Apparatus and methodology for tracking projectiles and improving the fidelity of aiming solutions in weapon systems

Abstract

A system for tracking projectiles in flight and correcting the aim of a firearm or cannon. The system allows for the observation and recording of the ballistic path of projectiles which are coated with a fluorescent die or affixed with retro-reflectors. Laser emitted radiation, preferably strobed, forms a cone of light that intersects with ballistic path of the projectile. It is possible to measure the drift and drop of an illuminated projectile at time or distance intervals. Marksman, snipers or spotters may use the system to adjust the placement of subsequent shots. An automated system may use optical detectors to measure the reflected light beam and may be coupled with a regressive algorithm to produce improved fire control solutions. Such automated systems use the measured projectiles to calculate the influence of wind on the projectile and allow for the measurement and registration of other occasion to occasion errors.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system located in the vicinity of a weapon having a barrel for firing a succession of projectiles that follow extenuated curved ballistic trajectories toward a distant target, said system being operative when each projectile is fired from the weapon to record its changing vertical and lateral positions over its ballistic path during its ballistic flight after barrel exit, said system comprising, in combination;
 a radiation source at the location of the weapon for transmitting radiation toward the rear surface of the projectile during its ballistic flight, where said radiation source is a steerable laser beam with a control for causing the radiation emitted from the laser to intersect with the ballistic path of the projectile;   a radiation detector at the location of the weapon for detecting return radiation received from the rear surface of the projectile in response to said radiation emitted by said radiation source and capturing said changing vertical and lateral positions of the projectile during its ballistic flight, said detector producing measurable output signals representing said changing vertical and lateral positions of the projectile; and   an output device, coupled to the radiation detector and receiving said output signals, for recording said changing vertical and lateral positions of the projectile as it exits the barrel transitioning to the apogee, and for calculating an adjustment in the aim of the weapon toward the target, prior to firing a subsequent projectile, the output device further comprising a sensor measuring drop and drift of the projectile, wherein the sensor tracks said extenuated ballistic curve.   
     
     
         2 . The system defined in  claim 1 , wherein said output device comprises:
 a) a signal processor, coupled to the radiation detector, for processing said electronic signals to determine the spatial (X and Y) coordinates of the projectile during flight; and   b) a computer, coupled to the signal processor and to the output device, for calculating a lateral correction and a vertical correction in the aim of the weapon;   wherein said output device facilitates the lateral and vertical correction in the aim of the weapon.   
     
     
         3 . The system defined in  claim 1 , wherein the output device produces a lateral and vertical correction to the aim of the weapon. 
     
     
         4 . The system defined in  claim 1 , wherein the output device allows for adjustment of the aim of the weapon by imparting, post firing, lateral and vertical corrections to the aim. 
     
     
         5 . The system defined in  claim 2 , wherein one of the signal processor and the computer calculates the lateral drift and the vertical drop of the projectile during its ballistic flight. 
     
     
         6 . The system defined in  claim 1 , wherein the radiation emitted from the laser source is diffused and directed to optimize illumination of the projectile's flight path. 
     
     
         7 . The system defined in  claim 1 , wherein the radiation detector is a digital video camera for capturing an image of the ballistic path of the projectile. 
     
     
         8 . The system defined in  claim 1 , wherein the radiation detector includes a filter, allowing the radiation received from the projectile to be selectively received and other radiation excluded. 
     
     
         9 . The system defined in  claim 1 , wherein the frequency of said radiation is in one of the UV, visual and IR spectral bands. 
     
     
         10 . The system defined in  claim 1 , wherein said output device includes a display showing said vertical and lateral positions of the projectile. 
     
     
         11 . The system defined in  claim 9 , wherein said output device includes a aiming device allowing an operator to adjust the aim of the weapon. 
     
     
         12 . The system defined in  claim 1 , wherein the radiation source emits timed radiation signals at specific time intervals. 
     
     
         13 . The system defined in  claim 1 , wherein said radiation source is a source of pulsed radiation directed toward the ballistic path of the projectile and emitted at predetermined times (T 1 , T 2 , T 3  . . . Tn) following firing of the projectile (at time T 0 ) and wherein said radiation detector receives radiation signals retro-reflected from the projectile at times (T 1   z , T 2   z , T 3   z  . . . Tnz) and produces electronic signals representing the vertical and lateral positions of the projectile at said times (T 1   z , T 2   z , T 3   z , . . . Tnz), where “z” is a round trip transmission time of the radiation and T 1   z , T 2   z , T 3   z  . . . Tn are the respective times T 1 , T 2 , T 3 , . . . Tn each delayed by amount z. 
     
     
         14 . The system defined in  claim 1 , wherein said projectile has an elongate circular body with side and rear surfaces and a photo-luminescent material, disposed on the rear surface, that re-emits radiation at when excited by receipt of radiation from the radiation source. 
     
     
         15 . The system defined in  claim 14 , wherein said photo-luminescent material is additionally disposed on a side surface of the projectile body. 
     
