the steering wheel of a vehicle, so as to block its movement. Such anti-theft devices, however, are inconvenient in that they must be attached and detached repeatedly, and moreover they can be tampered with and removed in a relatively simple way, therefore they are not very reliable.

There are also known anti-theft devices equipped with sensors located on the car which, in the event of tampering with the lock or attempted intrusion into the passenger compartment, activate a siren to induce the thief to run away. In general, however, these anti-theft devices are not provided with clamping devices to physically prevent the vehicle from being stolen. In addition, the siren can be tampered with and silenced, frustrating the action of the alarm.

Another type of satellite anti-theft device is known, which provides to use antennas to communicate with a satellite network, for example GPS, to make the car always traceable even in the event of theft, which, however, do not prevent the theft of the car, but only allow to trace its position, and it is therefore necessary to provide other anti-theft devices to physically block the vehicle. They are also not particularly efficient and reliable in cases where the stolen car is in an area where the satellite system has no field, or satellite signal disturbance devices are used.

A known evolution of an anti-theft device is the so-called immobilizer, that is, an electronic anti-theft device that prevents the vehicle from starting by activating a clamping mechanism that acts on the engine, if the original keys of the vehicle are not used.

A common disadvantage of all these types of anti-theft devices is that their functioning or activation is provided only in the case of an unattended vehicle, that is, with the engine off and/or with closed locks, as in the case, for example, of a vehicle parked on the street or in a car park, or in a garage.

It is known, however, that many car thefts also occur when the driver is driving with the vehicle parked with the engine running, such as, for example, when stopping at a stop, or at a traffic light.

In these particular cases, the anti-theft devices described heretofore do not work, or are not active, and therefore the vehicle can be stolen with moderate ease, as they allow a thief to replace the authorized driver, by force.

Known anti-theft devices are also unable to prevent the theft of the vehicle in the event that an unauthorized person manages to obtain the keys of the vehicle and then access the passenger compartment and start the engine with them.

To try to solve this problem, more sophisticated anti-theft devices have also been developed, which, if the vehicle is stolen with the engine running, block the possible restarting of the car after switching off. Even these anti-theft devices, however, are unable to prevent the theft of the car in real time, which can therefore be stolen anyway.

Even more sophisticated theft detectors of the type described above allow remote control/management of the engine block, for example, by means of a signal transmitted by a smart mobile device.

However, it may not be possible to send the lock signal to the car, for example due to a lack of signal, due to the use of interfering devices or due to the lack of the smart mobile device from which to send the lock signal, possibly taken from the user of the vehicle when the car is stolen.

Anti-theft devices are also known which use biometric detection technologies, for example, fingerprint readers, which, however, although they allow to prevent the first ignition of the engine by unauthorized persons, are unable to prevent the theft of the vehicle when the engine is started.

There is therefore a need to perfect an anti-theft device for vehicles which can overcome at least one of the disadvantages of the state of the art.

One purpose of the present invention is to provide an anti-theft device for vehicles able to prevent both the theft of an unattended vehicle and also of a vehicle in motion, as well as a violent removal of the vehicle in the presence of the driver.

Another purpose of the present invention is to provide an anti-theft device that uses different technologies that interact with each other.

Another purpose is to provide an anti-theft device which is reliable and which does not allow unauthorized drivers to drive the vehicle.

Another purpose of the present invention is to perfect an anti-theft device which is suitable to function and remain active even when the vehicle is stationary with the engine running.

The Applicant has devised, tested and embodied the present invention to overcome the shortcomings of the state of the art and to obtain these and other purposes and advantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is set forth and characterized in the independent claim. The dependent claims describe other characteristics of the invention or variants to the main inventive idea.

Embodiments concern an anti-theft device for vehicles, which is suitable both to prevent the theft of the vehicle when it is unattended with the engine off, and also the theft of the vehicle when the engine is running and/or a possible theft when the driver is on board.

By vehicles here and hereafter in the description we mean in particular motor vehicles, non-limiting examples of which include cars, motor vehicles, trucks, and possibly also small boats, or suchlike. Although in the description that follows we will refer mainly to an anti-theft device applied to a car, it is however clear that the invention can be translated to different types of vehicles with minimal modifications.

