Ammunition monitoring system and method for monitoring ammunition

Abstract

The invention relates to an ammunition monitoring system (1) comprising at least one firing sensor (2), which can be paired with a firearm (3), and a firing logging device (9). The ammunition monitoring system (1) is designed to detect at least one firing process of the firearm (3) as firing data by means of the firing sensor (2), said firing process being producible by discharging a cartridge loaded in the firearm, and to store the detected firing data in the firing logging device (9). The invention also relates to an ammunition monitoring method, wherein firing data relating to at least one firing process of a firearm (3), said firing process being produced by discharging a cartridge loaded in the firearm, is detected by means of at least one firing sensor (2) paired with the firearm (3) and is stored in a firing logging device (9).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to an ammunition monitoring system having at least one shot firing sensor that can be assigned to a firearm and having a shot logging device, wherein the ammunition monitoring system is designed to detect, by means of the shot firing sensor, a discharge of at least one shot of the firearm, which can be generated by firing a cartridge loaded in the weapon, as shot data and to store the detected shot data in the shot logging device.

[0002] In addition, the invention relates to a method for ammunition monitoring, wherein shot data on the discharge of at least one shot of a firearm, which is generated by firing a cartridge loaded in the weapon, are recorded by at least one shot discharge sensor assigned to the firearm and stored in a shot log device.

[0003] The system and procedure are designed in particular to record and monitor the use of ammunition in weapons operations and can also be used at all levels of ammunition production, distribution and use. STATE OF THE ART

[0004] Systems for monitoring ammunition logistics are already known from the state of the art.

[0005] For example, WO 2019 / 023788 A1 relates to a method and device for tracking ammunition sales. Individual cartridges are marked with identification codes such as barcodes, which are recorded on a server with a buyer's data at handover points. This allows sold ammunition to be assigned to individual buyers.

[0006] In addition, CN 11 32 564 70 A relates to a weapon equipment system and a related blockchain-based tracking system in which production, logistics, storage, and ordering information for weapon parts and ammunition can be recorded. KR102130961B1 also discloses an ammunition monitoring system.

[0007] However, the state of the art lacks solutions that concern the specific use of ammunition in a firearm, in particular the embezzlement of ammunition when issuing ammunition for firing and the collection of unfired cartridges.

[0008] The object of the present invention is to create an ammunition monitoring system and method for ammunition monitoring that can seamlessly monitor the ammunition usage of a cartridge from its issue to a weapon carrier for firing through to the return of unfired cartridges in a manner that is non-manipulable and tamper-proof. In particular, monitoring of a cartridge should be possible from the moment it is delivered by an ammunition manufacturer or dealer.

[0009] This object is achieved by an ammunition monitoring system and a method for ammunition monitoring according to the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims. DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

[0010] According to the invention, an ammunition monitoring system is proposed with at least one shot firing sensor that can be assigned to a firearm and with a shot logging device, wherein the ammunition monitoring system is designed to detect, by means of the shot firing sensor, a discharge of at least one shot of the firearm, which can be generated by firing a cartridge loaded in the weapon, as shot data and to store the detected shot data in the shot logging device.

[0011] Thus, when the ammunition monitoring system is used as intended, the firing sensor is actually assigned to the firearm. However, the firearm itself is interchangeable and therefore not part of the ammunition monitoring system. Rather, the firing sensor or ammunition monitoring system can be used for various weapons, so that according to the invention, the firing sensor can generally only be assigned to one weapon and is only assigned to the corresponding firearm when the ammunition monitoring system is used as intended.

[0012] The ammunition monitoring system is thus designed to detect and log each individual cartridge or shot fired by the firearm and, to that extent, also a sequence of shots or a large number of fired cartridges, particularly when used as intended.

[0013] The ammunition monitoring system thus offers the possibility of seamlessly and non-manipulably tracing the disappearance or unauthorized theft of ammunition. This is achieved through a sequential transfer of responsibility in conjunction with non-alterably secured and verified sensor data, which is stored using a preferably blockchain-based solution, in particular in a blockchain that is only accessible to authorized users. Thus, the ammunition monitoring system according to the invention makes the currently common and non-transparent method of ammunition distribution or ammunition monitoring using a shooting log superfluous and protects it against misuse through the use of state-of-the-art technology. A shooting log is a booklet or book in which the issued and returned ammunition, if applicable, is recorded.including shooting results, are recorded - the ammunition issuer's accounting, so to speak.