     
         16 . The system defined in  claim 14 , wherein said photo-luminescent material is a fluorescent dye. 
     
     
         17 . The system defined in  claim 1 , wherein said projectile has an elongate circular body with side and rear surfaces a retro-reflective element, disposed on the rear surface, that reflects radiation received from a radiation source in the direction of the radiation source. 
     
     
         18 . The system defined in  claim 17 , wherein said retro-reflective element is additionally disposed on a side surface of the projectile body. 
     
     
         19 . The ammunition projectile defined in  claim 17 , wherein said retro-reflective element is affixed to the projectile body. 
     
     
         20 . The ammunition projectile defined in  claim 17 , wherein said retro-reflective element is coated on the projectile body. 
     
     
         21 . The system defined in  claim 17 , wherein said retro-reflective element is positioned and oriented on the projectile body to allow for the rearward travel of reflected light, notwithstanding a yawing motion of the projectile during flight. 
     
     
         22 . The system defined in  claim 17 , wherein said retro-reflective element is selected from the group consisting of corner cube reflectors, cat eyes and phase conjugated mirrors. 
     
     
         23 . A system for correcting the aim of a weapon which is operative to launch a projectile from a barrel on a ballistic path toward a target, the projectile having an elongate housing with a rear end and fluorescent dye material disposed on the rear end that produces radiation at a first frequency when excited by receipt of radiation at a second frequency, said aim correcting system comprising, in combination;
 (1) a radiation source of pulsed light at said first frequency directed toward the ballistic path of the projectile and emitted at predetermined times (T 1 , T 2 , T 3  . . . ) following firing of the projectile (at time T 0 );   (2) a radiation detector at the location of the weapon for receiving light radiation signals re-emitted by the fluorescent dye on the projectile at times (T 1   z , T 2   z , T 3   z  . . . Tnz) and producing electronic signals representing the vertical and lateral positions of the projectile at said times (T 1   z , T 2   z , T 3   z , . . . Tnz), where “z” is a re-emission delay and T 1   z , T 2   z , T 3   z  . . . are the respective times T 1 , T 2 , T 3 , . . . Tn each delayed by amount z;   (3) a signal processor, coupled to the radiation detector, for processing said electronic signals to determine the spatial (X and Y) coordinates of the projectile at said times (T 1   z , T 2   z , T 3   z , . . . Tn) during flight;   (4) a computer, coupled to the processor, for calculating a lateral correction and a vertical correction in the aim of the weapon; and   (5) an output device, coupled to the computer, for facilitating an adjustment in the aim of the weapon toward the target, prior to firing the next projectile;   wherein said aim of the weapon may be adjusted after launch of the projectile to compensate for errors prior to launch of another projectile.   
     
     
         24 . The system defined in  claim 23 , wherein one of the signal processor and the computer calculates the lateral drift and the vertical drop of the projectile at said predetermined times. 
     
     
         25 . The system defined in  claim 23 , wherein said radiation source is laser source, configured to be affixed to the weapon so that a cone of illumination of the laser source intersects with the ballistic path of the projectile and excites the fluorescent dye material. 
     
     
         26 . The system defined in  claim 25 , wherein said laser source transmits light through a narrow band-pass filter so that the cone of illumination in a narrow frequency range intersects the ballistic path of the projectile and excites the fluorescent dye material. 
     
     
         27 . The system defined in  claim 23 , wherein the radiation detector is a digital camera for producing an image of the ballistic path of the projectile. 
     
     
         28 . The system defined in  claim 23 , wherein the radiation detector includes a narrow band-pass filter, allowing re-emitted light from the fluorescent dye material to be selectively received and other light excluded. 
     
     
         29 . The system defined in  claim 26 , wherein said fluorescent dye on the rear surface of the projectile responds preferentially to the laser light illumination in the narrow frequency range. 
     
     
         30 . The system defined in  claim 23 , wherein said fluorescent dye on the rear of the projectile has a protective transparent coating. 
     
     
         31 . The system defined in  claim 23 , wherein said first frequency is in one of the UV, visual and IR spectral bands. 
     
     
         32 . The system defined in  claim 23 , wherein said output device is a display. 
     
     
         33 . The system defined in  claim 32 , wherein said output device includes a aiming device allowing an operator to adjust the aim of the weapon. 
     
     
         34 . The system defined in  claim 23 , wherein the output device allows for adjustment of the aim of the weapon by imparting, post firing, lateral and vertical corrections. 
     
     
         35 . The system defined in  claim 23 , wherein the signal processor determines the time duration of the radiation signals received at said second frequency in response to radiation pulses emitted at said first frequency, and wherein said computer distinguishes the signals received from each projectile from among signals received from other, successively fired projectiles in dependence upon said time duration. 
     
     
         36 . The system defined in  claim 35 , further comprising an electronic control circuit with a clock that modulates the radiation source to emit radiation with specific time durations at specific times, thereby producing a strobe effect, illuminating the projectile's ballistic path along the projectile's ballistic flight to the target.