Simulation devices and systems for rocket propelled grenades and other weapons

• US 7,927,102 B2
• Filed: 01/12/2006
• Issued: 04/19/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Raytheon Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Raytheon Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Jones, Giles D., Ha, Quang K., Ourn, Lee, Jannati, Samon
• Primary Examiner(s): Thai; Xuan M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Utama; Robert J
• Application Number:
  US11/330,902
• Publication Number:
  US 20070026364A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,923 Days
• Field of Search: 434 19- 23
• US Class Current: 434/11
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 33/02 Light- or radiation-emitting guns ; Light- or radiation-sensitive guns; Cartridges carrying light emitting sources, e.g. laser

Abstract

A rocket propelled grenade (RPG) simulation device usable with a laser detector is provided. The RPG simulation device comprises a laser transmitter, a switch, a controller, and a housing. The laser transmitter is capable of directing a laser signal to the laser detector, the laser signal comprising information readable by the laser detector, to simulate a launch of a rocket propelled grenade from the RPG simulation device to the laser detector. The switch permits a user to trigger a laser signal from the laser transmitter. The controller is in operable communication with the laser transmitter and the switch, and the controller is operable to respond to triggering of the switch and to simulate the launch of a rocket propelled grenade by directing the laser transmitter to generate and transmit a laser signal. The RPG simulation device can further comprise an anti-tank weapons effect systems simulator (ATWESS) in operable communication with the controller, the ATWESS generating an indicator replicating a physical effect (such as noise, a visual effect, a gaseous effect, muzzle flash, smoke, an audible effect, and/or a blast sound) that occurs when an RPG launches a grenade.

Claims

1. A rocket propelled grenade (RPG) simulation device usable with a laser detector, the RPG simulation device comprising:

a first housing simulating at least one predetermined physical characteristic of an actual RPG device, the first housing coupled to a laser transmitter, an anti-tank weapons effect system simulator (ATWESS), a set of user controls, and a controller;

a dual-function laser assembly disposed within the first housing, the dual-function laser assembly comprising a dual-function laser housing within which first and second laser transmitters are disposed, wherein the first laser transmitter generates a laser alignment signal, upon receipt of a first control signal, and the second laser transmitter generates a laser simulation signal directed to the laser detector, upon receipt of a second control signal, the laser simulation signal comprising information readable by the laser detector to simulate a launch of a rocket propelled grenade from the RPG simulation device to the laser detector;

an ATWESS disposed within the first housing, the ATWESS activated upon receipt of a third control signal, wherein, upon activation the ATWESS generates an indicator replicating a physical effect that occurs when an RPG launches a grenade, the physical effect being perceivable external to the RPG simulation device so as to be perceivable to a person other than a user of the RPG simulation device, and wherein, if the third control signal is not received at the ATWESS, the ATWESS is not activated;

a set of user-accessible controls mounted to the first housing, the set of user-accessible controls comprising a first control enabling the user to trigger the laser alignment signal from the first laser transmitter, a second control enabling the user to trigger the laser simulation signal from the second laser transmitter from the controller, and a third user control enabling the user to set an operational mode for the RPG simulation device, wherein the operational mode is selected from at least a first operational mode in which the RPG simulation device produces a laser simulation signal with no physical effect and a second operational mode in which the RPG simulation device produces both a laser simulation signal and a physical effect;

a controller disposed within the first housing, the controller being in operable communication with the first and second laser transmitters, the ATWESS, and the set of user-accessible controls, the controller configured to automatically;

determine, based at least in part on the settings of the set of user-accessible controls and on whether either of the first and second controls has been triggered, whether or not to generate any one or more of the first, second, and third control signals, whether or not to generate a laser alignment signal, and whether or not to generate a laser simulation signal;

determine, based on the operational mode set via the third control, whether or not to activate the ATWESS when the second control signal is triggered to cause a laser simulation signal to be generated;

control the generation of the laser alignment signal;

control the generation and power level of the laser simulation signal, including, if required, hit and near miss laser power level adjustment;

set an encoding of the laser simulation signal; and

simulate the launch of a rocket propelled grenade by generating and transmitting the laser simulation signal, wherein the simulating of the launch further comprises, if applicable based on operational mode set by the user, generation of the physical effect.

