EP3350534B1 - Remotely controllable weapon station and method for operating a controllable weapon station - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a remotely controllable weapon station with a weapon, which is mounted in a mount so that it can be directed in azimuth and elevation, for fighting a target object. The present invention also relates to a military vehicle with such a remotely controllable weapon station and a method for operating a remotely controllable weapon station.

Military vehicles, such as ships or land vehicles, are often equipped with a weapon which is arranged on the outer shell of the vehicle and which is mounted in a mount such that it can be directed in azimuth and elevation. Such mounts are often designed as remote-controlled weapon stations that can be actuated from the ballistically protected interior of the vehicle.

Such remotely controllable weapon stations are for example from the DE 10 2011 050 277 A1 known. Individual shots or volleys can be fired from the remote-controlled weapon station.

Furthermore, from the KR 2012 006 44 29 a remotely controllable weapon station is known which comprises a control device with a display device and a memory device. The display device shows a stored view of a target device and the storage device stores the information about the filing between the line of fire (LOF) and the line of sight (LOS).

In the DE 10 2007 046 545 A1 A method and a device are disclosed for controlling and varying the firing sequence of a machine gun, with a given firing sequence (cadence) which is in the range of a resonance cadence, the firing sequence is changed from shot to shot in such a way that the time interval between adjacent firings alternately once is less and one time greater than the constant time interval between the individual shot releases calculated for the specified cadence, so that the total desired cadence is achieved, but the resonance cadence is avoided.

In the case of machine weapons and remotely controllable weapon stations, it is generally known to change the sequence of fire (cadence fire, single shots, etc.) by means of an appropriate device. The focus here is on limiting the vibrations and / or oscillations induced by the firing sequence of the weapon. In particular, gas-powered weapons tend to build up considerable vibrations when operated at maximum rate, which can negatively affect the precision of the weapon. This threatens to exceed the specified hit field tolerances.

The disadvantage of the conventional solutions is that the variation of the cadence refers exclusively to parameters internal to the weapon, such as the resonance behavior or the vibration behavior of the weapon, but not to parameters external to the weapon, such as the distance to the target or the size of the target.

The document WO01 / 36893 discloses a variation in cadence in a handheld weapon based on the range and size of the target.

The document U.S. 5,247,867 A describes a speed adjustment system for an automatic defense cannon with controllable muzzle velocity. The speed adjustment system comprises a control device for determining the projectile ejection speed which is necessary in order to achieve an effective target impact speed which is less than a predetermined projectile impact speed. The determined projectile ejection speed is made available to the automatic weapon gun system.

Against this background, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved remotely controllable weapon station.

The invention is defined by the independent claims.

According to a first aspect, a remotely controllable weapon station with a weapon for fighting a target object is proposed, which is mounted in a mount such that it can be directed in azimuth and elevation. The remotely controllable weapon station comprises a first unit for determining a target distance of the target object to the weapon, a second unit for determining a physical target extent of the target object and a third unit for setting a maximum cadence of the weapon depending on the determined target distance and on the determined physical target extent .

The remotely controllable weapon station is arranged in particular on a military vehicle. The military vehicle is, for example, a warship. For example, the command center of the warship includes a fire control computer by means of which the weapon station can be remotely controlled.

The target object is, for example, an enemy military vehicle, such as an enemy warship. The weapon is, for example, a naval gun. The cadence can also be referred to as the rate of fire, rate of fire, frequency of fire, rate of fire or rate of fire and relates to the rate of fire of the weapon or gun. The cadence is given in shots per unit of time, preferably in shots per minute.

In the proposed remotely controllable weapon station, a variation or setting of the cadence is advantageously made possible automatically with regard to parameters external to the weapon, the physical target extent and the target range. This makes it possible to adjust the cadence of the weapon adaptively to the target object.

In a remote-controlled weapon station, there can be a deviation between the line of fire (LOF) and the line of sight (LOS). This deviation can also be referred to as the coincidence window and is ideally small. When fighting a real target object, the result is that the coincidence window for a large and close target with regard to effective combat may be larger than, for example, for a small target that is far away.

The setting or variation of the cadence of the remotely controllable weapon station according to the invention now makes it possible to vary the coincidence window as a function of the target distance and the target size (or target size). As long as a user or operator of the remote-controlled weapon station the The triggering of a shot is instructed, for example, by pressing the fire button, the weapon fires shots, the cadence being set and thus varying as a function of the target distance and target extension.

