Simulation system, method and computer program

Abstract

Simulation system comprising at least one virtual projectile/missile firing device ( 1 ) having movable directing means ( 3 ) to direct a virtual projectile/missile towards a target ( 2 ) and means to determine the position of said at least one virtual projectile/missile firing device and the target whereby the simulation system comprises means ( 4 ) to capture at least one image of the target scene in front of the directing means ( 3 ) and means to process the, or each, image so as to determine the orientation of the directing means ( 3 ).

1 . Simulation system comprising at least one virtual projectile/missile firing device ( 1 ) having movable directing means ( 3 ) to direct a virtual projectile/missile towards a target ( 2 ) and means to determine the position of said at least one virtual projectile/missile firing device and the target, wherein it comprises means ( 4 ) to capture at least one image of the target scene in front of the directing means ( 3 ) and means to process the, or each, image so as to determine the compass bearing of the directing means ( 3 ).  
   
   
       2 . Simulation system according to  claim 1 , wherein it also comprises compass means to provide a preliminary indication of the compass bearing of the directing means ( 3 ).  
   
   
       3 . Simulation system according to  claim 1 , wherein that the image capturing means ( 4 ) comprises at least one optic or infrared camera.  
   
   
       4 . Simulation system according to  claim 1 , wherein the image capturing means ( 4 ) is mounted on the directing means ( 3 ).  
   
   
       5 . Simulation system according to  claim 1 , wherein the means to determine the position of said at least one virtual projectile/missile firing device ( 1 ) and the target ( 2 ) comprises a global positioning system (GPS) or differential global positioning system (DGPS).  
   
   
       6 . Simulation system according to  claim 1 , wherein it comprises means to log the time at which the, or each, image of a target scene is captured.  
   
   
       7 . Simulation system according to  claim 1 , wherein it comprises a central network ( 6 ) that is arranged to receive/send/store and/or communicate information ( 5 ) concerning the position of said at least one virtual projectile/missile firing device ( 1 ) and/or the compass bearing of its directing means ( 3 ) and the position and/or orientation of the, or each, target ( 2 ) to any, or all, of the participants in a simulation exercise and optionally to a third party.  
   
   
       8 . Simulation system according to  claim 1 , wherein it comprises assessment means to provide an assessment of injury/damage that would have been caused by the impact of such a projectile/missile in a real situation.  
   
   
       9 . Simulation system according to  claim 8 , wherein the assessment means contain range of action data for a certain type, or each type, of virtual projectile/missile fired by said at least one virtual projectile/missile firing device ( 1 ) versus distance of participants in a simulation exercise from such a virtual projectile/missile firing device ( 1 ) in order to assess the degree of injury/damage that would have been caused by impact of such a projectile/missile in a real situation.  
   
   
       10 . Simulation system according to  claim 8 , wherein the means to evaluate an injury/damage assessment are arranged to be carried any, or all of the participants in a simulation exercise.  
   
   
       11 . Method for determining the orientation of the directing means ( 3 ) of a virtual projectile/missile firing device ( 1 ) comprising the steps of: 
 determining the position of the virtual projectile/missile firing device ( 1 ) and the target ( 2 ); and    capturing at least one image of the target scene in front of the directing means ( 3 ) and processing the, or each, image in order to determine the compass bearing of the directing means ( 3 ) using information concerning the position of the target ( 2 ) in the, or each, image.    
   
   
       12 . Method according to  claim 11 , wherein it also comprises the step of obtaining a preliminary indication of the compass bearing of the directing means ( 3 ) so as to enable the scope of the target scene to be limited.  
   
   
       13 . Method according to  claim 11 , wherein a camera takes at least one photograph of the target scene.  
   
   
       14 . Method to any of claims  11 , wherein it comprises the step of using a global positioning system (GPS) or differential global positioning system (DGPS) to determine the position of said at least one virtual projectile/missile firing device and the target.  
   
   
       15 . Method to any of claims  11 , wherein it comprises the step of logging the time at which the image, or each image, of a target scene is captured.  
   
   
       16 . A computer program directly loadable into the internal memory of a digital computer, comprising program code for making a computer or processor execute image processing of at least one target scene in order to determine the compass bearing of the directing means ( 3 ) of a virtual projectile/missile firing device ( 1 ), the program code comprises sets of instructions for: determining the position of the virtual projectile/missile firing device ( 1 ) and the target ( 2 ); and capturing at least one image of the target scene in front of the directing means ( 3 ) and processing the, or each, image in order to determine the compass bearing of the directing means ( 3 ) using information concerning the position of the target ( 2 ) in the, or each, image.  
   
   
       17 . A computer program product in a computer readable medium having computer program code recorded thereon, wherein the program code includes sets of instructions comprising: 
 first computer instructions for determining the position of the virtual projectile/missile firing device ( 1 ) and the target ( 2 ); and    second computer instructions for capturing at least one image of the target scene in front of the directing means ( 3 ) and processing the, or each, image in order to determine the compass bearing of the directing means ( 3 ) using information concerning the position of the target ( 2 ) in the, or each, image.    
   
   
       18 . A process of using a system for simulating the effect any projectile/missile, such as an anti-tank missile, anti-aircraft missile, anti-sea-craft missile, a chemical, biological or nuclear device, fired from a fixed or moving virtual projectile/missile firing device, comprising: 
 determining the position of the virtual projectile/missile firing device ( 1 ) and the target ( 2 ); and    capturing at least one image of the target scene in front of the directing means ( 3 ) and processing the, or each, image in order to determine the compass bearing of the directing means ( 3 ) using information concerning the position of the target ( 2 ) in the, or each, image.