Method and apparatus for a simulated stalking system

• US 20020173940A1
• Filed: 05/18/2001
• Published: 11/21/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Bruce J. Thacker, Paul Thomas Thacker
• Original Assignee: Bruce J. Thacker, Paul Thomas Thacker
• Inventors: Thacker, Paul Thomas, Thacker, Bruce J.
• Application Number:
  US09/861,328
• Publication Number:
  US 20020173940A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 703/5
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/00 Teaching not covered by other main groups of this subclass teaching or practice apparatus for gun-aiming or gun-laying F41G3/26
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/003 for military purposes and tactics

Abstract

The present invention features a stalking simulator and system that allows an individual to create a real-life stalking situation, wherein the individual may practice stalking skills. The stalking simulator comprises a live environment created and defined by the positioning and adjustable sensing range of one or more sensors. A target reference is utilized, which serves as the stalking target for the individual. Each of the elements of the stalking simulator and system are controlled by a control box, which is operably connected to each of the components therein. The stalking simulator is intended for use by hunters, but may also be used by various military and/or police personnel.

Claims

1. A stalking simulator for allowing an individual to practice stalking skills, said stalking simulator comprising:

at least one sound sensor capable of monitoring and detecting sound;

a live environment defined by the positioning and sensing range of said sound sensor;

a target reference, in which said individual is able to stalk from within said live environment, to seek an optimal relative position with respect to said target reference; and

an indicator operably connected to and activated by detection of said individual by said sound sensor.

2. The stalking simulator of claim 1, further comprising a motion sensor.

3. The stalking simulator of claim 1, further comprising a scent sensor.

4. The stalking simulator of claim 1, wherein said sound sensor includes various adjustable sensitivity levels, such that said indicator is activated only after said sound sensor senses a predetermined level of sound.

5. The stalking simulator of claim 1, wherein said target reference is operably connected to said sound sensor and said indicator.

6. The stalking simulator of claim 5, wherein said target reference is dynamic, such that said target reference is capable of moving if said individual is detected by said sound sensors.

7. The stalking simulator of claim 1, wherein said target reference is capable of being fired upon by a shot from said individual.

8. The stalking simulator of claim 1, wherein said simulator is a hunting simulator for simulating the stalking of a game animal.

9. The stalking simulator of claim 1, wherein said simulator is designed to be implemented into a military or police training exercise.

10. The stalking simulator of claim 1, wherein said target reference is contained within said live environment.

11. The stalking simulator of claim 1, wherein said target reference is located without said live environment.

13. The stalking simulator of claim 12, further comprising at least one sound sensor.

14. The stalking simulator of claim 12, further comprising at least one scent detector.

15. The stalking simulator of claim 12, wherein said motion sensor includes various adjustable sensitivity levels, such that said indicator is activated only after said motion sensor senses a predetermined level of movement.

16. The stalking simulator of claim 12, wherein said target reference is operably connected to said motion sensor.

17. The stalking simulator of claim 16, wherein said target reference is dynamic, such that said target may move if said individual is detected by said motion sensors.

18. The stalking simulator of claim 12, wherein said target reference is capable of being fired upon by a shot from said individual.

19. The stalking simulator of claim 12, wherein said simulator is a hunting simulator for simulating the stalking of a game animal.

20. The stalking simulator of claim 12, wherein said simulator is designed to be implemented into a military or police training exercise.

21. The stalking simulator of claim 12, wherein said target reference is contained within said live environment.

22. The stalking simulator of claim 12, wherein said target reference is located without said live environment.

24. The stalking simulator of claim 23, further comprising a motion sensor.

25. The stalking simulator of claim 23, further comprising a sound sensor.

26. The stalking simulator of claim 23, wherein said scent sensor includes various adjustable sensitivity levels, such that said indicator is activated only after said scent sensor senses a predetermined level of smell.

27. The stalking simulator of claim 23, wherein said target is operably connected to said scent sensor.

28. The stalking simulator of claim 27, wherein said target is dynamic, such that said target may move if said individual is detected by said scent sensors.

29. The stalking simulator of claim 23, wherein said target reference is capable of being fired upon by a shot from said individual.

30. The stalking simulator of claim 23, wherein said simulator is a hunting simulator for simulating the stalking of a game animal.

31. The stalking simulator of claim 23, wherein said simulator is designed to be implemented into a military or police training exercise.

32. The stalking simulator of claim 23, wherein said target reference is contained within said live environment.

33. The stalking simulator of claim 23, wherein said target reference is located without said live environment.

35. The stalking simulation system of claim 34, further comprising scent sensors, which further define said live environment by the positioning and sensing range of said scent sensors.

36. The stalking simulation system of claim 35, wherein each of said sound, motion, and scent sensors includes various adjustable sensitivity levels.

37. The stalking simulation system of claim 35, wherein said target reference is operably connected to said sound, motion, and scent sensors.

38. The stalking simulation system of claim 37, wherein said target reference is dynamic, such that said target reference may move if said individual is detected by any of said sound, motion, and scent sensors.

39. The stalking simulation system of claim 34, wherein said indicator comprises the movement of said target.

40. The stalking simulation system of claim 35, further comprising a control system, wherein said sound, motion, and scent sensors and said indicator may be controlled by a user.

