Automatic Shooting Sequence Controller

Abstract

A voice activated apparatus for automatic sequential launching of clay targets for Skeet, Sporting Clays and Trap shotgun sports. The apparatus first detects a voice command and launches target(s) and then detects the gunshot(s) of the shooter to determine the completion of a segment of the shooting sequence and automatically progress to the next segment for activation upon the next voice command. The apparatus comprising a signal processing unit, designed to analyze spectral patterns and signal levels associated with acoustic signals, in order to distinguish the voice command from ambient and gunshot noise and prevent false activation. By tracking the number of gunshots fired by each shooter, the system determines the end of the shooting sequence and controls the number of clay targets allocated to each shooter.

Description

[0001]This application claims priority to U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61 / 109,106, filed 28-OCT-2008, the contents of which is herein incorporated by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]the present invention relates to a sequence controller for selecting a shooting sequence, automatically controlling the release of targets at each step during a sequence, monitoring a shooter's progress through the sequence and terminating the sequence after completing all steps.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]The present invention relates to a system for controlling the launching of “clay pigeon” targets, such as from a Skeet, Sporting Clays or Trap target launchers, by means of detecting the voice command of the shooter and by means for detecting the gunshot sounds that follow the target(s) release.[0004]Traditionally, in shotgun clay shooting sports, clay targets are launched from launching machines. To release a target, the shooter calls the word “pull”. The person activating t...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0017]A means for counting a number of gunshots detected by an audio analyzer is used to track the number of gunshots fired by each shooter, on each station during the shooting session. If the correct number of gunshots are not fired during each segment of a shooting sequence, because of a gun or launcher malfunction the invention automatically reverts to that segment in order to allow the shooter to complete the segment. Furthermore, by tracking the number of gunshots fired by each shooter in each station, the system is able to determine the end of the shooting sequence for each shooter as well as limit the number of targets to the maximum allowed per shooter.

Problems solved by technology

Another problem of prior art voice release system is that in order to avoid false release from surrounding noise and specifically reverberating gunshots from near by fields, they must be set for very low sensitivity and require prolonged presence of voice before a target is released.

However, in order to track the targets in Skeet and Sporting Clays, the shooter pivots the body such that the microphone may not be conveniently placed in front of the shooter.

While this arrangement may work for a single shooter practicing alone, transferring the microphone from shooter to shooter is not practical and equipping each shooter with individual microphone / processor unit is considerably more expensive and complicated to manage.

A deficiency of prior art voice release systems is false activation by gun shots from near by fields.

Furthermore, prior art target release systems require manual adjustment during the course of a shooting session.

Shotgun sports require a high degree of concentration and shooters are unlikely to accept such adjustment during a competitive shooting session.

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