Celestial weapons orientation measuring system

• US 20120021385A1
• Filed: 09/28/2009
• Published: 01/26/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Trex Enterprises Corporation
• Original Assignee: Trex Enterprises Corporation
• Inventors: Belenkii, Mikhail, Bruns, Donald, Brinkley, Timothy
• Granted Patent: US 8,597,025 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 434/19
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 3/26 Teaching or practice apparatus for gun-aiming or gun-laying shooting games A63F9/02; light- or radiation-emitting guns F41A33/02; targets therefor F41J; responders, transponders for radar, sonar, lidar G01S13/767, G01S15/74, G01S17/74
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 27/00 Planetaria; Globes

Abstract

A celestial weapons orientation measuring system. The system includes a miniature celestial direction detection device. The device includes an inclinometer, a camera for imaging at least one celestial object and a processor programmed with a celestial catalog providing known positions at specific times of at least one celestial object and algorithms for automatically calculating target direction information based on the inclination of the system as measured by the inclinometer and the known positions of the celestial object as provided by the celestial catalog and as imaged by the camera. Similar to the training technique discussed in the background section, the pretend enemy wears a GPS detector and transmitter, and a computer system is preferably provided which determines when a trigger-pull results in a “casualty”. Preferred embodiments also include an inertial navigation sensor including a magnetic compass and a memory-based optical navigation system that permits continued operation on cloudy days and even in certain in-door environments.

Claims

1. A celestial weapons orientation measuring system for measuring the pointing direction of a weapon, said system comprising:

A) a miniature celestial direction detection device mounted on the weapon and comprising;

1) at least one camera for viewing a large portion of sky, said camera comprising;

a) a wide angle lens and

b) a sensor having a focal plane array of at least about 350,000 pixels; and

2) an inclinometer and

3) a microprocessor programmed with;

a) an astronomical algorithm for defining locations of celestial objects based on known time, and

b) coordinate transformation software for converting pixel image software into astronomical coordinates;

B) a first location means mounted on or nearby the weapon for measuring the location of the weapon;

C) a second location means mounted on a target such as a pretend enemy soldier or villain; and

D) a computer processor programmed with an algorithm for analyzing orientation information from said direction detection device and location information from said first and second location means to determine if the target would have been hit by a discharge from said weapon.

2. The system as in claim 1 wherein said first and second location means include GPS units.

3. The celestial direction detection system as in claim 1 wherein said inclinometer is a MEMS inclinometer.

4. The system as in claim 1 and further comprising a time means for providing input of time accurate to within three seconds, including date and time of day.

5. The system as in claim 1 wherein said inclinometer is a MEMS inclinometer, and further comprising a time means for providing input of time accurate to within three seconds, including date and time of day, and a location means for providing input of location of said camera accurate to within two kilometers

6. The system as in claim 1 wherein the wide angle lens is a fisheye lens.

7. The system as in claim 1 wherein said location of the weapon and location of the target are provided in terms of latitude, longitude and elevation.

8. The system as in claim 1 wherein said time means includes a time signal transmitted by radio.

9. The system as in claim 8 wherein the time signal is a time signal transmitted by NIST.

10. The system as in claim 1 wherein said camera defines an optical path and comprises a filter and a means for removing the filter from the optical path.

11. The system as in claim 1 wherein said single camera comprises a checkerboard filter adapted to permit said camera to images the sun in daytime and stars at nighttime.

12. The system as in claim 1 wherein said camera is adapted to provide a dynamic range of 10¹¹.

13. The system as in claim 1 wherein said system is installed on a robotic vehicle.

14. The system as in claim 13 wherein said robotic vehicle is adapted for surveillance.

15. The system as in claim 13 wherein said robotic vehicle comprises said weapon.

16. The system as in claim 1 and further comprising a magnetic compass.

17. The system as in claim 16 wherein said processor is programmed to utilize information from said celestial direction detection device to calibrate said magnetic compass and to utilize magnetic compass signals for azimuth direction when celestial objects are obscured.

18. The system as in claim 1 and further comprising an inertial navigation sensor.

19. The system as in claim 1 and further comprising a memory-based optical navigation system.

20. The system as in claim 1 and further comprising an inertial-based navigation system and a memory-based optical navigation system.