Range evaluation system

• US 20060183084A1
• Filed: 02/15/2005
• Published: 08/17/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: US Department of The Army (Government of the United States of America)
• Original Assignee: Department of The Army As Represented By The Dept of The Army
• Inventors: Ramboyong, Lenard V., Roberts, Mark A., Duncan, Edwin L., Thomas, Charles S., Clark, Lawrence D., Zinser, Philip S., Bachelder, Paul W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,470,125 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 434/11
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 33/00 Adaptations for training adaptations of barrels for recoil reinforcement F41A21/26; Gun simulators teaching or practice apparatus for gun-aiming or gun-laying F41G3/26 ; shooting games A63F9/02; military simulation G09B9/003
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 3/26 Teaching or practice apparatus for gun-aiming or gun-laying shooting games A63F9/02; light- or radiation-emitting guns F41A33/02; targets therefor F41J; responders, transponders for radar, sonar, lidar G01S13/767, G01S15/74, G01S17/74
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/003 for military purposes and tactics

Abstract

The present invention provides a multi-split screen image with audio feed to document the training engagement. The multi video image combines an over-watch thermal image, the Loader'"'"'s actions, the Gunner'"'"'s actions, and the imagery from the vehicle'"'"'s thermal imaging system. The audio track documents the communication within the vehicle and between the vehicle and the control tower. Further, the present invention provides a tower control module that also provides surveillance video over the firing range. Until the present invention no other gunnery-training device transmitted and displayed its imagery and audio in this manner.

Claims

1. A range evaluation system for evaluating weapon system training crews comprising:

a vehicle radio frequency system;

a tower sensor system (TSS); and

a evaluator monitor system;

wherein the vehicle radio frequency system and the tower sensor system have video and audio inputs that are sent to the evaluator monitor system via a radio frequency transmission means.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the vehicle radio frequency system further comprises:

a radio frequency transmitter unit;

at least two low-light cameras;

a thermal imaging system video reformatter; and

a system control unit;

wherein inputs from the at least two cameras, the thermal imaging system video reformatter, and the system control unit fed into the radio frequency transmitter unit.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the tower sensor system further comprises:

a tower control module;

at least one remote imaging module; and

tower receiver module;

wherein an output video from at least one of the remote imaging modules can be automatically switched to display video imagery of the RIM and the tower control module feeds the output video to the evaluator monitor system in a four-quadrant video format.