FR2699996A1 - Optronic device for help with shooting by individual weapon and application to the progression in hostile environment. - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to the field of shooting assistance with individual weapons and is based on a large field / small field coupling for target location and recognition, combined with automatic target tracking and conditional firing trigger. . The helmet of an infantryman is provided with a wide field sensor (1) whose output signal is applied to a monitor (3) integrated in the helmet. The infantryman's weapon is equipped with an optical system with a small field sensor (4) coupled to a tracker (5) and multiple control means (6). These means (6) control a video switch (2) which applies the imaging signal from either the large field sensor (1) or the small field sensor (4) to the monitor (3), the tracker (5) to acquire a target and a comparator (7) for triggering firing means (11) when the coordinates of the target, calculated by a deviation meter (9), are equal to those of a predetermined reference. Application to progression in a hostile environment.

Description

OPTRONIC FIRE ASSISTING DEVICE

  BY INDIVIDUAL WEAPON AND APPLICATION TO

PROGRESSION IN HOSTILE ENVIRONMENT.

  The invention relates to the field of shooting aid carried out by individual weapon and relates to an optronic device aid for this type

  of shooting and the application of this device to the progression in hostile environment.

  The effectiveness of current individual kinetic missile weapons

  overall, because of the very low proportion of police shooters

  The aim of the individual gunner is very important and can not compensate for a very small capacity at all times.

  In addition, the probability of a shot at the goal falls sharply

  from the shooting range to live fire or combat This fall is explained by

  only by the stress experienced by the shooter, the parameters and the sighting conditions (moving targets, masked, etc.) or the parasitic movement due to the

  pressure on the trigger when firing.

  Firing aid systems are known for example EP 099204 discloses a wide field system for detection and small

  field for identification, or two objectives in series with magnification

  Different devices, such as the one disclosed by patent EP 100719, have been devised with a wide-field imaging system remote from the line. aiming the weapon that supports the wide field imaging system; the two images are then correlated, and a sighting mark is produced in the wide-field image so as to indicate the line of sight of the weapon when the correlation is obtained. pointing by improving the

  aim, but do not solve the problem of the quality of the firing related to

  in which the shot is fired.

  The invention proposes to solve this problem by considering the shooter and his weapon as a whole, forming a complete system Thus, according to the invention, the probability of a shot at the goal is substantially increased by combining, during the preparation for the shot, an identification aid for a conditional firing trigger taking into account the aim parameters and conditions: the identification aid allows the firer to authorize the firing

  on a target recognized as potentially threatening, and triggers it

  Conditional shooting allows you to reach the target with a high success rate regardless of the stress, training or training of the wearer

of the weapon.

  More specifically, the subject of the invention relates to an optronic device for firing an individual weapon for infantryman, equipped with a helmet visual comprising a large field sensor delivering an imaging signal to a display monitor, characterized in that it comprises a small axis field sensor coincident with the weapon's sighting axis and a target tracker integrated into the weapon, control means and wide-field control transmission means / small field to the visualization monitor, trigger acquisition of target to the tracker and authorization of shooting to means of comparison when the acquired target is centered on the axis of the small field, and in that means of connection mechanical and electrical between the helmet and the weapon realize an optronic harmonization between the large field and small field imagery. The invention perfectly integrates the different missions that a

  an infantryman must perform to progress safely in a hostile environment.

  These different functions, taken in isolation, are noticeably different.

  even when not taking into account reaction times: the progression (especially at night) requires a wide field of view in a spectral band a priori broad;

  the identification of potential threats involves magnification

  important in a particular direction;

  avoiding fratricidal fire requires interrogation and then reception.

response;

  reaching a target with a high success rate requires

  favorable juncture between the different parameters depending on the shooter and the

shooting conditions.

  The invention makes it possible to simplify these procedures and the number of devices to perform them by fulfilling these various missions by a suitable use of the means of the invention: first of the integrated helmet means for wide-field visualization, combined with a Friend-Enemy identification system, for the environment as it progresses and to check if a potential threat is a friend; then control means of the weapon connected to the helmet, successively actuated to switch to small field viewing mode to perform a target recognition, to acquire the target if the threat is real, and finally allow the shot that does not triggers that when the

  acquired target is at the center of the axis of the small field.