The anti-theft device according to the invention comprises:

- at least one first recognition device associated with a driving seat of the vehicle, and configured to detect at least one first physical parameter of a driver seated in the driving seat;

- a second recognition device configured to detect at least one second physical parameter of the driver, different from the first physical parameter;

- a clamping device connectable to one or more components of the movement unit of the vehicle and configured to interfere with one or more components of the movement unit;

- a control and command unit configured to receive the data detected by the first recognition device and by the second recognition device, process the data received comparing it with data stored in a storage unit to verify whether the physical parameters detected of the driver in the driving seat correspond to the stored parameters associated with an authorized driver and, if the result is positive, deactivate the clamping unit to allow the vehicle to be used.

According to some embodiments, the detection/recognition devices are configured to detect the driver’s parameters before and after the start of the vehicle, that is, both with the engine off to enable it to start, and also with the engine running, in a continuous manner over time.

In some embodiments, the physical recognition devices can be chosen, for example, from biometric sensors or biophysical sensors suitable to recognize respectively the biometric and/or biophysical parameters of the driver.

By way of example, the biometric sensors can comprise one or more of either video- or photo-cameras for facial and/or iris recognition, fingerprint detection sensors, weight detection sensors, or audio detection sensors suitable to detect a timbre of a voice, or a word pronounced by a user.

The biophysical sensors can comprise one or more of either sensors suitable to detect the heart rate, or the intensity of perspiration of the driver, or other.

According to some embodiments, the anti-theft device comprises at least two biometric sensors suitable to detect at least two biometric parameters of the driver. Preferably, the sensors suitable to detect at least two biometric parameters are chosen from a facial sensor, an eye sensor, a fingerprint sensor, or a weight sensor.

According to other embodiments, the anti-theft device comprises at least a third biometric sensor suitable to detect another biometric parameter of the driver, used as a redundancy physical parameter, so as to avoid possible recognition errors.

Other embodiments can provide a combination of biometric sensors and biophysical sensors, of one or the other or both.

In accordance with some embodiments, the anti-theft device uses a combination of a plurality of biometric sensors, and possibly at least one biophysical sensor.

Preferred embodiments can provide that the recognition of an authorized driver on the basis of data detected by two or more detection devices is carried out with the active or passive participation of the user, or both.

An active participation can be, for example, when the user is asked to perform an action, for example to place his/her fingertip on a fingerprint reader, or to pronounce a sentence.

A passive participation can be, for example, the automatic detection of the weight, physiognomic features or heart rate, without requiring any user action.

The combination of active and passive participation can advantageously increase the level of security and control of the functions of the anti-theft device. For example, in the event of malfunctions or deficiencies in the management of the passive recognition systems, the active intervention of the driver, for example, the pronunciation of a voice command, can activate the functions of the anti-theft device.

Providing a double verification with different biophysical parameters of the driver, both of the active and also of the passive type, allows both to verify whether or not he/she is authorized to drive the vehicle, and also to verify whether he/she is fit to drive, that is, is in a condition to drive safely.

In accordance with the purposes of the invention, the combination of the physical recognition devices allows to have a number of parameters suitable to, substantially, unambiguously recognize the person sitting in the driving seat and therefore verify whether this person is authorized or unauthorized.

The verification is performed by the control and command unit which compares the parameters detected by the recognition devices with the parameters of authorized drivers stored in it.

In some embodiments, the anti-theft device can comprise a user interface designed for the creation of the database of parameters for authorized drivers and/or also for controlling the anti-theft device remotely.

According to some embodiments, in order for the engine to start the anti-theft device requires the driver to be recognized on the basis of at least two of his/her physical parameters.

In accordance with some embodiments, while the vehicle is running, that is, with the engine running, the anti-theft device can be configured to continuously monitor that the parameters of the driver correspond to the parameters of an authorized driver, that is, that no changes of the driver are made. For this task, parameters that do not require physical contact with the sensor can be advantageously used, for example, facial sensors or iris sensors. In this way, the anti-theft device can monitor the driver while he/she is driving without interfering with him/her.

