Innovative system of command and control and of aiming and firing for military land vehicles equipped with at least one weapon

• US 9,694,748 B2
• Filed: 10/16/2013
• Issued: 07/04/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Selex ES S.p.A. (Leonardo S.p.A.)
• Original Assignee: Selex ES S.p.A. (Leonardo S.p.A.)
• Inventors: Liberace, Claudio, Elefante, Alessandro
• Primary Examiner(s): Karim, Ziaul
• Application Number:
  US14/434,218
• Publication Number:
  US 20150274075A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,357 Days
• Field of Search: 700 90, 348148, 348239, 382143, 382103
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/023 for transmission of signals between vehicle parts or subsystems
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/80 characterised by the intended use of the viewing arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 3/165 using a TV-monitor
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 3/22 for vehicle-borne armament, e.g. on aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric

Abstract

The invention regards a system of command and control and of aiming and firing for a military land vehicle equipped with at least one weapon. This system of command and control and of aiming and firing comprises: an external vision system for aiming and firing operationally associated with a weapon of the military vehicle; an external vision system for command and control; an aiming and firing user interface configured to control both the external vision system for aiming and firing and the associated weapon, and the external vision system for command and control; and a command and control user interface configured to control both the external vision system for command and control and the external vision system for aiming and firing and the associated weapon.

Claims

1. A system of command and control and of aiming and firing designed to be installed on board a military land vehicle equipped with at least one weapon;

said system comprising;

an external vision system for aiming and firing operationally associated with a weapon of the military land vehicle and configured to capture a plurality of first video streams of a scene outside the military land vehicle in a direction in which said weapon is aimed;

an external vision system for command and control configured to capture a plurality of second video streams of the scene outside the military land vehicle;

an aiming and firing user interface designed to be installed on board the military land vehicle in an artilleryman'"'"'s/gunner'"'"'s station and configured to perform;

an operational role of aiming and firing by displaying one of the first video streams captured by the external vision system for aiming and firing and controlling the external vision system for aiming and firing and the associated weapon, and

also an operational role of command and control by displaying one of the second video streams captured by the external vision system for command and control and controlling the external vision system for command and control; and

a command and control user interface designed to be installed on board the military land vehicle in a command station and configured to perform;

the operational role of command and control by displaying one of the second video streams captured by the external vision system for command and control and controlling the external vision system for command and control, and

also the operational role of aiming and firing by displaying one of the first video streams captured by the external vision system for aiming and firing and controlling the external vision system for aiming and firing and the associated weapon;

wherein the command and control user interface is further configured to;

enable a respective user of the command and control user interface to request a change of operational role for said command and control user interface;

start performing the operational role of aiming and firing if the respective user requests the change of operational role for said command and control user interface when the command and control user interface is performing the operational role of command and control;

start performing the operational role of command and control if the respective user requests the change of operational role for said command and control user interface when the command and control user interface is performing the operational role of aiming and firing; and

enable the respective user to give or refuse his/her assent to a change of operational role requested by a second respective user of the aiming and firing user interface for said aiming and firing user interface; and

the aiming and firing user interface is further configured to;

enable the second respective user of the aiming and firing user interface to request a change of operational role for said aiming and firing user interface;

start performing the operational role of command and control if the second respective user requests the change of operational role for said aiming and firing user interface when the aiming and firing user interface is performing the operational role of aiming and firing and if the respective user of the command and control user interface gives his/her assent to said change of operational role;

start performing the operational role of command and control if the second respective user requests the change of operational role for said aiming and firing user interface when the aiming and firing user interface is performing the operational role of aiming and firing and if, within a predetermined time period, the respective user of the command and control user interface neither gives nor refuses his/her assent to said change of operational role;

start performing the operational role of aiming and firing if the second respective user requests the change of operational role for said aiming and firing user interface when the aiming and firing user interface is performing the operational role of command and control and if the respective user of the command and control user interface gives his/her assent to said change of operational role;

start performing the operational role of aiming and firing if the second respective user requests the change of operational role for said aiming and firing user interface when the aiming and firing user interface is performing the operational role of command and control and if, within a predetermined time period, the respective user of the command and control user interface neither gives nor refuses his/her assent to said change of operational role; and

continue to perform the operational role that is already being performed if the second respective user requests the change of operational role for said aiming and firing user interface and the respective user of the command and control user interface refuses his/her assent to said change of operational role.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the aiming and firing user interface is configured to:

start performing the operational role of command and control if the respective user of the command and control user interface requests a change of operational role for said command and control user interface when the command and control user interface is performing the operational role of command and control; and