  The invention thus applies to progression in a hostile environment, for example to achieve infiltration, under conditions of safety

1 o optimal.

  Advantageously, the large field / small field passage control, target acquisition and conditional firing triggering means are integrated into the weapon and correspond, preferably, to staggered positions of the stroke of the trigger tail of the gun. Weapon Orders

  may be transmitted by a respective transmission bus.

  video switch, tracker and comparison means.

  The comparison means, comprising, for example, a devometer, a comparator and a memory, may be grouped together in a computing unit. Advantageously, this unit integrates correction data of

shoot.

  Furthermore, the mechanical connection means may be constituted by a simple adjustment, made for example by interlocking between two complementary parts The electrical connection means

  can be obtained by retractable contactors.

  Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent

  on reading the description which follows, accompanied by the appended figures

which represent, respectively:

  FIG. 1, a functional electrical diagram of the means of the in-

  vention; FIG. 2, an example of implementation of the means implemented by the invention;

  FIGS. 3a and 3b, a wide-field visualization for the de-

  detection of potential targets and for centering an unidentified target as a "friend"; Figure 4, a small field visualization for target recognition and snapping; An infantryman who progresses in a hostile environment is equipped with

  means of identifying potential threats, recognizing the

  Real threats and treatment of these threats It is equipped with a helmet and an individual weapon on which are distributed these various means The helmet, for example, can be equipped with a large-field visual conventionally comprising a sensor sensitive to radiation visible and / or infrared, coupled to a miniaturized display monitor, for example a display with

liquid crystal.

  According to the invention, these means are combined with other means integrated on the weapon. FIG. 1 represents a functional electrical diagram.

  the various means used in an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

  They comprise: on the one hand, a large-field sensor 1 which delivers a video signal SV 1 to a display monitor 3 via a video switch 2; on the other hand, a small field sensor 4 which delivers a video signal SV 2 to the visualization monitor 3 via the switch 2 and which is equipped with a tracker (automatic target tracking system) 5; control means 6 actuate the video switch 2, for a large passage

  field / small field in the helmet visual, the tracker 5 for an acqui-

  target, and comparison means such as a coupled variometer 9

  to comparator 7, for a shooting authorization.

  The control orders are transmitted respectively to the

  video mutator 2, the tracker 5 and the comparator 7 by a transmission bus

  mission 8 The video switch 2 delivers either the large imaging signal

  field be the small field imaging signal to the display monitor 3.

  The tracker is a target tracking system well known to those skilled in the art. It is preferably of the hot spot or barycentric type because it is well suited to the detection of mobile threats. Once a target "hooked" by the tracker 5 , its coordinates in the small field are evaluated in the variometer 9, then stored in a memory 10 The coordinates of the various non-threatening targets and accumulated in this memory are used in order to avoid snagging

later on this type of target.

  The comparator associates the coordinates of the target provided by the distance gauge and those of a reference, for example those (0,0) of the center of the field which materializes the axis of the weapon When the order of authorization of shooting is transmitted to the comparator 7, it is made active and sends a firing trigger signal to the firing means 11 of the weapon when the coordinates of the target are substantially equal to those of the reference,

  but only in this case Such a trigger is therefore a trigger

conditional shooting.

  The comparator, the differenceometer and the memory can be grouped together in a computing and management unit 12. This unit receives the information coming from the transmission bus 8 and the tracking 5 and, using conventional programming. , delivers control signals adapted to the tracker 5 and the firing means 11 Thus, when the coordinates of a target are already stored, the calculation unit controls

reset the tracker.

  It is therefore advantageous to take advantage of the implementation of

  means of triggering firing, to take account of

  to be provided due to defects in the weapon (eg misalignment) or shooting conditions (eg shooting increase) This electronic compensation is initialized by a prior calculation of the coordinates of the reference to be taken into account Such a predetermination is carried out by the management unit using a suitable programming from the data

provided by the infantryman.

  FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary implementation of the various means implemented by the invention, as they appear in operational use. An infantryman F is equipped with a helmet C provided with a visual

  composed of the large-field sensor 1 coupled to a housing B containing the cir-

  firing processing of the imaging signal delivered by the wide field sensor 1.

  The housing also integrates the visualization monitor forming an image from the video signal provided by the processing circuit. Such a display assembly and its incorporation into a helmet are well known to humans.

art.

  The infantryman's weapon A is equipped with an optical system 20

  small-field transmitter which also outputs an imaging signal to the processing circuit via a switch, as described above The axis of the optical system 20 is aligned by construction, as perfectly as possible, to

  firing axis of the weapon so as to avoid systematic errors as much as possible.

shooting.

  The transition from the wide-field visualization to the small-field visualization is triggered in the preferred embodiment of the invention by a suitable positioning of the trigger rod 21. The trigger has different staggered and stable positions successively obtained by substantially increasing the pressure exerted. The positioning of the trigger in these different positions is made reversible by construction if

  although one can move from one position to another.

  A mechanical adjustment makes it possible to harmonize the wide-field and small-field aiming axes. Such a harmonization simply aims at avoiding a long search (or even impossible) in a small field of objects previously detected in a large field. This harmonization does not therefore require a high degree of accuracy, and sufficient adjustment is obtained by nesting the back of the small field optical system 20 in an outline

  front piece 22 of the housing B of the helmet visual.

  Electrical connections are also to be provided between the nested mechanical parts Retractable contactors can be used to transmit the bus commands and the sensor signal

  small field at the video switch located in the case's visual case

  than. The large field sensor 1 allows the detection of several

  potential threats Figure 3a represents the image II formed by the cap-

  large field on the visualization monitor This image allows the infantryman to identify and evaluate, especially at night with a sensor

  large field sensitive to infrared radiation or associated with intensi-

  The visual identification of potential targets, such as targets surrounded by circles Cl, C 2, C 3, is then facilitated. On the image The outline C 'of the image obtained in small dots also appears in dotted lines

field before magnification.

  Before switching to small field mode for more detailed recognition of potential threats, a Friend-Foe identification (or

  IFF, abbreviated "Identification of a Friend from a Foe" in English

  Saxon) allows you to select the un-friendly target (enemies or

  other targets) and thus avoid fratricide firing The IFF function is well

  naked; it is conventionally implemented, in the example embodiment shown, from laser source emitters / receivers or laser diodes disposed on the helmet (identified by the references E1, in FIG. 2). The infantryman may emit when the The call is brought to the center of the detection field, as illustrated by the target C 2 in FIG. 3b. After interrogation, according to a sequence of laser pulses coded in number and duration, the caller knows, according to the answer, whether the called party is a friend or "something else" If the called party is a friend, the search continues by bringing another potential target into the central area If the called party is not a friend, he

  may not be hostile and the process continues with a phase of recognition

birth of target in small field.

  The passage in small field, triggered at the level of the trigger of the weapon, is realized by means such as those described above The passage in small field is done like a zoom since the axes big field and small field are harmonized Thus, in Figure 4, it appears that in small field the image 12 substantially corresponds to the central area C '

  of the wide field image It represented in FIG. 3b, improved in resolution

  Because of the magnification The passage in small field makes it possible to recognize one of the targets as potentially threatening, for example C 2, then to use the tracker to "hook" the target thus recognized. In FIG. 4, the rectangular track R of the tracker appears

  triggered by a new pressure on the trigger.

  Automatic continuation are well known in fire control systems (described for example in FR 2 393 322 or FR 2406 831) and used in association with radar, lidar or sonar systems. When the tracker is of the barycentric type, it is so hangs on the center of gravity of a zone of

  particular contrast and different from its immediate environment.

  The tracker can very well hook on a false target or on a target already recognized as non-threatening In this case, the management unit described above or the shooter resets it until hanging on the threatening target C 2 La reset is obtained by returning to the

  previous position of the trigger corresponding to the passage small field.

