WO2013039312A1

WO2013039312A1 - Armament system interworking with image device and method for operating the same

Info

Publication number: WO2013039312A1
Application number: PCT/KR2012/007274
Authority: WO
Inventors: Yong-Seob Lim; Sang-Sik Lee
Original assignee: Samsung Techwin Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 2011-09-14
Filing date: 2012-09-11
Publication date: 2013-03-21
Also published as: KR20130029255A; KR101815678B1

Abstract

An armament system includes: an armament device for firing at a target; and an image device, which is mounted separately from the armament device, captures images of the target while moving up and down and swiveling to the left and right, calculates an elevation angle and an azimuth angle that are suitable for the armament device to fire at the target, and transmits the elevation angle and the azimuth angle to the armament device.

Description

ARMAMENT SYSTEM INTERWORKING WITH IMAGE DEVICE AND METHOD FOR OPERATING THE SAME

The present invention relates to an armament system, in which an image device for detecting a target interworks with an armament device that receives target related information from the image device in order to fire at the target, and a method for operating the same.

An armament system is a system for precisely firing at a target by using an image device to operate an armament device so that a gunner is not exposed to enemy fire during a short- or long-range combat mission, so that the combat mission can be completed without human casualties such as death of the gunner. Conventionally, since an image device and an armament device are integrated in one body, several armament devices are required when a gunner desires to fire at a target by detecting and reconnoitering a wide range area. The image device includes high-performance cameras to monitor and reconnoiter a far-range target. Commonly, a high-performance image device consists of two day/night high-performance cameras to detect a target during the day and at night. Also, the image device is equipped with an expensive distance measuring instrument to measure a distance to a detected target. Thus, since several one body type armament devices should be prepared to monitor a wide area and fire at a target, assembling and operational costs significantly increase.

In addition, even though the same armament devices are deployed at high costs, the battle strategy cannot be very effectively planed or performed in a battle situation requiring use of various armament devices according to a moving speed of or a distance to a target.

The present invention provides an armament system whereby a target is detected by operating a single image device capable of elevating and swiveling so that a plurality of independently operatable armament devices can fire at the detected target, and a method for operating the same.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an armament system including: an armament device for firing at a target; and an image device that is mounted separately from the armament device, captures images of the target while moving up and down and swiveling to the left and right, calculates an elevation angle and an azimuth angle that are suitable for the armament device to fire at the target, and transmits the elevation angle and the azimuth angle to the armament device.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an armament system including: a plurality of armament devices for firing at a target; and an image device that is mounted separately from the plurality of armament devices, captures images of the target while moving up and down and swiveling to the left and right, calculates elevation angles and azimuth angles that are suitable for each of the plurality of armament devices to fire at the target, and transmits the elevation angles and the azimuth angles to corresponding armament devices.

The image device may include: a storage unit for storing a distance and an angle between the image device and the armament device; an image pickup unit for generating image data by capturing the target; a distance measurement unit for measuring a distance between the image device and the target; an elevation angle calculator for calculating an elevation angle of the armament device to be oriented toward the target by using the distance between the image device and the target and the distance and angle between the image device and the armament device that are stored in the storage unit; an azimuth angle calculator for calculating an azimuth angle of the armament device to be oriented toward the target by using the distance between the image device and the target and the distance and angle between the image device and the armament device that are stored in the storage unit; a transmitter for transmitting the calculated elevation and azimuth angles of the armament device to the armament device; and a determiner for determining whether the target is a target to be fired at by comparing a target included in digital data with target information stored in the storage unit, and for allowing the distance measurement unit to measure a distance if the target is a target to be fired at.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for operating an armament system including an image device for detecting a target and an armament device which is mounted separately from the image device and can fire at the target, the method including: (a) detecting, by the image device, a distance between the image device and the armament device; (b) measuring, by the image device, a distance between the image device and the target; (c) calculating, by the image device, a distance between the armament device and the target by using the distances in operations (a) and (b); (d) calculating, by the image device, an angle between the armament device and the target and an angle between the image device and the target; (e) calculating, by the image device, an elevation angel and an azimuth angle between the armament device and the target by using the calculated values; (f) transmitting, by the image device, the calculated elevation and azimuth angles between the armament device and the target to the armament device; and (g) firing, by the armament device, at the target by aiming at the target according to the received elevation and azimuth angles.

According to the present invention, an armament system and a method for operating the same have the following advantageous effects.

