Weapon Stabilization via Image Sensor Motion Centroid Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current weapons face challenges in maintaining stability and accurate trigger control, leading to inaccuracies in aiming and firing, especially at long ranges, due to factors like flinching and jerking, which result in significant deviations from the intended target.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a synthetic stabilization system that tracks the motion of the weapon using image sensors and motion detectors, processing images to determine a motion-estimation history and generating a fire control signal when the weapon is within a defined offset threshold from the centroid of its aiming pattern, allowing for more precise and unpredictable firing times.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a marksman attempts to hold the weapon perfectly still and accurately sighted on a target, then aiming accuracy is improved, but it becomes virtually impossible to maintain due to natural human movement and physiological factors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical system of human muscle control with an optical-electronic system. Image sensors capture weapon position, processors analyze the data to determine when the weapon is within the offset threshold, and electronically assert fire control signals. This substitution eliminates the need for the marksman to manually maintain perfect stability while preserving high aiming accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors weapon position through image sensors and provides feedback by analyzing motion patterns. The processor compares real-time position data against the established offset threshold and centroid, enabling dynamic adjustment and determination of optimal firing moments based on actual weapon stability rather than relying on the marksman's ability to maintain static positioning.
2Stability of the object's composition
If complex stabilization mechanisms with sensors, servomechanisms, and feedback are implemented to compensate for motion, then weapon stability is improved, but device complexity increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential function needed for stabilization - detecting when the weapon is within an acceptable offset threshold from the centroid - rather than implementing a complete active stabilization system with servomechanisms. This selective extraction maintains weapon stability for firing purposes while avoiding the complexity of full motion compensation systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses image sensors to create a visual copy of the weapon's position and aims pattern, then processes this copied information to determine stability. This optical copying approach provides the necessary stability data without requiring direct mechanical intervention or complex sensor arrays that would physically interact with the weapon system.
3Productivity
If the marksman pulls the trigger or release mechanism, then the weapon fires, but small movements caused by the trigger pull translate into large movements away from the intended target
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary analysis of the weapon's motion pattern and establishes the offset threshold and centroid before the firing decision is made. By pre-determining the acceptable stability parameters and monitoring the weapon's natural motion, the system can identify the optimal moment to fire that minimizes the impact of trigger-induced movements, ensuring the weapon is at or near the centroid when the fire control signal is asserted.
Data Source
AI summary
In methods and apparatuses, a weapon includes a trigger module for sensing trigger input from a shooter and generating a trigger signal, and a firing module for controlling firing of a projectile responsive to a fire control signal. The weapon also includes an image sensor configured for mounting on the weapon and sensing a series of images over a time period of interest while the trigger signal is in a motion-estimation state. A controller is configured for determining when to fire the weapon by receiving the images from the image sensor and generating a motion-estimation history over the time period of interest responsive to changes in the images. The controller is also configured for determining a centroid of the motion-estimation history and asserting the fire control signal when the trigger signal is in a fire-enable state and a current image is within an offset threshold from the centroid.