The automated variation of the cadence according to the invention is advantageous in particular when fighting fast sea targets or air targets that are moving towards the remotely controllable weapon station with at least a part of their speed vector. If the distance is initially great, a small coincidence window can be set for effective combat against the target object, so that only a low rate of cadence is provided for the weapon. While the distance to the target object is subsequently reduced, the coincidence window is enlarged so that an increasing cadence is permissible for effective combat. In this way, the optimal cadence of the weapon of the remote-controlled weapon station is automatically selected even when the target distance varies greatly, thus maximizing the combat efficiency and at the same time saving resources. The cadence can thus be determined by the target distance and / or the target extension in such a way that the cadence can increase when the target distance is reduced.

The respective unit, for example the first unit, can be implemented in terms of hardware and / or also in terms of software. In the case of a hardware implementation, the respective unit can be designed as a device or as part of a device, for example as a computer or as a microprocessor or as a fire control computer. In a software implementation, the respective unit can be designed as a computer program product, as a function, as a routine, as part of a program code or as an executable object.

According to one embodiment, the remotely controllable weapon station comprises a display system for the optical representation of a target area of the weapon and an image of the target object within the target area.

The display system comprises in particular a screen, for example a touchscreen, and a user interface with input means for entering commands for the display system. The display system is connected in particular to a number of cameras which record the surroundings of the weapon.

According to a further embodiment, the second unit is set up to determine a size of a target shown on the display system and assigned to the target object, and the physical target extent of the target object as a function of the determined size of the particular target on the display system and the to determine a specific target distance of the target object.

There are various options for determining the target that is assigned to the physical target object, as shown below.

According to a further embodiment, the second unit is set up to determine the size of the target shown and determined on the display system by counting the pixels covered by the target on the display system.

In this case, the pixel elements covered by the target in the display system or the framed pixel area of the target are recorded as target size or target extent. Taking into account the measured target distance, the recorded pixel area can then be converted into square meters of a real physical target area. With these parameter values, target distance and target extension (or target size), the third unit, which is integrated in particular in the fire control software, determines the necessary target accuracy by calculating the permissible coincidence value for the next shot to be released. Provided the operator then pressed the fire button is, as long as the fire button is pressed, the optimal cadence is calculated again and again for each pending shot and the shot is only released when all conditions are met. This process is repeated as long as the operator keeps the fire button pressed or the magazine of the weapon is empty.

According to a further embodiment, the remotely controllable weapon station comprises a fourth unit which is set up to determine the target shown on the display system, which is assigned to the target object, as a function of a user input by the user to identify the target on the display system.

In this embodiment, the user or operator determines the target on the display system, for example by means of a crosshair, which the user can move on the screen of the display system by means of a user interface.

According to a further embodiment, the remotely controllable weapon station comprises a fourth unit which is set up to automatically determine the target shown on the display system, which is assigned to the target object, by means of pattern recognition.

The pattern recognition uses in particular a database in which possible target objects, for example patterns of enemy warships, are stored. The patterns stored in the database represent the reference for the automatic pattern recognition.

According to a further embodiment, the remotely controllable weapon station comprises a fourth unit which is set up to output to the user a target proposal for the target calculated by means of pattern recognition and the target, which is assigned to the target object, as a function of user input of the user to confirm the proposed target.

This embodiment is a semi-automatic variant. A suggested goal for the goal is automatically proposed to the user. In the event that the user confirms this suggested goal, the suggested goal becomes the goal. In the event that the user does not confirm the proposed target, a new target is calculated and suggested to the user.

According to a further embodiment, the fourth unit is set up to determine sensitive parts of the target object as the target. Examples of a sensitive part of a warship as an exemplary target object are the command center, the drive of the warship and its weapon systems.

According to a further embodiment, the remotely controllable weapon station comprises a fourth unit which is set up to define a coincidence window for the weapon as a function of the determined target distance and the determined physical target extent.

According to a further embodiment, the first unit is set up to determine the target distance of the target object from the weapon in real time. The third unit is then set up to set the maximum cadence of the weapon as a function of the determined target distance and the determined physical target extension in real time.

The determination of the target range in real time and the determination of the maximum cadence of the weapon in real time enable optimization of the use of the weapon, in particular with regard to accuracy and efficiency.

According to a further embodiment, the first unit comprises a laser range finder.

According to a second aspect, a military vehicle is proposed which has a number N of remotely controllable weapon stations according to the first aspect, with N 1.

