Simulated firearm with target accuracy detection, and related methods and systems

Abstract

A simulated firearm includes a body, a camera, a memory, and a processor. The body has a handle, a trigger, and a barrel portion. The barrel portion defines a shooting axis. The camera is coupled to the body and aligned with the shooting axis. The camera is configured to capture an image in response to actuation of the trigger. The memory is coupled to the body and stores marker data corresponding to at least one target marker. The processor is coupled to the body and configured to determine whether a portion of the image captured by the camera matches any one or more of the at least one target marker.

1 . A simulated firearm comprising:
 a body having a handle, a trigger, and a barrel portion, the barrel portion defining a shooting axis;   a camera coupled to the body and aligned with the shooting axis, wherein the camera is configured to capture an image in response to actuation of the trigger;   a memory coupled to the body, the memory storing marker data corresponding to at least one target marker; and   a processor coupled to the body, the processor configured to determine whether a portion of the image captured by the camera matches any one or more of the at least one target marker.   
     
     
         2 . The simulated firearm of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to:
 score a shot taken by actuating the trigger based at least in part on a position of the portion of the image within the image.   
     
     
         3 . The simulated firearm of  claim 2 , wherein the processor is configured to:
 one or more of receive and determine contextual information relating to the image; and   determine a successful shot based at least in part on the position of the portion of the image within the image, and the contextual information.   
     
     
         4 . The simulated firearm of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the contextual information comprises a camera subject distance associated with the image.   
     
     
         5 . The simulated firearm of  claim 4 , wherein the processor is configured to:
 determine the camera subject distance based at least in part on camera focus information associated with the image.   
     
     
         6 . The simulated firearm of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a range finder coupled to the body and directed parallel to the shooting axis.   
     
     
         7 . The simulated firearm of  claim 6 , wherein the processor is configured to:
 receive the camera subject distance from the range finder.   
     
     
         8 . The simulated firearm of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 an orientation sensor coupled to the body and configured to measure an orientation of the body,   wherein the contextual information comprises the orientation of the body.   
     
     
         9 . The simulated firearm of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the contextual information comprises weather data.   
     
     
         10 . The simulated firearm of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the memory stores weather data.   
     
     
         11 . The simulated firearm of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a weather sensor.   
     
     
         12 . The simulated firearm of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the weather data comprises wind speed and direction.   
     
     
         13 . The simulated firearm of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the camera comprises a zoom lens having a zoom position, and   the processor is configured to direct the camera to change the zoom position of the zoom lens based on a subject distance of the camera.   
     
     
         14 . The simulated firearm of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a wireless communication device coupled to the body,   wherein the processor is configured to transmit shot data identifying the target marker matched to the portion of the image, using the wireless communication device, to a device external to the simulated firearm.   
     
     
         15 . The simulated firearm of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the external device is one of: a second simulated firearm, a server device, and a target.   
     
     
         16 . The simulated firearm of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the camera detects at least infrared light,   the image includes at least infrared information, and   the processor is configured to determine whether the portion of the image captured by the camera includes infrared information that matches any one or more of the at least one target marker.   
     
     
         17 . The simulated firearm of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 a light source coupled to the body and directed parallel to the shooting axis, wherein   the light source emits at least infrared light.   
     
     
         18 . The simulated firearm of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the camera is configured to capture a setup image comprising an additional target marker, and   the processor is configured to store marker data corresponding to the additional target marker in the memory.   
     
     
         19 . The simulated firearm of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a user interface device that is manually user operable to select at least one target marker having corresponding marker data stored in the memory, and   the processor is configured to delete the marker data corresponding to the selected at least one target marker from the memory.