Weapon Elevation Control via Decoupled Camera and Cradle
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing remote-controlled firearm devices face accuracy issues due to ballistic compensation causing the target to move out of the screen at high firing angles, and are complex, heavy, and costly with high maintenance costs.
Innovation Solution
A device with an azimuth-orientable turret, a cradle suspended in elevation, an aiming camera connected to a screen, a single elevation motor for both the camera and cradle, and a ballistic computer to calculate super-elevation, allowing decoupled elevation positioning to maintain target visibility and simplify construction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If ballistic compensation is applied to ensure shooting accuracy at high firing angles, then shooting accuracy is improved, but the target moves out of the screen and the operator loses sight of the target
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the elevation control into two independent parts: the camera elevation (controlled by first motor) and the cradle/weapon elevation (controlled by second motor). This allows the camera to maintain a fixed view of the target while the weapon receives ballistic compensation for accurate firing at high angles.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system acts as an intermediary that receives target position information and calculates the appropriate super-elevation angle, then applies this compensation to the weapon elevation while keeping the camera elevation unchanged, thus maintaining both target visibility and shooting accuracy.
2Loss of information
If two independent motors are used to control camera orientation and cradle elevation separately, then target visibility is maintained during ballistic compensation, but the device becomes complex, heavy, and expensive with high maintenance costs
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges the camera and cradle onto a common rotating platform that shares a single elevation axis. This allows both components to be elevated together by a single motor, simplifying the mechanical structure while maintaining the ability to apply differential super-elevation through software control of the elevation angle.
Solution Approach 2:
The single elevation motor and common platform serve multiple functions: they control both the camera orientation for target acquisition and the weapon elevation for firing, eliminating the need for separate motor systems while maintaining both targeting and ballistic compensation capabilities.
3Device complexity
If the camera is integral with the cradle and controlled by a single motor, then the device is simpler to construct, but ballistic compensation causes the target to move out of the screen at high firing angles
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the relationship between camera and weapon positioning. While mechanically integrated on the same platform, the control system can independently set the camera's line of sight angle and the weapon's firing angle, allowing real-time adaptation to maintain both target visibility and accurate ballistic compensation.
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
Ensures accurate shooting while reducing complexity and maintenance costs by decoupling camera and cradle elevation, maintaining target visibility, and allowing for necessary super-elevation calculations.
Implementation Method 1
the cradle being driven by the elevation motor through a super-elevation cylinder placed between the cradle and the engine, the super-elevation of the cradle being controlled by the elongation of said cylinder calculated by the ballistic computer
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The device has an aiming camera (15) provided on a screen (20). An elevation motor (13) controls the elevation of a cradle (7) and the camera. A ballistic calculator (26) calculates and controls a super-elevation of the cradle based on information of sensors and distance of a target (21). The camera is driven by the motor. The cradle is inclined in elevation by the motor via a super-elevation hoist (18) which is placed between the cradle and the motor. The super-elevation of the cradle is controlled by an extension of the hoist, where the extension is calculated by the calculator.