The military vehicle is, for example, a warship. Alternatively, the military vehicle can also be a land vehicle, such as a tank, in particular a remotely controllable tank.

• Bestimmen einer Zielentfernung des Zielobjekts zu der Waffe,
• Bestimmen einer physikalischen Zielausdehnung des Zielobjekts, und
• Einstellen einer maximalen Kadenz der Waffe in Abhängigkeit von der bestimmten Zielentfernung und von der bestimmten physikalischen Zielausdehnung.

According to a third aspect, a method for operating a remotely controllable weapon station with a weapon, which is mounted in a mount so that it can be directed in azimuth and elevation, is proposed for combating a target object. The procedure consists of the following steps:

• Determining a target distance of the target object to the weapon,
• Determining a physical target extent of the target object, and
• Setting a maximum cadence of the weapon as a function of the specific target distance and the specific physical target extension.

The embodiments and features described for the proposed weapon station apply accordingly to the proposed method.

According to a fourth aspect, a computer program product is proposed which causes the method as explained above according to the third aspect to be carried out on a program-controlled device.

A computer program product, such as a computer program means, for example, can be used as a storage medium such as a memory card, USB stick, CD-ROM, DVD, or in the form of a downloadable file from a server in a Network deployed or delivered. This can be done, for example, in a wireless communication network by transmitting a corresponding file with the computer program product or the computer program means.

According to a fifth aspect, a remotely controllable weapon station with a weapon for fighting a target object is proposed, the weapon being mounted in a mount in azimuth and elevation so that it can be directed. The remotely controllable weapon station comprises a first means, a second means and a third means. The first means is set up for determining a target range of the target object from the weapon. The second means is set up to determine a physical target extent of the target object. The third means is set up to define a coincidence window for the weapon as a function of the determined target range and of the determined physical target extent.

According to a sixth aspect, a remotely controllable weapon station with a weapon, which is mounted in a mount in azimuth and elevation, can be directed, is proposed for fighting a target, the remotely controllable weapon station comprising a device for varying the cadence of the weapon, the cadence being determined by the target distance and / or the target extent can be determined in such a way that the cadence can increase when the target distance is reduced.

Further possible implementations of the invention also include combinations, not explicitly mentioned, of features or embodiments described above or below with regard to the exemplary embodiments. The person skilled in the art will also add individual aspects as improvements or additions to the respective basic form of the invention.

Further possible implementations of the invention also include combinations, not explicitly mentioned, of above or below with regard to the exemplary embodiments features or embodiments described. The person skilled in the art will also add individual aspects as improvements or additions to the respective basic form of the invention.

Fig. 1

zeigt ein schematisches Blockschaltbild eines ersten Ausführungsbeispiels einer fernbedienbaren Waffenstation;

Fig. 2

zeigt ein schematisches Blockschaltbild eines zweiten Ausführungsbeispiels einer fernbedienbaren Waffenstation;

Fig. 3

zeigt ein schematisches Blockschaltbild eines dritten Ausführungsbeispiels einer fernbedienbaren Waffenstation; und

Fig. 4

zeigt ein schematisches Ablaufdiagramm eines Ausführungsbeispiels eines Verfahrens zum Betreiben einer fernbedienbaren Waffenstation.

In addition, the invention is explained in more detail on the basis of preferred exemplary embodiments with reference to the attached figures.

Fig. 1

shows a schematic block diagram of a first exemplary embodiment of a remotely controllable weapon station;

Fig. 2

shows a schematic block diagram of a second embodiment of a remotely controllable weapon station;

Fig. 3

shows a schematic block diagram of a third embodiment of a remotely controllable weapon station; and

Fig. 4

shows a schematic flow diagram of an embodiment of a method for operating a remotely controllable weapon station.

In the figures, elements that are the same or have the same function have been provided with the same reference symbols, unless otherwise stated.

In Fig. 1 a schematic block diagram of a first embodiment of a remotely controllable weapon station 1 is shown. The remotely controllable weapon station 1 comprises a weapon 2 for combating a target object, which is mounted in a mount 3 so that it can be directed in azimuth and elevation. The remotely controllable weapon station 1 is installed in particular on a military vehicle. The military vehicle can comprise a plurality of remotely controllable weapon stations 1. The military vehicle is, for example, a warship.