41. The stalking simulation system of claim 40, wherein said control system is a wireless system.

42. The stalking simulation system of claim 40, wherein said control system is a wired system.

43. The stalking simulation system of claim 34, further comprising means for filtering unwanted motion and sound signal noise to prevent false detection of said individual.

44. The stalking simulation system of claim 34, further comprising a graphical user interface operably connected to said stalking simulation system.

45. The stalking simulation system of claim 34, wherein said target reference is capable of being fired upon by a shot from said individual.

46. The stalking simulation system of claim 34, wherein said simulation system is a hunting simulation system for simulating the stalking of a game animal.

47. The stalking simulation system of claim 34, wherein said simulation system is designed to be implemented into a military or police training exercise.

48. The stalking simulation system of claim 34, wherein said target reference is contained within said live environment.

49. The stalking simulation system of claim 34, wherein said target reference is located without said live environment.

12. A stalking simulator for allowing an individual to practice stalking skills, said stalking simulator comprising:

at least one motion sensor capable of monitoring and detecting movement;

a live environment defined by the positioning and sensing range of said motion sensor;

a target reference, in which said individual is able to stalk from within said live environment, to seek an optimal relative position with respect to said target reference; and

an indicator operably connected to and activated by detection of said individual by said motion sensor.

23. A stalking simulator for allowing an individual to practice stalking skills, said stalking simulator comprising:

at least one scent sensor capable of monitoring and detecting smells;

a live environment defined by the positioning and sensing range of said scent sensor;

a target reference, in which said individual is able to stalk from within said live environment, to seek an optimal relative position with respect to said target reference; and

an indicator operably connected to and activated by detection of said individual by said scent sensor.

34. A stalking simulator for allowing an individual to practice stalking skills, said stalking simulator comprising:

at least one sound sensor;

at least one motion sensor;

a live environment defined by the positioning and sensing ranges of said sound and motion sensors, said live environment providing a boundary in which said individual may maneuver and stalk within;

a target reference, in which said individual is able to stalk from within said live environment, to seek an optimal relative position with respect to said target reference; and

an indicator operably connected to and activated by detection of said individual by any one of said sound and motion sensors.

50. A simulated hunting system comprising:

a stalking simulator; and

a shooting system integrated with said stalking simulator, wherein said hunting system simulates an actual hunt of an animal.

51. The simulated hunting system of claim 50, wherein said system is operable in an outdoor environment.

52. The simulated hunting system of claim 50, wherein said system is operable in an indoor environment.

53. The simulated hunting system of claim 50, wherein said stalking system comprises:

at least one sensor capable of monitoring and detecting an individual;

a live environment created and defined by the position and sensing range of said sensor;

a target reference in which said individual is able to stalk from within said live environment to seek an optimal relative position with respect to said target reference, said target reference providing said individual the opportunity to stalk and shoot said target reference; and

an indicator operably connected to and activated by detection of said individual by said sensor.

54. The simulated hunting system of claim 53, wherein said sensor is selected from a group consisting of motion, sound, and scent sensors.

55. The simulated hunting system of claim 50, wherein said shooting system is selected from a group consisting of target, DART, competition course, and range.

57. The method of claim 56, wherein said plurality of sensors is selected from a group consisting of motion, sound, and scent sensors.

58. The method of claim 56, further comprising the step of causing said target reference to move to another position upon the sensing of said individual.

59. The method of claim 56, further comprising the step of connecting a control module to said plurality of sensors to control the sensitivity and function of said sensors.

60. The method of claim 56, further comprising the step of implementing an audio/visual user interface with said plurality of sensors to notify said individual of the current status of said plurality of sensors.

61. The method of claim 56, further comprising the step of allowing said individual to fire shots into said target reference while stalking said target reference.

62. The method of claim 56, wherein said target reference is contained within said live environment.

56. A method for simulating an individual stalking a game animal, said method comprising the steps of:

strategically positioning a plurality of sensors to create and define a live environment in which an individual may stalk within;

placing a target reference in close proximity to said live environment to simulate said game animal;

coupling said plurality of sensors to an indicator designed to alert said individual when said individual has been detected by said plurality of sensors;

causing said individual to maneuver within said live environment and to try to obtain an optimal position relative to said target reference without being detected by said plurality of sensors;

sensing the presence of said individual within said live environment; and

alerting said individual if any one of said plurality of sensors sense and detect the presence of said individual.

63. A computer program product for controlling a computer for use in a stalking simulator, said computer program product comprising:

code that directs said computer to receive and process signal information acquired from various types of sensors, said sensors defining a live environment wherein an individual may stalk a target reference;

code that directs said computer to receive and process signal information representative of existing environmental elements;

code that directs said computer to receive and process signal information representative of the detected presence of said individual within said live environment, attempting to stalk said target reference;

code that directs said computer to separate said signals representative of said environmental elements from said signals representative of said detected presence of said individual within said live environment;

code that directs said computer filter said environmental noises; and

code that directs said computer to activate an indicator coupled to at least one sensor based only upon said signals representative of said detection of said individual stalking within said live environment.