According to some embodiments, the detection and comparison of the physical parameters with the stored data occurs continuously even while the vehicle is moving, with a frequency such that in the event of a lack of correspondence, the possible activation of the clamping device can occur in real time.

The control and command unit, in addition to the data detected by the passive detection devices, can also be configured to require the driver to interact with one of the active detection devices in order to detect another biometric parameter, for example by means of an audio sensor or fingerprint detection sensor.

In the event that at least one of the parameters detected and transmitted by the physical recognition devices does not correspond to parameters present in the memory, so that an authorized driver is not recognized, as in the case of a different driver taking possession of the vehicle violently, or the required parameter is not supplied within an established amount of time, the control and command unit can recognize whether the driver who is driving is not authorized, or is fit, or not, to drive and consequently command the clamping device. According to some embodiments, the clamping device can be advantageously configured to act on one or more components of a movement unit in order to prevent the theft of the vehicle.

According to some embodiments, the anti-theft device can be configured to act simultaneously or sequentially on one or more of the components of the movement unit.

Embodiments described here also concern a method for the activation and functioning of an anti-theft device for vehicles, which provides to:

- detect and/or recognize at least one first physical parameter of a driver associated with a driving seat of the vehicle;

- detect and/or recognize at least one second physical parameter of the driver, different from the first parameter;

- process the data received by comparing it with stored data to verify whether the physical parameters detected of the driver in the driving seat correspond to the parameters stored and associated with an authorized driver;

- if the verification yields a positive result, the method provides to deactivate a clamping unit connected to the movement unit of the vehicle in order to allow the use of the vehicle;

- if the verification yields a negative result, the method provides to keep active, or activate, the clamping unit connected to the movement unit so as to interfere with one or more components of the movement unit of the vehicle in order to inhibit its use.

ILLUSTRATION OL THE DRAWINGS

These and other aspects, characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of some embodiments, given as a non-restrictive example with reference to the attached drawings wherein:

- fig. 1 is an example diagram of the functioning of the invention;

- fig. 2 is an example diagram of the control and command unit;

- fig. 3 is a schematic representation of an anti-theft device according to the invention applied to an automobile.

To facilitate comprehension, the same reference numbers have been used, where possible, to identify identical common elements in the drawings. It is understood that elements and characteristics of one embodiment can conveniently be incorporated into other embodiments without further clarifications.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

We will now refer in detail to the various embodiments of the invention, of which one or more examples are shown in the attached drawings. Each example is supplied by way of illustration of the invention and shall not be understood as a limitation thereof. For example, the characteristics shown or described insomuch as they are part of one embodiment can be adopted on, or in association with, other embodiments to produce another embodiment. It is understood that the present invention shall include all such modifications and variants.

Embodiments described here with reference to the attached drawings 1-3 concern an anti-theft device, indicated as a whole with number 10, which can be installed on a vehicle 50. The anti-theft device 10 according to the invention is in particular suitable to prevent both the theft of the vehicle 50 when unattended, and also the theft thereof with its engine running, and also to prevent the vehicle from being taken away violently, or stolen, with the driver on board.

Fig. 1 shows, by way of example, the diagram of an anti-theft device 10 for vehicles 50 according to embodiments described here, from which the relationships between the various components can be clearly identified.

The anti-theft device 10 according to the invention comprises at least one first recognition device 12 associable with a driving seat 51 of a vehicle 50, which is configured to detect and/or recognize at least a first physical parameter of a driver seated in the driving seat 51.

According to some embodiments, the first recognition device 12 can be of the passive type, that is, suitable to automatically detect a determinate physical parameter of the driver, without needing to interact with the driver.

According to some embodiments, the anti-theft device comprises at least one second recognition device 13, associable with the driving seat 51 and configured to detect and/or recognize at least one second physical parameter of the driver, different from the first physical parameter.

The anti-theft device 10 according to the invention also comprises at least one clamping device 15 connectable to at least one component of a movement unit 52 of the vehicle 50, and which can be selectively activated to interfere with the at least one component to inhibit its functioning.

According to some embodiments, the clamping device 15 can be advantageously configured to act on one or more components of the movement unit 52 to prevent the theft of the vehicle, for example, but not only, selected from the engine 54, the braking system 55, the steering system 56, the fuel delivery system, the battery, the fuses, the control unit etc., such that, for example, they will switch off the engine, set a limited travel speed or slow the vehicle down. The clamping devices 15, as a function of the component with which they are associated, comprise electric and/or hydraulic pistons, calipers, or other.