[0014] The ammunition monitoring system is particularly suitable for armed forces and surveillance forces, as well as law enforcement agencies such as the army, police, and security companies. Civilian applications are also conceivable, for example, shooting clubs, gun clubs, arms dealers, and ammunition distributors, etc. The ammunition monitoring system is primarily used at shooting ranges, but can also be provided by weapons or ammunition manufacturers. The ammunition monitoring system can generally be used at all levels of ammunition production and distribution. In particular, each cartridge receives a digital twin in the firing log system, particularly in a blockchain, at least upon integration with a firearm, especially during production or delivery.

[0015] Preferably, the shot log facility is set up as a decentralized distributed database like a blockchain.

[0016] The invention can thus also cover scenarios in which the ammunition is recorded and individually marked centrally or decentrally by manufacturers and / or dealers. This allows a digital twin in the form of a token to be generated at the production facility during the production of a single cartridge and logged in the shot log system.

[0017] In particular, the ammunition monitoring system comprises a plurality of firing sensors, preferably of different or alternatively of identical design, which are assignable or associated with the firearm. In other words, preferably several sensors of the ammunition monitoring system are assignable or associated with the same firearm. This results in the advantage of further improving the detection accuracy with regard to firing.

[0018] Preferably, it is provided that at least one firing sensor, in particular a plurality of firing sensors, can be mounted or is mounted on the firearm to detect the firing data. This advantageously enables particularly reliable detection of the firing and secure mounting of the firing sensor(s).

[0019] Preferably, the firing sensor is detachably mounted so that it can be removed and used on a different firearm if necessary. For example, the firing sensor can be designed to be attached to a KeyMod system of a weapon's handguard. A mount rail system, M-Lok mounting system, or an MOE slot system is suitable for this purpose. In particular, several, preferably different, firing sensors are assigned to or mounted on the same weapon to further improve detection accuracy.

[0020] As an alternative to mounting the firearm on the body of a shooter operating the firearm, it is also conceivable to mount the firing sensor on the body of the shooter, for example, as a sensor worn directly on the body (WBAN, Wireless Body Area Network). In this case, the firing sensor is designed to detect the shot or the firing data remotely. In particular, the firing sensor would then be associated not with the firearm, but with the shooter, or with the ammunition monitoring system being used as intended.

[0021] The shot firing sensor preferably comprises an acceleration sensor, vibration sensor, position sensor, temperature sensor, gyroscope, angle sensor, position sensor, and / or acoustic sensor, such that the shot firing sensor is designed to detect at least the firing of the shot, in particular at least the firing of a shot sequence, number of shots, shot firing angle, and / or shot firing position, as shot data. This means that the shot firing sensor is preferably designed as a shot firing sensor system, which, for example, has an acceleration sensor, acoustic sensor, and angle sensor and, in this respect, has multiple functions with regard to detecting the shot firing or is capable of synchronously detecting multiple parameters indicative of the shot firing. This advantageously ensures reliable detection of the shot firing.

[0022] Alternatively, the firing sensor is designed as one of the aforementioned sensor variants and thus has only one of the corresponding functions. Advantageously, the firing sensor in this case is technically uncomplicated and therefore cost-effective. To improve detection accuracy, several firing sensors are preferably provided, each with only one function and different from the other firing sensors, which, as already described above, are assigned to the same firearm.

[0023] According to a preferred development, the firing sensor has at least one memory device for at least temporarily storing recorded firing data. This provides the advantage of always ensuring reliable storage of the recorded firing data, for example, if a malfunction or even a failure of the firing log device occurs. The memory device can be designed as a buffer from which the firing data can be read by the firing log device or an intermediary mobile communication device, e.g., an app on a smartphone.

[0024] The firing log device is particularly preferably designed as a data server, in particular as a cloud-based data server, wherein the firing sensor is designed to transmit the firing data wirelessly or wired to the data server. Advantageously, this allows the ammunition monitoring system to be manufactured comparatively cost-effectively. To transmit the firing data, the firing sensor can use RFID / NFC technology, Bluetooth, WLAN, mobile communications (2G, 3G, 4G, 5G), or even a cable connection (USB or similar). An IEEE 802.15.4 transmission protocol for a wireless sensor network (WSN) is suitable for a radio network connection. Furthermore, it is conceivable for the firing sensor to be networked in a network of a plurality of firing sensors, which can mutually communicate firing data, for example, via a master sensor, to the firing log device.

[0025] Preferably, the ammunition monitoring system comprises a mobile communication device, wherein the firing sensor transmits the firing data wirelessly or wired to the mobile communication device, and wherein the mobile communication device comprises the firing log device or transmits the firing data wirelessly or wired to the firing log device. Advantageously, the mobile communication device provides a communication interface for a user of the ammunition monitoring system. The mobile communication device can be implemented as an app on a smartphone, tablet, smartwatch, or the like.Communication can take place using RFID and NFC technology, whereby the shot data can then be forwarded via the mobile communication device to the Internet or intranet for transmission to the shot recording device, or the mobile communication device can include the shot recording device.

