Electronically controlled weapons range with return fire

• US 5,980,254 A
• Filed: 04/06/1998
• Issued: 11/09/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cubic Corporation
• Original Assignee: Advanced Interactive Systems, Inc. (Cubic Corporation)
• Inventors: Treat, Erwin C. Jr., Muehle, Eric G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Harrison, Jessica J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): FLEMING, DAVID
• Application Number:
  US09/055,854
• Time in Patent Office: 582 Days
• Field of Search: 434/11, 434/21, 434/20, 434/19
• US Class Current: 434/11
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 3/2633 using a TV type screen, e.g. a CRT, displaying a simulated target
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 3/2655 in which the light beam is sent from the weapon to the target

Abstract

A weapons training range provides a simulated weapons use scenario including return fire. A microprocessor selects branches from a multi-branch program and causes an image projector to project subscenarios on a display screen visible to a participant. In response to the subscenarios, the participant fires at projected threats. Return fire simulators positioned behind the display screen return fire toward the participant. Obstructions are placed in the weapons range to provide cover for the participant. A video camera and X-Y position sensor identify the X-Y location of the participant and try to detect exposed portions of the participant. Based upon the identified X-Y location and any detected exposed portions, the microprocessor aims the return fire simulators to provide simulated return fire. To simulate real world aiming, the microprocessor induces time-based and response-based aiming errors. Additionally, the microprocessor may aim the return fire simulators at objects in the participation zone to produce deflected fire that may also strike the participant.

Claims

1. An interactive weapons range environment, comprising:

an electronic central controller, the central controller having a first output for providing a return fire signal;

a participation zone; and

an electrically controlled return fire simulator aligned to the participation zone, the return fire simulator being coupled to receive the return fire signal from the central controller, the return fire simulator being operative to emit simulated return fire toward the participation zone in response to the return fire signal; and

an optically sensitive participant detector aligned to the participation zone, the participant detector further being aligned to detect a participant within the participation zone and coupled to provide a signal to the central controller in response to the detection.

2. The interactive weapons range environment of claim 1, further including an obstruction positioned to obscure a first portion of the participation zone from the return fire simulator and to expose a second portion of the participation zone to the simulated return fire.

3. The interactive weapons range environment of claim 2, wherein the participant detector comprises an exposure detector aligned to the participation zone, the exposure detector further being aligned to optically detect a portion of the participant within the exposed second portion of the participation zone.

4. The interactive weapons range environment of claim 3 wherein the exposure detector includes an imaging camera.

5. The interactive weapons range environment of claim 4 wherein the exposure detector further includes a discrininator coupled to the imaging camera.

6. The interactive weapons range environment of claim 1 wherein the participant detector comprises a position detector aligned to the participation zone, the position detector being operative to optically detect a position of the participant within the participation zone, the position detector being coupled to provide a position signal to the central controller in response to the position of the participant.

7. The interactive weapons range environment of claim 6 wherein the position detector includes an optical imaging system positioned to image the participation zone.

8. The interactive weapons range environment of claim 1 wherein the simulated return fire includes projectiles emitted toward the participation zone.

9. The interactive weapons range environment of claim 8 wherein the return fire simulator includes an electronically actuated projectile emitter.

10. The interactive weapons range environment of claim 9 wherein the electronically actuated projectile emitter includes an electronically actuated rifle.

11. The interactive weapons range environment of claim 1, further including an interactive display controlled by the central controller.

12. The interactive weapons range environment of claim 11 wherein the interactive display is operative to present video images.

13. The interactive weapons range environment of claim 11 wherein the interactive display is operative to present computer-generated animation.

14. The interactive weapons range environment of claim 11 wherein the interactive display includes:

a display screen; and

an image projector aligned to the display screen, the image projector being coupled for control by the central controller.

15. The interactive weapons range environment of claim 11, further including a multi-branch image program under control of the central controller and wherein an image projector is operative to present a first set of selected images in response to a first set of selected branches and to present a second set of selected images in response to a second set of selected branches.