The anti-theft device 10 also comprises a user interface 14 configured to allow to enter specific physical parameters of a determinate individual to record and set the characteristics and parameters of an authorized driver.

The anti-theft device 10 according to the invention also comprises a control and command unit 11 connected to the recognition devices 12, 13, to the clamping device 15 and to the interface 14, and is configured to receive from the recognition devices 12, 13 data relating to the parameters detected of the driver, process the data received with data stored in a storage unit 16, verify whether the physical parameters detected of the driver in the driving seat correspond to the parameters associated with an authorized driver and, if the result is positive, deactivate the clamping device 15 to allow the use of the vehicle 50.

The use of two recognition devices 12, 13 of a different type allows to increase driver recognition efficiency, and to guarantee that only the user that has specific physical parameters that are present, or stored, in the control and command unit 11 is authorized to start the vehicle 50 and/or drive it.

According to other embodiments, the anti-theft device 10 comprises a third recognition device 17 associable with the driving seat 51 and which is configured to detect a third physical parameter of the driver, different from the first and second parameters.

According to some embodiments, it can be provided that at least one of either the first 12, the second 13 or the third recognition device 17 is of the active type, that is, configured to interact with the user to receive a signal from the latter correlated to the parameter to be detected. According to other embodiments, at least three recognition devices 12, 13, 17 can be provided in order to obtain redundant information relating to the physical parameters of the driver which limit, if not prevent, possible identification errors by the control and command unit 11.

According to some embodiments, two recognition devices 12, 13 of the passive type and one recognition device 17 of the active type can be provided.

According to some embodiments, the recognition devices 12, 13, 17 can comprise respective one or more biometric and/or biophysical sensors, suitable to detect specific biometric and/or biophysical parameters of the driver.

The biometric sensors can be chosen, for example, from facial 27 and/or iris 28 detection sensors, a fingerprint reader 30, weight detection sensors 29, or audio recognition sensors 18 suitable to detect a timbre of a voice, or a word or phrase pronounced by a user.

The biometric parameters can be preferably used to unambiguously identify the driver, while the biophysical parameters can be used to support the biometric parameters or, individually, to verify that the driver is physically and/or psychophysically fit to drive.

According to possible implementations, the first recognition device 12 can comprise at least one biometric sensor, in particular at least one facial detection sensor 27 or an eye detection sensor 28 suitable to detect the driver’s iris.

According to some embodiments, the first recognition device 12 can comprise for example a video- or photo-camera comprising both the facial 27 and the eye detection sensor 28, so as to obtain two distinct recognition parameters with a single device 12.

According to possible implementations, the video/photo-camera can be based on infrared technology, which, since it is not affected by ambient light, allows to obtain a correct detection of the physical parameters of the driver in any lighting condition whatsoever, without requiring additional lighting devices.

Two detection devices 27, 28 can be placed, for example, in the dashboard 53 of the vehicle 50, advantageously directed toward the area of the passenger area occupied by the drive’s head so as to be able to easily detect the physical parameters for which they are designed.

According to some embodiments, the second recognition device 13 can comprise a weight sensor 29 configured to detect the weight of the driver seated in the driving seat 51. For example, there can be provided one or more load cells associated with the seat 57 in the driving seat 51.

Advantageously, the weight sensor 29 can be used to detect temporary absences of the driver.

In other embodiments, the weight parameter can be used as a comparison parameter to discriminate the authorized driver.

According to some embodiments, the third recognition device 17 can comprise a fingerprint reader sensor 30 configured to detect the driver’s fingerprint.

In some embodiments, the fingerprint reader 30 can use technologies of the optical, capacitive, thermal, piezoelectric, radio frequency or ultrasound type to detect ridges and valleys on a fingertip.

The fingerprint reader 30 can for example be associated with the dashboard 53, in a position that is easily accessible for the driver.

According to possible variants, the fingerprint reader 30 can be integrated with an engine start button so that the reading of the driver’s fingerprint occurs automatically, and that the recognition of an authorized fingerprint can automatically determine the start of the engine 54.