[0026] According to a preferred embodiment, the shot log device has a blockchain data structure for storing the shot data. The blockchain data structure advantageously ensures the tamper-proof nature of the shot data. Furthermore, this is a cost-effective solution with excellent data protection, particularly due to the possibility of a decentralized network architecture.

[0027] Particularly preferably, the blockchain data structure comprises an accounting system for the cartridge, which comprises a digital copy of the cartridge and covers the period at least from the delivery of the cartridge, in particular from the manufacture of the cartridge, until the firing of the shot. This provides a particularly advantageous way of tracking the whereabouts of the cartridge, through which the whereabouts of the cartridge can be reliably determined at any time and assigned to a responsible person.

[0028] In the context of the present invention, delivery of the cartridge is understood to mean the time at which the cartridge is handed over from the manufacturer or a supplier to a user using the ammunition monitoring system according to the invention. In other words, the time of delivery corresponds to the start of use of the ammunition monitoring system according to the invention.

[0029] In this respect, accounting, particularly through the creation of a digital copy of the cartridge, enables lifetime logging of the cartridge from the time the blockchain becomes available and the associated logging option until the time of consumption and the associated irreversible destruction of the cartridge through the firing of the shot.

[0030] According to a preferred development, the ammunition monitoring system has a plurality of additional firing sensors that can be assigned to additional firearms. The additional firing sensors can be used to record the firing of shots from the additional firearms as firing data and store the data in the firing log device. Thus, the ammunition monitoring system can monitor multiple firearms simultaneously, and the data recorded in each case can be stored in the same log device. The ammunition monitoring system is thus advantageously scalable.

[0031] In particular, the same type and number of firing sensors can be assigned to each of the additional firearms, or are assigned to each of them when the ammunition monitoring system is used as intended. For example, the ammunition monitoring system has a gyro sensor and an acceleration sensor for each additional firearm. In this respect, the ammunition monitoring system preferably has a number X of similar additional firing sensors, each of which can be assigned to a further firearm from a number X of additional firearms.

[0032] In a subordinate aspect, a method for ammunition monitoring is proposed, in particular using an aforementioned ammunition monitoring system, wherein shot data relating to the discharge of at least one shot from a firearm, generated by firing a cartridge loaded in the weapon, is recorded by at least one shot discharge sensor associated with the firearm and stored in a shot logging device. This results in the advantages already mentioned above.

[0033] In particular, firing data from multiple firearms is recorded using several identical firing sensors, each assigned to a different firearm, and stored in the firing log system. The recorded firing data is transmitted from the firing sensors to the firing log system and stored there.

[0034] Preferably, the shot data includes the number, direction, and / or position of the shots fired. This advantageously allows for particularly reliable detection of the shots fired.

[0035] Preferably, the shot data is stored in a blockchain data structure. As mentioned above, this enables tamper-proof storage of the shot data and thus the possibility of reliably tracking the whereabouts of the cartridge.

[0036] According to a preferred development, it is provided that an accounting record of the cartridge is maintained in the blockchain data structure, wherein a digital copy, in particular a token, of the cartridge is generated for the accounting purposes, and wherein the accounting records cover the period at least from delivery, in particular from production, of the cartridge until the shot is fired. This results in the advantages already mentioned above.

[0037] In particular, the cartridge is assigned to at least one ammunition wallet during accounting. The ammunition wallet is essentially a personalized and, thus, clearly attributable digital storage location (storage folder, "wallet") for the cartridge or its token. If the cartridge is transferred from one user to another (transfer of responsibility), the corresponding token is transferred from the ammunition wallet of the user (originally the responsible person) to the ammunition wallet of the other user (now the responsible person) or assigned to that user. Such transactions from one ammunition wallet to another ammunition wallet are recorded by the blockchain. The assignment to at least one ammunition wallet and the associated unambiguous assignment to a user enables a particularly advantageous clear traceability of the cartridge's history and origin.

[0038] Preferably, the transmission of shot data from the shot sensor to the shot logging device occurs wirelessly or wired via a mobile communication device. As already mentioned, the mobile communication device represents a beneficial user interface. This results in the advantages already mentioned.

[0039] According to a preferred development, the firing log device records weapon data of the firearm and associates the firing data and weapon data with each other. Weapon data refers, in particular, to an individual and unique ID of the firearm, which is linked to the firing sensor assigned to the firearm. This advantageously makes the firearm clearly identifiable. By associating it with the firing data, it is thus possible to clearly trace which firearm generated the firing data. Preferably, the weapon data also includes an ID of the user of the firearm, so that it is also clear who operated the firearm or fired the shot and thus used the cartridge.

