Systems and methods for simulating small arms fire

Abstract

A system for simulating small arms fire includes a parabolic reflector, a speaker system, an amplifier, and a memory. The speaker system includes a speaker located at the focus of the parabolic reflector. The amplifier is for driving the speaker system. The memory is for storing an audio signal including a muzzle blast signal and a shockwave signal. The controller is configured to cause the amplifier to output the audio signal stored in the memory via the speaker system, thereby simulating the audio effects of firing a firearm.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for simulating small arms fire, comprising:
 a parabolic reflector;   a speaker system including a speaker located at the focus of the parabolic reflector;   an amplifier for driving the speaker system;   a memory storing an audio signal including a muzzle blast signal and a shockwave signal;   and a controller configured to cause the amplifier to output the audio signal stored in the memory via the speaker system, thereby simulating the audio effects of firing a firearm.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the parabolic reflector, speaker system, memory and controller are included within or coupled to a common housing. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , comprising a tripod coupled to the housing. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the shockwave signal comprises a noise signal having a first power spectrum, which when output through the speaker system, results in a sound wave, which, after travelling a distance, has a second power spectrum, the second power spectrum substantially matching the power spectrum of a shockwave associated with a passing projectile. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the muzzle blast signal is between about 0.01 and 0.15 seconds long. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the speaker system includes at least two coaxial speaker elements associated with different frequency ranges. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a light source configured to emit flashes simulating the muzzle flash exhibited by small arms fire, and wherein the controller is configured to cause the amplifier to output the audio signal in coordination with causing the light source to emit a light flash. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a transceiver for receiving the audio signal, wherein the controller is configured to store the received audio signal in the memory. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , comprising a operator interface configured to receive an indication of at least one of a fire arm to simulate and a firing pattern to simulate. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the operator interface is integrated into the controller. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the operator interface is separate from the controller and is configured to communicate with the controller via a wireless communication interface. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the memory stores a plurality of audio signals corresponding to a respective plurality of firearms. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the shockwave signal comprises a frequency weighted white noise signal. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the shockwave signal comprises a first portion separated from a second portion separated by a pause. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the shockwave signal exhibits a reduced amplitude at low frequencies at a beginning and end of the shockwave signal. 
     
     
         16 . A method for simulating small arms fire, comprising:
 driving a speaker system positioned at about a focal point of a parabolic reflector to output an audio signal including a first portion corresponding to a firearm muzzle blast and a second portion corresponding to a shockwave;   wherein the second portion of the audio signal comprises a noise signal having a first power spectrum, which when output through the speaker, results in a sound wave, which, after travelling a distance, has a second power spectrum, the second power spectrum substantially matching the power spectrum of a shockwave associated with a passing projectile.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the speaker system includes a plurality of coaxially arranged speakers, each speaker corresponding to a different frequency range. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising flashing a light source in synchronicity with outputting the first portion of the audio signal to simulate a fire arm muzzle flash. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising receiving an identification of the audio signal to output from a operator interface, and retrieving the audio signal from a memory storing at least one other audio signal corresponding to a different firearm. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising receiving from a operator interface an indication of a firing pattern to simulate, and repeating the output of the audio signal according to the firing pattern. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein driving the speaker system to output the shockwave signal comprises driving the speaker to output two audio signals separated by a pause. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the shockwave signal comprises a frequency weighted white noise signal. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the shockwave signal exhibits a reduced amplitude at low frequencies at a beginning and end of the shockwave signal. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein driving the speaker system to output the audio signal comprises separating in time the output of the first portion of the audio signal from the output of the second portion of the audio signal based on a simulated firing distance.