GB2046410A - Target apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

A target apparatus for use in the training of weapon direct fire is provided suitable for use in the training of anti-aircraft and naval gunnery and missile launching. The apparatus includes a dome structure 1 in which a weapon can be placed. The structure 1 forms a screen 3 of concave truncated spherical shape. At least one target image projector 4 is provided, preferably a T.V. video projector, for projecting a target image onto the screen, which projector is mounted for universal movement, preferably on a gimballed mounting 5, for moving the projected target image over the screen. Means 9 for projecting a beam of radiation, preferably infra-red radiation, onto the screen 3 at a selected position relative to the projected target image are provided with the selected position corresponding to the position at which the weapon should be aimed to produce a hit on the target image when fired. A radiation detector means 10 is provided which is movable with the weapon for registering a hit or miss by detecting whether or not the weapon is aimed at the selected position when fired. Optionally a laser projector 12 can be provided in conjunction with the projectors 4 and 10 to give a visual indication on the screen of the invisible infra-red radiation point on the screen constituting the selected position. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Target apparatus This invention relates to a target apparatus for use in the training of weapon direct fire, such as gunnery and missile launchers, and particularly, but not exclusively for use in the training of anti-aircraft gunnery and naval gunnery.

In action anti-aircraft and naval gunners or missile launchers have to be able to engage targets such as aircraft which aproach from any bearing around 360" of horizon and at any elevation over an arc of 1800. In order to avoid the use of expensive targets, missiles and gun shells it has been conventional to train gunners or missile launchers in simulated attack conditions using target/gun and target/missile launcher simulators. The most up to date conventional target apparatus for use in such training, has a structure forming a screen of concave truncated spherical shape in which a weapon can be placed and a fixed film projector located within the structure to project a target image onto the screen provided by the dome interior, via one or more mirrors movable in response to a system of cams and wires or a system of servo-motors.Movement of the mirrors by the cams and control wires or servo-motor system provides movement over the screen of the target image projected by the fixed film projector.

The use of a fixed projector, movable mirror, control cams and wires or servo-motor system renders the conventional target apparatus cumbersome, inherently slow and able to provide, at best, a target image around a bearing of not more than 226 of horizon and over an elevation of not more than 108 of arc. This is a particularly severe disadvantage as it does not enable conventional target apparatus to provide realistic training conditions necessary to engage and destroy targets approaching at bearings and elevations outside the scope of the target apparatus.Indeed the more common type of conventional target projection apparatus has a structure forming a hemispherical screen mounted on a cylindrical wall and cannot provide a target image at bearings around more than 200 of horizon and at elevations of more than '108" of arc. These conventional forms of structure necessarily produce a dead sector in which the weapon is placed. Additionally such conventional target apparatus are only able to provide in the same scene a single target image or multiple target images which always move as one and this cannot provide effective training to cope with the modern ground attack aircraft tactics of flying in pairs with one aircraft approaching the target area from one direction to engage ground defences whilst the other completes the attack run from another direction.Similar tactics are also employed by modern naval fast patrol/missile launcher craft.

There is thus a need for a generally improved target apparatus capable of providing more realistic training conditions.

According to the present invention there is provided target apparatus for use in the training of weapon direct fire, including a structure in which a weapon can be placed and which forms a screen of concave truncated spherical shape, at least one target image projector located within the structure for projecting a target image onto the screen, with the at least one projector being mounted for universal movement so as to be capable of moving the projected target image over the screen, means for projecting a beam of radiation onto the screen at a selected position relative to the projected target image, with the selected position corresponding to the position at which the weapon should be aimed to produce a hit on the target image when fired, and a radiation detector means movable with the weapon for registering a hit or miss by detecting whether or not the weapon is aimed at the selected position when fired.

Preferably the at least one target image projector is located in the structure at the centre of curvature of the concave truncated spherical shaped screen.

Advantageously the target image projector is mounted for universal movement on a gimballed mounting providing two axis freedom of movement.

The gimballed mounting may be on a gantry fixed with respect to the structure or on a gantry rotatable in unison with a weapon when the latter is present in the structure and operatively traversed. The target image projector may be a T.V. video projector, the means for projecting a beam of radiation may be an infra-red projector and the two projectors may be mounted on the gimballed mounting. Additionally, a laser projector may be mounted with the target image projector and the infra-red projector on the gimballed mounting for selective operation to provide a visual indication on the screen of the selected position produced by the projected infra-red radiation beam. There may be a plurality of target image projectors.

