Target simulation system

• US 20020177984A1
• Filed: 05/16/2002
• Published: 11/28/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Diehl Munitionssysteme GmbH & Co. KG
• Original Assignee: Diehl Munitionssysteme GmbH & Co. KG
• Inventors: Tengler, Jurgen, Ganghofer, Andreas, Thurner, Gunther, Kautzsch, Karl
• Application Number:
  US10/146,851
• Publication Number:
  US 20020177984A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 703/6
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 7/002 target simulators
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/66 Tracking systems using electromagnetic waves other than radio waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/497 Means for monitoring or calibrating

Abstract

In a target simulation system for measurement and functional testing of an active optronic target tracking system its search head (12) which is mounted on a turntable (11), a pilot beam source (26), a target simulation beam generator (21) and a test camera (20) are directed on to the same side of a projection surface (18). By means of a pilot beam (27), defined points, provided with sensors (25), of the projection surface (18), relative to the apparatus installation, and then the directional control of the turntable (11), are measured. The search head receiver (14) controls tracking of a target simulation point (23) which moves over the projection surface (18) and whose movement is detected in terms of co-ordinates by the camera (20) in order to compare same to the search head movement. For that comparison operation, a co-ordinate transformation procedure is carried out, because the axes of the target simulation beam generator (21) and the search head (12), which are directed on to the same imaginary target point 16 behind the projection surface (18), pass through the surface (18) at different points (19, 23).

Claims

1. A target simulation system for measurement and functional testing of an active optronic target tracking system by means of a projection surface (18) on to which the movement of an imaginary target object (16) which has to follow a search head (12) can be projected by a target simulation beam generator (21) by way of a scanner (24), characterised in that the projection surface (18) is detected by a test camera (20) and at defined points is provided with sensors (25) for the pilot beam (25) of a pilot beam source (26) which is directed on to the projection surface (18) for measuringly locating the position of the projection surface (18), and that the target search head (12) is directed with the same direction of view as the test camera (20) and the target simulation beam generator (21) on to the projection surface (18).

2. A target simulation system according to claim 1 characterised in that the sensors (25) are the ends of optical fibres which lead to a common detector.

3. A target simulation system according to one of the preceding claims characterised in that a filter (28) which is controllable in respect of its damping is connected downstream of the target simulation beam generator (21).

4. A target simulation system according to one of the preceding claims characterised in that co-ordinate conversion is effected in a computer (29) for the passage points of the beam directions from the simulation beam generator (22) and the search head (12) through the projection surface (18) to the imaginary target point (16) disposed therebehind at the point of intersection of said beam directions.