Motor-Driven Target System with Frangible Balloon Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current target systems for marksmanship training lack realism, as they do not effectively mimic human movements, provide real-time threat status indication, or offer dynamic and random movement patterns, leading to inadequate shooter training and accuracy feedback.
Innovation Solution
A motor-driven target system that mimics human movements with a weighted base, a target-moving assembly, and a frangible balloon mechanism to simulate realistic human actions, along with an obscuring medium for changing threat status, allowing for random and non-repetitive movements and immediate feedback on shot accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If a stationary target image is used, then the shooter can consistently see the target, but the shooter lacks opportunity to recognize target status and receives no real-time feedback on accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The target system transitions from a stationary image to a dynamically moving target that changes position, orientation, and visibility state. The target moves horizontally, vertically, and rotates to simulate human movements, providing dynamic feedback about target status and shot accuracy in real-time.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms where the target's movement and positioning respond to the shooter's actions. The target moves out of view or changes position based on shot detection, providing immediate feedback on accuracy and target status recognition to the shooter.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a motor-driven cable system positions the target at various distances, then the difficulty in hitting the target can be adjusted, but the target still lacks realistic human-like movements and random motion patterns
Solution Approach 1:
The target system implements dynamic movements including horizontal translation, vertical translation, and rotation to simulate human body movements. The target can change its position and orientation randomly or according to programmed patterns, providing realistic training scenarios that adapt to different skill levels.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes multiple parameters simultaneously including position (horizontal and vertical), orientation (rotation angle), and movement speed to create realistic human-like motion patterns. These parameters can be adjusted independently to simulate different scenarios and difficulty levels.
3Ease of operation
If a pneumatic system rapidly fills rubber targets with air to make them appear and disappear, then stationary targets can be made to appear and disappear at the same location, but the targets cannot move to simulate human actions and the movement is limited to appearance/disappearance only
Solution Approach 1:
The target system combines appearance control with dynamic movement capabilities. The target can appear and disappear at different locations while simultaneously executing complex movement patterns including horizontal movement, vertical movement, and rotation, providing both ease of operation and high adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system merges the appearance control function with the movement function into a single integrated target system. The target can change its visibility state and position simultaneously, combining the advantages of both appearance control and movement capability in one unified system.
4Ease of operation
If a pendulum target system uses a cord attached to a counterweight, then the target can rotate back and forth in the vertical plane, but the movement becomes rhythmic and synchronous across multiple targets, lacking random human-like movements
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces the rigid pendulum mechanism with a more flexible target mounting system that allows random and non-synchronous movements. Each target can move independently with variable amplitude, duration, and rhythm to simulate human actions, eliminating the synchronous rhythmic movement of traditional pendulum systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses controlled periodic actions through motor-driven mechanisms that can vary the period, amplitude, and phase of target movements. This allows for random and non-repetitive movement patterns that simulate human behavior, rather than fixed rhythmic oscillations.
Data Source
AI summary
A target moving configuration includes a weighted base, a shooter's target, a target-moving assembly rotationally connected to the base and a hinge pivotally connecting the target thereto. A target-fall control device operatively connects the hinge to selectively pivot the target when activated. The control device has a balloon, a lock with a removable key, and a pull cord connecting the balloon to the key, which cord holds the key in the lock while the balloon is intact. A target motion device has a drive shaft, a drive cord connected to the target moving assembly and the drive shaft. An electric motor is connected to the drive shaft for rotating the drive shaft. A controller is operable to selectively and randomly power the motor to, thereby, move the target movement arm with respect to the base. Multiple targets and assemblies are provided and connected to the drive shaft for independent movement.