GB2117609A

GB2117609A - Field of view simulation for weapons training

Info

Publication number: GB2117609A
Application number: GB08302645A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Dr Robert Stickel
Original assignee: Honeywell GmbH
Current assignee: Honeywell GmbH
Priority date: 1982-02-06
Filing date: 1983-01-31
Publication date: 1983-10-12
Also published as: CH661132A5; GB8302645D0; DE3204135A1; FR2521328A1; GB2117610B; GB2117609B; DE3204135C2; FR2521328B1; GB2117610A

Abstract

For simulating an unobstructed view into a landscape by means of an optical apparatus such as a binocular 12, the sight of a portable weapons, etc., a miniature N monitor 16 is arranged in the optical path of the optical apparatus. The optical apparatus moreover is provided with transmitters 16, 18, the signals of which are received by a stationary receiving device 22 in order to evaluate the line of sight of the optical apparatus. According to the evaluated line of sight, a panorama memory 26 and a target memory 28 are accessed with their memory contents being electronically combined at 34 and after digital/video conversion at 36 being displayed on the TV monitor. Therefore, the person handling the optical apparatus peers into a simulated landscape comprising targets with the display being very close to the reality. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Field of view simulation for weapons training The present invention relates to weapons training aids, and more particularly to apparatus forsimulat- ing the view into a landscape by means of an optical apparatus. The term landscape is used hereto main a view into substantially open space such as a landscape or skyscrape, usually with one or more targets appearing therein.

From German patent specification 2658501 it is known to provide a TV monitor screen in front of the sight of a machine gun, with an image composed from a panorama and a target being displayed on the monitor. The machine gun mounting has attached thereto sensors which monitorthe movement of the machine gun relative to its base; such movement is controlled bythe gunner being trained. A model panorama and a model target (an aircraft) are scanned by respective TV cameras, and movement of the target relative to the panorama is simulated by movement of the target camera relative to the panorama camera. The output ofthe sensors is used to control matching movement of both cameras, in dependence ofthe movement ofthe machine gun.

The outputs of the camera are combined to form the image displayed by the TV monitor.

From UK patent application 2050748 A, it is known to utilize digitally stored panorama images in place of the model panorama and target. The addressing of the digitally stored panorama image is controlled by the sensors ofthe gun position. The target image is superimposed on the panorama in a corresponding manner.

The battle situation for crews of weapons, particularlytanks, requires also howeverthatthe commander ofthe gun ortank may may be able to observe the battlefield by means of a binocular in order to detect a target which is then allotted to the gunner. The same is true for a weapons borne by a soldier, for example an anti-tankweapon,where the target is to be tracked by means of the weapon sight. It has not hitherto been possible to simulate such procedures realistically.

The main object of the present invention is therefore to provide apparatus forsimulating the view into a landscape by means of an optical apparatus in which the apparatus is unconstrained by mechanical mountings of the type found in tank weapons and machine guns.

Accordingly the present invention provides apparatus for simulating a view into a landscape by means of optical apparatus, comprising storage means for storing image data digitally, direction determining means for determining the line of sight of the optical apparatus by non-mechanical coupling means, image composition means responsive to the output of the direction determining means to compose an image corresponding to the line of sight of the optical apparatusfrom the storage means, and a TV monitor integrated into the optical path of the optical apparatus and fed by the image composition means.

Three embodiments ofthe invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a deviceforsimulating an unobstructed view by a binocular; Figure 2 shows a modification of the system of Figure 1; and Figure 3 shows a device for simulating an unob- structed view through a weapon sight.

Referring to Figure 1, there is shown a binocular 12 through which an observer 10 may peer. Both optical channels of binocular 12 are fed via a diopter 14from a miniature TV monitor 16 mounted rigidly on the front of the binocular 12. On the device comprising the binocular 12, the diopter 14, and the TV monitor 16, there are mounted two transmitters 18 and 20.

These two transmitters transmit acoustic signals which are received by a fixed receiving device 22, which includes three acoustic detector elements (not shown) arranged in a triangle. By measuring the transmission timesfortransmitter 18 to each of the 3 detector elements, the transmitter 18 can be located on 3 respective surfaces (in fact, spherical surfaces) which intersect in a pointwhichthereforefully locates thetransmitter 18. The transmitter 20 can similarly be located. The positions of the two transmitters 18 and 20 give the direction or line of sight of the binocular 12.

