Weapon Attitude Determination Using Integrated Inertial Platform
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic systems for determining the attitude of portable weapons, such as grenade launchers, face challenges in providing accurate and real-time Pitch, Roll, and Heading angles while maintaining a lightweight and compact design, and correcting for errors introduced by inertial measuring devices.
Innovation Solution
An electronic apparatus utilizing an inertial electronic platform with accelerometers and gyroscopes to determine acceleration and angular speed components, filtering these through a low-pass filter to calculate static attitude angles, and integrating angular speed components over time to correct actual attitude angles, thereby reducing errors and providing accurate real-time attitude information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional electronic attitude determination systems are used, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines accelerometers and gyroscopes into a unified inertial measurement system, merging the functions of separate attitude determination devices into a single integrated apparatus that shares common processing electronics and memory resources
Solution Approach 2:
The processing unit performs multiple functions including filtering acceleration signals, integrating angular velocity data, correcting drift errors, and calculating attitude angles, making a single component responsible for various signal processing tasks that would traditionally require separate dedicated circuits
2Measurement precision
If advanced inertial measurement systems are used, then measurement precision is improved, but weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges acceleration sensing and angular velocity sensing into a single integrated platform, reducing overall weight by eliminating redundant structural components and housing that would be required for separate accelerometer and gyroscope assemblies
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs digital signal processing techniques that change the parameter domain from analog sensor outputs to digital processed signals, allowing for lighter-weight sensor elements while maintaining precision through computational methods rather than heavy analog filtering circuits
3Measurement precision
If advanced inertial measurement systems are used, then measurement precision is improved, but volume increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a nested architecture where the inertial measurement units are integrated within the weapon's existing structural framework, and the processing electronics are nested within shared housing that also protects other weapon systems components
Solution Approach 2:
The system merges the volume requirements for acceleration measurement and angular velocity measurement into a single compact inertial platform, reducing the total volume by eliminating the need for separate sensor housings and mounting structures
4Productivity
If inertial measurement devices are used, then attitude determination is achieved, but errors due to drift are introduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback correction where the processed attitude information is continuously compared with raw sensor data, and correction factors are generated and applied back to the integration process to compensate for drift accumulation in real-time
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary filtering of acceleration signals through low-pass filters before integration, and pre-calculates correction factors based on initial weapon orientation, reducing the accumulation of integration errors before they significantly affect attitude determination accuracy
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
The system achieves rapid and accurate determination of weapon attitude with reduced weight and volume, effectively correcting for errors in inertial measurements to provide precise Pitch, Roll, and Heading angles, enhancing the operator's ability to hit targets.
Implementation Method 1
filtering these through a low-pass filter to calculate static attitude angles
Implementation Method 2
an inertial electronic platform with accelerometers and gyroscopes to determine acceleration and angular speed components
Implementation Method 3
an inertial electronic platform with accelerometers and gyroscopes to determine acceleration and angular speed components
Implementation Method 4
integrating angular speed components over time to correct actual attitude angles
Data Source
AI summary
An embodiment of an apparatus for determining the attitude angles of a weapon includes a number of accelerometers for measuring the components of the acceleration of the weapon along the axes of a first reference system integral with weapon; a number of gyroscopes configured in such a way to measure the components of the angular speed of the weapon along the axes of the reference body; and a processing unit configured to compute a number of actual attitude angles of the weapon under dynamic conditions based on the components of the angular speed; determine a number of static attitude angles of the weapon under static conditions of the weapon based on the components of the acceleration; and correct the components of angular speed according to static attitude angles and to the actual attitude angles.