Shooting simulation system and method

• US 8,459,997 B2
• Filed: 10/29/2009
• Issued: 06/11/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Opto Ballistics, LLC
• Original Assignee: Opto Ballistics, LLC
• Inventors: Carter, George
• Primary Examiner(s): Musselman, Timothy A
• Application Number:
  US12/608,820
• Publication Number:
  US 20100221685A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,321 Days
• Field of Search: 434 11- 27, 463/5, 463/51, 102/529, 703/6, 42/10.1
• US Class Current: 434/19
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 33/00 Adaptations for training adaptations of barrels for recoil reinforcement F41A21/26; Gun simulators teaching or practice apparatus for gun-aiming or gun-laying F41G3/26 ; shooting games A63F9/02; military simulation G09B9/003
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 3/2605 using a view recording device cosighted with the gun F41G3/2616 takes precedence

Abstract

A shooting simulation system and method. The system includes a plurality of firearms. Each firearm is held by a separate player and includes a man-worn computer, an optical system associated with the firearm for capturing an image. The image provides information on a trajectory of a simulated bullet fired from a shooting firearm. The system determines if the captured image is a hit or a miss of targeted player and informs a man-worn computer of the targeted player of a hit by the shooting firearm. The determination if the captured image is a hit or miss and identity of the targeted player may include utilizing various types of information, such as the location of the shooting firearm and the targeted player, orientation of the shooting firearm, trajectory of the projected ammunition of the shooting firearm, terrain data and atmospheric conditions.

Claims

1. A shooting simulation system, the system comprising:

a plurality of firearms, each firearm being held by a separate player, wherein each player has a computer and an optical system associated with the firearm for capturing an image, the image providing information on a trajectory of a simulated bullet fired from a shooting firearm;

wherein the optical system is aligned relative to a known sight of the shooting firearm, the optical system capturing the image when a trigger of the shooting firearm is pulled;

an image recognition program for determining if the captured image is a legitimate target;

wherein the computer determines if the captured image is a hit or a miss of a targeted player, the computer using information obtained from the optical system and image recognition program for determining if the captured image is a hit or a miss of a targeted player, wherein the optical system detects a predetermined indicia of the targeted player in the captured image to determine if the targeted player is a legitimate target.

2. The system according to claim 1 wherein the computer:

utilizes a position of the targeted firearm and the shooting firearm to determine an identity of the target; and

utilizes an orientation of the shooting firearm to determine an identity of the target.

3. The system according to claim 1 wherein the computer is separate from the firearm configured to be worn by the player.

4. The system according to claim 1 wherein the computer utilizes a projected trajectory of notional ammunition used in the shooting firearm to determine a hit or miss of the targeted player.

5. The system according to claim 1 further comprising a warning system for informing the computer of the targeted player of a hit by the shooting firearm.

6. The system according to claim 5 further comprising a central computing system communicating with each firearm, the central computing system having the warning system for informing a computer of the targeted player of a hit by the shooting firearm.

7. The system according to claim 6 wherein the central computing system verifies a hit or miss for each captured image and compiles hits or misses of each firearm in use in the system.

8. The system according to claim 1 wherein the optical system detects a predetermined pattern associated with a valid target.

9. The system according to claim 1 wherein the indicia provides an identification of a specific person.

10. The system according to claim 1 further comprising a spectral imaging system to determine if the captured image is a hit or a miss of the targeted player.

11. The system according to claim 1 further comprising a geo-pairing system for determining an identity of the target.

12. The system according to claim 1 wherein each computer communicates via a wireless transmitter to a wireless network.

13. The system according to claim 1 wherein the indicia is a pattern affixed to clothing of each player.

14. The system according to claim 1 wherein the image recognition program detects a specific pattern or shape within the captured image to determine if the captured image is a legitimate target.

15. A method of simulating firearm use between a plurality of players, the method comprising the steps of:

pulling a trigger of a shooting firearm, the shooting firearm aiming at a targeted player;

capturing an image by an optical system associated with the shooting firearm, the image providing information on a trajectory of a simulated bullet fired from the shooting firearm, the optical system aligned relative to a known sight of the shooting firearm, the optical system capturing the image when a trigger of the shooting firearm is pulled;

determining if the captured image is a valid hit or a miss of the targeted player;

wherein the step of determining if the captured image is a valid hit or a miss of the target player includes the steps of;

using an image recognition program for determining if the captured image is a legitimate target;

using information obtained from the optical system and image recognition program for determining if the captured image is a hit or a miss of a targeted player, and detecting a predetermined indicia associated with the targeted player, wherein the optical system detects the predetermined indicia in the captured image to determine if the targeted player is a legitimate target.

16. The method according to claim 15 wherein the step of determining if the captured image is a hit or miss includes the step of using a position of the targeted player and the shooting firearm to determine an identity of the targeted player.

17. The method according to claim 15 wherein the step of determining if the captured image is a hit or miss includes the step of using an orientation of the shooting firearm to determine an identity of the targeted player.

18. The method according to claim 15 wherein the step of determining if the captured image is a hit or miss includes the step of using a projected trajectory of notional ammunition used in the shooting firearm to determine an identity of the targeted player.

19. The method according to claim 15 further comprising the step of informing a man-worn computer associated with the shooting firearm of a hit on the target.

20. The method according to claim 15 further comprising the steps of:

verifying a hit or miss for each captured image by a central computing system communicating with each firearm of the plurality of firearms; and

compiling hits or misses of each firearm in use by the central computing system.

21. The method according to claim 15 further comprising the step of detecting a predetermined pattern associated with the targeted player by the optical system.

22. The method according to claim 15 wherein the indicia provides an identification of a specific person.

23. The method according to claim 15 wherein the step of determining if the captured image is a hit or a miss of the targeted player includes the step of utilizing spectral imaging to determine if the captured image is a hit or a miss of the targeted player.

24. The method according to claim 15 wherein the step of determining if the captured image is a hit or a miss of the targeted player includes using a geo-pairing system for determining an identity of the targeted player.

25. The method according to claim 15 further comprising the step of informing the targeted player of a hit by the shooting firearm, including transmitting via a wireless transmitter to a wireless network.

26. The method according to claim 15 further comprising the step of informing the targeted player of a hit by the shooting firearm.