[0040] Particularly preferably, the firing log device carries out an integrity test to determine the whereabouts of the cartridge. The integrity test is essentially a target / actual comparison of the whereabouts of the cartridge(s). This means that the data recorded in the blockchain is used to determine how many cartridges were originally present and how many of these have been fired. Based on this, a check is made to determine whether the expected number of unfired cartridges has been returned to a depot, for example, or whether at least one cartridge is missing, the whereabouts of which are therefore initially unknown. As part of the integrity test, the cartridge history is therefore checked using the data recorded in the blockchain. This advantageously makes it possible to reliably clarify or determine any loss or the whereabouts of cartridges and to identify the user responsible for them.

[0041] It should be noted that the system according to the invention can also be used for tracking, i.e., tracing and automated inventory of all military and civilian equipment, which can be digitally identified, for example, via a seal and / or an RFID tag, which can be attached, in particular, upon delivery. Electronic tracking can be carried out, in particular, via a motion or location sensor, which can determine its position, for example, absolutely via a satellite system or relatively via mobile phone tracking, and which is connected, for example, via a mobile network or wirelessly to the Internet. Therefore, in addition to ammunition tracking and logging, spare parts for vehicles, supplies, personal equipment, etc. can also be tracked.

[0042] To date, precise inventory data has only been available in a granular manner and only specifically at the respective barracks. If the use of the system according to the invention is expanded to include other civilian or military goods, a general platform for procurement can be provided, which offers the user an overview of inventory stocks at all locations in the civilian and military sectors. DRAWINGS

[0043] Further advantages will become apparent from the accompanying description of the drawings. The drawings illustrate exemplary embodiments of the invention. The drawings, the description, and the claims contain numerous features in combination. Those skilled in the art will also expediently consider the features individually and combine them into useful further combinations.

[0044] They show: Figure 1 shows a highly simplified schematic representation of an advantageous ammunition monitoring system, Figure 2 shows an exemplary use of a firing sensor of the ammunition monitoring system in a firearm, and Figure 3 shows a flow chart for exemplifying an advantageous method for ammunition monitoring using the ammunition monitoring system.

[0045] Figure 1 shows, in a highly simplified schematic representation, an advantageous ammunition monitoring system 1. The ammunition monitoring system 1 serves or is designed to monitor the ammunition use of a cartridge from the time it is issued to a firearms carrier for firing through to the return of unfired cartridges in a continuous, non-manipulable and forgery-proof manner.

[0046] The ammunition monitoring system 1 has at least one firing sensor 2, which can be assigned to a firearm 3 or, when the ammunition monitoring system 1 is used as intended, is assigned to the firearm 3. This assignment of the firing sensor 2 to the firearm 3 is shown in Figure 1 shown as an example using a dashed arrow 4. In the Figure 1 In the embodiment shown, the ammunition monitoring system 1 has three firing sensors 2, each of which is assigned to a firearm 3. In this respect, a first firing sensor 2 is assigned to a first firearm 3, a second firing sensor 2' to a second firearm 3', and a third firing sensor 2" to a third firearm 3".

[0047] Each firing sensor 2 is designed to detect the firing of at least one shot of the firearm 3, which can be generated by firing a cartridge loaded in the firearm 3 and not shown here for reasons of clarity, as firing data. The firing sensor 2 has an acceleration sensor, vibration sensor, position sensor, temperature sensor, gyroscope, angle sensor, attitude sensor and / or acoustic sensor. In this respect, the Figure 1 The firing sensor 2 shown is to be understood as a firing sensor system 2, which can therefore comprise any combination of the aforementioned sensor variants. This means that the firing sensor system 2 comprises a selection of the aforementioned sensor variants, all of which are assigned to the same firearm 3, as will be explained later with reference to Figure 2will be explained in more detail below. Due to the advantageous combination of several sensor variants, the firing sensor system 2 is designed to also detect the firing of a firing sequence, number of shots, a firing angle, and / or a firing position as firing data.

[0048] Optionally, the firing sensor 2 has a mounting device 5, for example a locking device or guide rail, in order to be able to mount the firing sensor 2 on the firearm 3 when the ammunition monitoring system 1 is used as intended. This optional mounting will be explained later on with reference to Figure 2 explained in more detail.

[0049] Furthermore, the firing sensor 2 has at least one memory device 6 for at least temporarily storing the detected firing data. In the present case, the memory device 6 is designed as a buffer, from which the detected firing data can be transmitted to a mobile communication device 7 of the ammunition monitoring system 1 or read out by the mobile communication device 7, as shown in Figure 1 as indicated by arrows 8.

