System and method for immobilizing a vehicle

摘要

In accordance with one embodiment, an onboard computer (OBC) and associated circuitry capable of spoofing or mimicking a fault condition tricks an electronic control module (ECM) of an automobile or other such vehicle into implementing an engine derate procedure resulting in vehicle immobilization that is safe and that is credibly attributable to a genuine vehicle fault condition. For example, in response to an engine shutdown command, the OBC might cause a fault-spoofing engine shutdown device in one embodiment to spoof an engine overheating condition by inserting an electrical resistance in parallel with the resistance of an engine temperature sensor, thus lowering the electrical resistance of the temperature sensor as detected by the ECM.

主权项

1. A system for immobilizing a vehicle having an electronic control module that monitors one or more characteristics at one or more sensors, the system comprising:
a fault-spoofing engine shutdown device; a memory; and a processor configured by the memory to perform the steps of:
receiving an engine shutdown command; andin response to receiving the engine shutdown command, causing the fault-spoofing engine shutdown device to alter a first characteristic of the one or more characteristics detected by a first sensor of the one or more sensors in such manner as to mimic a fault condition causing the electronic control module (ECM) in communication with the first sensor to carry out an engine derate procedure in the same fashion as if a genuine fault condition had been detected by the first sensor that will appear to an unauthorized driver of the vehicle to be credibly attributable to the mimicked fault,wherein the first sensor is configured to detect the first characteristic, and the fault-spoofing engine device alters the first characteristic such that the first sensor detects the altered first characteristic and the first sensor detection of the altered first characteristic is monitored by the electronic control module.