First, costs may be significantly saved by arranging one or a few number of expensive high-performance cameras and separately deploying several armament devices capable of independently elevating and swivelling.

Second, by deploying and operating various types of armament devices with low costs in various battle situations, targets at various distances may be easily dealt with, and since various types of armament devices can be used even when a complicated battle situation occurs, more effective and strategic battle operations can be performed.

Third, by deploying and operating various types of armament devices or a plurality of armament devices of the same type in a distributed fashion, fire concentration on a target may significantly increase. That is, not only a target requiring a small focus area when a plurality of armament devices are used, but also a target requiring a concentrated salvo of many armament devices may be suppressed.

FIG. 1 is an image of an armament system and a target according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an image device in the armament system of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates a distance and an angle between the image device and the target shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 illustrates distances and angles required to calculate elevation angles between a plurality of armament devices in the armament system of FIG. 1 and the target.

FIG. 5 illustrates distances and angles required to calculate azimuth angles between the plurality of armament devices in the armament system of FIG. 1 and the target.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a method for operating an armament system, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings so that those of ordinary skill in the art can easily realize the present invention. Like reference numbers are used to refer to like elements through at the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an image of an armament system 101 and a target 105 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, the armament system 101 includes a single image device 120 and a plurality of

armament devices

111 and 112. The plurality of

armament devices

111 and 112 may include two or more armament devices. However, for convenience of description, only two

armament devices

111 and 112 are described hereinafter.

The image device 120 is mounted in a specific area, e.g., a border area, and detects the target 105 appearing on the front line. The target 105 may be a moving means, e.g., a vehicle, an armored motorcar, an airplane, or a guard ship, and in some cases, a plurality of such moving subjects may be the target 105. Although it is preferable that the image device 120 is fixedly mounted in one area, the image device 120 may be moved to another area if necessary.

The image device 120 includes an expensive high-performance camera to minutely detect movement of the target 105. That is, the image device 120 that may detect and reconnoiter the target 105 has the same functions as the human eyes, and the plurality of

armament devices

111 and 112 may receive information about the target 105 from the image device 120 and automatically fire at the detected target 105 as if they were operated by a person by hand and feet.

The image device 120 calculates an elevation angle and an azimuth angle suitable for each of the plurality of

armament devices

111 and 112 to fire at the target 105 and transmits the calculated elevation and azimuth angles to the plurality of

armament devices

111 and 112. That is, the image device 120 detects locations (including distances and angles) of the plurality of

armament devices

111 and 112, measures a distance to the target 105 when the target 105 appears, calculates an elevation angle and an azimuth angle suitable for each of the plurality of

armament devices

111 and 112 to be oriented to the target 105 based on the measured distance, and transmits the calculated elevation and azimuth angles to the plurality of

armament devices

111 and 112. The plurality of

armament devices

111 and 112 may destroy the target 105 by aiming and firing at the target 105 according to the elevation and azimuth angles received from the image device 120. The elevation and azimuth angles of the plurality of

armament devices

111 and 112 that are calculated by the image device 120 may indicate elevation and azimuth angles between the target 105 and gun barrels of the plurality of

armament devices

111 and 112. Thus, it is required that the image device 120 always detects orientations of the gun barrels of the plurality of

armament devices

111 and 112.

The image device 120 will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 2 below.

The plurality of

armament devices

111 and 112 are separated from the image device 120 and are mounted in an area a predetermined distance apart from the image device 120. The plurality of

armament devices

111 and 112 are mounted at a location where the plurality of

armament devices

111 and 112 can communicate with the image device 120 and can fire at the target 105 detected by the image device 120. The plurality of

armament devices

111 and 112 receives information about the target 105 from the image device 120 in a wired or wireless manner. The plurality of

armament devices

111 and 112 may simultaneously aim and fire at a single target 105 or may individually aim and fire at a plurality of targets 105. The plurality of

armament devices

111 and 112 may be of the same type or different types. The plurality of

armament devices

111 and 112 may also fire at the target 105 in response to a command from the image device 120 or an external operation server.

As described above, according to the present invention, by preparing the image device 120 equipped with an expensive high-performance camera and the plurality of

armament devices

111 and 112 and separately operating the plurality of

armament devices

111 and 112, operating costs are significantly reduced. In addition, by deploying and operating the plurality of

armament devices

111 and 112 of various types in different areas, targets 105 at various distances are easily dealt with, and since various types of

armament devices

111 and 112 can be used even when a complicated battle situation occurs, more effective and strategic battle operations can be performed. In addition, by deploying and operating the plurality of

armament devices

111 and 112 in a distributed fashion, fire concentration on the target 105 can significantly increase. That is, not only a target 105 requiring a small focus area when the plurality of

armament devices

111 and 112 are used, but also a target 105 requiring a concentrated salvo from the plurality of

armament devices

111 and 112 can be suppressed.