For a better understanding of the present invention and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure lisa diagrammatic side view of target apparatus according to a first embodiment of the invention, partly broken away to reveal part of the interior of a structure of the apparatus.

Figure 2 is a cross sectional view taken from above on the line A-A of Figure 1, Figure 3 is a side view of a modified detail of the embodiments of Figures 1 and 2, Figure 4 is a sectional view similar to that of Figure 2 but showing a different type of weapon, and Figure 5 is a block diagram of a projection apparatus and control system for use in the embodiments of Figures 1 to 4.

As shown, for example, in Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings, a target apparatus of the invention for use in the training of weapon direct fire includes a structure 1 in which a weapon 2 can be placed. This structure 1 is of sufficient area and size to permit more than one weapon such as different calibre A.A. guns to be positioned inside and forms a screen 3 of concave truncated spherical shape. The structure 1 can be either an outdoor installation made, for example, of reinforced concrete or glassfibre reinforced plastics, or an indoor installation made, for example, of interlocking rigid plastics sections of regular polygon shape. If desired the structure 1 for an outdoor installation can also be constructed of interlocking rigid plastics sections of regular polygon shape.The precise internal diameter tolerances required for the screen 3 and the need for a perfectly smooth, multi-curvature dome inner surface are automatically ensured during the manufacture of each plastics section. When the dome structure 1 has been erected the outer surface may be weatherproofed in any convenient manner such as by paint whilst the inner surface which provides the screen 3 can be painted or otherwise treated as necessary to provide the requisite reflective screen surface.

At least one target image projector, preferably a high power T.V. video projector is located within the structure 1 for projecting a target image onto the screen 3 at any point thereon. Tq this end the target image projector 4 is mounted for universal movement in any convenient manner such as on a gimbal led mounting 5 providing two axis freedom of movement.

This gimballed mounting 5 can be mounted in any convenient way in the structure 1 such as on a grantry 6 fixed with respect to the structure 1 as shown in Figures 1,2 and 4 of the accompanying drawings. Alternatively, as shown in the modification of Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings, the gimballed mounting 5 can be mounted on a gantry 7 which is rotatable in unison with a weapon such as an anti-aircraft gun 2a when the latter is traversed.

To this end the gantry 7 may be secured to a rotatable platform 8 to which the mounting of the gun 2a is secured so that the rotatable plafform 8 and gun rotate in unison when the gun is traversed.

Alternatively, and not illustrated in the drawings, the gimballed mounting 5 can be mounted on a movable gantry which is directly attached to the gun platform of the gun for rotational movement therewith when the gun is traversed.

In this way the target image projector can be given universal movement to enable a target image to be projected onto any desired position on the screen at a bearing around 360" of horizon and at an elevation of at least 1800 of arc. By choice of the degree of truncation of the structure 1 and depending upon the degree of depression which the gun is capable of, it is possible to achieve an elevation or depression below the horizontal down to, for example, minus 10 . This is particularly useful for use in training naval gunners ortank gunners such as shown in Figure 4.Moreover, by preferably positioning the target image projector at the centre of curvature of the concave truncated spherical shaped screen 3, it is possible to ensure correct focussing and definition of the target image at any position on the screen.

The definition and correct focussing of the target image is enhanced by the fact that it is directly projected onto the screen 3 and is not indirectly projected via a mirror as is the case in conventional target apparatus. Such conventional mirror systems are not capable of providing a target image over an elevation of at least 1800 due to the fact that the mirror cannot reflect a reasonably distinct target image onto the screen when it is arranged at any angle in excess of a practical maximum of 45" to the projection beam.

