# US 12,007,203 B1 · Weapon control system with integrated manual and assisted targeting > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,007,203 B1 - Document ID: US12007203B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 17/706,175 - Filed: 2022-03-28 - Granted: 2024-06-11 - Earliest claimed: 2022-03-28 - Assignees: Flex Force Enterprises Inc. - Applicants: Flex Force Enterprises Inc. - Inventors: Cynthia Louise Archer; Jacob Ryan Sullivan; John Holbrook Vance, II - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12007203B1 ## CPC - F41G 5/06: using electric means for remote control - F41G 3/065: {Structural association of sighting devices with laser telemeters} - F41G 3/145: {using a target illuminator} - F41G 3/165: {using a TV-monitor} - F41G 3/22: for vehicle-borne armament, e.g. on aircraft - F41G 5/14: for vehicle-borne guns - F41G: WEAPON SIGHTS; AIMING (optical aspects thereof G02B) ## Abstract The devices, systems, and methods described herein are directed to a manual and assisted targeting system integrated into a weapon control system that includes dual triggers. One trigger is fully manual and is always operational. The second trigger is electronically controlled and is linked to aiming sensors, targeting sensors, and a controller comprising firing control logic. The firing control logic calculates an aim goal, based at least partially on location information pertaining to the target, and determines when the difference between the aimpoint of the weapon and the aim goal is below a threshold. In response to this determination, a control signal is sent to a trigger actuator to fire the weapon. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A weapon control system for use with a cradle, the cradle having a shape and size to receive and secure a weapon, the system comprising: a manual trigger to, upon actuation by an operator, fire the weapon secured in the cradle; a controller comprising firing control logic, the firing control logic not activated upon actuation of the manual trigger; an electronic trigger to, upon actuation by the operator, activate the firing control logic within the controller, the firing control logic, when activated: determines an aimpoint of the weapon, calculates an aim goal, determines, based at least partially on the aim point of the weapon and the calculated aim goal, whether to fire the weapon, and in response to a determination to fire the weapon, transmits a control signal to fire the weapon secured in the cradle; and a trigger actuator to selectively fire the weapon secured in the cradle, based at least partially on the control signal from the controller. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The weapon control system of claim 1, further comprising the cradle. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The weapon control system of claim 1, wherein actuation of the electronic trigger does not inhibit firing the weapon with the manual trigger. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The weapon control system of claim 1, wherein the controller determines whether to fire the weapon based on whether a difference between the aim point of the weapon and the aim goal is below a threshold. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The weapon control system of claim 1, further comprising at least one aiming sensor to: obtain aimpoint information pertaining to the weapon secured in the cradle, and transmit, to the controller, a signal containing the aim point information. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The weapon control system of claim 1, further comprising at least one targeting sensor to: track a location of a target relative to the weapon control system, and transmit, to the controller, a signal containing location information pertaining to the target. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The weapon control system of claim 6, wherein the at least one targeting sensor comprises a passive targeting sensor. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The weapon control system of claim 7, wherein the passive targeting sensor comprises an electro-optical sensor. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The weapon control system of claim 6, wherein the at least one targeting sensor comprises an active targeting sensor. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The weapon control system of claim 9, wherein the active targeting sensor comprises a radar. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The weapon control system of claim 9, wherein the active targeting sensor comprises a laser. ### Claim 12 (depends on 6) The weapon control system of claim 6, wherein the at least one targeting sensor comprises one or more sensors to determine a geographical location and an orientation of the weapon control system. ### Claim 13 (depends on 6) The weapon control system of claim 6, wherein the at least one targeting sensor comprises a sensor to detect a target designator. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The weapon control system of claim 13, wherein the target designator comprises a laser emitted from a laser pointer. ### Claim 15 (depends on 6) The weapon control system of claim 6, wherein the at least one targeting sensor receives a target designation input from the operator. ### Claim 16 (depends on 6) The weapon control system of claim 6, wherein the at least one targeting sensor automatically detects the target. ### Claim 17 A system comprising: a weapon; and a weapon platform comprising: a cradle having a shape and size to receive and secure the weapon, a manual trigger to, upon actuation by an operator, fire the weapon secured in the cradle, at least one aiming sensor to: obtain aim point information pertaining to the weapon secured in the cradle, and transmit a signal containing the aim point information, at least one targeting sensor to: track a location of a target relative to the weapon platform, and transmit a signal containing location information pertaining to the target, the at least one targeting sensor comprising at least one of the following: an electro-optical sensor, a radar, a laser, one or more sensors to determine a geographical location and an orientation of the weapon platform, and a sensor to detect a target designator, a controller comprising firing control logic, the firing control logic not activated upon actuation of the manual trigger, an electronic trigger to, upon actuation by the operator, activate the firing control logic within the controller, wherein actuation of the electronic trigger does not inhibit firing the weapon with the manual trigger, the firing control logic, when activated: determines an aimpoint of the weapon, based at least partially on the signal containing the aimpoint information, calculates an aim goal, based at least partially on the signal containing the location information, determines, based at least partially on the aim point of the weapon and the calculated aim goal, whether to fire the weapon, and in response to a determination to fire the weapon, transmits a control signal to fire the weapon secured in the cradle, and a trigger actuator to selectively fire the weapon secured in the cradle, based at least partially on the control signal from the controller. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17, wherein the at least one targeting sensor receives a target designation input from the operator. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17, wherein the at least one targeting sensor automatically detects the target. ### Claim 20 A method comprising: actuating an electronic trigger of a weapon platform on which a weapon is mounted, the weapon platform comprising: a cradle having a shape and size configured to receive and secure the weapon, a manual trigger to, upon actuation by an operator, fire the weapon secured in the cradle, at least one aiming sensor to: obtain aim point information pertaining to the weapon secured in the cradle, and transmit a signal containing the aimpoint information, at least one targeting sensor to: track a location of a target relative to the weapon platform, and transmit a signal containing location information pertaining to the target, a controller comprising firing control logic, the firing control logic not activated upon actuation of the manual trigger, the electronic trigger to, upon actuation by the operator, activate the firing control logic within the controller, the firing control logic, when activated: determines an aimpoint of the weapon, based at least partially on the signal containing the aimpoint information, calculates an aim goal, based at least partially on the signal containing the location information, determines, based at least partially on the aim point of the weapon and the calculated aim goal, whether to fire the weapon, and in response to a determination to fire the weapon, transmits a control signal to fire the weapon secured in the cradle, and a trigger actuator to selectively fire the weapon secured in the cradle, based at least partially on the control signal from the controller; and prior to the trigger actuator firing the weapon, actuating the manual trigger to fire the weapon secured to the weapon platform. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, further comprising: receiving a target designation input from the operator. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, further comprising: automatically detecting the target.