However, the target 105 and the image device 120 operate in a three-dimensional space, the image device 120 and the plurality of

armament devices

111 and 112 also operate in a three-dimensional space, and the plurality of

armament devices

111 and 112 and the target 105 too operate in a three-dimensional space. Thus, according to the present invention, the plurality of

armament devices

111 and 112 can correctly aim and fire together at the target 105 detected by the image device 120.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the image device 120 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 2, the image device 120 includes an image pickup unit 121, a converter 122, a storage unit 124, a determiner 123, a distance measurement unit 125, an elevation angle calculator 126, an azimuth angle calculator 127, and a transmitter 128. A configuration of the image device 120 will now be described in detail with reference to FIG. 1.

The image pickup unit 121 generates image data by capturing images of the target 105 when the target 105 appears while monitoring the front line and transmits the generated image data to the converter 122. Since the image pickup unit 121 consists of an expensive high-performance camera, the image pickup unit 121 can minutely detect the target 105, and even if the target 105 is located at a far distance, the image pickup unit 121 can magnify and minutely detect the target 105. Since the image pickup unit 121 can move up and down and swivel to the left and right, the image pickup unit 121 can detect the target 105 in all directions.

The converter 122 receives the image data from the image pickup unit 121 and converts the received image data to digital data.

The storage unit 124 stores the distances and angles between the image device 120 and the plurality of

armament devices

111 and 112 and information for identifying the target 105. The distances and angles between the image device 120 and the plurality of

armament devices

111 and 112 may be measured and calculated by previously capturing images of the plurality of

armament devices

111 and 112 by the image device 120 or may be acquired by measuring them with another instrument manipulated by a user. The information for identifying the target 105 may be directly inputted to the image device 120 by the user or may be transmitted to the image device 120 from the outside and stored therein. The information for identifying the target 105 may be materials for determining whether the target 105 is a target to be fired at, e.g., a device used by a hostile army or a hostile person.

The determiner 123 compares the target 105 included in the digital data received from the converter 122 with the target information stored in the storage 124 to determine whether the target 105 included in the digital data is a target to be fired at. If the target 105 included in the digital data is a target to be fired at, the determiner 123 allows the distance measurement unit 125 to measure a distance between the image device 120 and the target 105. Otherwise, if the target 105 included in the digital data is not a target to be fired at, the determiner 123 does not allow the distance measurement unit 125 to measure the distance between the image device 120 and the target 105.

Upon receiving a signal indicating that the target 105 included in the digital data is a target to be fired at, the distance measurement unit 125 measures and calculates the distance between the image device 120 and the target 105. The distance measurement unit 125 may include a Laser Range Finder (LRF) to measure the distance between the image device 120 and the target 105. Referring to FIG. 3, the distance measurement unit 125 measures a linear distance l_LRF between the image device 120 and the target 105 and calculates an angle _{EL_cam} between the linear distance l_LRF and a level distance l_{AT_AZ} to the target 105, a height l_H of the target 105, an angle _{AZ_cam} between the level distance l_{AT_AZ} and a horizontal distance l_W between the image device 120 and the target 105, and a vertical distance l_{AT_EL} between the image device 120 and the target 105 by using Equations 1 to 4 on the basis of the linear distance l_LRF.

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

The elevation angle calculator 126 calculates elevation angles _{B_EL} and _{C_EL} of the plurality of

armament devices

111 and 112 to be oriented toward the target 105 by using the distances and angles between the image device 120 and the target 105 that are measured and calculated by the distance measurement unit 125 and the distances and angles between the image device 120 and the plurality of

armament devices

111 and 112 that are stored in the storage unit 124. A method of calculating the elevation angles _{B_EL} and _{C_EL} of the plurality of

armament devices

111 and 112 to be orientated toward the target 105 will now be described with reference to FIGS 3 and 4.

The elevation angle calculator 126 calculates distances l_{BT_EL} and l_{CT_EL} between the plurality of

armament devices

111 and 112 and the target 105 by using Equation 5 on the basis of Equations 1 to 4.