[0050] The mobile communication device 7 serves as an advantageous communication interface for a user of the ammunition monitoring system 1. The mobile communication device 7 can be implemented as an app on a smartphone, tablet, smartwatch, or similar device. The transmission of the firing data from the firing sensor 2 to the mobile communication device 7 is preferably wireless, for example, using RFID or NFC technology, or alternatively, via a wired connection. Accordingly, both the firing sensor 2 and the mobile communication device 7 have corresponding communication means.

[0051] The ammunition monitoring system 1 further comprises a shot log device 9, in which the recorded shot data can be stored or logged. According to the present embodiment, the recorded shot data are transmitted wirelessly or by wire from the mobile communication device 7 to the shot log device 9, as shown in Figure 1 is illustrated by way of example using a further arrow 10. Alternatively, the mobile communication device 7 itself comprises the shot recording device 9, so that in this case the mobile communication device 7 and the shot recording device 9 are formed in one piece or are to be understood as a unit.

[0052] The shot log device 9 is embodied here, in particular, as a cloud-based data server and has a blockchain data structure for storing the shot data 9. The blockchain data structure has an accounting system for the cartridge, which includes a digital copy of the cartridge and covers the period at least from the delivery of the cartridge, in particular from the production of the cartridge, until the firing of the shot. The accounting is therefore a lifetime record of the cartridge from the time the blockchain becomes available until the cartridge is consumed by the shot.

[0053] The Ammunition Monitoring System 1 thus offers the possibility of seamlessly and non-tamper-evidently tracing the disappearance or unauthorized theft of ammunition. This is achieved through a sequential transfer of responsibility in conjunction with immutably secured and verified firing data stored in the blockchain.

[0054] Figure 2 shows an exemplary use of the firing sensor 2 or firing sensor system 2 in the firearm 3. In this respect, Figure 2 The firing sensor 2 is shown during intended use of the ammunition monitoring system 1. The firing sensor 2 or the firing sensor system 2 is thus assigned to the firearm 3.

[0055] According to the present embodiment, the firing sensor 2 is mounted on the firearm 3 by means of the mounting device 5. In the present case, the firing sensor 2 or firing sensor system 2 comprises two of the previously mentioned sensor variants, each of which is preferably detachably mounted on different areas of the firearm 3. Figure 2 In the embodiment shown, a first of the sensor variants, for example an angle sensor, is detachably mounted on a barrel 11 of the firearm 3, and a second of the sensor variants, for example a kinetic sensor, is detachably mounted on a handle 12 of the firearm 3. The sensor variants are preferably secured in such a way that they can only be removed by authorized persons.

[0056] As an alternative to mounting the firearm 3, it is also conceivable to arrange the firing sensor 2 on the body of a shooter operating the firearm 3, for example, as a sensor worn directly on the body (WBAN, Wireless Body Area Network). In this case, the firing sensor 2 is designed to detect the shot or the firing data remotely.

[0057] The firing sensor 2 or the firing sensor system 2 detects various parameters representative of the firing of a shot, for example, the recoil that occurs when the firearm 3 is fired, and stores this detected firing data in the storage device 6. The firing sensor 2 is designed such that it only detects when the firearm 3 is actually fired. Therefore, the firing sensor 2 is designed such that any other external influences such as impacts, blows, or the like can be distinguished from the actual shots, so that the detection of the shot(s) is not distorted. Optionally, the firing sensor 2 has its own SIM or is connected to a local network.

[0058] Figure 3shows a flow chart to explain an advantageous method for ammunition monitoring using the previously described ammunition monitoring system 1. In other words, the following will be explained with reference to Figure 3 The intended use of the ammunition monitoring system 1 is illustrated. As an example, the sequence of a military shooting exercise is shown, in which the ammunition monitoring system 1 is used to prevent the misappropriation of ammunition.

[0059] First, a definition of the term: POR: Person of Responsibility Checkpoint: Transfer of responsibility Token: Digital copy of a cartridge

[0060] The method begins with a first step S1, in which a plurality of cartridges or ammunition is delivered and in this respect the use of the previously described ammunition monitoring system 1 begins.

[0061] Upon delivery of the ammunition, it is handed over to a POR Tier 1 warehouse manager for storage in an ammunition depot, who then checks for completeness. This means that the POR Tier 1 warehouse manager checks whether the exact number of cartridges delivered has been exceeded. This handover of the ammunition represents a checkpoint. Therefore, each ammunition delivery, upon acceptance by the POR 1 warehouse manager, enters the closed recording system of the Ammunition Monitoring System 1. Upon handover or acceptance of the ammunition, responsibility for the ammunition is also transferred to the POR Tier 1 warehouse manager. The POR Tier 1 warehouse manager is therefore now responsible for ensuring that the ammunition is stored in the ammunition depot in accordance with the specifications and is only issued to authorized personnel.

