METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SITUATION/DECISION TRAINING

• US 3,802,098 A
• Filed: 09/29/1972
• Issued: 04/09/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Herbert F. Sampson, Stephen D. Sampson
• Original Assignee: Herbert F. Sampson, Stephen D. Sampson
• Inventors: Sampson, Herbert F., Sampson, Stephen D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Michell, Robert W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wolff, J. H.
• Application Number:
  US05/293,685
• Time in Patent Office: 557 Days
• Field of Search: 35/25,22 273/102.1,102.2,105.1
• US Class Current: 434/20
• 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: F41J 9/14 Cinematographic targets, e.g. moving-picture targets F41G3/26 takes precedence

Abstract

An apparatus and method providing a system which realistically presents a simulated situation including a sequence of acts to which a desired trained reaction of a participant or trainee is obtained, evaluated and adapted for study and analysis. The simulated situation is presented so that the trainee is part of the situation and his reactions thereto are recorded to facilitate his training. The apparatus includes a means for projecting a simulated situation involving a sequence of acts on a screen means provided with bullet impact sensor means, both as to the time of the bullet impact and location thereof. Each scene of the simulated situation is programmed, a computer-memory unit is provided with the programmed information with respect to each scene, whereby the bullet impact and its location on the screen means is converted into an electrical signal transmitted to the computer memory device for comparison with the programmed instructions and from which comparison information is visually displayed or recorded on a card to indicate selected time elements involved with respect to the scene, alertness of the participant, accuracy of the shot fired, and the relationship of the participant'"'"''"'"'s reaction to the total scene being projected. A realistic training system in terms of virtually the whole environment under which the participant must act. A motion picture projector means provided with film strip stop means actuated in response to the impact of a bullet on the screen means and adapted to stop the film strip at virtually the film frame being projected at the time the bullet struck the screen means. A screen means having a replaceable screen surface and having bullet stop means arranged to divide the projection screen area into a plurality of bullet responsive incremental areas, each of said incremental areas being electrically connected to a memory device for comparison with programmed instructions therein.

Claims

1. A method of training in aiming a weapon in which participant'"'"''"'"'s response to preselected simulated situations of a selected activity is obtained, comprising the steps of:

projecting a film having a simulated situation on a screen;

programIng said film with respect to a preplanned time reference and location of a sequence of acts displayed in said simulated situation;

obtaining an overt physical reaction of the participant with respect to said time reference and to location of said displayed acts on said screen; and

displaying information of the results of the obtained reaction of the participant in relation to the programmed time reference and act sequence identifying as to time and specific location the impact on any portions of said screen of a projectile released by participant.

2. In a method of training as stated in claim 1, wherein the step of displaying information with respect to the reaction of the participant includes the step of:

showing on a display panel information as to whether reaction of participant was too soon, too late, or within programmed limits, and whether the impact area in relation to the act sequence was a hit, miss, or a fault.

3. In a method as stated in claim 1 wherein the step of displaying information with respect to the reaction of the participant includes the step of:

printing said information on a card.

4. In a method as stated in claim 1 including the step of preparing the participant for his role with respect to and in a simulated situation prior to projecting said situation on a screen.

5. In a method as stated in claim 1 including the step of comparing the reaction of the participant with respect to time and act sequence of a simulated situation with a preselected standard programmed for said film to determine alertness, proper decision, and accuracy in executing his decision.

6. In a method of training as stated in claim 1 including the step of providing environmental sound effects correlated with the projected act sequence for imparting audio realism to the situation to enhance realism of the role of the participant.

7. A method of training as stated in claim 1 wherein the step of displaying information relating to the reaction of the participant includes the step of dividing the time reference for the programmed sequence of acts in said simulated situation into a preaction period, an action period, and a post action period, and displaying the action of participant in relation thereto.

8. A method of training as stated in claim 1 wherein the step of obtaining the reaction of the participant to the sequence of acts includes the step of classifying the impact of a projectile released or shot by the participant onto any area of the screen as either a hit, miss or free area, the latter area permitting additional shots.