(5)

The elevation angle calculator 126 calculates angles _{ABT_EL} and _{ACT_EL} formed by the plurality of

armament devices

111 and 112, the target 105, and the image device 120 by using Equation 6 on the basis of Equations 1 to 5.

(6)

The elevation angle calculator 126 calculates the elevation angles _{B_EL} and _{C_EL} of the plurality of

armament devices

111 and 112 to be orientated toward the target 105, i.e., elevation angles suitable for the plurality of

armament devices

111 and 112 to fire at the target 105, by using Equation 7 on the basis of Equations 1 to 6.

(7)

The azimuth angle calculator 127 calculates azimuth angles _{B_AZ} and _{C_AZ} of the plurality of

armament devices

111 and 112 to be orientated toward the target 105 by using the distances and angles between the image device 120 and the target 105 that are measured and calculated by the distance measurement unit 125 and the distances and angles between the image device 120 and the plurality of

armament devices

111 and 112 that are stored in the storage unit 124. A method of calculating the azimuth angles _{B_AZ} and _{C_AZ} of the plurality of

armament devices

111 and 112 will now be described with reference to FIGS 3 and 5.

The azimuth angle calculator 127 calculates distances l_{BT_AZ} and l_{CT_AZ} between the plurality of

armament devices

111 and 112 and the target 105 by using Equation 8 on the basis of Equations 1 to 4.

(8)

The azimuth angle calculator 127 calculates angles _{ABT_AZ} and _{ACT_AZ} formed by the plurality of

armament devices

111 and 112, the target 105, and the image device 120 by using Equation 9 on the basis of Equations 1 to 4 and 8.

(9)

The azimuth angle calculator 127 calculates the azimuth angles _{B_AZ} and _{C_AZ} of the plurality of

armament devices

111 and 112 orienting to the target 105, i.e., azimuth angles suitable for the plurality of

armament devices

111 and 112 to fire at the target 105, by using Equation 10 on the basis of Equations 1 to 4 and 9.

(10)

The transmitter 128 constructs a data stream by receiving the elevation angles _{B_EL} and _{C_EL} and the azimuth angles _{B_AZ} and _{C_AZ} of the plurality of

armament devices

111 and 112 that are calculated by the elevation angle calculator 126 and the azimuth angle calculator 127 and transmits the data stream to corresponding armament devices from among the plurality of

armament devices

111 and 112. The transmitter 128 may transmit data to the plurality of

armament devices

111 and 112 through wired or wireless communication, or may receive signals transmitted from the plurality of

armament devices

111 and 112 through wired or wireless communication and provide the received signals to the determiner 123.

An external operation server (not shown) may be connected to the image device 120 and the plurality of

armament devices

111 and 112. The operation server may receive elevation angles and azimuth angles between the plurality of

armament devices

111 and 112 and the target 105 that are calculated by the image device 120 and may transmit the received elevation and azimuth angles to the plurality of

armament devices

111 and 112 in a wired or wireless manner. Thus, the user may check an operation of the image device 120, and may freely control the image device 120 and the plurality of

armament devices

111 and 112 or provide data thereto if necessary.

Each of the plurality of

armament devices

111 and 112 may be equipped with a camera having lower performance than the high-performance camera equipped in the image device 120. Since the camera equipped in each of the plurality of

armament devices

111 and 112 has lower performance than the high-performance camera equipped in the image device 120, a price of the camera equipped in each of the plurality of

armament devices

111 and 112 is cheaper than that of the camera equipped in the image device 120. The camera equipped in each of the plurality of

armament devices

111 and 112 may detect a hit state of the target 105 and transmit a hit result to the image device 120 or the operation server, or may monitor multiple subjects, and if an unidentified subject is detected, request accurate detection of the unidentified subject from the image device 120.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a method for operating the armament system 101, according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 6, the method includes first to seven operations 611 to 671. The method shown in FIG. 6 will now be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5. Although a plurality of armament devices may be used, only one armament device is described hereinafter for convenience of description.

In operation 611, the image device 120 detects a distance and an angle with respect to the armament device. That is, the image device 120 measures a distance to the armament device mounted at a location apart from the image device 120 by a predetermined distance and calculates an angle between the image device 120 and the armament device based on the measured distance. The image device 120 may directly measure the distance to the armament device or receive an already measured value from an external operation server.

