GB2078914A - An arrangement for monitoring an armoured fighting vehicle from a command post - Google Patents

Abstract

An arrangement for monitoring an armoured fighting vehicle particularly a battle tank, from a command post, wherein the fighting vehicle three TV cameras (1,4,10) are each connected to a target or observation device (3,6,12) and connected by a picture transmission path (9,21) with a TV receiver (22) in the command post. First and second TV cameras are subject to a priority circuit for presentation and a third TV camera is connected to the transmission path by a video mixer. A fade-in device for alphanumeric symbols is also provided. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION An arrangement for monitoring an armoured fighting vehicle from a command post This invention relates to an arrangement for monitoring from a command post an armoured fighting vehicle, particularly a battle tank.

Modern fighting vehicles especially battle tanks, contain highly complicated equipment particularly the observation and weapons systems. This complexity makes it necessary to provide very thorough training to the operating personnel.

In many instances the training takes place in a stationary or moving battle tank and the monitoring of the personnel takes place from a fixed or movable command post. Contact between the command post and the battle tank is established by radio.

When monitoring the personnel there is a need to observe the outside of the battle tank from the command post and to transmit by radio this information between the battle tank and command post as well as to enable the direct monitoring of the adjustments to the observation and aiming apparatus in the battle tank from the command post, and in particular when there is a relative movement between the battle tank and the command post, for example when the battle tank and if necessary the command post itself are moved in the terrain.

It is thus important to be able to monitor both the activities of the gunner as well as the activities of the commander, especially when the commander himself occasionally has to take a hand in operating the weapons system.

Furthermore for reasons of safety it may be desirable constantly to monitor the position of the weapons simultaneously with regard to elevation and azimuth.

Finally it is also important for the training officer monitoring the fighting vehicle from the command post, also to have instantly at his disposal all the data of the systems which are fed into the gunner's optical aiming device, generally in the form of displays. With modern battle tanks these are distance, type of ammunition and the state of readiness to fire.

It is an object of the invention to provide an arrangement by means of which it would be possible to monitor selectively and alternately two different operators in a fighting vehicle according to predetermined criteria, which simultaneously can constantly monitor the position of a weapon, and whereby in the command post it is possible additionally to monitor the data of the weapons and observation systems of the fighting vehicle.

The invention provides an arrangement for monitoring a fighting vehicle from a command post characterised in that: A) three television camera devices are disposed in the fighting vehicle, each being coupled through an optical adaptor with an aiming or observation device of the armoured fighting vehicle, and connected or connectable through a picture radio transmission path with a television receiver device which is arranged in the command post; B) the first and second of the said television cameras are connected with the said picture radio transmission path through a controllable changeover switch having a priority switch which by means of at least one prearranged control programme determines the priority of one of two signals produced in the said two television camera devices, and switches the priority signal to the picture radio transmission path at a given point in time;; C) the third television camera is connected with the said picture radio transmission path through a video mixer disposed in the fighting vehicle and connected in series with the said change-over switch which video mixer operates so that a picture supplied by the said third television camera device appears on the screen of the television receiver device as a partial picture of the main picture supplied by the said first or second television camera device, and which video mixer is provided with a device for fading-in alphanumeric symbols onto the picture signal to be transmitted;; D) in the fighting vehicle there is provided a data processor to which are fed electric signals containing selected data for operating conditions obtained from the fighting vehicle's weapons and observation system, which signals after recording are fed in parallel through an intermediate store to the device forfading-in alphanumeric symbols.

Thus in the arrangement according to the invention there appears on the television screen of the television receiver apparatus in the command post either the picture of the first television camera device, which for example may be provided for the aiming or observation device operated by the gunner, or the picture of the second television camera device which for example may be provided for the observation device operated for example by the commander. The respective change-over takes place according to a predetermined control programme.

The control programme may be effected in various ways. For example the evaluation of the priority can take place according to the following procedures viz: a) Firstly the image of the aiming device is transmitted which for example shows the turret of a battle tank and thus includes the firing region. This may be the aiming device of the gunner or the aiming device of the commander.

b) Secondly in a special type of operation of the observation and weapons system the image of the aiming device belonging to the commander is transmitted when the gunner himself is not engaged in any activity.

Depending on the purpose of the operation, several control programmes may be predetermined and connected in with the change-over device.

Advantageously the control programmes are determined by logic control circuits which are explained in more detail further down with the aid of an embodiment.

The third television camera may be connected to an aiming device which is rigidly connected with the weapon of the fighting vehicle. This permits an additionally precise control of the weapons positions while at the same time monitoring the picture supplied by the observation device belonging to the gunner or commander, This is of great advantage not only for training purposes, but such an arrangement additionally enables a safety control to be carried out in that it is possible very accurately to ascertain whether a shot can be released or not.