  The acquisition of the target in small field, allows to hang this target whatever the possible movements of the line of sight By pressing more strongly on the trigger, the infantryman reaches a new stable position corresponding to a conditional fire authorization ( which can of course be preceded by a final IFF interrogation) This conditional authorization consists in triggering the shot only when the center of the tracker's trace R is in the line of sight of the weapon, represented by a cross X in the center of the small field image 12 in the figure

  4 Such coincidence allows a precise shot and is carried out at a point where

  even the approximate area of the shooter; indeed, the trace of the tracker will necessarily pass, and in a relatively short period of time, by the center of the field when the shooter tries to point, because of the shooter's stress,

  erratic movements of the line of sight or the depointed person

finger on the trigger.

  The different positions of the trigger corresponding to the different

  orders are therefore, in the example embodiment, the number of

  four: wide field neutral position, small field position,

  target position and firing authorization position But other positions may be considered, such as a safety position

  after the authorization to fire. Other means of control may be

  may also be appropriate (sensitive keys, different orientations of a switch,). For a usually nocturnal progression, large sensors

  field and small field are advantageously of the thermal camera type.

  It is also possible to foresee means of implementation

  an alternative to either triggering the described firing aid means or other known firing aid means, or means for firing

  unaided shooting allowing, for example, the use of the weapon at the shooting range.

Claims (6)

  An optronic aid device for firing an individual weapon (A) for an infantryman (F), equipped with a helmet display (C) comprising a large field sensor (1) delivering an imaging signal to a visualization monitor. tion (3), characterized in that it comprises a small-field sensor (4) of axis   merged with the aiming axis of the weapon (A) and a target tracker (5)   with the weapon (A), control means (6) and transmission means   control mission (8) for large-field / small-field   video acquisition device (2) for triggering target acquisition at the tracker (5)   firing authorization to means of comparison (7, 9) which triggers   firing when the acquired target is centered on the axis of the small field, and in that the means of electrical mechanical connections between the helmet and the weapon achieve an optronic harmonization between the large imagery field and small field.   2 Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the control means (6) are carried on the weapon (A) and consist of stepped positions, stabilized in the stroke of the trigger (21) and successively attained by increasing the pressure exerted, and in that the control commands for wide field / small field, acquisition and firing authorization are transmitted by a transmission bus (8) which respectively controls the video switch (2), the Tracker (5) and the means of comparison (7).   3 Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the target acquisition tracker (5) is coupled to the comparator (7) via a deviometer (9), the comparator and the devometer forming said comparison means, and in that the comparator (7) triggers means for   firing (11) when the fire clearance order is given to the   (7) by the bus (8), when the coordinates of the target hooked by the tracker are evaluated by the devometer (9) as substantially   equal to those of a predetermined reference.   4 Device according to claim 3, characterized in that the comparator (7), the variometer (9) and a memory (10) are grouped together in   a computing and management unit (12), and that data for correcting   firing units are transmitted to said unit to calculate the coordinates of the reference, and in that the memory (10) stores the coordinates of the   non-threatening targets to reset the tracker (5) when it is hooked.   Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the   tracker is hot-spot or barycentric, and that   Large field and small field are associated with thermal imaging cameras. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that   mechanical connection between the helmet (C) and the weapon (A) is carried out   enclosure of the rear part of the small field optical system in a   adapted tower (22) of a front part of the helmet display (C) which is pressed against the rear part, and in that an electrical connection is made between the rear part of the small field optical system and the front part of the visual of headphones (C) by contactors to transmit commands   of the bus (8) and the signal delivered by the small field sensor (4).   7 Application of the device according to one of the preceding claims   to the progression of the infantryman in a hostile environment, characterized in that the wide field visual of the helmet is combined with a Friend-Enemy (El) identification system to monitor the environment and to check whether a potential threat is a friend, in that the control means (6) of the weapon are successively actuated to switch to small field viewing mode, in order to perform a target recognition, to acquire the target if the threat is real, and to allow the only when the target acquired   located in the center of the axis of the small field.   8 Application according to claim 6, characterized in that   the Friend-Enemy identification is reiterated after acquisition of the target.