Although the fixed gantry 6 as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 4 may provide a blind spot for the operator of the gun 2 or 2b this masking effect is minimal and acceptable for situations in which the gun, in use, normally encounters a degree of masking such as for a naval gun which is masked by the vessel superstructure over some bearings. However, the movable gantry 7 as shown in Figure 3 does not obstruct the gunners view. Thus the universally mounted target image projector 4 can provide aircraft target motion on the screen 3 at any position along accurate flightpaths which are predetermined or real-time computed, with the perspective and size of each aircraft target being correctly related to its aspect and range at any given instant during its flight.By virtue of providing aircraft target motion over any bearing around 360" of horizon and at any elevation over at least 1800 of arc, it is possible to provide overhead flight in addition to passing targets with extreme realism. For naval gunnery training in ship-to-ship roles seaborne targets can be provided at any bearings around a sensible maximum of 3200. Additionally more than one target image projector 4 can be provided, likewise universally mounted and on the vertical centre line of the structure 1,to enable, in controlled co-ordination with the first target image projector 4, the production of two independently operable target images to simulate and independent and separate aircraft targets or an aircraft target and a surface target.

Means, preferably an infra-red projector 9, are provided for projecting a beam of radiation onto the screen 3 at a selected position relative to the projected target image. This selected position corresponds to the position at which the weapon should be aimed to produce a hit on the target image when fired. This infra-red selected or "future" position projector 9 can provide a pulsed beam of infra-red radiation which is invisible and also is mounted, for universal movement, with the target image projector 4 on the gimballed mounting 5. A radiation detector means 10fordetecting infra-red radiation is provided movable with the weapon for registering a hit or miss by detecting whether or not the weapon is aimed at the selected "future" position when fired.

To this end the detector 10 is provided on the gun in the optical sight line thereof to register whether or not the sight is aligned with the selected position at which the target would be when the gun shell arrives at that point. Thus when the gunner is tracking and aiming correctly and the gun trigger is depressed while the target is in range, the detector 10 receive, locate, register, amplify and transmit the signal received from the infra-red projector 9 on the screen 3, to a gunnery display unit located in a control console 11. In this manner hits are recorded against rounds fired and projectile miss distance from the target is constantly indicated digitally and displayed visually for each gun.The selected "future" position of the target on the screen 3 is produced by pre-programmed micro-electronic memories or realtime computation which control both the infra-red projector 9 and the target image projector 4. Manual override facilities may be provided at the control console 11 for interrupting or varying the preprogrammed effect at random. Additionally the infra-red projector 9 is pre-programmed or real-time computer controlled so that particular weapon and projectile ballistic requirements can be selected as desired. The control programmes may be provided on tape recordings.

The beam of infra-red radiation indicating the selected "future" target position on the screen 3 corresponding to the correct aiming point for impact is invisible on the screen. For use in training inexperienced gunners a visual indication of th is point can be provided by means of a laser projector 12 mounted, for universal movement, with the target image projector 4 and the infra-red projector 9 on the gimballed mounting 5. This laser projector 12 provides an eye-safe laser beam coaxially along the invisible infra-red beam of the infra-red "future" position projector 9 to permit the selected position on the screen 3 corresponding to the correct aiming point for impact on the target to be visually observed by the gunner through the gunsight.The laser projector 12 can be selectively switched on and off but can only be used to indicate the correct aiming point for a hit on the target. Mirrors can be used, if desired, to provide the coaxial alignment of the laser beam and infra-red beam. Thus the aiming point for a hit on the target can be projected by the laser beam as a circular or elliptical point of visible light, which is adjustable in size, on the screen 3. It is correctly positioned on the selected target "future" position corresponding to a hit that is to say on the point of impact ahead of the target, for any given instant on the target flight path or course line. The size of the selected position projected onto the screen 3 by the infra-red projector 9 can be selected to correspond to the average dispersion of the particular weapon in use.More precise tolerance is possible by adjustment of a miss distance indicator on the control console 11, Additionally, the laser beam can be controlled in size to provide a visual indication on the screen 3 corresponding in size to the selected infra-red target "future" position size. The gimbal led mounting 5 is connected to the necessary servocontrol systems which control and drive it and the projectors carried thereby. Additionally, the gun mounting can be provided with a gunsight T.V.

camera 13 to enable records of the gunners performance to be recorded for playback, gun mounting trigger electrical connectors and all necessary cables for connection of the various parts of the apparatus to the gun mounting. This equipment can be fitted to any desired type of weapon. The gunsight T.V.

camera 13 additionally permits an instructor coaxially to view the same sight picture as the gunner thereby allowing the instructor to monitor and correct the gunners performance. If desired supplementary optical lens may be fitted externally to the gunsightoptics in order to permit high power magnification to be used to view the target image on the screen 3.