16. The interactive weapons range environment of claim 11, further including:

a hand-held weapon for firing simulated rounds at a displayed image, the weapon having a selected number of simulated rounds in a reload; and

a shot counter coupled to the central controller, the counter being coupled to detect the number of simulated rounds fired by the weapon.

17. The interactive weapons range environment of claim 16 wherein the weapon is an untethiered weapon.

18. The interactive weapons range environment of claim 17 wherein the weapon includes a radiowave transmitter for transmitting signals to the central controller.

19. A virtual training environment, comprising:

a participation zone;

an image display, the image display including a selectable target area;

a weapon adapted for use by a participant, the weapon being aimable toward the target area, the weapon being operative to emit simulated fire in response to participant input;

an impact detector positioned to detect impact of the simulated fire at the target area;

an electronic central controller;

a return fire weapon coupled for control by the central controller, the return fire weapon being aligned with the participation zone and operative to emit simulated return fire, the return fire weapon being responsive to a position the participant in the participation zone;

an obstruction positioned to obscure a first portion of the participation zone from the simulated return fire and to expose a second portion of the participation zone to the simulated return fire; and

an optically sensitive exposure detector aligned to the participation zone, the exposure detector further being aligned to detect a portion of the participant within the exposed second portion of the participation zone, the exposure detector being coupled to provide an exposure signal to the central controller in response to the detected position of the participant with respect to the second portion of the participation zone.

20. The virtual training environment of claim 19 wherein the return fire weapon includes an electronically actuated projectile emitter.

21. The virtual training environment of claim 20 wherein the electronically actuated projectile emitter includes an electronically actuated gun.

22. The interactive weapons range environment of claim 20, further including an obstruction positioned to block emitted projectiles from directly reaching a first portion of the participation zone and to permit emitted projectiles to travel directly to a second portion of the participation zone.

23. The virtual training environment of claim 19 wherein the return fire weapon includes an optical emitter.

24. The virtual training range environment of claim 19 wherein the central controller further includes a position input, further including a position detector aligned to the participation zone, the position detector being operative to detect a position of a participant within the participation zone, the position detector being coupled to provide a position signal to the central controller in response to the position signal.

25. A method of providing a simulated conflict situation to a participant in a participation zone, comprising:

presenting a visually recognizable scenario to the participant;

selecting threatening subscenarios;

modifying the visually recognizable scenario by selectively presenting the selected threatening subscenarios;

automatically optically monitoring the participation zone for the participant; and

directing a simulated return fire toward the participation zone in response to the monitored position of the participant.

26. The method of claim 25, further including detecting responses of the participant to the threatening subscenarios.

27. The method of claim 26, further including enabling the participant to direct simulated fire toward selected target regions and wherein detecting responses of the participant to the threatening subscenarios comprises monitoring the simulated fire of the participant.

28. The method of claim 26 wherein detecting responses of the participant to the selected threatening subscenarios includes counting a number of shots fired by the participant with a weapon, and further including:

comparing the number of shots fired by the participant to a selected shot count; and

when the number of shots fired exceeds the selected number, disabling the weapon.

29. The method of claim 28, further including reenabling the weapon after a selected disable period.

30. The method of claim 25 wherein presenting a visually recognizable scenario to the participant includes producing at least one computer-generated scenario.

31. The method of claim 25 wherein automatically optically monitoring the participation zone includes optically determining an exposure of the participant.

32. The method of claim 25 wherein automatically optically monitoring the participation zone includes:

optically imaging the participation zone to produce an optical image; and

discriminating the optical image of the participation zone.

33. The method of claim 25 wherein automatically optically monitoring the participation zone includes optically determining an exposure of the participant in a plane substantially perpendicular to the simulated return fire.

34. The method of claim 33 wherein automatically optically monitoring the participation zone further includes optically determining a position of the participant in a plane substantially parallel to the simulated return fire.

35. The method of claim 25 wherein automatically optically monitoring the participation zone includes optically determining a position of the participant.

36. The method of claim 25 wherein automatically optically monitoring the participation zone includes optically determining a position of the participant in a plane substantially parallel to the simulated return fire.