GB2152645A - Target trainer - Google Patents

Abstract

A target trainer comprises a screen 2 on which is depicted a scene, a target projector 3 for projecting the image of a moving target 4 on the screen, and a combination of an infrared target beam projection 6 with an infrared sensitive television camera carried by a simulated weapon 9. When the trainee 8 squeezes the weapon trigger, the camera produces a video signal which represents the position of an infrared spot projected by a projector 6 into the centre of the target 4, and which therefore represents the accuracy of the shot. The video signal is processed and a fall-of-shot signal is produced which controls a projector 7 to produce a visible spot of light on the screen representing the position of the shot. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Target trainer The invention relates to a target device for simulating a target moving over a suitable terrain with means for responding to a simulated weapon fired at the target. The present invention is a development of the invention described and claimed in Patent No.2063432, hereinafter referred to as the "earlier patent".

The earlier patent describes and claims a target device which comprises a screen; a projector for projecting onto the screen a picture of a terrain; a reflective target board bearing a nonreflective silhouette of a target; a light sensor arrangement on the target board; and drive means for driving the target board over the screen in a desired direction.

By projecting a scene (either still or moving) onto the screen and onto the target board, the target board can be substantially invinsible and give the impression of a realistic target moving over the terrain. In the earlier patent the target comprised a silhouette which was of fixed shape and size and shutter arrangements were described for giving an appearance of changing aspect and size of the silhouette, so as to give the impression of a target which turned and which changed in apparent size with range.

In the present invention a more flexible target representation is achieved. According to the present invention there is provided a target trainer comprising a screen for displaying a picture of a terrain; a target projector for projecting onto the screen a target image; drive means for moving the target image across the screen; and a shot simulator/detector arrangement comprising (a) a target beam projector for projecting onto the target a spot of infra-red light; (b) a television camera directed at the region of the target and responsive to the infra-red spot; and (c) means for analysing the position of the infra-red spot in the camera field of view to give an indication of the position of the fall of shot.

In a preferred form of the apparatus the target beam projector is mounted on the target image projector so that the infra-red spot is always at the centre of the target, and the camera is mounted in a simulated weapon.

Thus, when the weapon trigger is squeezed, the camera will receive an image of the infrared spot at a position in its filed of view which is related to the direction of the shot.

However, the arrangement may be reversed so that the camera is mounted on the target image projector to track the target and the target beam projector is mounted on the weapon. If there is more than one weapon in use at a time, this arrangement wiil require modulation of the infra-red beam so that the camera can distinguish between different weapons.

However, it has the advantage that cnly one camera is required.

After analysis of the video output of the camera, an indication of the shooting accuracy can be derived. This may simply be stored or printed out, but preferably an immediate indication is given to the trainee. To this end there may be provided a fall-of-shot projector mounted to track the target and to illuminate the target area with a spot of light indicating the position of the fall of shot.

It is envisaged that the screen may be painted with the terrain, but preferably there is a further projector to project an image of the required terrain.

The invention will further be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a target trainer in accordance with the invention; and Figure 2 is a block diagram of the circuitry of the trainer of Fig. 1.

Referring to Fig. 1 there is shown a projector 1 which projects a scene carried on a photographic slide onto a white screen 2 at a distance of typically 4 to 5 metres. However, this distance could be much greater. The scene is of a country-side terrain.

A second projector 3 produces a target image 4 on the screen. The image is a dark silhouette of, in this example, a tank. It is found that a satisfactory image can be produced from a specially prepared slide which has the silhouette outlined by an optical field bright at the centre and progressively darkening towards the edges. In this way the target surround merges with the background. Alternatively, a luminous target may be used, the slide in this case being such as to throw a patch of light on to the screen to represent the target, instead of a shadow.

The target image projector 3 is mounted on a carriage 5 which is motor-driven so that the image traverses the screen in a predetermined manner. Another motor is controlled to adjust a zoom lens on projector 3 so as to cause the target image to change size to indicate changing range.

Two further projectors are mounted on carriage 5. Firstly, there is a target beam projector 6 which directs an infra-red beam to produce a spot at the centre of the target.

Secondly, there is a fall of shot projector 7 which has a movable shutter controlled to produce a spot of visible light in the target area at a position representative of the fall of shot, in a manner to be described.

The trainer is shown at 8 and has a simulated weapon 9 which he directs at the moving target. The weapon 9 carries a miniature television camera which is filtered to respond only to infra-red light. When the trainer squeezes the trigger of the weapon the camera produces a video signal output which represents the position of the infra-red spot in the field of view of the camera, and therefore represents the accuracy of the shot.

The video signal is processed and a fall-ofshot signal is produced which controls projector 7 to produce a visible spot of light on the screen representative of the position of the shot.

Fig. 2 shows the control circuitry of the system. A micro-processor 10 has reference to ballistics data stored in a ROM 11. Under control of a program, the micro-processor produces singals on a data bus 1 2 to horizontal and vertical drive motors 1 3 and 14 which drive the carriage 5. Signals are also provided to a zoom lens motor 1 5 of projector 3.

Video signals from the camera, shown at 16, are processed and provide the control signals for the fall-of-shot projector 7, which is mounted on carriage 5, along with the infrared beam projector 6.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the embodiment described above. For example, the infra-red target beam spot can be derived from the target image projector itself, so eliminating the need for an additional and separately collimated infra-red projector.

This is particularly easy if a quartz/Halogen or similar projector light bulb rich in infra-red content is employed for target image projection. The effect can be achieved by the use of a filter which blocks infra-red light being incorporated in the slide material or being mounted against the slide. A small hole in this filter material at the centre of the target allows an infra-red spot to fall at the appropriate position on the screen. If the target is a dark silhouette, it must be ensured that its centre does not block infra-red light. If necessary, the centre of the target should be constituted by a clear area covered by a filter which passes only infra-red light.

Claims (7)

1. A target trainer comprising a screen for displaying a picture of a terrain; a target projector for projecting onto the screen a target image; drive means for moving the target image across the screen; and a shot simulator/detector arrangement comprising (a) a target beam projector for projecting onto the target a spot of infra-red light; (b) a television camera directed at the region of the target and responsive to the infra-red spot; and (c) means for analysing the position of the infra-red spot in the camera field of view to give an indication of the position of the fall of shot.

2. A target trainer as claimed in claim 1 wherein the target beam projector is mounted on the target image projector and the camera is mounted in a simulated weapon.

3. A target trainer as claimed in claim 1 wherein the camera is mounted on the target image projector and the target beam projector is mounted in a simulated weapon.

4. A target trainer as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein there is provided means for analysing the video output of the camera to derive a signal indicative of the shooting accuracy, and there is further provided a fall-of-shot projector mounted to track the target and to illuminate the target area with a spot of light indicating the position of the fall-of-shot, the fall-of-shot projector being driven by said signal.

5. A target trainer as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the target projector comprises a photographic slide which has a required dark silhouette outlined by an optical field bright at the centre and progressively darkening towards the edges.

6. A target trainer as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the target beam projector is the same as the target projector, an infra-red target beam being derived by filtering, from the illumination source for the target

7. A target trainer substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.