This techniquefor determining the line of sight of an object is described in more detail in British patent specification 1 469 536, which also describes a techniquefor determining the speed of sound and compensating for changes therein.

In response to the line of sight as determined by the receiving device 22, a sight simulator 24 determines the image to be displayed on the TV monitor 16. This image will normally be composed of a landscape cut-out together with electronically cut-in targets. A memory 26 stores a panorama image in digital form, and a target memory 28 stores one or more targets in digital form. In response to the line of sightfrom the receiving device 22, a process control computer 30 selects, by means of access electronics 32, an image cut-out from the panorama stored in the memory 26.

The computer 30 also assigns the target stored in the memory 28to the image cut-out by means of an image-composing device 34. The panorama stored in the memory 26 may have individual objects, such as houses, bushes, etc., assigned distances which are stored in the memory 26; the target may likewise have a distance assigned to it. The image-composing device 34 will in that case include means for determining whetherthe target is in front of or behind such objects, and in the event that the target is behind such an object, will display only those parts of the target which are not obscured by the object.

This lattertechnique is described in more detail in British patent application 2105 157 A.

A converter performs a digital to video conversion, and the resulting video image is displayed on the TV monitor 16. Therefore, when peering through the binocular 12, the observer 10 looks at different image cut-outs on the TV monitor 16 as a function of his viewing direction, with the targets being cut-in. The actual view into a real landscape with targets is thereby very realistically simulated.

Referring now to Figure 2, a modified system is shown wherein the observer 10 wears a helmet 44, and the two transmitters 18 and 20 are mounted on the helmet 44 instead of on the optical apparatus (binocular 12, diopter 14, andTV monitor 16). This system operates on the premise that an observer using a binocular holds the binocular in a fixed position relative to his head; the head and the binoculararetherefore moved togetherwhen aiming, keeping a fixed relationship, and the line of sight ofthe helmet is therefore the same as the line of sight ofthe binocular.

Itwill be realized that the line of sight may be determined using optical signals or other electromagnetic signals in the non-visible range instead of acoustic signals.

Referring now to Figure 3, a system for simulating the field of view of an anti-tankweapon launcher is shown. The launcher comprises a launching tube38 in which the anti-tank weapon 40 is carried. ATV monitor 16 is mounted on the launcher 38 in place of the usual sight, and a position transmitting device 42 is also attached to the launcher. The device 42 may for example include three gyros which operate as angular velocity transmitter in three mutually perpendicular directions. The signals derived from the three gyros are integrated to provide angle signals which are combined to produce a line of sight indication signal, which is applied to the sight simulator 24 of Figure 1. In the same manner as has been described with reference to Figure 1, the sight simulator 24 feeds the TV monitor 16, Figure 3, with image signals in accordance with the spatial positon of the line of sightofthe launcher.

Claims

1. Apparatus for simulating a view into a landscape by means of optical apparatus, comprising storage means for storing image data digitally, direction determining meansfordetermining the line ofsightofthe optical apparatus by non-mechanical coupling means, image composition means respon siveto the output of the direction determining means to compose an image corresponding to the line of sight of the optical apparatus from the storage means, and a Tv monitorintegrated into the optical path ofthe optical apparatus and fed by the image composition means.

2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein the direction determining means comprises a plurality of transmitters associated with the optical apparatus and a plurality of stationary mounted receivers.

3. Apparatus according to Claim 2, wherein the transmitters are attached to the optical apparatus.

4. Apparatus according to Claim 2, including a helmetto be worn bythe user of the optical apparatus and to which the transmitters are attached.

5. Apparatus according to any previous claim, wherein the storage means comprises a first memory for storing a panorama and a second memory for storing a target image.

6. Apparatus according to Claim 5, wherein the composing means comprises means for electronically cutting in the target on the selected portion ofthe panorama as background.

7. Apparatus according to any previous claim, wherein the optical apparatus comprises a binocular with a diopterforfeedingthe imagefromtheTVmonitorto both optical paths.