GB2115659A

GB2115659A - Simulating field of view for weapon training

Info

Publication number: GB2115659A
Application number: GB08302644A
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: 1983-09-07
Also published as: DE3204136A1; FR2521279B1; GB8302644D0; FR2521279A1

Abstract

For simulating visual reconnaissance on training equipment for firing practice, images of a panorama with superimposed target, e.g. a tank, are projected on a curved screen (22) from one or more T.V. projectors (20), the images (BI-III) joining smoothly. The panorama is stored in digital memories (10I-III) and the target in (12), preferably with associated range information in both memory units so that a foreground object in the panorama can obscure the target which itself can obscure background. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Simulating field of view for weapon training The present invention relates to apparatus for simulating the field of view of a weapon such as a tank gun, for use for training weapon operators.

US patent specification No. 2 662 305 shows a known apparatus of this type, for simulating a battle situation. A curved background screen is provided, centred on the trainee, and the images of a landscape and a target (a tank) are projected onto the screen. The trainee sits behind a simulated weapon, such as an anti-tank gun. This known system includes mechanical means which simulate the masking of the target by features of the landscape.

However, this known system has two major disadvantages. Firstly, it is extremely complicated mechanically, and is therefore very costly.

Secondly, the display which it produces is only partially comparable with a real battle situation, since the targets and the landscape are only optically superimposed. Such optical superimposition results either in the targets (tanks) appearing excessively bright and therefore obtrusive, or in them appearing translucent with the landscape being visible through them. The battle situation for weapons crews, including in particular tank crews, requires that the commander of the gun or tank shall be able to perform the reconnaissance of the battle situation by direct visual observation. Hence also the simulation of the battle situation should be as close to reality as possible for trainees during firing practice.

The main object of the present invention is therefore to provide an improved apparatus for simulating a field of view which yields a close approximation to reality in appearance yet is moderate in price.

Accordingly the present invention provides apparatus for simulating a view into a landscape, comprising a first memory for storing a panorama image in digital form, a second memory for storing a target image in digital form, image composition means for combining signals from the first and second memories to generate an image comprising a combined panorama and target, a curved projection screen, and TV projection means for projecting said combined image on said projection screen.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the drawing, which is a block diagram of the exemplary apparatus.

Referring to the drawing, a panorama memory 10 stores a panorama image in digital form, representing e.g. 1500 in azimuth and 200 in elevation. This image memory 10 is divided into three single image memories I to Ill which store partial panoramas each of 500 in azimuth and 200 in elevation. A target memory 20 contains, also in digital form, one or more target images.

The partial panorama images and the images of the target or targets are combined with each other image synthesis or combining devices 16, 1 6', and 16" under the control of a process control computer 14 which assigns the target or targets to the desired positions in the panorama.

The panorama and target images are preferably stored and combined in the manner described in detail in British patent specification No. 2 105 1 57A. In the system described therein, the background (panorama) to be displayed, and the targets which are to be movable relative to the background, are digitally stored. In addition, the targets, and also individual objects in the background such as bushes, houses, etc., have range information stored in association with them. When a target is in line with an individual object in the background, a decision may therefore be made as to whether the target is in front or behind the object.Those parts of the object which are in front of the target are therefore displayed, with the obscured portions of the target being deleted from the image formed by the image synthesis means; while portions of the target which are in front of the object, or of the general body of the background, are displayed with the obscured portions of the object or general body of the background image are deleted. Since, in addition to that, target silhouettes from different angles and different target courses may easily be produced by a computer, a realistic simultation of the scene can be produced without difficulty.

The above-mentioned British specification describes a system in which the view through an aiming optical system is simulated for a gunner by means of a TV monitor arranged in the viewing field of the aiming optical system. In contrast, the present system simulates an unobstructed visual reconnaissance for the commander of a gun or tank. For this purpose, not merely a cut-out or portion of the background but the whole background is projected onto a curved projection screen by means of large image TV projectors, and the commander of the gun or tank is located at the centre of the projection.

More specifically, the three sections of image from the image synthesis devices 16, 16', and 16" are fed to respective digital to video converters 18, 18' and 18" fed therefrom to three respective large image TV projectors 20, 20', and 20". These three projectors are mounted vertically one above the other (the drawing showing a view from above) on a vertical axis A.

The upper and lower projectors are tilted about their horizontal axes so as to bring their images into horizontal alignment, giving three respective images Bl, Bull, and BIll on a cylindrical projection screen 22. With a sufficiently precise adjustment, interface effects between the three individual image sections BI to BIll forming the complete image may be reduced to a minimum. The observer, i.e., the commander of the gun or tank, is preferably placed with his eyes also on the axis A.

It is obvious that instead of three large image TV projectors, more or fewer projectors may be used. In addition, it would also be possible to compose the panorama image displayed on the projection screen 22 not only in azimuth direction by means of a plurality of single images but also in elevation by means of a plurality of single images.

Claims

1. Apparatus for simulating a view into a landscape, comprising a first memory for storing a panorama image in digital form, a second memory for storing a target image in digital form, image composition means for combining signals from the first and second memories to generate an image comprising a combined panorama and target, a curved projection screen, and TV projection means for projecting said combined image on said projection screen.

2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein said TV projection means comprises a plurality of projectors arranged to project contiguous portions of said image.

3. Apparatus according to Claim 2, wherein the first memory is divided into a plurality of portions each corresponding to a respective projector.

4. Apparatus according to any previous Claim, wherein the image composition means are controlled by a process control computer.