Gunnery training scoring system with laser pulses

Claim 1

A method of evaluating the results of target practice with a weapon which has a barrel and which is located at a weapon position, firing at a target at a target position which is remote from the weapon position and which may be changing due to target motion, wherein firing from the weapon of a round of a selected type of ammunition is simulated by emitting radiation substantially coaxially with the weapon barrel from a directional radiation emitter such as a laser at the instant when the weapon is fired, and wherein a relationship between target location and the point of impact of said simulated round is calculated at the weapon position on the basis of detected radiation returned to the weapon position from reflector means at the target, said method being characterized by: A. after a delay interval following said instant of simulated firing, which interval substantially corresponds to the time required for a real round of said ammunition to arrive at its point of impact, producing a further radiation emission from said radiation emitter that comprises a train of pulses in which is encoded information concerning selected ammunition type and relationship of said point of impact to target position, the directionality of the emitter ensuring that said information is delivered substantially only to a target at which the weapon is effectively aimed; and B. at the target, combining said information with other information which relates to the vulnerability of the target, to produce an output signifying the hit effectiveness against that target of the simulated round as fired.

Claim 2

A method of evaluating the results of target practice with a weapon which has a barrel and which is located at a weapon position, firing at a target at a target position which is remote from the weapon position and which may be changing due to target motion, wherein firing from the weapon of a round of a selected type of ammunition is simulated by emitting radiation substantially coaxially with the weapon barrel from a directional radiation emitter such as a laser at the instant when the weapon is fired, and wherein a relationship between target location and the point of impact of said simulated round is calculated at the weapon position on the basis of detected radiation returned to the weapon position from reflector means at the target, said method being characterized by: A. after a delay interval following said instant of simulated firing, which interval substantially corresponds to the time required for a real round of said ammunition to arrive at its point of impact, producing a further radiation emission from said radiation emitter that comprises a train of pulses in which is encoded information concerning selected ammunition type and relationship of said point of impact to target position, the directionality of the emitter ensuring that said information is delivered substantially only to a target at which the weapon is effectively aimed; and B. at the target, combining said information with other information which relates to the vulnerability of the target, to produce an output signifying the hit effectiveness against that target of the simulated round as fired.

Claim 5

A method of evaluating the results of practice firing with a weapon which has a barrel and which is located at a weapon position, against a target at a target position which is remote from the weapon poSition and which may be changing due to target motion, wherein firing of the weapon is simulated by emitting radition substantially coaxially with the weapon barrel from a directional radiation emitter such as a laser, wherein the point of impact of a simulated round of a selected type of ammunition is calculated at the weapon position on the basis of barrel axis orientation at an instant when the weapon is fired and detected radiation returned to the weapon position from reflector means at the target position, said method being characterized by: A. producing a first radiation emission from the radiation emitter that comprises at least one pulse and is emitted substantially at said instant when the weapon is fired; B. utilizing the reflected return radiation of said first radiation emission to determine a time interval that substantially corresponds to the time required for a round of said selected type of ammunition to traverse the distance between the weapon and the target; C. after said time interval following the beginning of said first radiation emission, producing a second radiation emission from the radiation emitter that comprises a train of pulses in which is encoded information concerning selected ammunition tupe and relationship of said point of impact to target position, the directionality of the emitter ensuring that said information is delivered substantially only to a target at which the weapon is effectively aimed; and D. at the target, combining said information with other information which relates to the vulnerability of the target and which is stored at the target, to produce an output signifying the hit effectiveness against that target of the simulated round as fired.

Claim 6

A method of evaluating the results of practice firing with a weapon which has a barrel and which is located at a weapon position, against a target at a target position which is remote from the weapon poSition and which may be changing due to target motion, wherein firing of the weapon is simulated by emitting radition substantially coaxially with the weapon barrel from a directional radiation emitter such as a laser, wherein the point of impact of a simulated round of a selected type of ammunition is calculated at the weapon position on the basis of barrel axis orientation at an instant when the weapon is fired and detected radiation returned to the weapon position from reflector means at the target position, said method being characterized by: A. producing a first radiation emission from the radiation emitter that comprises at least one pulse and is emitted substantially at said instant when the weapon is fired; B. utilizing the reflected return radiation of said first radiation emission to determine a time interval that substantially corresponds to the time required for a round of said selected type of ammunition to traverse the distance between the weapon and the target; C. after said time interval following the beginning of said first radiation emission, producing a second radiation emission from the radiation emitter that comprises a train of pulses in which is encoded information concerning selected ammunition tupe and relationship of said point of impact to target position, the directionality of the emitter ensuring that said information is delivered substantially only to a target at which the weapon is effectively aimed; and D. at the target, combining said information with other information which relates to the vulnerability of the target and which is stored at the target, to produce an output signifying the hit effectiveness against that target of the simulated round as fired.