2. The RPG simulation device of claim 1, wherein the laser simulation signal comprises a pulse of laser energy.

3. The RPG simulation device of claim 1, wherein the indicator comprises at least one physical effect selected from the group consisting of a noise, a visual effect, a gaseous effect, muzzle flash, smoke, an audible effect, and a blast sound.

4. The RPG simulation device of claim 1, further comprising a display in communication with the controller, the display being coupled to the first housing, wherein the display is constructed and arranged to display information related to operation of the RPG simulation device to the user of the RPG simulation device.

5. The RPG simulation device of claim 4, where the information related to operation of the RPG comprises at least one piece of information selected from the group consisting of round count, player identification number, laser power level, rounds remaining, weapon type, and battery level.

6. The RPG simulation device of claim 1 further comprising a first indicator capable of indicating to the user that the laser simulation signal has been transmitted, the first indicator being coupled to the first housing.

7. The RPG simulation device of claim 1 further comprising a second indicator capable of enabling alignment of the laser transmitter, the second indicator being coupled to the first housing.

8. The RPG simulation device of claim 1, wherein the laser simulation signal comprises at least one code recognizable by the MILES-type detector.

9. The RPG simulation device of claim 1, wherein the controller performs at least one additional operation selected from the group consisting of:

tracking number of rounds fired;

tracking a player identification number, tracking a power level of the laser simulation signal;

tracking a battery level;

generating a programmable hit and near miss word, adjusting a power level of the laser simulation signal;

;

generating a signal to control the laser simulation signal where the laser simulation signal further comprises a MILES code;

tracking MILES code related information in a laser simulation signal that comprises a MILES code;

receiving an instruction from an external system via a first USB port;

providing data to an external system via a second USB port;

providing information to a display;

providing reverse voltage protection;

responding to a controller key;

responding to a push to read switch;

responding to a magnetic switch;

responding to a trigger switch; and

responding to a safety switch.

10. The RPG simulation device of claim 1, further comprising a simulated grenade coupled to at least a portion of the first housing.

11. The RPG simulation device of claim 1, wherein the first housing, together with the ATWESS and set of user-accessible controls, is constructed and arranged to simulate at least one predetermined characteristic of the weapon being simulated, the characteristic comprising at least one feature selected from the group consisting of look, feel, physical appearance, weight, color, shape, housing material, length, range, sound, muzzle flash, smoke, visual effect occurring when weapon is fired, audio effect occurring when weapon is fired, and gaseous effect occurring when weapon is fired.

12. A method for simulating operation of a rocket propelled grenade (RPG), comprising:

providing a physical structure having at least one predetermined characteristic in common with an actual RPG;

disposing a dual-function laser assembly within the physical structure, the dual-function laser assembly comprising a dual-function laser housing within which first and second laser transmitters are disposed, wherein the first laser transmitter is operable to generate a laser alignment signal upon receipt of a laser alignment control signal, and wherein the second laser transmitter is operable to generate a laser simulation signal to a laser detector upon receipt of a laser simulation control signal, the laser simulation signal simulating the launch of an RPG;

disposing an anti-tank weapons effect systems simulator (ATWESS) within the physical structure, the ATWESS operable to produce, upon receipt of an ATWESS control signal, a physical effect perceivable external to the physical structure;

providing a set of user-accessible controls disposed at least partially within the physical structure, the set of user controls comprising a laser simulation control enabling a user to trigger the laser simulation control signal, a laser alignment control enabling a user to trigger the laser alignment signal, and an ATWESS control enabling the user to determine whether or not to generate an ATWESS control signal so as to also trigger the ATWESS when the laser simulation signal is triggered;

determining, based at least in part on the settings of the set of user-accessible controls, whether or not to generate any one or more of the laser alignment control signal, the laser simulation control signals and the ATWESS control signals;

determining, based on the setting of the ATWESS control, whether or not to activate the ATWESS when the laser simulation control is set to cause a laser simulation signal to be generated;

controlling the generation and power level of the laser simulation signal, including, if required, changing the power level of the laser simulation signal and setting an encoding of the laser simulation signal;

controlling the generation of the laser alignment signal; and

simulating the launch of an RPG rocket propelled grenade by generating and transmitting the laser simulation signal, wherein the simulating of the launch further comprises, if applicable generating the physical effect.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising encoding the laser simulation signal with a MILES code.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein generating the physical effect further comprises generating at least one physical effect selected from the group consisting of sound, muzzle flash, smoke, visual effect, audio effect, and gaseous effect.