Electro-optical, out-door battle-field simulator based on image processing
AssigneeRafael-Armament Development Authority Ltd.
InventorYossi Berger
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A simulator for simulating the firing of a weapon at one or more targets, each target having a respective shape. The simulator includes a housing substantially identical in size and shape to at least a discrete portion of the weapon. The simulator further includes a sensor, operationally connected to the housing, for acquiring a number of images of at least one of the targets. The simulator also includes an image processor for detecting and analyzing change among the images and for initiating control signals based on the analysis.
Claims16
A simulator for simulating the firing of a weapon at one of a plurality of targets, each target having a respective shape, comprising:
- a) a housing substantially identical in size and shape to at least a discrete portion of the weapon;
- b) a sensor, operationally connected to said housing, for acquiring a plurality of images of at least one of the targets;
- and
- c) an image processor for detecting and analyzing changes among said images and for initiating control signals based on said analysis
- d) for each target, an infra-red lamp that is alternatively:
- i) activated by one of said control signals to flash at a unique, respective frequency and
- ii) deactivated by another of said control signals:
- and
- e) a mechanism for transmitting said control signals to said lamps
- whereby analysis by said image processor of light produced by a said infra-red lamp and detected by said sensor indicates at which target from amongst said plurality of targets said housing has been, thus accurately simulating the aiming step of the firing of the weapon.
A method of simulating the firing of a weapon at one of a plurality of targets, comprising the steps of:
- a) providing:
- (i) a weapon simulator including a housing substantially identical in size and shape to at least a discrete portion of the weapon;
- (ii) a sensor, operationally connected to said housing, for acquiring a plurality of images of the target;
- and
- (iii) an image processor for detecting and analyzing changes among said images and for initiating control signals based on said analysis;
- (iv) for each target, an infra-red lamp that is alternatively:
- (A) activated by one of said control signals to flash at a unique, respective frequency and
- (B) deactivated by another of said control signals;
- and
- (v) a mechanism for transmitting said control signals to said lamps;
- b) aiming said housing at one of the targets;
- c) activating all said infra-red lamps;
- d) acquiring a plurality of images, at predetermined time intervals, of the target whereat said housing is aimed;
- e) passing said images to said image processor;
- f) calculating a flash frequency of the lamp on the target whereat said housing is aimed, by comparing successive said images;
- and
- g) identifying the target whereat said housing is aimed, by comparing said calculated flash frequency with a look-up table of said respective frequencies
- whereby said identifying at which target from amongst said plurality of targets said housing has been aimed is an accurate simulation of the aiming step of firing of the weapon.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.