Percussive method for capturing data from simulated indirect fire and direct fire munitions for battle effects in live and/or mixed reality training simulations

Abstract

The present invention provides for systems, devices and methods for weapons modification to allow for use of real weapons in a simulated and augmented environment without exposing participants in the simulated and augmented training to risks of live ammunition. Embodiments of the invention provide an inexpensive and easily attachable/detachable appended system for the weapon which modifies or applies to a weapon in a simple fashion, and is capable of sensing necessary data for use in a simulated or synthetic training experience, and providing audio or tactile feedback to the firer, without rendering the weapon incapable of live fire use by simple detachment of hardware. Embodiments of the invention further provide an inexpensive and easily attachable/detachable weapon modification system that can provide all beneficial data capture, recording and transmission from a live fire weapon to either a simulated training system for processing, or other field use recording system.

1 . A weapon modification system, the system comprising:
 at least one electronics package capable of being removeably mounted to a weapon, said electronics package having at least one sensor and at least one processor for processing one or more signal received from said one or more sensor;   wherein said processor confirms a shot event upon receipt of signal by at least one processor from said at least one sensor.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said at least one sensor is at least one microphone, at least one accelerometer, at least one gyroscope, at least one magnetometer, at least one near field communication (NFC) sensor, at least one radio frequency identification (RFID) sensor, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said processor logs three (3) degrees of freedom (DOF) orientation information of the weapon at the time of, or slightly before, the confirmation of the fire event. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said electronics package is capable of detecting when a round has been loaded. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said electronics package is capable of determining the type of round loaded. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said electronics package further comprises one or more wireless communication devices for communicating information from the electronics package to a remote computing device. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6  wherein said wireless communication device is via Bluetooth device, Zigbee, cellular communication device, low powered wireless electronic network (Wi-Fi), infrared device, radio transmitting device, microwave communication device. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 6  wherein said wireless communication device is capable of receiving data from said remote computing device. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising one or more simulation rounds. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9  wherein said simulation round has a realistic shape, size, and weight to a real weapons round. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9  further comprising communication between said at least one electronics package and said at least one simulated round. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 9  wherein said processor confirms a shot event upon receipt of signal by at least one processor from said at least one sensor while in the communicated presence of said at least one simulated round. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 9  wherein said at least one simulated round is a percussive simulated round, said percussive simulated round further comprising:
 one or more blanks or primers to ignite an audible percussive shot event for participants to hear; and 
 one or more baffling arrangements to limit sound, and prevent spark or heat emission from the barrel. 
 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13  wherein said percussive simulation round is a single fire/disposable/reusable, or multiple fire and dry fire reusable version. 
     
     
         15 . A method for modifying a weapon without alteration of the weapon for use of said weapon in a simulation environment, the method comprising:
 securing at least one electronics package to said weapon, said electronics package having at least one sensor and at least one processor for processing one or more signal received from said one or more sensor; and   using said weapon in a live and/or simulated environment, or a mixed live and simulated environment;   wherein said processor confirms a shot event upon receipt of signal by at least one processor from said at least one sensor.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein said at least one sensor is at least one microphone, at least one accelerometer, at least one gyroscope, at least one magnetometer, at least one near field communication (NFC) sensor, at least one radio frequency identification (RFID) sensor, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15  wherein said processor logs three (3) degrees of freedom (DOF) orientation information of the weapon at the time of, or slightly before, the confirmation of the fire event. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising using one or more simulation rounds. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein said at least one simulated round is a percussive simulated round, said percussive simulated round further comprising:
 one or more blanks or primers to ignite an audible percussive shot event for participants to hear; and 
 one or more baffling arrangements to limit sound, and prevent spark or heat emission from the barrel. 
 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising communication between said at least one electronics package and said at least one simulated round.