9. In a method of training as stated in claim 1 wherein the step of projecting a simulated situation on the screen includes the step of providing a plurality of sequentially arranged simulated situations, each simulated situation being different in terms of action and background environment, and requiring different reactions by participant.

10. In a method of training as stated in claim 1, including the step of:

Stopping the film upon impact by a projectile upon any portion of the screen.

11. An apparatus for training in the aiming of a weapon so as to facilitate the determination of a trainee'"'"''"'"'s alertness, accuracy, and decision making characteristics with respect to simulated situations in combination:

a projector means;

a film having a simulated situation recorded thereon for projection by said projector means;

means on said film for programming each sequence of acts in said simulated situation with respect to time and projected location on a screen;

a screen having a screen surface upon which said projector means projects said simulated situations;

said screen including impact receiving means proximate to, substantially coextensive with and behind said screen surface responsive to an external manifestation of the reaction of the participant to the projected situation; and

actuatable circuit means at said screen cooperable with said programminG means and with said responsive impact receiving means for determining the reaction of said participant with respect to alertness, decision making and accuracy code marks on said film correlated to a selected sequence of acts depicted in a scene and to a time reference.

12. In an apparatus as stated in claim 11 wherein code marks on said film providing a time reference for said sequence of acts to correlate the trainee'"'"''"'"'s reaction thereto as being premature, opportune, or post action.

13. in an apparatus as stated in claim 11 wherein said film is a motion picture film.

14. In an apparatus as stated in claim 11 wherein said film includes a synchronized video tape means.

15. In an apparatus as stated in claim 11 wherein said projector means includes means for stopping advancement of said film means in response to a projectile striking said screen responsive means;

said stopping means comprising a solenoid means and a solenoid arm;

said projector means including a pivoted and reciprocally movable claw member;

said solenoid arm being engagable with said claw member to disengage said claw member from said film means;

said solenoid means being actuated by said circuit means.

16. In an apparatus as stated in claim 15 wherein said means for stopping advancement of said film means includes:

capstan drive means for said film including a clutch means and an axially movable fly wheel engaged therewith; and

solenoid means actuated by said circuit means for disengaging said clutch means from the fly wheel by axial movement thereof upon the response of said screen to a projectile striking said screen.

17. In an apparatus as stated in claim 11 wherein said screen includes means providing a screen surface, said screen surface being provided on a sheet of material stretched between a supply roll of said material and a take-up roll for said material, whereby a new screen surface can be selectively displayed.

18. In an apparatus as stated in claim 11 wherein said responsive impact receiving means of said screen includes:

a plurality of independently supported plates, each plate being responsive to impact of a projectile thereagainst, each plate being correlated to a selected incremental area on the screen surface upon which time referenced act sequences of said programmed film are projected.

19. In a method of training in aiming a weapon by utilizing a projected sequence of acts observable by a trainee in a position where he may realistically participate in such act sequence, the steps of:

providing a film showing an act sequence of a simulated situation;

referencing by readable code marks on the film, the act sequence projected;

projecting said film upon a screen;

providing segmental areas substantially coextensive with and behind said screen which areas are electrically responsive to the impact of a projectile fired by said trainee;

programing the coded acts projected with reference to time and to selected segmental areas on said screen with reference to said acts;

providing a computer and memory unit operatively connected to a reader of said film code marks and to said selected segmental areas of said screen whereby the projected act sequence at a moment of time is correlated with respect to each area segment of the screen and the acts projected thereon;

comparing the programmed acts with the response of the trainee to the act sequence as shown by impact of the projectile upon an area segment; and

displaying the results of the comparison.

20. In a method as stated in claim 19 wherein the step of displaying the results of the comparison includes displaying such comparison on an observable display panel adjacent the screen.

21. In a method as stated in claim 19 wherein the step of displaying the results of the comparison includes the step of printing on a score card the number of shots fired, accuracy of the fired shot, alertness or time evaluation of trainee'"'"''"'"'s response, and evaluation of the decision of the trainee.