Optically augmented weapon locating system and methods of use

• US 9,234,963 B2
• Filed: 07/17/2012
• Issued: 01/12/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Raytheon Command and Control Solutions LLC (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Thales-Raytheon Systems Company LLC (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Rakeman, James W.
• Primary Examiner(s): HAYES, BRET C
• Application Number:
  US13/550,892
• Publication Number:
  US 20150192667A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,274 Days
• Field of Search: 89/410.5, 89/410.6, 89/410.7, 235/400, 235/411, 235/412, 235/413
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 3/147 based on detection of a firing weapon
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/06 Systems determining position data of a target
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/723 by using numerical data
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/865 Combination of radar systems with lidar systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/867 Combination of radar systems with cameras

Abstract

A method of locating a weapon includes detecting a weapon firing event with an optical sensor, the detected weapon firing event indicative of a detected firing of the weapon and indicative of a detected time of the weapon firing event. The method also includes detecting a projectile fired from the weapon with a radar system. The method also includes calculating a state vector associated with the projectile detection. The method also includes identifying a location of the weapon by backtracking the state vector to the detected time of the weapon firing event time. The method also includes communicating the location of the weapon. A system that implements the method is also described.

Claims

1. A method of locating a weapon, comprising:

detecting a weapon firing event with an optical sensor system, the detected weapon firing event indicative of a detected firing of the weapon and indicative of a detected time of the weapon firing event;

detecting a projectile fired from the weapon with a radar system;

calculating a state vector associated with the projectile detection;

identifying a location of the weapon, wherein the identifying comprises;

backtracking the state vector until the backtracked state vector intersects with the detected time of the weapon firing event detected by the optical sensor system; and

using the intersection to identify the location of the weapon;

wherein the method further comprises;

communicating the location of the weapon.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating a common time base for the weapon firing event and for the projectile detection.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the optical sensor system comprises an electro-optical sensor.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the optical sensor system comprises a flash detection capability.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the optical sensor system is directional and provides at least one of an azimuth angle of the detected weapon firing event or an elevation angle of the detected weapon firing event.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the optical sensor system comprises a visible light optical sensor.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the optical sensor system comprises an infrared optical sensor.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the optical sensor system comprises an ultraviolet optical sensor.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of detecting the weapon firing event with the optical sensor system comprises detecting the weapon firing event by direct path detection of light generated by the weapon firing event.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of detecting the weapon firing event with the optical sensor system comprises detecting the weapon firing event by indirect path detection of scattered light from light generated by the weapon firing event.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of detecting the weapon firing event with the optical sensor system comprises detecting visible light generated by the weapon firing event.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of detecting the weapon firing event with the optical sensor system comprises detecting infrared light generated by the weapon firing event.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of detecting the weapon firing event with the optical sensor system comprises detecting ultraviolet light generated by the weapon firing event.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising correlating the weapon firing event detected by the optical sensor system with the detection of the projectile by the radar system to determine if the weapon firing event detected by the optical sensor system corresponds to the same projectile as that detected by the radar system.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the correlating comprises:

selecting a time difference threshold; and

relating the time difference threshold to a difference between the detected time of the weapon firing event detected by the optical sensor system and a time of the detection of the projectile by the radar system.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the correlating comprises:

selecting a time difference threshold; and

relating the time difference threshold to a difference between a time predicted by the state vector when backtracked to a terrain and the detected time of the weapon firing event detected by the optical sensor system.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the correlating comprises:

selecting a position difference threshold; and

relating the position difference threshold to a difference between a location predicted by the state vector when backtracked to a terrain and a location predicted by the state vector when backtracked to the detected time of the weapon firing event detected by the optical sensor system.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the correlating comprises:

selecting an angle difference threshold; and

relating the angle difference threshold to a difference between an angle to the projectile identified by the radar system and an angle to the weapon identified by the optical sensor system.

19. A weapon locating system, comprising:

an optical sensor system configured to detect a weapon firing event, the detected weapon firing event indicative of a detected firing of the weapon and indicative of a detected time of the weapon firing event;

a radar system configured to detect a projectile fired from the weapon;

a processor configured to calculate a state vector associated with the projectile detection and to backtrack the state vector until the backtracked state vector intersects with the detected time of the weapon firing event detected by the optical sensor system, the processor further configured to use the intersection to identify the location of the weapon; and

a communication system configured to communicate the location of the weapon.

20. The weapon locating system of claim 19, wherein the optical sensor system comprises an electro-optical sensor system.

21. The weapon locating system of claim 19, wherein the optical sensor system comprises a flash detection capability.

22. The weapon locating system of claim 19, wherein the optical sensor system comprises an infrared optical sensor system.

23. The weapon locating system of claim 19, wherein the optical sensor system comprises a visible light optical sensor system.

24. The weapon locating system of claim 19, wherein the optical sensor system comprises an ultraviolet optical sensor system.

25. The weapon locating system of claim 19, wherein the processor is further configured to correlate the weapon firing event detected by the optical sensor system with the detection of the projectile by the radar system to determine if the weapon firing event detected by the optical sensor system corresponds to the same projectile as that detected by the radar system.