[0062] If the ammunition is complete, during step S1, the warehouse manager POR Tier 1 enters the number of delivered cartridges into the accounting system of the blockchain of the firing log device 9 using the mobile communication device 7. Upon entry, a token, i.e., a digital copy of the cartridge, is created for each cartridge on the blockchain and assigned to an ammunition wallet assigned to the person now responsible for the ammunition, in this case the warehouse manager POR Tier 1, or the token is stored in this ammunition wallet.

[0063] Step S1 therefore concerns the initial logging of the ammunition on the blockchain. A representative token is created on the blockchain for each cartridge in the ammunition delivery. Upon verification of the ammunition delivery, this token is transferred to the ammunition wallet of the now responsible POR, in this case POR Tier 1. The transfer can be traced at any time using the data stored on the blockchain or via the accounting system. As long as the token is in the ammunition wallet of a POR, this person is personally responsible for it, and only this person may have access to the ammunition at that time. Tokenizing the ammunition ensures that each cartridge can be individually tracked later during use.

[0064] Optionally, the method can also begin in a step S0 preceding step S1. The optional step S0 does not concern the delivery of the ammunition already manufactured in advance, but rather the production itself. In this respect, the ammunition monitoring system 1 with the optional step S0 is already used during the production of the cartridge by the manufacturer or is already available at the time of ammunition production. In this case, the corresponding token is created in the blockchain during production, for example during the packaging of the cartridge, and assigned to the ammunition wallet of the person responsible at that moment, for example the manufacturer POR Tier0. Upon delivery or dispatch of the ammunition in step S1, the corresponding number of tokens are then transferred to the ammunition wallet of the warehouse manager POR Tier1.

[0065] In a next step S2 following step S1, the ammunition, or at least a portion of it, is handed over by the POR Tier 1 camp manager to a POR Tier 2 training instructor for the purpose of a firing exercise, with responsibility for the handed over ammunition being transferred to the POR Tier 2 training instructor. The POR Tier 2 training instructor counts the handed over ammunition and confirms the number and handover of cartridges by means of a corresponding input in the mobile communication device 7. This handover represents another checkpoint, which is also stored on the blockchain. The corresponding tokens are transferred again, this time from the ammunition wallet of the POR Tier 1 camp manager to the ammunition wallet of the POR Tier 2 training instructor.

[0066] In this respect, in step S2, the further transfer is also entered into the blockchain's accounting system via the mobile communication device 7, or recorded by it and subsequently stored as a transaction on the blockchain. This transfer can therefore also be traced at any time, in particular via the mobile communication device 7.

[0067] In a subsequent step S3, the ammunition is handed over by the POR Tier2 exercise instructor to at least one POR Tier3 soldier for the purpose of conducting the shooting exercise. This handover represents another checkpoint, which is also registered on the blockchain. The POR Tier2 exercise instructor preferably has single access to the mobile communication device 7 and enters the quantity, type, and person to whom the ammunition is being handed over for the shooting exercise. From this point on, the person—in this case, at least one POR Tier3 soldier—to whom the ammunition was handed over is the person responsible for this ammunition, so that the corresponding tokens are transferred from the ammunition wallet of the POR Tier2 exercise instructor to the ammunition wallet of the POR Tier3 soldier.

[0068] Weapon data for firearm 3 used by the POR Tier 3 soldier is also recorded. The weapon data includes, in particular, the weapon type, a weapon serial number, and / or a personal ID of the POR Tier 3 soldier. The corresponding weapon data is linked to the firing sensor 2 mounted on the firearm 3 and can be scanned for registration, for example, using the mobile communication device 7, thus eliminating the need for additional manual effort to record the weapon data.

[0069] The firing sensor 2 records each shot fired during the target practice as firing data and stores it in its buffer 6. As previously mentioned, the firing sensor 2 is designed such that a shot can be clearly distinguished from any other external influences. In particular, the firing sensor 2 is designed such that it can precisely document when, how often, and where the correspondingly assigned firearm 3 was fired. In particular, each fired shot is recorded individually, including the time, location, and direction.

[0070] Specifically, in step S3, several soldiers, i.e., several POR Tier 3s, participate in the shooting exercise. A firing sensor 2 that can be uniquely assigned to the respective firearm 3 is mounted on each firearm 3 of the participating POR Tier 3 soldiers. Furthermore, the ammunition wallets of the POR Tier 3 soldiers are directly linked to the corresponding firing sensor 2, which can be permanently assigned to the respective POR Tier 3 soldier, in particular via the weapon serial number and personal ID.