In operation 621, the image device 120 measures a distance to the target 105. The image device 120 monitors whether the target 105 appears, and first determines whether the target 105 is a target to be fired at if the target 105 appears. If the target 105 is a target to be fired at, the method proceeds to operation 621. Otherwise, if the target 105 is not a target to be fired at, the method does not proceed to operation 621.

In operation 631, the image device 120 calculates a distance between the armament device and the target 105 based on the distance and angle to the armament device and the distance to the target 105. That is, the image device 120 calculates the distance between the armament device and the target 105 using Equations 5 and 8.

In operation 641, the image device 120 calculates an angle between the armament device and the target 105 and an angle between the image device 120 and the target 105. That is, the image device 120 calculates the angle between the armament device and the target 105 and the angle between the image device 120 and the target 105 using Equations 6 and 9.

In operation 651, the image device 120 calculates an elevation angle and an azimuth angle between the armament device and the target 105 based on the calculated values. That is, the image device 120 calculates an elevation angle and an azimuth angle of the armament device orienting to the target 105 using Equations 7 and 10.

In operation 661, the image device 120 transmits the calculated elevation and azimuth angles of the armament device to the armament device through wired or wireless communication.

In operation 671, the armament device aims and fires at the target 105 according to the received elevation and azimuth angles.

The armament device may further include a lower-performance camera than a high-performance camera equipped in the image device 120. The low-performance camera equipped in the armament device may detect a hit state of the target 105 and transmit a hit result to the image device 120 or the operation server. Thus, if the target is not accurately hit in operation 671, operations 621 to 671 are repeated.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the following claims.

The present invention may be able to be used for automatic capturing systems.

Claims

An armament system comprising:

an armament device for firing at a target; and

an image device that is mounted separately from the armament device, captures an image of the target while moving up and down and swiveling to the left and right, calculates an elevation angle and an azimuth angle that are suitable for the armament device to fire at the target, and transmits the elevation angle and the azimuth angle to the armament device.
An armament system comprising:

a plurality of armament devices for firing at a target; and

an image device that is mounted separately from the plurality of armament devices, captures an image of the target while moving up and down and swiveling to the left and right, calculates elevation angles and azimuth angles that are suitable for each of the plurality of armament devices to fire at the target, and transmits the elevation angles and the azimuth angles to corresponding armament devices.
The armament system of claim 1 or 2, wherein the image device comprises a Laser Range Finder (LRF) for measuring a distance to the target.
The armament system of claim 1 or 2, wherein each armament device further comprises an image device cheaper than the image device to collect information related to the target.
The armament system of claim 1 or 2, wherein the image device comprises:

a storage unit for storing a distance and an angle between the image device and the armament device;

an image pickup unit for generating image data by capturing an image of the target;

a distance measurement unit for measuring a distance between the image device and the target;

an elevation angle calculator for calculating an elevation angle of the armament device to be orientated toward the target by using the distance between the image device and the target and the distance and angle between the image device and the armament device that are stored in the storage unit;

an azimuth angle calculator for calculating an azimuth angle of the armament device to be orientated toward the target by using the distance between the image device and the target and the distance and angle between the image device and the armament device that are stored in the storage unit; and

a transmitter for transmitting the calculated elevation and azimuth angles of the armament device to the armament device.
The armament system of claim 5, further comprising a determiner for determining whether the target is a target to be fired at by comparing a target included in the digital data with target information stored in the storage unit, and for allowing the distance measurement unit to measure a distance if the target is a target to be fired at, wherein the target information is stored in the storage unit.
A method for operating an armament system comprising an image device for detecting a target and an armament device which is mounted separately from the image device and can fire at the target, the method comprising:

(a) detecting, by the image device, a distance between the image device and the armament device;

(b) measuring, by the image device, a distance between the image device and the target;

(c) calculating, by the image device, a distance between the armament device and the target by using the distances in operations (a) and (b);

(d) calculating, by the image device, an angle between the armament device and the target and an angle between the image device and the target;

(e) calculating, by the image device, an elevation angel and an azimuth angle between the armament device and the target by using the calculate values;

(f) transmitting, by the image device, the calculated elevation and azimuth angles between the armament device and the target to the armament device; and

(g) firing, by the armament device, at the target by aiming at the target according to the received elevation and azimuth angles.
The method of claim 7, further comprising, after operation (f), detecting, by the armament device, a hit state of the target by using a camera having lower performance than that a camera equipped in the image device and transmitting a hit result to the image device.
The method of claim 7, wherein, if the target is not accurately hit, operations (b) to (g) are repeated.