Touchscreen Target Marking for Automatic Weapon Aiming
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Solution Overview
Problem
Manual aiming and firing of machine weapons on vehicles require high operator expertise and can be inaccurate, especially when targeting multiple or distant individuals, and initial setup can be challenging due to the need for precise positioning.
Innovation Solution
A machine weapon system with a control computer and touchscreen input device that allows operators to mark targets on a displayed environmental image, enabling automatic aiming and firing based on marked positions, using image data and distance information for precise alignment and control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual aiming is used by the operator, then the weapon can be controlled with human judgment, but the accuracy and consistency of hits are reduced due to operator experience variations and positioning difficulties
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical aiming system with an automated computer-controlled system. The control computer calculates optimal target positions and automatically controls the weapon's elevation and azimuth, substituting human manual positioning with automated computational control to eliminate operator skill variations and improve hit accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables the weapon to automatically determine and adjust its own aiming position based on target coordinates and dispersion patterns. The control computer autonomously calculates the optimal aim point within the marked area considering weapon dispersion characteristics, allowing the system to self-correct without continuous operator intervention.
2Productivity
If the operator manually positions the weapon to aim at a target, then flexibility in targeting is maintained, but the time required for accurate positioning increases especially for distant or indistinct targets
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary calculations of optimal target positions and aim points before the actual firing sequence. The control computer pre-calculates multiple potential target positions within the marked area and determines the optimal aim point based on weapon dispersion patterns, so that when firing is initiated, the weapon is already positioned optimally without requiring time-consuming manual adjustment.
3Measurement precision
If automatic aiming is implemented, then reaction time and accuracy are improved, but the complexity of the control system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control computer serves multiple functions: it processes target acquisition data, calculates optimal aim points considering weapon dispersion, controls weapon elevation and azimuth positioning, and manages the firing sequence. By consolidating these multiple functions into a single control computer, the system achieves high targeting accuracy while managing complexity through functional integration rather than proliferation of separate components.
4Measurement precision
If the operator must precisely identify and position the weapon on individual targets, then target specificity is achieved, but the difficulty increases when targets are at greater distances or not clearly identifiable
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of requiring precise two-dimensional positioning on a single identified target, the system transitions to a three-dimensional approach by marking a volumetric area in space. The operator defines a spatial region containing potential targets, and the control computer calculates optimal aim points within this volume, transforming the problem from precise point identification to volumetric target zone definition, which is easier to accomplish even with distant or indistinct targets.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
Machine gun with associated control computer for installation on a vehicle, with an input device (7) communicating with the control computer (5) comprising a touchscreen (8) on which images of at least one image recording device (6) capturing the environment can be displayed, wherein at least one target or at least one environmental area (10) can be marked in the image via the touchscreen (8), wherein the automatic aiming of the weapon (2) at the target position (Z1, ..., Z7) or a target position (Z1, ... , Z7) in the environmental area (10) and the automatic firing of at least one shot can be controlled by the control computer (5) depending on the marking (11).