[0071] In a subsequent step S4, the ammunition not used during the shooting exercise in step S3 is returned by the POR Tier 3 soldier to the POR Tier 2 exercise instructor. The firing sensor 2 assigned to the POR Tier 3 soldier is read by the mobile communication device 7, preferably wirelessly, for example, using NFC / RFID, and the corresponding firing data is transmitted to the firing log device 9 or its blockchain. The read firing data are stored on the blockchain together with the weapon data, and the firing data and the weapon data are correlated. The firing data is used to determine how many cartridges were fired.

[0072] For each fired cartridge, a token in the POR Tier 3 soldier's ammunition wallet is destroyed. This means that a smart contract executes a function that burns the corresponding number of tokens. This function sends the tokens to a blacklisted ammunition wallet, making it impossible to regain access to them. The tokens are thus irretrievably lost from the closed system, just as the actual fired cartridges are.

[0073] The remaining, unused, ammunition is, as already mentioned above, returned to the POR Tier 2 exercise instructor, with the corresponding number of returned cartridges being entered into the blockchain's accounting system via the mobile communication device 7. This process represents another checkpoint, which is recorded via the mobile communication device 7 and stored on the blockchain. The remaining tokens representing unused cartridges are transferred back from the POR Tier 3 soldier's ammunition wallet to the POR Tier 2 exercise instructor's ammunition wallet. Thus, at the end of the firing exercise, there are no more tokens in the POR Tier 3 soldier's ammunition wallet. They were either destroyed because all cartridges were used up, or transferred back to the POR Tier 2 exercise instructor with the return of the remaining cartridges.

[0074] Thus, in step S4, after the exercise has ended, the firearm 3 with the firing sensor 2 is presented to the POR Tier 2 exercise instructor again, and the firing sensor 2, along with all collected firing data, is synchronized with the blockchain-based database and validated. The firing data is visible to all authorized entities using the mobile communication device 7. If, when returning the remaining ammunition, there is a discrepancy between the issued ammunition and the fired or returned ammunition, i.e., there is a delta between this and the number of tokens in the ammunition wallet, the POR Tier 3 soldier who fired the shots must justify this to the POR Tier 2 exercise instructor and bears the corresponding responsibility for potential losses / discrepancies between the recorded and registered ammunition actually fired.

[0075] During synchronization, the collected shot data is transmitted wirelessly, for example, via NFC or RFID, to the mobile communication device 7 as a single file. This immediately triggers a transaction that stores this file on the blockchain, and the tokens representing the cartridges that were actually fired are transferred to the blacklist ammunition wallet, from which the tokens can no longer be removed. Thus, a cartridge fired once is permanently and irreversibly documented. Upon returning the remaining cartridges, the POR Tier 2 instructor enters the number of cartridges he receives back into the mobile communication device 7. This is also stored on the blockchain and offset against the number of cartridges issued and fired to determine a possible delta.The tokens of the returned cartridges are then transferred back to the POR Tier 2 ammunition wallet. The firing log device 9 then performs an integrity check of the cartridges' whereabouts using the data stored on the blockchain.

[0076] In a final step S5, the remaining ammunition previously returned to the POR Tier 2 exercise leader in step S4 is returned to the POR Tier 1 warehouse manager and stored in the ammunition depot. After verification by the POR Tier 1 warehouse manager and a corresponding entry in the accounting system, preferably via the mobile communication device 7, the corresponding tokens are transferred from the POR Tier 2 exercise leader's ammunition wallet back to the POR Tier 1 warehouse manager's ammunition wallet. This transfer also represents a checkpoint, which is recorded via the mobile communication device 7 and stored on the blockchain.

[0077] Thus, at the end, the unused ammunition is returned to the ammunition depot under the responsibility of the POR Tier1 warehouse manager and the corresponding tokens are in his ammunition wallet.

[0078] By means of the advantageous method for ammunition monitoring described above using the advantageous ammunition monitoring system 1, which consists of several checkpoints at all relevant ammunition transfer locations and immutable sensor data, it is possible to locate the exact location and the person responsible in the event of ammunition being lost.

[0079] The firing data collected by the firing sensor 2 is stored on the blockchain of the firing log device 9. Each cartridge is represented on the blockchain as an individual token, allowing the current inventory to be accurately recorded. After a cartridge has been fired, a corresponding token can be uniquely assigned to a firing sensor 2, for which the corresponding firearm 3 and the person operating it are stored.

[0080] On the blockchain, every entity that transfers or uses ammunition has its own ammunition wallet. These ammunition wallets are assigned a specific number of cartridges, which corresponds to the number of cartridges currently under the entity's control. The transfer of ammunition, which is mapped on the blockchain via transactions from one wallet to another, is verified by full nodes of the blockchain.

