Shooting Range Target Carrier Control With Self-Calibration Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Moving target systems in shooting ranges often malfunction due to calibration issues, mechanical wear, and damage, leading to inconsistent target movement speeds and positions, which affects training accuracy and synchronization, and requires frequent maintenance, especially when multiple targets are used simultaneously.
Innovation Solution
A control system equipped with sensors that monitor and adjust the position and velocity of target carriers, ensuring accurate and synchronized movement across the range, using secondary sensors to correct primary sensor errors and adjust motor speeds to maintain consistent target behavior, and a network to coordinate and report faults for maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If motorized target carriers are used to enable repeated training cycles, then productivity is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to increasing malfunctions over time
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates sensors that continuously monitor the actual position of target carriers and provide feedback to the control system. This feedback loop enables real-time detection of calibration drift and automatic correction, allowing the system to maintain high reliability over many training cycles. The control system adjusts motor commands based on sensor feedback to compensate for wear and mechanical variations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-calibration using sensors to detect the actual position of target carriers and automatically adjusts its operation to compensate for calibration errors. This self-service capability eliminates the need for frequent manual intervention and allows the system to maintain accuracy throughout its operational life, supporting extended productivity between maintenance visits.
2Ease of operation
If simple button control is used for target positioning, then ease of operation is improved, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to inability to make precise adjustments
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts target carrier position based on sensor feedback and control algorithms. Rather than relying solely on static button positions, the control system continuously monitors actual position and makes real-time adjustments to achieve precise positioning. This dynamic control enables accurate target placement while maintaining simple button interface operation.
3Speed
If rapid starting and stopping is used for fine position adjustments, then speed of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to swaying and jerking that loosens attachments
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses periodic, controlled adjustments rather than continuous rapid starting and stopping. The control system applies small, incremental position corrections at appropriate intervals during target movement, avoiding the mechanical shocks that cause attachments to loosen. This periodic adjustment strategy maintains positioning accuracy while preserving attachment security.
4Measurement precision
If multiple sensors are used to monitor target carrier position, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses multi-functional sensors that serve multiple purposes: monitoring target carrier position, detecting calibration status, and providing feedback for control adjustments. By designing sensors that perform multiple functions, the system achieves high measurement precision without proportionally increasing complexity. The same sensor infrastructure supports various monitoring and control functions.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to systems and methods for accurately and safely directing the movement of shooting range targets, and more specifically, to provide self-calibration and synchronicity to programmable target carriers and automatically resetting targets.