The remote-controlled weapon station 1 of the Fig. 1 comprises a first unit 4, a second unit 5, a third unit 6 and a fire control computer 7. In particular, the first unit 4, the second unit 5 and the third unit 6 are part of the fire control computer 7.

The first unit 4 is set up to determine a target distance ZE of the target object to the weapon 2. For this purpose, the first unit 4 comprises in particular a laser range finder.

The second unit 5 is set up to determine a physical target extent ZA of the target object.

The third unit 6 is set up to determine a maximum cadence of the weapon 2 as a function of the determined target distance ZE and of the determined physical target extension ZA.

The first unit 4 is set up in particular to determine the target distance ZE of the target object to the weapon 2 in real time, the third unit 6 then also being set up to determine the maximum cadence of the weapon 2 as a function of the determined target distance ZE and from the specific physical target extent ZA to be set in real time.

Fig. 2 shows a schematic block diagram of a second embodiment of a remotely controllable weapon station 1. The second embodiment of the weapon station 1 according to FIG Fig. 2 includes all features of the first exemplary embodiment according to Fig. 1 .

The remote-controlled weapon station 1 of the Fig. 2 comprises a first unit 4, a second unit 5, a third unit 6, a fire control computer 7, a communication link 8 between the weapon 2 and the fire control computer 7 Display system 9 and a communication link 10 between the fire control computer 7 and the display system 9.

The display system 9 shows a target Z which is assigned to a physical target object, for example an enemy ship. In Fig. 2 ZE denotes the target distance of the target Z and thus the target object of the weapon 2. G denotes the size of the target Z shown and determined on the display system 9, which is assigned to the target object. The assignment of the target Z to the target object and thus the determination of the target Z is carried out either by the operator of the display system 9, automatically by the display system 9 and the fire control computer 7 or semi-automatically, as detailed below.

The second unit 5 is set up in particular to determine a size G of the specific target Z shown on the display system 9, which is assigned to the target object, and the physical target extent ZA of the target object as a function of the determined size G of the specific target Z on the display system 9 and the determined target distance ZE of the target object. For example, the second unit determines the size G of the target Z shown and determined on the display system 9 by counting the image points covered by the target Z on the display system 9.

In Fig. 3 a schematic block diagram of a third embodiment of a remotely controllable weapon station 1 is shown. The third embodiment of the remotely controllable weapon station 1 according to Fig. 3 includes all features of the second exemplary embodiment according to Fig. 2 . In addition, the fire control computer 7 comprises Fig. 3 a fourth unit 11, a user interface 12 and a fifth unit 13.

The fourth unit 11 is set up in particular to determine the target Z shown on the display system 9 as a function of a user input by the user for identifying the target Z on the display system 9. For this purpose, the user can in particular use a crosshair shown on the display system 9.

Alternatively, the fourth unit 11 can be set up to automatically determine the target Z shown on the display system 9 by means of pattern recognition.

According to a further alternative, the fourth unit 11 can be set up to output a target proposal for the target Z calculated by means of pattern recognition and to determine the target Z as a function of a user input by the user for actuating the output target proposal. For the user input, the fire control computer 7 includes the user interface 12, which in particular includes at least one input unit, such as a touchscreen, a joystick and / or switching elements (virtual and / or mechanical).

For example, the fourth unit 11 is set up to determine sensitive parts of the target object as the target Z. In this example, the target Z does not correspond to the entire target object, but only to one sensitive part or to several sensitive parts of the target object. Examples of a sensitive part of a warship as an exemplary target object are the command center, the drive of the warship and its weapon systems.

The fifth unit 13 is set up to define a coincidence window for the weapon 2 as a function of the determined target distance ZE and of the determined physical target extent ZA.

• In Schritt 401 wird eine Zielentfernung ZE des Zielobjekts zu der Waffe 2 automatisch bestimmt.
• In Schritt 402 wird eine physikalische Zielausdehnung ZA des Zielobjekts bestimmt.
• In Schritt 403 wird eine maximale Kadenz der Waffe 2 in Abhängigkeit von der bestimmten Zielentfernung ZE und von der bestimmten physikalischen Zielausdehnung ZA eingestellt.

Fig. 4 shows a schematic flow diagram of an embodiment of a method for operating a remotely controllable weapon station 1 with a weapon 2 for fighting a target object, which is mounted in a mount 3 in azimuth and elevation so that it can be directed. The procedure of Fig. 4 comprises the following process steps 401 to 403:

• In step 401, a target distance ZE of the target object to the weapon 2 is automatically determined.
• In step 402, a physical target extent ZA of the target object is determined.
• In step 403, a maximum cadence of the weapon 2 is set as a function of the determined target distance ZE and of the determined physical target extension ZA.

