Celestial weapons orientation measuring system

US8597025B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Trex Enterprises Corporation · US

Inventors

• Mikhail Belenkii · San Diego, US
• Donald Bruns · San Diego, US
• Timothy Brinkley · San Diego, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 28, 2009
• Grant date: Dec 3, 2013
• Expiry date: Sep 28, 2029

Classification

• Technology area (CPC F): Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
• CPC primary: F41G3/26
• WIPO field: Control
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A celestial weapons orientation measuring system. The system includes a miniature celestial direction detection device. The device includes an inclinometer, a camera for imaging at least one celestial object and a processor programmed with a celestial catalog providing known positions at specific times of at least one celestial object and algorithms for automatically calculating target direction information based on the inclination of the system as measured by the inclinometer and the known positions of the celestial object as provided by the celestial catalog and as imaged by the camera. Similar to the training technique discussed in the background section, the pretend enemy wears a GPS detector and transmitter, and a computer system is preferably provided which determines when a trigger-pull results in a “casualty”. Preferred embodiments also include an inertial navigation sensor including a magnetic compass and a memory-based optical navigation system that permits continued operation on cloudy days and even in certain in-door environments.