Claims:- , Description:Technical Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a shoulder fired anti-aircraft training simulator for firing practice at indoor and outdoor.
Background of the Invention
Simulation devices for firing practice are already known and in widespread use. They serve to train and instruct firers by enabling them to practice aiming at a target either indoors or on an open range without actually making use of real projectiles. Thus the position of a fictitious projectile is defined by a computer and compared with the target position in order to judge the quality of a shot to be fired by determining in particular whether the aim is correct in order to guide the simulated projectile to impact on the target. These simulating devices are being constantly improved with a view to reproducing real firing conditions as effectively as possible, with the result that firers do not feel out of their element when they change from firing practice under simulated conditions to firing with real projectiles. Up to the present time, however, interest has mainly focused on training in the firing of guns from tanks, combat vehicles or other firing units of similar types. The known simulation devices are much less suitable in the case of shoulder weapons. The difference lies in the fact that in a real firing session with live ammunition, the firer remains in position in front of his weapon in the case of a tank gun whereas, in the case of shoulder weapons such as rocket launchers, the firer releases his hold on the weapon as soon as the shot has been fired and he may even leave it behind.
The purpose of the present invention is to overcome the above deficiencies exists, but to provide a simulation device for training in the operation of shoulder weapons and the like. The device comprises a weapon having a sighting line which can be oriented by the firer and fitted with a camera and telescopic lens for providing the firer with a field of view comprising a firing ground and a target, and means for initiating fictitious firing of a projectile by the firer, means for transmitting an image of said field of view to an instructor station and for projecting said field of view onto a display screen, and a computer functionally connected to the camera unit for determining the position of impact of the projectile in the plane of the target. The instructor station is arranged to conduct the entire training session, starting with selecting the mode of operation, selecting terrain and the targets for training multiple trainees simultaneously and also to select the type target, its exact path and the speed with which target moves at each of waypoints. Instructor can start training session and can watch each firer’s field of view with other parameters like position of various buttons and trigger.
Brief Summary of the Invention
It is an object of the present invention to provide to a shoulder fired anti-aircraft training simulator for tracking and firing practice at indoor and outdoor.

Accordance to the first aspect of the present invention, shoulder fired anti-aircraft training simulator comprises of a missile launching tube, a sighting unit, a target means, display device and instructor console.

In accordance to the first aspect of the present invention, missile launching tube comprises of trigger mechanism and similar type of tube which provide operator with conditions which are very close to those which he is likely to encounter under real firing conditions.

In accordance to the first aspect of the present invention, lunching tube also includes electronics means for trigger mechanism and motion sensor, including electronic gyroscope, accelerometer and digital compass which are used together for estimating the orientation of the tube with respect to the magnetic north pole.

In accordance to the first aspect of the present invention, a sighting unit comprises of a camera and telescopic lens for long distance objects, which captures the same field of view as the view seen in the reticle by the firer.

In accordance to the first aspect of the present invention, a display unit comprises of a compact computer with a screen attached in front of the reticle which is used for training on synthetic target.

In accordance to the first aspect of the present invention, target means comprises a real target, synthetic target. The present invention can use a real target and a synthetic target include for background terrain as it is applicable in both synthetic target and real target.

In accordance to the first aspect of the present invention, real target exercises take place on a firing ground or open range where a flying air craft or a drone can be used.

In accordance to the first aspect of the present invention, Image processing program is employed for automatic estimation of the exact location of real target as seen from the firer’s view. The offset from the crossbar view to the target location is estimated and is used for generating score and other firing parameters for training purpose, which includes the blinking LED and buzzer in launching tube.

In accordance to the first aspect of the present invention, synthetic target, the device comprises means for forming a synthetic target which appears in the firer’s field of view. Synthetic target is generated by the computer in 3D which has a high level of details embedded. The position of the synthetic target on the screen depends both on its position and orientation in 3D and also the tube giving a realistic feel.

In accordance to the first aspect of the present invention, a synthetic target is employed to use in both synthetic terrain and live terrain, in live terrain the synthetic target is superimposed on the live terrain captured by the camera system on the display unit, in synthetic terrain both the terrain and target are generated by the computer and are displayed on the display unit.

In accordance to the first aspect of the present invention, instructor station is equipped with the capability of planning the entire training session, starting with selecting the mode of operation, selecting terrain and the targets for training multiple trainees simultaneously. Instructor can select the type of target, its exact path and the speed with which target moves at each of the waypoints. Instructor can start training session and can watch each firer’s field of view with other parameters like position of various buttons and trigger. The instructor is thus enabled to judge the result of the shot fired according to the time taken to acquire lock on the target and distance of target at the launch of missile. Along with this many other performance parameters are sent to the instructor console which are estimated on computers of each firer.