According to other embodiments, the anti-theft apparatus 10 can comprise an audio recognition device 18 configured to detect at least one word/phrase pronounced by the driver, for example a keyword stored in the storage unit 16 and established at the time of registration of the authorized driver.

According to some embodiments, it can be provided that the audio recognition device 18 is configured to detect both keywords associated with a specific registered driver in order to identify him/her, and also keywords for activating the anti-theft device 10, thus allowing the driver, or even a passenger, if authorized, to activate the anti-theft device 10 in the event of dangerous situations, or attempted theft.

According to some embodiments, it can be provided that the audio recognition device 18 is configured to also recognize and identify the timbre and voice of an authorized driver.

According to some embodiments, the audio recognition device 18 can comprise a microphone 31 , and possibly a speaker, by means of which an action of identification by the driver can be requested.

According to some embodiments, the audio recognition device 18 can be configured to recognize both an identification word of the driver and also a word/phrase that activates the anti-theft device 10.

According to some embodiments, the user interface 14 can be integrated in the control and command unit 11, or be physically separated from it, for example provided on a remote electronic device 20 suitable to communicate with the control and command unit 11 by means of a cable connection or with wireless communication protocols.

According to some embodiments, the audio recognition device 18 can be integrated in the remote electronic device 20, or be installed directly on board the vehicle 50.

In this case, a software application that can be installed on a computer or smartphone can be provided, suitable to define a two-way communication with the control and command unit 11 , both to store one or more authorized drivers, and also to receive possible notifications and signals from the control and command unit 11.

This type of solution allows, for example, to manage authorized users/drivers, for example to add or remove them, or possibly communicate with the control and command unit 11 in order to directly activate the clamping device 15 of the vehicle 50.

According to some embodiments, the interface 14 can provide one application for the end user and one for the exclusive use of the installers of the anti-theft device and/or the insurance auditors, providing specific functions to each one. According to some embodiments, it can be provided that the entering and/or removal of the parameters can only be carried out by authorized individuals, for example, the vehicle dealer, the technical assistance provider of the anti-theft device, an already authorized driver.

According to some embodiments, a number of authorized drivers greater than one can be entered in the storage unit 16. This can be particularly useful in the case of a vehicle shared by several family members, or in the case of vehicles shared by groups of people from one company.

According to some embodiments, the physical parameters to be entered and stored in the control and command unit 11 can be detected by means of the recognition devices 12, 13, 17, 18 of the anti-theft device 10, or by third-party systems, for example a suitably configured photo-camera and/or microphone of a remote electronic device 20, for example a smartphone, and then uploaded into the storage unit 16 of the control and command unit 11.

According to other embodiments, the anti-theft apparatus 10 can comprise biophysical monitoring devices 19 configured to continuously detect biophysical parameters of the driver in order to verify and monitor whether or not he/she is fit to drive the vehicle 50, when the vehicle 50 is in motion, and possibly also the moment it is started.

According to some embodiments, the biophysical monitoring devices 19 can comprise one or more of either a sensor suitable to detect heart rate, intensity of perspiration, or other.

In possible solutions, a heart rate monitor 32 can be integrated in the grip of the steering wheel 58 to detect the heart rate by exploiting the substantially constant presence of at least one hand of the driver gripping it.

According to some embodiments, devices wearable by a user, for example a smartwatch, or a heart rate monitor, can be provided, suitable to detect the driver’s pulse and communicate it to the control and command unit 11.

On the basis of the data received and the data stored, the control and command unit 11 can also verify, with the vehicle 50 in motion, if the driver is fit to drive, and possibly ask the user to interact with one or more recognition devices 17, 18 to provide his/her fingerprint, the keyword, or other, so as to ascertain his/her level of attention.

If, for example, an excessively high or low heart rate of the driver is detected compared to an average value, which can indicate a state of excessive agitation or drowsiness of the driver, the control and command unit 11 can recognize that the driver is not fit to drive and request that an additional parameter be entered.

If the requested parameter is not provided within a defined time interval, for example a few seconds, the control and command unit 11 can determine that the driver is not fit to drive and consequently activate the clamping device 15 to safely slow down and/or stop the vehicle 50.

