Firearm training systems and methods of using the same

Abstract

Firearm training systems and associated methods are provided. A firearm training system may include a firearm, a scope, a tracking system, and at least one controller. The scope may be mounted to the firearm, and the scope may include a display. The tracking system may be configured to collect information associated with a position and an orientation of the firearm. The at least one controller may be configured to (i) determine, based at least in part upon the information collected by the tracking component, a viewpoint of the firearm, (ii) determine, based at least in part upon the viewpoint of the firearm, image data to be rendered by the display, and (iii) direct output of the image data for receipt by the display.

1 . A firearm training system, comprising:
 a firearm;   a scope mounted to the firearm, the scope comprising a display;   a tracking system configured to collect information associated with a position and an orientation of the firearm; and   at least one controller configured to (i) determine, based at least in part upon the information collected by the tracking system, a viewpoint of the firearm, (ii) determine, based at least in part upon the viewpoint of the firearm, image data to be rendered by the display, and (iii) direct output of the image data for receipt by the display.   
     
     
         2 . The firearm training system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one controller is further configured to adjust, prior to determining the image data to be rendered, the position of the firearm within a virtual environment. 
     
     
         3 . The firearm training system of  claim 2 , wherein the display comprises a first display, and further comprising:
 a second display external to the firearm, the second display configured to render a representation of the virtual environment;   wherein the at least one controller is configured to adjust the position of the firearm to a calibration point associated with the second display.   
     
     
         4 . The firearm training system of  claim 1 , wherein the tracking system comprises a laser tracking system comprising:
 a laser emitter attached to the firearm; and   at least one laser detector configured to detect a laser emitted by the laser emitter.   
     
     
         5 . The firearm training system of  claim 1 , wherein the tracking system is configured to track motion along one, two, or three axes with two to six degrees of freedom. 
     
     
         6 . The firearm training system of  claim 1 , wherein the tracking system comprises one of (i) an electromagnetic tracking system, (ii) an optical tracking system, (iii) an infrared tracking system, (iv) an ultrasonic tracking system, (v) an inertia tracking system, (vi) a mechanical tracking system, or (vii) a global positioning system tracking system. 
     
     
         7 . The firearm training system of  claim 1 , wherein the display is mounted at least partially within a housing of the scope. 
     
     
         8 . The firearm training system of  claim 1 , wherein the display comprises one of (i) a microdisplay, (ii) a liquid crystal display, (iii) a light emitting diode display, or (iv) an organic light emitting diode display. 
     
     
         9 . The firearm training system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a trigger assembly associated with the firearm, the trigger assembly configured to detect a user actuation of a trigger,   wherein the at least one controller is further configured to (i) receive an indication of the trigger actuation, (ii) calculate a trajectory of a shot within a virtual environment, and (iii) direct output of visual information associated with the shot for receipt by the display.   
     
     
         10 . The firearm training system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a camera attached to the firearm and configured to read one or more grid patterns associated with a surface external to the firearm,   wherein the at least one controller is further configured to (i) receive grid pattern information from the camera and (ii) verify the determined viewpoint of the firearm utilizing at least a portion of the received grid pattern information.   
     
     
         11 . A system for modifying a firearm for use in a simulation environment, the system comprising:
 a display configured to be attached to a scope associated with the firearm;   a tracking component configured to be attached to the firearm, the tracking component further configured to collect information associated with a position and an orientation of the firearm; and   at least one controller configured to (i) determine, based at least in part upon the information collected by the tracking component, a viewpoint of the firearm, (ii) determine, based at least in part upon the viewpoint of the firearm, image data to be rendered by the display, and (iii) direct output of the image data for receipt by the display.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one controller is further configured to adjust, prior to determining the image data to be rendered, the position of the firearm within a virtual environment. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1  I, wherein the tracking system comprises a laser tracking system comprising:
 a laser emitter attached to the firearm; and 
 at least one laser detector configured to detect a laser emitted by the laser emitter. 
 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the display comprises one of (i) a microdisplay, (ii) a liquid crystal display, (iii) a light emitting diode display, or (iv) an organic light emitting diode display. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a trigger detection mechanism configured to be attached to the firearm, wherein the trigger detection mechanism detects a user actuation of a trigger associated with the firearm, and   wherein the at least one controller is further configured to (i) receive an indication of the trigger actuation, (ii) calculate a trajectory of a shot within a virtual environment, and (iii) direct output of visual information associated with the shot for receipt by the display.   
     
     
         16 . A firearm scope, comprising:
 a housing configured to be mounted onto a firearm;   a display mounted at least partially within the housing; and   a video receiver in communication with the display and configured to output video to be rendered by the display,   wherein the video receiver receives the video from at least one controller configured to (i) determine a viewpoint of the firearm, (ii) adjust a position of the firearm within a virtual environment, (iii) determine the video to be rendered, and (iv) direct communication of the video to the video receiver.   
     
     
         17 . The firearm scope of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 a laser tracking system comprising a laser emitter and a laser detector configured to detect a laser emitted by the laser emitter,   wherein the at least one controller determines the viewpoint of the firearm based at least in part upon tracking information received from the laser tracking system.   
     
     
         18 . A method for providing a firearm simulation, the method comprising:
 tracking, via a tracking component attached to a firearm, motion of the firearm;   determining, by a controller comprising one or more computers and based upon information collected by the tracking component, a viewpoint of the firearm;   determining, by the controller based at least in part upon the determined viewpoint, image data to be rendered by a display associated with a scope mounted onto the firearm;   outputting, by the controller for receipt by the display, the determined image data; and   presenting the image data by the display.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 adjusting, by the controller and prior to determining the image data to be rendered, a position of the firearm within a virtual environment.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein tracking motion of the firearm comprises tracking motion utilizing a laser tracking component.