Mobile target system

• US 8,712,602 B1
• Filed: 05/24/2012
• Issued: 04/29/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Michael F. Holloway, Timothy S. Oliver
• Original Assignee: Michael F. Holloway, Timothy S. Oliver
• Inventors: Oliver, Timothy S., Holloway, Michael F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jen, Ian
• Application Number:
  US13/479,943
• Time in Patent Office: 705 Days
• Field of Search: 701/1, 701/2, 701/24, 340/12.22, 340/12.23, 340/12.28, 340/12.51, 340/12.53, 345/158, 345/169, 375/233, 375/261, 375/285, 375/296, 375/350
• US Class Current: 701/2
• 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: G05D 1/0011 associated with a remote control arrangement

Abstract

A remote controlled mobile target system having a target base on wheels and a target rotatable on the base under wireless control of a central processing unit. The target is rotatable between a shoot and no-shoot position independent of movement of the target base thereby giving a student a better simulation of real close quarters firearms engagement. The movements of the target base and target may be programmed or under the control of an instructor and when programmed the movements may be randomized based on number of hits to the target or hits to a specific hit sensitive area of the target.

Claims

1. A remote controlled mobile target system comprising:

a wireless receiver for receiving signals from a central processing unit,

a target base to which the receiver is mounted, said base mounted on wheels, said wheels connected to motors causing rotation of the wheels, said motors under control of the central processing unit and each motor operating independently of the others to allow each wheel to be locked or move in a forward or rearward direction,

a target mounted for rotation on the base, a motor causing rotation of the target, said motor under control of the central processing unit, said target rotatable into shoot and do not shoot position independent of movement of the target base.

2. The remote controlled mobile target system of claim 1 wherein motion control processors are provided on the base for each motor, said motion control processors communicating with the central processing unit through the wireless receiver.

3. The remote controlled mobile target system of claim 2 wherein the motion control processors receive instructions entered by an operator into the central processing unit or from an application program provided in the central processing unit.

4. The remote controlled mobile target system of claim 2 wherein the motion control processors use pulse width modulation to provide steering and speed control to the motors driving the wheels.

5. The remote controlled mobile target system of claim 4 wherein a relay with circuitry for reversing the polarity of leads is connected to the motors for the wheels and the motor for the target.

6. A remote controlled mobile target system comprising:

a wireless receiver for receiving radio frequency control signals from a central processing unit,

a target base to which the receiver is mounted, said base mounted on four rotatable wheels, said wheels connected to motors causing rotation of the wheels, said motors under control of the central processing unit and each operating independently of the others such that each wheel can be locked or move in a forward or rearward direct,

a target including a frame for attachment of a cardboard sheet having a colored shoot side and a white no-shoot side, said target connected to a motor causing rotation of the target and cardboard sheet between a shoot and do not shoot position independent of movement of the target base.

7. The remote controlled mobile target system of claim 6 wherein movements of the target base and target through the central processing unit are under control of an instructor.

8. The remote controlled mobile target system of claim 6 wherein the central processing unit is programmed to control movements of the target base and target.

9. The remote controlled target system of claim 6 wherein limit switches are provided on the base to stop rotation of target by the motor between preestablished limits.

10. The remote controlled target system of claim 6 wherein the motor for rotating the target is a servo motor that limits rotation of the target by the motor between preestablished limits.

11. A remote controlled mobile target system comprising:

a wireless receiver for receiving radio frequency control signals from a central processing unit,

a target base to which the receiver is mounted, said base mounted on four rotatable wheels, said wheels connected to motors causing rotation of the wheels, said motors under control of the central processing unit and each operating independently of the others such that each wheel can be locked or move in a forward or rearward direct,

a target having human appearance including a first hit sensing reactive target area at chest height and a second hit sensing reactive target area at head height, said target connected to a motor causing rotation of the target independent of movement of the target base.

12. The remote controlled mobile target system of claim 11 wherein the target includes an arm with an airsoft gun, said arm rotatable between a raised and lowered position by an electric actuator, firing of the airsoft gun and rotation of the arm being under wireless control of a wireless transmitter.

13. The remote controlled mobile target system of claim 11 wherein the target is mounted on a target articulation unit which is mounted for rotation on the base, said target being mounted on a foot, said foot rotatable on the target articulation unit such that the target moves between upright position and parallel to the ground, a motor causing rotation of the foot, said motor under control of the central processing unit.

14. The remote controlled mobile target system of claim 11 wherein the central processing unit is under control of an instructor.

15. The remote controlled mobile target system of claim 11 wherein the central processing unit is programmed to control movements of the target based on the number of hits to the hit sensitive sensitive target areas.

16. The remote controlled mobile target system of claim 11 wherein the central processing unit is programmed such that rotation of the target between upright position and parallel to the ground in response to hits to the hit sensitive target areas is randomized.

17. The remote controlled target system of claim 11 wherein motion control processors are provided on the target base and on the target articulation unit for each motor, said motion control processors communicating with the central processing unit through the wireless receiver.