,

start performing the operational role of aiming and firing if the respective user of the command and control user interface requests a change of operational role for said command and control user interface when the command and control user interface is performing the operational role of aiming and firing;

and wherein the command and control user interface is configured to;

start performing the operational role of aiming and firing if the second respective user of the aiming and firing user interface requests a change of operational role for said aiming and firing user interface when the aiming and firing user interface is performing the operational role of aiming and firing and if the respective user of the command and control user interface gives his/her assent to said change of operational role;

start performing the operational role of aiming and firing if the respective second user of the aiming and firing user interface requests a change of operational role for said aiming and firing user interface when the aiming and firing user interface is performing the operational role of aiming and firing and if, within a predetermined time period, the respective user of the command and control user interface neither gives nor refuses his/her assent to said change of operational role;

start performing the operational role of command and control if the respective second user of the aiming and firing user interface requests a change of operational role for said aiming and firing user interface when the aiming and firing user interface is performing the operational role of command and control and if the respective user of the command and control user interface gives his/her assent to said change of operational role;

start performing the operational role of command and control if the respective second user of the aiming and firing user interface requests a change of operational role for said aiming and firing user interface when the aiming and firing user interface is performing the operational role of command and control and if, within a predetermined time period, the respective user of the command and control user interface neither gives nor refuses his/her assent to said change of operational role; and

continue to perform the operational role that is already being performed if the respective second user of the aiming and firing user interface requests a change of operational role for said aiming and firing user interface and the respective user of the command and control user interface refuses his/her assent to said change of operational role.

3. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a video unit that is connected to the external vision system for aiming and firing and to the external vision system for command and control to receive the first and second captured video streams, respectively;

wherein the aiming and firing user interface is connected to the video unit to receive one of the first video streams or one of the second video streams and is configured to;

control the video unit to receive one of the first video streams from the video unit if it is performing the operational role of aiming and firing; and

control the video unit to receive one of the second video streams from the video unit if it is performing the operational role of command and control; and

wherein the command and control user interface is connected to the video unit to receive one of the first video streams or one of the second video streams and is configured to;

control the video unit to receive one of the second video streams from the video unit if it is performing the operational role of command and control; and

control the video unit to receive one of the first video streams from the video unit if it is performing the operational role of aiming and firing.

4. The system according to claim 1, further comprising:

aiming systems or devices of the weapon and of the external vision system for aiming and firing;

firing systems or devices of the weapon; and

aiming systems or devices of the external vision system for command and control;

wherein the aiming and firing user interface is configured to;

perform the operational role of aiming and firing by controlling the aiming systems or devices of the weapon and of the external vision system for aiming and firing and the firing systems or devices of the weapon; and

perform the operational role of command and control by controlling the aiming systems or devices of the external vision system for command and control;

and wherein the command and control user interface is configured to;

perform the operational role of command and control by controlling the aiming systems or devices of the external vision system for command and control; and

perform the operational role of aiming and firing by controlling the aiming systems or devices of the weapon and of the external vision system for aiming and firing and the firing systems or devices of the weapon.

5. The system according to claim 1, further comprising:

an interface for on-board systems or devices of the military land vehicle; and

a deterministic communications bus that is connected to the external vision system for aiming and firing, the aiming and firing user interface, the external vision system for command and control, the command and control user interface and the interface for the on-board systems or devices to form a communication loop;

wherein the interface for the on-board systems or devices is configured to act as a master node of the communication loop controlling all communications on said deterministic communications bus;

and wherein the external vision system for aiming and firing, the aiming and firing user interface, the external vision system for command and control and the command and control user interface are configured to act as slave nodes of the communication loop.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the deterministic communications bus is based on serial real-time communication system III technology.

7. The system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a video unit that is connected to

the external vision system for aiming and firing and the external vision system for command and control to receive the first and second captured video streams, respectively,

the aiming and firing user interface to supply the aiming and firing user interface with one of the first or the second video streams, and

the command and control user interface to supply the command and control user interface with one of the first or the second video streams;

an interface for on-board systems or devices of the military land vehicle that include

aiming systems or devices of the weapon and of the external vision system for aiming and firing,

firing systems or devices of the weapon, and

aiming systems or devices of the external vision system for command and control; and

a deterministic communications bus that is based on serial real-time communication system III technology and is connected to the external vision system for aiming and firing, the aiming and firing user interface, the external vision system for command and control, the command and control user interface, the video unit and the interface for the on-board systems or devices;

wherein the aiming and firing user interface is configured to;

when performing the operational role of aiming and firing,

send commands over the deterministic communications bus to the video unit to cause the video unit to supply one of the first video streams to said aiming and firing user interface,

control the external vision system for aiming and firing by sending operational commands over the deterministic communications bus to said external vision system for aiming and firing, and

control the aiming systems or devices of the weapon and of the external vision system for aiming and firing and the firing systems or devices of the weapon by sending operational commands over the deterministic communications bus and through the interface for the on-board systems or devices to said aiming systems or devices of the weapon and of the external vision system for aiming and firing and to said firing systems or devices of the weapon; and

