Threat Training System and Method Using Simulated Projectiles

Abstract

A participant is trained against potential threats by carrying a device on the participant which includes a light based sensor element arranged to determine a hit in response to receiving a coded light based signal representing a simulated projectile and an indicator element arranged to indicate a hit to the participant in response to the determination of the hit by the light based sensor element. A training video including simulated threatening events is displayed to the participant. A light based signal source associated with the video display is arranged to be triggered under computer control to direct a coded light based signal representing a simulated projectile towards the participant in response to the threatening event being displayed to the participant.

1 . A method of threat training a participant, the method comprising:
 providing a participant device arranged to be carried by the participant, the participant device comprising a light based sensor element arranged to determine a hit in response to receiving a coded light based signal representing a simulated projectile and an indicator element arranged to indicate a hit to the participant in response to the determination of the hit by the light based sensor element;   supporting the participant device on the participant;   displaying a training video to the participant in which the training video comprises a sequence of events including a threatening event which visually represents a threat to the participant; and   providing a light based signal source which is arranged to be triggered under computer control to direct a coded light based signal representing a simulated projectile towards the participant in response to the threatening event being displayed to the participant.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1  further comprising supporting the light based signal source in fixed relation to a display upon which the training video is displayed. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1  further comprising directing the coded light based signal in a prescribed direction from the light based signal source. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1  further comprising directing the coded light based signal in multiple directions from the light based signal source. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1  further comprising supporting the light based signal source adjacent to a display upon which the training video is displayed. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1  further comprising directing the coded light based signal at the participant after a prescribed reaction duration from the displaying of the threatening event to the participant. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1  further comprising:
 i) preventing the coded light based signal from being directed at the participant in response to a prescribed reaction by the participant to the threatening event before expiration of a prescribed reaction duration following displaying of the threatening event to the participant; and 
 ii) directing the coded light based signal at the participant after the prescribed reaction duration has expired in the absence of the prescribed reaction by the participant during the prescribed reaction duration as detected by a computer controller of the light based signal source. 
 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 7  further comprising:
 providing a participant simulated weapon arranged to be carried by the participant and to generate a reaction signal upon actuation by the participant; and 
 providing a display receiver associated with a display upon which the training video is displayed, the display receiver being arranged to receive the reaction signal from the participant simulated weapon; 
 wherein said prescribed reaction by the participant comprises the display receiver receiving the reaction signal from the participant simulated weapon by actuation of the participant simulated weapon by the participant. 
 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1  further comprising providing an auxiliary participant weapon arranged to be carried by an auxiliary user and to generate said coded light based signal upon actuation by the auxiliary user for indicating a hit to the participant upon determination of a hit by the light based sensor element of the participant device. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9  further comprising:
 supporting an auxiliary user device on the auxiliary user in which the auxiliary user device comprises a light based sensor element arranged to determine a hit in response to receiving a coded light based signal representing a simulated projectile and an indicator element arranged to indicate a hit to the auxiliary user in response to the determination of the hit by the light based sensor element; 
 providing a participant simulated weapon arranged to be carried by the participant and to generate said coded light based signal upon actuation by the participant for indicating a hit to the auxiliary user upon determination of a hit by the light based sensor element of the auxiliary user device. 
 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 1  further comprising:
 providing a plurality of displays; 
 displaying the training video to the participant as a sequence of events on each of the plurality of displays; 
 directing said coded light based signal towards the participant in response to a threatening event displayed on any one of the plurality of displays. 
 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11  further comprising providing a light based signal source in association with each display which is arranged to generate a respective coded light based signal directed towards the participant in response to a threatening event displayed on the associated display. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein said coded light based signal is a pulsed beam of light. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein said coded light based signal comprises a light signal in the visible light spectrum. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein said coded light based signal comprises a light signal in the invisible light spectrum. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15  wherein said coded light based signal comprises an infrared light signal. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the indicator element comprises an electrical shocking element arranged to generate a non-incapacitating electrical shock and wherein the participant device is supported on the user such that the non-incapacitating electrical shock is arranged to be delivered to the participant to indicate the hit to the participant in response to the determination of the hit by the light based sensor element. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the indicator element comprises a vibrating element arranged to vibrate to indicate a hit to the participant in response to the determination of the hit by the light based sensor element. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the indicator element comprises an audio alarm arranged to indicate the hit to the participant in response to the determination of the hit by the light based sensor element. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the indicator element comprises a visual indicator arranged to visually indicate the hit to the participant in response to the determination of the hit by the light based sensor element.