The firing procedure begins when instructor starts the session, which is indicated by a long buzzer on each of the launching tubes. At this point instructor has a facility to give a tentative direction from which the targets may arrive, once the targets are in visible range the firer has to pull the puncher lever. After pulling the puncher the firing mechanism is active only for a certain amount of time within which the firer must complete the procedure. Once the firer has confidently tracked the target into the crossbar, he has to pull the trigger to mid position, upon which the missile becomes active and LED or/and buzzer gets triggered depending on the accuracy of tracking. At this point firer can pull the trigger completely or wait for both LED and buzzer to become active. Once trigger is pulled completely the missile is ready to be launched, whereas actual missile launch happens as soon as both LED and buzzer signals are received.

The two major modes of operation are training on synthetic target and on real target the system can be configured to work on either of these modes with minimal modifications to the setup. For real target the compact computer screen has to be disabled such that the crossbar field of view is clear for viewing the real targets. These two modes of operation can be setup within no time.

Brief Description of Drawings
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this disclosure, illustrate exemplary embodiments and, together with the description, serve to explain the disclosed principles. Some embodiments of an adjusting assembly and/or method in accordance with embodiments of the present subject matter are now described, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a front perspective view of the shoulder fired anti-aircraft training simulator according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a side view of the shoulder fired anti-aircraft training simulator according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates a front perspective view of the shoulder fired anti-aircraft training simulator without display device according to the present invention.

Detailed Description of the Invention
It is to be understood that the present disclosure is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description. The present disclosure is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

On the contrary, it is intended to cover alternatives, modifications and equivalents. Various modifications to the present invention will be readily apparent to a person skilled in the art, and can be made to the present invention within the spirit and scope of the invention.
Exemplary embodiments FIG. 1-3, illustrate a shoulder fired anti-aircraft training simulator for tracking and firing practice at indoor and outdoor.

The present invention, shoulder fired anti-aircraft training simulator comprises of a missile launching tube (102), a sighting unit, a target means, display device (104) and instructor console.

Missile launching tube (102) comprises of trigger mechanism and similar type of tube which provide operator with conditions which are very close to those which he is likely to encounter under real firing conditions.

Lunching tube (102) also includes electronics means for trigger mechanism and motion sensor, including electronic gyroscope, accelerometer and digital compass which are used together for estimating the orientation of the tube with respect to the magnetic north pole.
A sighting unit comprises of a camera (204) and telescopic lens (206) for long distance objects, which captures the same field of view as the view seen in the reticle (106) by the firer.
A display unit (104) comprises of a compact computer with a screen attached behind of the reticle (106) which is used for training on synthetic target.
Target means comprises a real target and synthetic target. The present invention can use a real target and a synthetic target.
In the case of a real target, exercises take place on a firing ground or open range where a flying air craft or a drone can be used. Image processing program is employed for automatic estimation of the exact location of real target as seen from the firer’s view. The offset from the reticle (106) view to the target location is estimated and is used for generating score and other firing parameters for training purpose, which includes the blinking LED (108) and buzzer (110) in launching tube (102).
In the case of a synthetic target, the device comprises means for forming a synthetic target which appears in the firer’s field of view. Synthetic target is generated by the computer in 3D which has a high level of details embedded. The position of the synthetic target on the screen depends both on its position and orientation in 3D and also the tube giving a realistic feel.
A synthetic target is employed to use in both synthetic terrain and live terrain, in live terrain the synthetic target is superimposed on the live terrain captured by the camera system (204) on the display unit (104), in synthetic terrain both the terrain and target are generated by the computer and are displayed on the display unit.
The instructor station is equipped with the capability of planning the entire training session, starting with selecting the mode of operation, selecting terrain and the targets for training multiple trainees simultaneously. Instructor can select the type of target, its exact path and the speed with which target moves at each of the waypoints. Instructor can start training session and can watch each firer’s field of view with other parameters like position of various buttons and trigger. The instructor is thus enabled to judge the result of the shot fired according to the time taken to acquire lock on the target and distance of target at the launch of missile. Along with this many other performance parameters are sent to the instructor console which are estimated on computers of each firer.
The two major modes of operation are training on synthetic target and on real target the system can be configured to work on either of these modes with minimal modifications to the setup. For real target the compact computer screen has to be disabled such that the crossbar field of view is clear for viewing the real targets. These two modes of operation can be setup within no time.