In this case, if the vehicle 50 is stationary, it can therefore keep the clamping device 15 active, preventing its movement. In the event that the vehicle 50 is in motion, the control and command unit 11 can command the clamping device 15 in such a way as to act on the movement unit 52 of the vehicle 50 to safely reduce its speed and/or stop it.

The anti-theft device 10 according to the invention can be configured so that the start of the engine 54 only occurs after an authorized driver has been recognized

For this purpose, the control and command unit 11 can command the activation of at least one recognition device 12 which can be configured to detect, with the engine 54 not started, the presence of a user in the driving seat 51. The recognition device 12 thus activated can proceed with detecting the first physical parameter.

In some embodiments, together with the intervention of the first recognition device 12, at least one second physical parameter, different from the first, is detected by means of at least one second recognition device 13, 17, 18.

In other embodiments, the presence of a user in the driving seat 51 can be detected by a recognition device 12 which can cause the control and command unit 11, suitably configured, to activate one or more other recognition devices 13, 17, 18, different from the first, to carry out the subsequent recognition of the driver.

Some embodiments provide another level of safety, in addition to that guaranteed by the use of biometric parameters, which consists in not allowing an authorized driver to start the engine 54 if he/she is not fit, that is, shows alterations of his/her psychophysical state, detected by the devices 19 for monitoring biophysical parameters.

According to preferred embodiments, the anti- theft device 10 is configured to monitor the presence of an authorized driver even with the engine 54 started, in order to prevent a possible forced replacement of the authorized driver.

According to these embodiments, it is provided that the control and command unit 11 can ascertain the presence of an authorized driver at the wheel in cases where the control and command unit 11 recognizes a potential situation in which the driver can be replaced.

For example, the control and command unit 11 can be configured to verify the presence of an authorized driver when the speed of the vehicle drops below a certain preset threshold which can indicate, for example, a temporary stop or a road with heavy traffic. In these situations, the control and command unit 11 can activate one or more recognition devices 12, 13, 17, 18, or increase their detection frequency.

According to other embodiments, the control and command unit 11 can be configured to verify the presence of an authorized driver, that is, to activate one or more recognition devices 12, 13, 17, 18 when a temporary absence of the driver is detected, for example detected by means of the weight sensor 29.

This may be the case of a forced replacement of the driver having occurred, in which the driving seat remains temporarily empty.

Other embodiments can provide that at least one recognition device 12, 13, 17, 18 verifies the presence of an authorized driver, in a substantially continuous manner, from the start of the vehicle 50 until it is turned off again in any driving condition.

The control and command unit 11 can compare the physical parameters stored in it with those detected by the recognition devices 12, and if a discrepancy or an alteration is detected between at least one of the parameters compared, or if it receives a voice activation command from the driver, the control and command unit 11 can command the clamping device or devices 15 to activate the function or functions which prevent the use of the vehicle.

According to some embodiments, two or more clamping devices 15 can be provided, each one connected on one side to the control and command unit 11 and on the other to one of the components 54, 55, 56 of the movement unit 52.

By way of example, figs. 1 and 3 show three clamping devices 15a, 15b, 15c respectively associated with the engine 54, the braking system 55 and the steering system 56, however, as a function of requirements, a lower or greater number can be provided.

The control and command unit 11 can be configured to manage the clamping unit 15a connected to the engine 54, to limit its power or speed, for example, by intervening on the fuel supply or, if possible, by setting the cruising speed at a precise speed.

The control and command unit 11 can manage the clamping unit 15b connected to the braking system 55, to prevent the tire from rotating, for example by making the calipers close on the brake disc.

The control and command unit 11 can manage the clamping unit 15c connected to the steering system 56 to limit its turning radius, for example by interfering with the sliding of the steering rack.

In other embodiments, it can be provided that the control and command unit 11, by means of the clamping unit 15a of the steering system 56, autonomously commands the steering direction, for example, to make the vehicle 50 pull over.

According to some embodiments, the control and command unit 11 can manage two or more clamping devices 15, simultaneously and/or sequentially and/or alternately.

