Automated target system and method

Abstract

A target enclosure is provided. The target enclosure includes a target arm rotatable about a first axis between a first position and a second position. The target arm includes a target plate configured to be exposed to projectile fire of a shooter when in the first position, and a counterbalance lever arm coupled to the target plate. The target enclosure also includes a pneumatic system. The pneumatic system includes an air compressor providing compressed air to the pneumatic system. The pneumatic system also includes a dual-action pneumatic cylinder having a piston rod, the piston rod being coupled to the counterbalance lever arm. The pneumatic system further includes at least one valve configured to provide the compressed air to the cylinder causing the piston rod to actuate between an extended state and a retracted state, thereby causing the target arm to rotate between the first position and the second position.

1 . A target enclosure comprising:
 a target arm rotatable about a first axis between a first position and a second position, the target arm including:
 a target plate configured to be exposed to projectile fire of a shooter when in the first position; and 
 a counterbalance lever arm coupled to the target plate; and 
   a pneumatic system including:
 an air compressor providing compressed air to the pneumatic system; 
 a dual-action pneumatic cylinder having a piston rod, the piston rod being coupled to the counterbalance lever arm; and 
 at least one valve configured to provide the compressed air to the dual-action pneumatic cylinder causing the piston rod to actuate between an extended state and a retracted state, thereby causing the target arm to rotate about the first axis between the first position and the second position. 
   
     
     
         2 . The target enclosure of  claim 1 , wherein the dual-action pneumatic cylinder maintains the target arm substantially in the first position while in the retracted state and in the second position while in the extended state. 
     
     
         3 . The target enclosure of  claim 1  further comprising a hit sensor configured to detect a projectile strike to the target arm. 
     
     
         4 . The target enclosure of  claim 3  further comprising a microcontroller configured to:
 receive projectile strike data from the hit sensor while the target arm is in the first position; 
 determine, from the projectile strike data, that a number of projectile strikes has reached a pre-determined threshold; and 
 lower the target arm based on the determining. 
 
     
     
         5 . The target enclosure of  claim 1  further comprising a microcontroller communicatively coupled to the at least one valve, the microcontroller configured to:
 transmit a signal to the at least one valve to cause the compressed air to flow into a first port of the dual-action pneumatic cylinder, thereby causing the piston rod to actuate from the retracted state to the extended state; and 
 transmit a signal to the at least one valve to cause the compressed air to flow into a second port of the dual-action pneumatic cylinder, thereby causing the piston rod to actuate from the extended state to the retracted state. 
 
     
     
         6 . The target enclosure of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one valve further includes a flow control orifice configured to exhaust at least some air as the piston rod actuates between the extended state and the retracted state. 
     
     
         7 . The target enclosure of  claim 1  further comprising at least one torsion spring including a first spring arm in contact with the counterbalance lever arm, the torsion spring being configured to be in a compressed state when the target arm is in the second position and in an uncompressed state when the target arm is in the first position, thereby contributing energy during decompression as the target arm moves from the second position to the first position. 
     
     
         8 . The target enclosure of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a microcontroller; 
 a power supply configured to provide power to at least the air compressor and the microcontroller; and 
 a flyback diode connected to a positive lead and a negative lead of the air compressor, the flyback diode configured to protect at least the microcontroller from voltage spikes caused by the air compressor. 
 
     
     
         9 . A shooting system including:
 a first target enclosure including:
 a target arm; 
 a pneumatic system configured to raise and lower the target arm; and 
 a first target controller in communication with the pneumatic system and configured to cause the pneumatic system to raise and lower the target arm; and 
   a control unit including:
 a control unit controller in networked communication with the first target controller, the control unit controller configured to transmit one of a raise event and a lower event to the first target controller, thereby causing the target arm to raise and lower. 
   
     
     
         10 . The shooting system of  claim 9 , wherein the first target enclosure further includes a hit sensor in communication with the first target controller, the first target controller is configured to transmit projectile strike data to the control unit. 
     
     
         11 . The shooting system of  claim 10 , wherein the control unit further includes a display interface, wherein the control unit is further configured to present the projectile strike data to a shooter using the display interface. 
     
     
         12 . The shooting system of  claim 9 , wherein the control unit is further configured to:
 receive a pressure value from the first target enclosure, the pressure value being associated with the pneumatic system;   determine that the pressure value is below a pre-determined threshold; and   transmit a compressor activation command to the first target enclosure, thereby activating an air compressor of the pneumatic system.   
     
     
         13 . The shooting system of  claim 9 , wherein the control unit is further configured to:
 select a hit count; and   transmit the hit count to the first target controller,   
       wherein the first target controller is further configured to:
 receive the hit count; 
 initiate a first raise event, thereby causing the pneumatic system to raise the target arm; 
 count a number of projectile impacts to the target arm after initiation of the first raise event; and 
 initiate a first lower event after the number of projectile equals or exceeds the hit count. 
 
     
     
         14 . The shooting system of  claim 9  further comprising a second target enclosure including a second target controller in networked communication with the second controller, wherein the control unit is further configured to coordinate target presentation between the first target enclosure and the second target enclosure. 
     
     
         15 . The shooting system of  claim 14 , wherein the controller unit is further configured to cause only one of the first target enclosure and the second target enclosure to be presented at a time. 
     
     
         16 . The shooting system of  claim 9 , wherein the controller unit is further configured to transmit a first raise event to the first target controller, wherein the first target controller is further configured to:
 receive the first raise event;   select a hit count;   initiate the first raise event, thereby causing the pneumatic system to raise the target arm;   count a number of projectile impacts to the target arm after initiation of the first raise event; and   initiate a first lower event after the number of projectile equals or exceeds the hit count.   
     
     
         17 . The shooting system of  claim 9 , wherein the control unit is further configured to transmit a target uptime value to the first target controller, wherein the first target controller is further configured to:
 receive the target uptime value;   initiate a timer; and   initiate a first lower event after the timer has ran for the target uptime value.   
     
     
         18 . A computer-implemented method for providing a training routine for a shooter, the method comprising:
 selecting, by a hardware processor, a first hit count associated with a first target enclosure;   transmitting the first hit count to the first target enclosure;   receiving, by the hardware processor, indication from the first target enclosure that a number of projectile impacts on the first target enclosure equals or exceeds the hit count;   after receiving indication from the first target enclosure, selecting, by the hardware processor, a second hit count associated with a second target enclosure; and   transmitting the second hit count to the second target enclosure.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising:
 transmitting a first raise event to the first target enclosure, 
 wherein receiving indication from the first target enclosure further includes:
 receiving projectile strike data from the first target enclosure, the proj ectile strike data including a number of projectile impacts on the first target enclosure; 
 comparing, by the first hardware processor, the number of projectile impacts on the first target to the first hit count; and 
 determining, by the first hardware processor, that the first hit count has been reached or exceeded based on the comparing. 
 
 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising:
 receiving, by the hardware processor, first projectile strike data from the first target enclosure; 
 receiving, by the hardware processor, second projectile strike data from the second target enclosure; and 
 displaying the first projectile strike data and the second projectile strike data to the shooter during the training routine via a display device.