Although the present invention has been described on the basis of exemplary embodiments, it can be modified in many ways.

REFERENCE LIST

1

remote controlled weapon station

2

weapon

3

Mount

4th

first unit

5

second unit

6

third unit

7th

Fire control computer

8th

Communication link

9

Display system

10

Communication link

11

fourth unit

12th

User interface

13

fifth unit

401

Process step

402

Process step

403

Process step

G

Size of the target

Z

target

ZA

Target expansion

ZE

Target range

Claims (14)

1. Remotely controllable weapon station (1) with a weapon (2), which is alignably mounted in a carriage (3) in azimuth and elevation, for combating a target object, comprising:

   a first unit (4) for determining a target distance (ZE) of the target object to the weapon (2),

   a second unit (5) for determining a physical target extension (ZA) of the target object, and

   a third unit (6) for adjusting a maximum cadence of the weapon (2) in dependence on the determined target distance (ZE) and the determined physical target extension (ZA), wherein the cadence is the fire velocity of the weapon, and

   a fifth unit (13) which is configured to set a coincidence window for the weapon (2) in dependence on the determined target distance (ZE) and the determined physical target extension (ZA), wherein the coincidence window represents the deviation between the line of fire and the line of sight.
2. Weapon station according to claim 1,
   characterized by
   a display system (9) for optically displaying a target area of the weapon (2) and an image of the target object within the target area.
3. Weapon station according to claim 2,
   characterized in
   that the second unit (5) is configured to detect a size (G) of a specific target (Z) displayed on the display system (9), which is assigned to the target object, and to determine the physical target extension (ZA) of the target object in dependence on the detected size (G) of the specific target (Z) on the display system (9) and the determined target distance (ZE) of the target object.
4. Weapon station according to claim 3,
   characterized in
   that the second unit (5) is configured to determine the size (G) of the specific target (Z) displayed on the display system (9) by counting of the pixels covered by the target (Z) on the display system (9).
5. Weapon station according to claim 3 or 4,
   characterized by
   a fourth unit (11) configured to determine the target (Z) displayed on the display system (9), which is assigned to the target object, in dependence on a user input of the user for marking the target (Z) on the display system (9).
6. Weapon station according to claim 3 or 4,
   characterized by
   a fourth unit (11) configured to automatically determine the target (Z) displayed on the display system (9), which is assigned to the target object, by a pattern recognition.
7. Weapon station according to claim 3 or 4,
   characterized by
   a fourth unit (11) configured to output a target proposal for the target, calculated by a pattern recognition, to the user and to determine the target (Z), which is assigned to the target object, in dependence on a user input of the user for confirming the outputted target proposal.
8. Weapon station according to any one of claims 5 to 7,
   characterized in
   that the fourth unit (11) is configured to determine sensitive parts of the target object as the target (Z).
9. Weapon station according to any one of claims 1 to 8,
   characterized in
   that the first unit (4) is configured to determine the target distance (ZE) of the target object to the weapon (2) in real time, and in that the third unit (6) is configured to adjust the maximum cadence of the weapon (2) in real time in dependence on the determined target distance (ZE) and the determined physical target extension (ZA).
10. Weapon station according to any one of claims 1 to 9,
    characterized in
    that the first unit (4) comprises a laser range finder.
11. Military vehicle with a number N of remotely controllable weapon stations (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, with N ≥ 1.
12. Military vehicle according to claim 11,
    characterized in
    that the military vehicle is a battleship.
13. Method for operating a remotely controllable weapon station (1) with a weapon (2), which is alignably mounted in a carriage (3) in azimuth and elevation, for combating a target object, comprising:

    determining (401) a target distance (ZE) of the target object to the weapon (2),

    determining (402) a physical target extension (ZA) of the target object,

    adjusting (403) a maximum cadence of the weapon (2) in dependence on the determined target distance (ZE) and the determined physical target extension (ZA), wherein the cadence is the fire velocity of the weapon, and

    setting a coincidence window for the weapon (2) in dependence on the determined target distance (ZE) and the determined physical target extension (ZA), wherein the coincidence window represents the deviation between the line of fire and the line of sight.
14. Computer program product which causes the execution of the method according to claim 13 on a program-controlled device.

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