Methods and systems for use in training armed personnel

• US 8,770,976 B2
• Filed: 09/10/2010
• Issued: 07/08/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Marathon Robotics Pty. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Marathno Robotics Pty Limited
• Inventors: Moser, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Musselman, Timothy A
• Application Number:
  US13/393,591
• Publication Number:
  US 20120171644A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,397 Days
• Field of Search: 434 11- 27, 703/8, 701/2, 701 22- 28, 901 1- 47, 700245-254
• US Class Current: 434/11
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 7/005 Unmanned ground vehicles, i.e. robotic, remote controlled or autonomous, mobile platforms carrying equipment for performing a military or police role, e.g. weapon systems or reconnaissance sensors F41H11/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F41J 9/02 Land-based targets , e.g. inflatable targets supported by fluid pressure
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/003 for military purposes and tactics

Abstract

A system and method for use in training armed personnel are described. According to one embodiment, the system includes a number of autonomous mobile units and the units are arranged to perform actions in a training area to simulate participants in a firearms training exercise, and at least one of the mobile units is arranged to base at least some of its actions at least partially on the behavior of at least one human in the training area.

Claims

1. A system for use in training armed personnel, the system comprising:

a number of autonomous mobile units, the mobile units being arranged to to maintain estimates of their own positions within a pre-defined training area;

each mobile unit being arranged to move autonomously about the training area under computer control, the autonomous movements of each mobile unit being at least partially based on the estimates of its own positions; and

the mobile units being arranged to perform autonomous actions in the training area to simulate participants in a firearms training exercise;

wherein at least one of the mobile units is arranged to autonomously base at least some of its actions at least partially on a sensed behavior of at least one human in the training area.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the actions of the mobile units include any of sounds produced by the mobile units, movements of the mobile units, deployment of special effects by the mobile units, changes in velocity or direction of the mobile units or mobile units remaining static.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the actions of each of the mobile units is based on the subset of information that a human might be able to perceive, from the point of view of each respective mobile unit.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the behaviour of the at least one human includes at least one of a position of the human, movements of the human, a velocity of the human, an acceleration of the human, a direction in which the human is facing, a posture of the human, sound produced by the human, gunfire of the human, an intention of the human or changes in these behaviors.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein the movements of the human include movements on foot or in vehicles.

6. The system according to claim 1, further including at least one sensor for sensing the behavior of the at least one human.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein the sensor includes any one of a thermal imaging sensor, an infrared beam, a laser curtain, a laser scanner, a camera, a motion sensor, a GPS device, a microphone, an array of microphones, a seismic sensor or a radar.

8. The system according to claim 6, wherein the at least one sensor is mounted on at least one of the mobile units.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein information relating to a current or an expected behavior of the humans is input to the system by a human operator.

10. A method of training armed personnel, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a number of autonomous mobile units,

arranging the mobile units to maintain estimates of their own positions within a pre-defined training area,

arranging the mobile units to move autonomously about the training area under computer control, and the movements of each of the mobile units being at least partially based on the estimates of its own position;

arranging the mobile units to perform autonomous actions in the training area to simulate participants in a firearms training exercise; and

arranging at least one of the mobile units to autonomously base at least some of its actions at least partially on a sensed behavior of at least one human in the training area.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising the steps of:

firing live ammunition at one of the mobile units, and

autonomously physically moving the mobile units about the training area in response to the fired live ammunition.

12. An autonomous mobile unit for use in training armed personnel;

the autonomous mobile unit being arranged to maintain estimates of its own position within a pre-defined training area;

the mobile unit being arranged to move autonomously about the training area under computer control, and the movements of the mobile unit being at least partially based on the estimates of its own position;

the mobile unit being arranged to perform autonomous actions in the training area to simulate a participant in a firearms training exercise; and

the mobile unit being arranged to autonomously base at least some of its actions at least partially on a sensed behavior of at least one human in the training area.

13. The autonomous mobile unit of claim 12, wherein the mobile unit is designed to receive gunfire and continue to function during the firearms training exercise.

14. The autonomous mobile unit of claim 12, wherein the mobile unit includes at least two wheels and each mobile unit physically moves about the training area during the firearms training exercise.

15. The autonomous mobile unit of claim 12, wherein the mobile unit includes a bullet hit detection system that detects when a bullet strikes the mobile unit during the firearms training exercise.

16. The autonomous mobile unit of claim 12, further comprising a plurality of mobile units and each of the plurality of mobile units communicate with one another, move autonomously independent of one another, and track a relative movement of one another about the field during the firearms training exercise.

17. The autonomous mobile unit of claim 16, wherein an autonomous action of a first one of the plurality of mobile units impacts an autonomous action of a second one of the plurality of mobile units.

18. The autonomous mobile unit of claim 16, wherein at least a first of the plurality of mobile units interacts with at least a second of the plurality of mobile units as a friendly force and at least a third of the plurality of mobile units interacts as a hostile force.

19. The autonomous mobile unit of claim 18, wherein at least a fourth of the plurality of mobile units interacts as a neutral force.

20. The autonomous mobile unit of claim 12, wherein the mobile unit moves about in a wheeled vehicle, during the firearms training exercise, and includes at least one mannequin.