,

when performing the operational role of command and control,

send commands over the deterministic communications bus to the video unit to cause the video unit to supply one of the second video streams to said aiming and firing user interface,

control the external vision system for command and control by sending operational commands over the deterministic communications bus to said external vision system for command and control, and

control the aiming systems or devices of the external vision system for command and control by sending operational commands over the deterministic communications bus and through the interface for the on-board systems or devices to said aiming systems or devices of the external vision system for command and control;

and wherein the command and control user interface is configured to;

when performing the operational role of command and control,

send commands over the deterministic communications bus to the video unit to cause the video unit to supply one of the second video streams to said command and control user interface,

control the external vision system for command and control by sending operational commands over the deterministic communications bus to said external vision system for command and control, and

control the aiming systems or devices of the external vision system for command and control by sending operational commands over the deterministic communications bus and through the interface for the on-board systems or devices to said aiming systems or devices of the external vision system for command and control; and

,

when performing the operational role of aiming and firing,

send commands over the deterministic communications bus to the video unit to cause the video unit to supply one of the first video streams to said command and control user interface,

control the external vision system for aiming and firing by sending operational commands over the deterministic communications bus to said external vision system for aiming and firing, and

control the aiming systems or devices of the weapon and of the external vision system for aiming and firing and the firing systems or devices of the weapon by sending operational commands over the deterministic communications bus and through the interface for the on-board systems or devices to said aiming systems or devices of the weapon and of the external vision system for aiming and firing and to said firing systems or devices of the weapon.

8. A military land vehicle equipped with at least one weapon and comprising a system of command and control and of aiming and firing including:

an external vision system for aiming and firing operationally associated with a weapon of the military land vehicle and configured to capture a plurality of first video streams of a scene outside the military land vehicle in a direction in which said weapon is aimed;

an external vision system for command and control configured to capture a plurality of second video streams of the scene outside the military land vehicle;

an aiming and firing user interface designed to be installed on board the military land vehicle in an artilleryman'"'"'s/gunner'"'"'s station and configured to perform;

an operational role of aiming and firing by displaying one of the first video streams captured by the external vision system for aiming and firing and controlling the external vision system for aiming and firing and the associated weapon, and

also an operational role of command and control by displaying one of the second video streams captured by the external vision system for command and control and controlling the external vision system for command and control; and

a command and control user interface designed to be installed on board the military land vehicle in a command station and configured to perform;

the operational role of command and control by displaying one of the second video streams captured by the external vision system for command and control and controlling the external vision system for command and control, and

also the operational role of aiming and firing by displaying one of the first video streams captured by the external vision system for aiming and firing and controlling the external vision system for aiming and firing and the associated weapon;

wherein the command and control user interface is further configured to;

enable a respective user of the command and control user interface to request a change of operational role for said command and control user interface;

start performing the operational role of aiming and firing if the respective user requests the change of operational role for said command and control user interface when the command and control user interface is performing the operational role of command and control;

start performing the operational role of command and control if the respective user requests the change of operational role for said command and control user interface when the command and control user interface is performing the operational role of aiming and firing; and

enable the respective user to give or refuse his/her assent to a change of operational role requested by a second respective user of the aiming and firing user interface for said aiming and firing user interface; and

the aiming and firing user interface is further configured to;

enable the second respective user of the aiming and firing user interface to request a change of operational role for said aiming and firing user interface;

start performing the operational role of command and control if the second respective user requests the change of operational role for said aiming and firing user interface when the aiming and firing user interface is performing the operational role of aiming and firing and if the respective user of the command and control user interface gives his/her assent to said change of operational role;

start performing the operational role of command and control if the second respective user requests the change of operational role for said aiming and firing user interface when the aiming and firing user interface is performing the operational role of aiming and firing and if, within a predetermined time period, the respective user of the command and control user interface neither gives nor refuses his/her assent to said change of operational role;

start performing the operational role of aiming and firing if the second respective user requests the change of operational role for said aiming and firing user interface when the aiming and firing user interface is performing the operational role of command and control and if the respective user of the command and control user interface gives his/her assent to said change of operational role;

start performing the operational role of aiming and firing if the second respective user requests the change of operational role for said aiming and firing user interface when the aiming and firing user interface is performing the operational role of command and control and if, within a predetermined time period, the respective user of the command and control user interface neither gives nor refuses his/her assent to said change of operational role; and

continue to perform the operational role that is already being performed if the second respective user requests the change of operational role for said aiming and firing user interface and the respective user of the command and control user interface refuses his/her assent to said change of operational role.