Dual Vision Sensor Firearm Tracking System

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current military training simulator systems are unable to accurately perform indirect fire training due to limitations in laser technology and sensor accuracy, which become increasingly inaccurate at longer ranges.

Innovation Solution

A firearm training system utilizing a dual vision sensor system with a narrow field of view for precise direct fire tracking and a wide field of view for indirect fire aim, combined with an image processor and location emitters, to enable accurate tracking and training for both direct and indirect fire weapons.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If laser modules are used for tracking, then direct fire training is enabled, but indirect fire training cannot be performed due to straight-line laser paths versus arched bullet trajectories

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefire training capabilityVSAvoidtrajectory accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces laser-based optical tracking with a vision-based system using cameras and image processing. This substitution allows the system to track both direct fire (line-of-sight) and indirect fire (arched trajectories) weapons by capturing visual data of the weapon's position and orientation over time, then processing this data to calculate realistic ballistic paths that account for gravity and trajectory arching.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Ease of operation

If GPS and IMU sensors are used for tracking, then position data is obtained, but accuracy deteriorates at long ranges due to sensor error magnification

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetracking capabilityVSAvoidposition accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces GPS and IMU sensor-based tracking with a vision-based tracking system using cameras. This substitution eliminates the accumulation of sensor errors over distance that plagues GPS and IMU systems, as the camera-based system continuously visualizes the weapon's position relative to known reference points (location emitters), maintaining accuracy regardless of range.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Adaptability or versatility

If Open Virtual Reality trackers are used, then tracking is enabled, but performance deteriorates under recoil or outdoor lighting conditions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetracking functionalityVSAvoidtracking stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces Open Virtual Reality tracker technology with a camera-based vision system. This substitution makes the system immune to recoil disturbances and outdoor lighting conditions, as the cameras capture images of location emitters (which can be infrared or high-contrast visual markers) that remain detectable regardless of weapon movement or ambient light levels.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Device complexity

If a single field of view camera is used, then device structure is simple, but tracking accuracy is insufficient for both direct and indirect fire weapons

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecamera system structureVSAvoidfirearm location calculation accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the camera system into multiple cameras or multiple imaging systems, each with different fields of view. This segmentation allows one camera to capture the weapon during direct fire (narrow FOV for precision) while another captures indirect fire trajectories (wide FOV for range), with the image processor integrating data from both to maintain accuracy across all firing modes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent adds the dimension of multiple fields of view to the camera system, enabling simultaneous or sequential capture of both close-range direct fire and far-range indirect fire. This dimensional expansion allows the system to handle diverse weapon types and firing scenarios without compromising tracking precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentUS20250146792A1Firearm training system

Publication Date: 2025.05.08 RADIOSITY HOLDINGS LLC DBA ODYSSEY ARM

AI summary

A firearm training system has a screen configured to display target images, a plurality of location emitters associated with the screen, a firearm device, a camera mounted to the firearm device, the camera having a first imaging system operable to generate a first image with a first field of view, the camera having a second imaging system operable to generate a second image with a second field of view greater than the first field of view, an image processor connected to the first and second imaging systems, the image processor operable to calculate a firearm device location relative to the screen based on the first image unless at least one of the location emitters is outside the first field of view, in which case the second image is used for the firearm device location calculation.