Missile firing simulator with the gunner immersed in a virtual space

• US 6,296,486 B1
• Filed: 09/07/1999
• Issued: 10/02/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Aerospatiale Societe Nationale Industrielle
• Original Assignee: Aerospatiale Societe Nationale Industrielle
• Inventors: Weber, Laëtitia, Cardaillac, Emmanuel
• Primary Examiner(s): Cheng, Joe H.
• Application Number:
  US09/367,112
• Time in Patent Office: 756 Days
• Field of Search: 434/11, 434/12, 434/14, 434/16-22, 434/27, 434/307.R, 434/308, 434/365, 463/2, 463/5, 463/34, 463/47, 463/49, 463/51, 463/52, 273/348.1, 273/358, 273/359, 273/371, 473/578, 473/583, 348/121, 348/141, 348/836, 89/11.1, 89/410.6, 353/11, 356/5.03, 356/141.1
• US Class Current: 434/12
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 3/2694 for simulating a target F41G3/2627 takes precedence; moving targets per se F41J9/00
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 7/006 Guided missiles training or simulation devices

Abstract

A simulator for simulating the firing of weapons the simulator including a firing station, and a missile weapon simulator. The missile weapon simulator able to simulate imaginary firings, an image display device, an image processing device, and an instructor station. The instructor station includes a video screen associated with a decision device by which an instructor chooses a virtual scenario relating to a firing field, the type of the missile and firing conditions. The image display device displays virtual images in actual size representing a field of vision of a firer in the virtual scenario chosen by the instructor, a micromonitor placed upon the missile weapon simulator displays the same images as those of the display device. The image processing device generates images within the instructor station, the images displayed on the micromonitor, and the images displayed on the display device.

Claims

1. A missile firing simulator for training a firer for firing a missile from the shoulder or a tripod, the missile fired on fixed or moving targets, the missile firing simulator including:

at least one firing station, the firing station including a weapon simulator, the weapon simulator provided with a triggering device for triggering imaginary firings;

an image display device;

an image processing device; and

an instructor station wherein the instructor station includes a video screen associated with a decision device by which an instructor chooses a virtual scenario relating to a firing field, the type of the missile and firing conditions,

the firing station further including a spatial location device,

the image display device displays virtual images in actual size representing a field of vision of a firer in the virtual scenario chosen by the instructor, a micromonitor disposed upon the missile weapon simulator displaying the same images as those displayed on the display device, but enlarged according to a predetermined coefficient, and the image processing device includes a central processing unit associated with an image generator, wherein the image processing device generates images within the instructor station, images displayed on the micromonitor, and the images displayed on the display device.

2. The missile firing simulator according to claim 1, characterized in that the image generator is able to generate two images simultaneously on the instructor station, one of the images being a 3 D plan view of the firing station and the other image representing a field of vision of the instructor in the process of observing the firing station.

3. The missile firing simulator according to claim 2, characterized in that the missile firing simulator is able to generate a reticule for each type of missile.

4. The missile firing simulator according to claim 2, characterized in that the missile firing simulator is able to generate firing field images according to variable brightness representing variations in climate and sunshine.

5. The missile firing simulator according to claim 2, characterized in that the missile firing simulator further includes an interference reconstruction device for reconstructing the interference due to the missile leaving the firing station.

6. The missile firing simulator according to claim 2, characterized in that the instructor station has means of storing each firing exercise to allow subsequent analysis of the result of the firing.

7. The missile firing simulator according to claim 1, characterized in that it is able to generate a reticule for each type of missile.

8. The missile firing simulator according to claim 7, characterized in that the missile firing simulator is able to generate firing field images according to variable brightness representing variations in climate and sunshine.

9. The missile firing simulator according to claim 7, characterized in that the missile firing simulator further includes an interference reconstruction device for of reconstructing the interference due to the missile leaving the firing station.

10. The missile firing simulator according to claim 7, characterized in that the instructor station has means of storing each firing exercise to allow subsequent analysis of the result of the firing.

11. The missile firing simulator according to claim 1, characterized in that the missile firing simulator is able to generate firing field images according to variable brightness representing variations in climate and sunshine.

12. The missile firing simulator according to claim 11, characterized in that the missile firing simulator further includes an interference reconstruction device for of reconstructing the interference due to the missile leaving the firing station.

13. The missile firing simulator according to claim 11, characterized in that the instructor station further includes a storage device for storing each firing exercise to allow subsequent analysis of the result of the firing.

14. The missile firing simulator according to claim 1, characterized in that the missile firing simulator further includes an interference reconstruction device for reconstructing the interference due to the missile leaving the firing station.

15. The missile firing simulator according to claim 14, characterized in that the instructor station further includes a storage device for storing each firing exercise to allow subsequent analysis of the result of the firing.

16. The missile firing simulator according to claim 1, characterized in that the instructor station further includes a storage device for storing each firing exercise to allow subsequent analysis of the result of the firing station.

17. The missile firing simulator according to claim 1, characterized in that the spacial location device includes six degrees of freedom.

18. The missile firing simulator according to claim 17, characterized in that six degrees of freedom comprise three axes and three angles.

19. A fire simulator, the firs simulator comprising:

at least one firing station, said firing station including a weapon simulator wherein the weapon simulator including a triggering device and a micromonitor disposed thereupon;

an image display device;

wherein the image display device displays virtual images in actual size, said virtual images representing a field of vision of a firer on a screen and on said micromonitor;

an image processing device, said image processing device including a central processing unit operatively coupled for communication with an image generator; and

an instructor station, said instructor station includes a video screen associated with a decision device by which an instructor choose a virtual scenario relating to a firing field, the type of the missile and firing conditions;

wherein the image processing device generates images within the instructor station, images displayed on the micromonitor, and the images displayed on the display device.

20. The firing simulator according to claim 19, wherein the simulator further includes a spacial location device, the spacial location device including six degrees of freedom.