[0081] After the shot data is read from the mobile communication device 7, the shot data is stored on the blockchain, and the corresponding tokens are transferred to the blacklist ammunition wallet, which documents all shots fired and removes used ammunition or tokens from the system, but retains the data for later review. Alternatively, used tokens can be permanently removed from the system by burning, which, however, results in the loss of the corresponding data. Access to the mobile communication device 7 is via light nodes, which can initiate new transactions on the blockchain.

[0082] In this respect, the blockchain of the advantageous ammunition monitoring system 1 enables non-tamperable lifetime logging of ammunition, whereby individual points in time of transfer of responsibility for the ammunition can always be reliably traced. The blockchain can be made accessible to other authorized entities at the discretion of the responsible party.

Claims

1. An ammunition monitoring system (1) with at least one fired-shot sensor (2) assignable to a firearm (3) and with a shooting log device (9), wherein the ammunition monitoring system (1) is designed to record as shooting data, by means of the fired-shot sensor (2), the firing of at least one shot from the firearm (3), achievable by the discharge of a cartridge loaded into the firearm, and to store the recorded shooting data in the shooting log device (9), whereby the shooting log device (9) has a blockchain data structure for filing of the shooting data, wherein the blockchain data structure has an accounting system for the cartridge which comprises a digital copy of the cartridge and covers the period at least from delivery, in particular from manufacture of the cartridge, to the shot being fired, wherein actual expending of the cartridge is determinable using the blockchain data structure based on shooting data and is loggable by irrevocable transfer of the digital copy of the cartridge into a blacklist ammunition wallet in tamper-proof manner.

2. The ammunition monitoring system according to claim 1, characterized in that for recording of the shooting data the at least one fired-shot sensor (2), in particular several fired-shot sensors (2), is, in particular are, mountable on or mounted on the firearm (3).

3. The ammunition monitoring system according to any of the above claims, characterized in that the fired-shot sensor (2) has an acceleration sensor, a vibration sensor, a position sensor, a temperature sensor, a gyroscope, an angle sensor, an orientation sensor and / or an acoustic sensor, such that the fired-shot sensor is designed to record as shooting data at least the firing of the shot, in particular at least the firing of a sequence of shots, a number of shots, a firing angle and / or a firing position.

4. The ammunition monitoring system according to any of the above claims, characterized in that the fired-shot sensor (2) has at least one storage device (6) for at least temporary storage of the recorded shooting data.

5. The ammunition monitoring system according to any of the above claims, characterized in that the shooting log device (9) is designed as a data server, in particular as a cloud-based data server, wherein the fired-shot sensor (2) is designed to transmit the shooting data to the data server in wireless or wired manner.

6. The ammunition monitoring system according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the ammunition monitoring system (1) has a mobile communication device (7), wherein the fired-shot sensor (2) transmits the shooting data to the mobile communication device (7) in wireless or wired manner, and that the mobile communication device (7) comprises the shooting log device (9) or transmits the shooting data to the shooting log device (9) in wireless or wired manner.

7. The ammunition monitoring system according to any of the above claims, characterized in that the ammunition monitoring system (1) has a plurality of further fired-shot sensors (2, 2', 2") assignable to further firearms (3, 3', 3"), wherein the firing of shots from the further firearms (3, 3', 3") is recordable as shooting data by means of the further fired-shot sensors (2, 2', 2") and storable in the shooting log device (9).

8. A method for ammunition monitoring, in particular using an ammunition monitoring system (1) according to any of the above claims, wherein shooting data on the firing of at least one shot from a firearm (3), achieved by the firing of a cartridge loaded into the firearm, is recorded by at least one fired-shot sensor (2) assigned to the firearm (3) and stored in a shooting log device (9), characterized in that the shooting data is stored in a blockchain data structure, wherein accounting for the cartridge is conducted in the blockchain data structure, wherein a digital copy of the cartridge is generated for accounting purposes, and wherein accounting covers the period at least from delivery, in particular from manufacture of the cartridge, to the shot being fired, wherein actual expending of the cartridge is determined using the blockchain data structure based on the shooting data and is logged by irrevocable transfer of the digital copy of the cartridge into a blacklist ammunition wallet in tamper-proof manner.

9. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that the shooting data comprises the number, direction and / or position of the shot(s) fired.

10. The method according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the cartridge is assigned to at least one ammunition wallet for accounting purposes.

11. The method according to one of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that the shooting data is transmitted from the fired-shot sensor (2) to the shooting log device (9) in wireless or wired manner using a mobile communication device (7).

12. The method according to one of claims 8 to 11, characterized in that the shooting log device (9) records firearm data of the firearm (3) and assigns the shooting data and the firearm data to one another.

13. The method according to one of claims 8 to 12, characterized in that the shooting log device (9) performs an integrity test on the location of the cartridge.

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