According to some embodiments, the control and command unit 11 can modulate the function of the clamping devices 15 so that they act with different degrees of intensity on the corresponding movement unit 52 with which they are associated.

The control and command unit 11 can be configured to manage one or more clamping devices 15 on the basis of data and parameters of the vehicle 50 such as, for example, its speed and/or its position with respect to the surrounding environment.

The data on the position of the vehicle 50 can be used by the control and command unit 11 to detect in what type of environment the vehicle 50 is located, for example in a town or on a high-speed road, so as to intervene appropriately on the most suitable clamping device(s) 15 to slow down or stop the vehicle 50.

Some embodiments can provide that the control and command unit 11 interfaces with control devices 59 associated with the vehicle 50, for example the vehicle control unit, or other.

According to possible solutions, the control devices 59 can comprise components belonging to ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems) technology which act as driving assistance for the user.

Some embodiments can provide that the control devices 59 also comprise a TOF (Time of Light) system for internal and external monitoring of the passenger compartment. The data obtained from these systems can be used by the control and command unit 11 to more accurately manage the clamping devices 15.

Advantageously, therefore, the control and command unit 11 can adopt a strategy of total or partial stopping of the vehicle 50 in substantial safety for anyone present in the car and for the external environment in which the vehicle 50 is moving.

According to some embodiments, fig. 2 schematically shows a control and command unit 11 with its main components.

The control and command unit 11 comprises a sensor driver 22 configured to interact with the respective sensors of the recognition devices 12, 13, 17, 18, the storage unit 16, or a connection with it, and a processor 21, or a processing board suitable to process the data received, compare it with the stored data and interact with the clamping device 15.

The processor 21 provides an artificial intelligence in which the algorithms for managing the functions and components of the control and command unit 11 , and consequently the components of the anti-theft device 10, are implemented.

The control and command unit 11 can guarantee the correct functioning of the recognition devices 12, 13, 17, 18, 19 through the sensor drivers 22 and manages them, in the manner and forms described above.

According to some embodiments, it can be provided that the journey made by the vehicle 50 with a determinate driver and the possible biometric/biophysical parameters detected/monitored during the journey can be stored in the storage unit 16, so that the storage unit 16 can act as a black box, for example for the purpose of monitoring a corporate fleet, or for insurance purposes.

The main control device 11 can be provided with a communication module 23 which can be, as a non-limiting example, a Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GSM, 3G, 4G, 5G, LTE and LoRa communication module so as to allow remote interface of the anti-theft device 10 with a remote electronic device 20, for example, a smartphone, tablet or PC. In this way, it is advantageously possible to enter new authorized drivers or activate the functionalities of the anti-theft device remotely, via a dedicated application.

Thanks to the communication module 23, it can be provided that the control and command unit 11 communicates in real time with a remote control unit and/or with an application provided on a remote electronic device 20 of an authorized user, so as to be able to report possible problems, for example correlated to the failed identification of an authorized driver, or to a replacement of an authorized driver with an unauthorized one. Possibly, it can also be provided that the anti-theft device 10 can be activated remotely.

In order to allow to precisely locate the vehicle in which the anti-theft device 10 is applied, a geo-location device 24 can be provided which implements one, all or a combination of GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo, NavIC, QZSS and SBAS positioning systems. Advantageously, the use of a multi-constellation satellite positioning system guarantees worldwide coverage and allows to identify the vehicle substantially worldwide.

According to some embodiments, the anti-theft device 10 can comprise a power supply device 25, for example a battery, configured to autonomously power at least the control and command unit 11, and optionally also one or more, or all, the recognition devices 12, 13, 17, 18, or monitoring devices 19 and the clamping device(s) 15.

According to other embodiments, the anti-theft device 10 can also comprise a security module 26 configured to encrypt and encode sensitive data relating to the physical parameters of the driver stored and/or detected.

According to some embodiments, it can be provided that if the anti-theft device 10, and in particular the control and command unit 11, is tampered with, the security module 26 can autonomously delete the sensitive data stored, so as to protect the privacy of the users.

It is clear that the disposition of the elements shown is dictated only to facilitate understanding and therefore is to be understood as a non-limiting example, therefore any other arrangement thereof is admitted without departing from the scope of the invention.