The target apparatus also includes electrical control means for the target image projector 4, the infra-red projector 9, the laser projector 12 and the infra-red detector 10. The control console 11 contains the target flight or course programmes on rack mounted, solid state, micro-electronic memory modules triggered by means of a corresponding target video tape data coding or by realtime computation.

The console 11 contains all the target projection apparatus controls, a T.V. monitor which shows the target scene projected and the controls for the various projectors and the detector. The console 11 can be used as a gunnery control centre for controlling a plurality of guns and can be operated to modify the selected programme for one or more guns, rate of fire of guns, maximum range depending upon the gun characteristics and indicate actual operating sequence of gun with a visual display of a hit or a miss for subsequent analysis of performance. Sound effects may be provided to simulate gunnery noise and/or target attack noise.The control console 11 can be operated to provide an automatic fire controlled simulation for the guns which can be interrupted at will to provide training for gun crews in changing from an automatic gun control sequence to a manually operated sequence. A fully automatic test system for the entire target apparatus may be provided.

The structure 1 may be provided with a movable construction gantry (not shown) rotatable about the dome centre to permit each plastics section to be raised by one man with a small powered hoist to a second man who locks each plastics section into place. A movable section of the structure 1 constitutes a door which is removable to allow entrance and exit of guns such astheself-propelled gun or tank 2b of Figure 4 and the anticraft guns 2a, into and out of the structure 1. If desired the structure can be air conditioned by air conditioning and ventilation units and a cloud projector can be provided for projecting cloud outlines and shapes moving across the screen 3.

Although in the foregoing the invention has been described in terms of its application to gunnery training it is to be understood that it is equally applicable to missile launching training. In the latter case missile launchers are provided in place of the guns.

Optionally if required, particularly for naval gunnery training, the weapon may be mounted on a movable gunnery platform 14 as shown in Figure 1 which platform 14 is movable to simulate shipboard motion. Such a platform 14 may also be utilised to simulate movement of a weapon such as a tank or self-propelled gun 2b.

Claims (14)

1. Target apparatus for use in the training of weapon direct fire, including a structure 1 in which a weapon can be placed and which forms a screen 3 of concave truncated sperhical shape, at least one target image projector 4 located within the structure 1 for projecting a target image onto the screen 3, with the at least one projector 4 being mounted for universal movement so as to be capable of moving the projected target image over the screen 3, means 9 for projecting a beam of radiation onto the screen 3 at a selected position relative to the projected target image, with the selected position corresponding to the position at which the weapon should be aimed to produce a hit on the target image when fired, and a radiation dectectormeans 10 movable with the weapon for registering a hit or a miss by detecting whether or not the weapon is aimed at the selected position when fired.

2. Target apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one target image projector 4 is located in the structure 1 at the centre of curvature of the concave truncated spherical shaped screen 3.

3. Target apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the at least one target image projector 4 is mounted for universal movement on a gimballed mounting 5 providing two axis freedom of movement.

4. Target apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the gimballed mounting 5 is on a gantry fixed with respect to the structure 1.

5. Target apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the gimballed mounting 5 is on a gantry 7 rotatable in unison with a weapon when the latter is present in the structure 1 and operatively traversed.

6. Target apparatus according to claim 4 or claim 5, wherein the at least one target image projector 4 is a T.V. video projector.

7. Target apparatus according to claim 4 or claim 5, wherein the means 9 for projecting a beam of radiation is an infra-red projector.

8. Target apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the infra-red projector is mounted, for universal movement, with the target image projector 4 on the gimballed mounting 5.

9. Target apparatus according to claim 5, includ ing a laser projector 12 mounted, for universal .movement, with the target image projector 4 and infra-red projector 9 on the gimballed mounting 5 and selectively operable to provide a visual indication on the screen 3 of the selected position pro duced by the projected infra-red radiation beam.

10. Target apparatus according to any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the radiation detector means 10 is in infra-red detector.

11. Target apparatus according to any one of claims 7 to 10, including electrical control means for the at least one target image projector 4, the infra-red projector 9, the laser projector 12 and the infra-red detector 10.

12. Target apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 11, including a plurality oftarget image projectors 4 operable to project a plurality of target images onto the screen 3.

13. Target apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 12, in which the structure forming the screen is made of interlocking rigid plastics sections of regular polygon shape.

14. Target apparatus for use in the training of weapon direct fire, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying draw ings.