Optronic Artillery Observation System with Moving Reticle
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems for determining artillery fire corrections lack precision, compactness, and cost-effectiveness, particularly in achieving the required angular precision of 1 mrad for bearing offset measurements, with existing devices like magnetic compasses and goniometers falling short due to sensitivity and bulkiness.
Innovation Solution
An optronic observation system with a display screen capable of moving reticles and a processing unit that implements a method to measure and display multiple reticles on the screen, allowing for precise angular measurements and automatic reorientation to maintain accuracy even if the point of impact moves or disappears, using a microvisualizer screen with high pixel precision and optional field of view widening.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a magnetic compass is used to measure bearing offset, then the device is compact and lightweight, but the measurement precision is insufficient (cannot guarantee less than 10 mrad precision)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the reticle display system with the laser rangefinder and observation system into an integrated optronic device. The moving reticle is superimposed on the same display screen as the target image, allowing bearing offset measurement to be performed within the existing observation system without requiring a separate complex measurement device.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical bearing measurement devices (magnetic compass, goniometer) with an optical-digital system. The bearing offset is measured by detecting the position of the moving reticle on the display screen pixels, converting a mechanical measurement problem into an optical positioning problem that can be solved with high precision using the existing laser rangefinder and display system.
2Measurement precision
If a goniometer is used to measure bearing offset, then the measurement precision is high (less than one mrad), but the device is heavy and bulky
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the bearing measurement function into the existing observation system by adding a moving reticle to the display screen. This eliminates the need for a separate goniometer device, reducing weight and bulk while maintaining the high precision bearing offset measurement capability through digital pixel-based reticle positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a virtual copy of the bearing measurement function through the moving reticle displayed on the screen. Instead of using a physical goniometer, the system uses a digital representation (reticle) that can be moved and positioned precisely on the display screen to measure bearing offsets, achieving the same measurement function with significantly reduced weight.
3Measurement precision
If the observer manually evaluates offset using a micrometric reticle, then the device is compact, but the measurement precision is insufficient (cannot achieve 1 mrad precision)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual visual evaluation with an automated digital measurement system. The moving reticle's position is detected through pixel coordinates on the display screen, and the bearing offset is calculated automatically by the processor based on the reticle's initial and final positions, eliminating manual estimation errors and achieving high precision measurements.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides real-time feedback by displaying the moving reticle's position on the screen and automatically calculating the bearing offset. The processor continuously monitors the reticle position and computes the angular offset, providing immediate feedback to the operator and enabling precise measurement without manual intervention.
4Measurement precision
If the observation system reorients to track the point of impact, then the distance measurement can be maintained, but the angular precision is lost due to orientation changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary action by recording the initial position of the reticle on the display screen before the observation system reorients. This initial position serves as a reference point that allows the system to calculate bearing offsets even after the system has moved, eliminating the need to maintain fixed orientation during measurement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a virtual reference frame by recording the initial reticle position on the display screen. This digital copy of the initial orientation allows the system to calculate angular offsets relative to the original position without requiring the physical system to maintain that orientation, enabling measurements after system movement.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables precise artillery fire corrections with angular precision of up to 1 mrad, achieving the desired accuracy without the bulk and cost of traditional goniometers, while maintaining compactness and lightness, and allowing for repeated ranging steps as needed.
Implementation Method 1
a laser rangefinder channel, referred to as the laser channel, which includes a rangefinder 4
Implementation Method 2
The laser beam of the range finder is emitted in a very narrow sector
Implementation Method 3
an observation channel which includes an image sensor 2
Implementation Method 4
such as a magnetic compass
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3a~3c
Figure 4
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for determining corrections for artillery fire toward a stationary target using a stationary observation system which can be oriented and comprises a device (5) for measuring the orientation of the line of sight thereof, a laser rangefinder (4), a positioning means (6), a display screen (1) provided with a fixed crosshair, and a means for displaying and moving another crosshair on the screen, wherein the method comprises a step of orienting the observation system so as to display the central crosshair on the image of the target, and calculating geographical coordinates of the target on the basis of the distance provided by the rangefinder, the orientation provided by the orientation-measuring device, and the position of the optoelectronic system provided by the positioning means. In the event that, after firing, the impact and the target do not coincide, the method comprises the following steps while the orientation of the system is fixed: displaying, on the display screen, a second crosshair on the image of the impact and measuring, on the display screen, the offset between the two crosshairs; displaying a third crosshair on the screen at a position that is symmetrical to that of the second crosshair; orienting the optoelectronic system in order to position the third crosshair on the image of the target, such that the first crosshair coincides with the image of the point of impact; and actuating the rangefinder in order to obtain the distance between the system and the impact.