Method for controlling a directable weapon of a vehicle during shooting exercises

Abstract

A method for controlling a directable weapon ( 4 ) of a vehicle ( 1 ) during shooting exercises includes determining the orientation of a shooting sector (S) in which the directable weapon is allowed to shoot; and maintaining the determined orientation while the vehicle ( 1 ) moves.

1 . A method for controlling a directable weapon ( 4 ) of a vehicle ( 1 ) during shooting exercises, wherein an orientation of a shooting sector (S, S′, S″) in which shooting is allowed is determined, the method comprising:
 maintaining a determined orientation during movement of the vehicle ( 1 ). 
 
     
     
         2 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein maintaining the determined orientation includes maintaining the orientation of the shooting sector (S, S′, S″) by directing the weapon ( 4 ) at boundary points (A, B, C) of the shooting sector (S, S′, S″). 
     
     
         3 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein maintaining a determined orientation includes determining a directed position (R) of the weapon ( 4 ) relative to a vehicle-independent spatial coordinate system. 
     
     
         4 . The method as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein maintaining a determined orientation includes determining the directed position (R) of the weapon ( 4 ) independently of a sensor arrangement of the weapon ( 4 ). 
     
     
         5 . The method as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein maintaining a determined orientation includes determining the directed position (R) of the weapon ( 4 ) by inertial sensors ( 13 ). 
     
     
         6 . The method as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein maintaining the determined orientation includes directing the inertial sensors ( 13 ) together with the weapon ( 4 ). 
     
     
         7 . The method as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the inertial sensors ( 13 ) are disposed on a directable turret ( 3 ) of the vehicle ( 1 ). 
     
     
         8 . The method as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein determining the directed position (R) includes determining with a satellite navigation receiver ( 7 ). 
     
     
         9 . The method as claimed in  claim 3 , further comprising comparing the directed position (R) of the weapon ( 4 ) with the shooting sector (S, S′, S″) for the release of the weapon during the shooting exercise. 
     
     
         10 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising enabling the weapon ( 4 ) if the directed position (R) of the weapon ( 4 ) is located within the shooting sector (S, S′, S″). 
     
     
         11 . The method as claimed in  claim 10 , further comprising adapting a size of the shooting sector (S, S′, S″) to the directed position (R) of the weapon ( 4 ) and/or the directed speed of the weapon ( 4 ). 
     
     
         12 . The method as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein determining the orientation and enabling the weapon ( 4 ) are carried out by a device that is fixed to the vehicle ( 14 ). 
     
     
         13 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising dividing a shooting path ( 16 ) into sub regions and determining and maintaining an orientation of the shooting sector (S, S′, S″) in each sub region. 
     
     
         14 . The method as claimed in  claim 13 , further comprising determining an the orientation of the shooting sector (S, S′, S″) when the vehicle ( 1 ) crosses a position line ( 20 ,  20 ′,  20 ″) that is disposed in a sub region. 
     
     
         15 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein maintaining a determined orientation includes the shooting sector (S, S′, S″) enclosing an azimuth angle (σ); and maintaining the azimuth angle (σ) during movement of the vehicle ( 1 ). 
     
     
         16 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein maintaining a determined orientation includes the shooting sector (S, S′, S″) enclosing an azimuth angle (σ); and changing the azimuth angle (σ) during movement of the vehicle ( 1 ). 
     
     
         17 . The method as claimed in  claim 16 , further comprising determining the shooting sector (S, S′, S″) by means of boundary points (A 1 , B 1 , A 2 , B 2 , A 3 , B 3 ); and maintaining the boundary points (A 1 , B 1 , A 2 , B 2 , A 3 , B 3 ) during movement of the vehicle ( 1 ). 
     
     
         18 . A method for controlling a directable weapon ( 4 ) of a vehicle ( 1 ) during a shooting exercise, the method comprising:
 determining an orientation of a shooting sector (S, S′, S″) in which shooting is allowed before the shooting exercise;   determining an orientation of the shooting sector to coincide with an orientation of a shooting path ( 16 ) on which shots are permitted to be fired;   determining a directed position (R) of the weapon in azimuth and elevation by a sensor arrangement; and   maintaining by a control device the determined orientation of the shooting sector during movement of the vehicle ( 1 ) during the shooting exercise by moving the shooting sector with the vehicle;   whereby the orientation of the shooting sector in relation to the shooting path is maintained, and the shooting sector is not re-determined on the shooting path when turning the vehicle relative to an original position of the vehicle during the shooting exercise.   
     
     
         19 . The method as claimed in  claim 18 , further comprising comparing the directed position of the weapon with the shooting sector before shooting the weapon; and not shooting the weapon if the directed position of the weapon is outside the shooting sector. 
     
     
         20 . The method as claimed in  claim 19 , further comprising either enabling the weapon if the directed position of the weapon is within the shooting sector, or disabling the weapon if the directed position of the weapon is outside of the shooting sector.