Additional to the general monitoring it is thus also possible to carry out a firing sector restriction. The video mixer used enables both pictures of the weapons optics and for example the gunner's sights to be transmitted over a radio path and to be reproduced on a picture screen.

In this instance it is of particular significance that both the main picture as well as the partial picture produced of the optical system of the weapon are transmitted in such a way that the centres of the pictures are arranged at the precisely defined position of the aiming lines which may be superimposed later, thus ensuring an accurate reproduction of the pictures with regard to their position in the respec tive observation device. This may be achieved in a known manner by suitably delaying the synchronisation pulses produced by the master oscillator in the television camera devices.

In the arrangement according to the invention, displays which for example the gunner sees in his optical aiming device are feded into the picture appearing in the screen of the television receiver.

In this way it is possible to substantially monitor and control the operating personnel of the fighting vehicle from the command post.

It is of advantage if in addition to the systems data already mentioned, the precise time could also be faded into the picture. Furthermore, the type of opeation could also be faded-in, such as GW (gunner operates main weapon) or CW (commander operates main weapon).

Modern battle tanks very often also contain a computer for controlling the weapons and observation systems. The arrangement according to the invention can readily be connected to such a computer.

It is particularly advantageous if a video recorder is connected to the television receiver device. This can record the pictures received and keep them for a later analysis or for training purposes. It was found to be particularly useful if the video recorder has two independent sound tracks with post recording facilities so as to be able to record conversations held during monitoring as well as for recording additional texts suitable for training purposes at a later date.

One embodiment of an arrangement according to the invention is hereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, of which Figure lisa block diagram of an overall arrangement of the invention disposed in a battle tank and a command post; Figure2 is a block diagram of the change-over device in the arrangement according to Figure 1, and Figure 3 is a block diagram of the parts designated "data field" in Figure 1 as well as the device for data fade-in shown in Figure 1 with the "video mixer".

In the arrangement shown in Figures 1 to 3 the aiming device 3 of the battle tank, for example the aiming device of the gunner, is connected to a television camera 1 via an optical adapter device 2.

The said optical adapter device 2 may for example be similar to that described in German Patent specification P 30 01 050.5.

There is connected to another aiming device 6 arranged in the battle tank, for example the commander's aiming device, a second television camera 4 also connected via an optical adapterS. Both television cameras 1 and 4 are connected with a change-over switch 7 connected with a telemetry transmitter 9 through a video mixer 8 arranged in the battle tank.

The video mixer 8 is also connected to a third television camera 10 which via optical adapter 11, is connected to aiming device 12, for example the aiming device which is rigidly connected with the main weapon.

The video mixer 8 furthermore contains a fadingin device 24 (Figure 3) forfading alphanumeric symbols into the picture signal to be transmitted.

The symbols to be faded in are supplied by a device 13 (data field) which is hereinafter explained in more detail with reference to Figure 3.

The electrical energy supply for all apparatus arranged in the battle tank, i.e. for camera and other apparatus, is effected by means of supply device 26.

In the command post there is provided a telemetry receiver 21 connected with a television receiver device 22, for example a monitor with a large screen.

For the later reconstruction of the recording a video recorder 23 is connected to the television receiver device 22. The electrical energy supply for all electrical apparatus in the command post is effected by supply device 27.

Through inputs 19ato 19e, the change-over switch 7 is supplied with electrical signals from various weapons and observation systems of the battle tank, the signals respectively characterising a specific operating condition in this system, as schematically shown in Figure 2. Thus the input 19a for example can be connected with the ball of a hand switch for the aiming device operated by the gunner, the input 1 9b connected with the ball of a hand switch for the observation device used by the commander, while through the input 19c an electrical signal may be applied which is supplied from the commander's aiming device and is operative when the weapon is operated by the commander. The input 19d and 19e may additionally be supplied with further control signals for specific operating conditions. Through a selector switch 14 (Figure 2) a specific control programme can be switched into the change-over device 7 according to which the priority of one of the two signals coming from camera 1 or camera 4 is determined and the change-over of camera 1 or camera 4 to the telemetry transmitter 9 is effected.

As indicated in Figure 2 these programmes are produced by logic control circuits 15a or 15b or 15c.

The inputs to these logic control circuits via voltage separating circuit elements, for example optical couplers 21, are connected with the inputs 1 9a to 19e.

In Figure 2 the logic control circuit 1 spa comprises an OR-gate 17 and an AND-gate 18 with a negative input. The output of the AND-gate 18 is connected with the input of the OR-gate 17. The output of the OR-gate 17 through a selector switch 14 is connected with a relay 16 through which it is possible to selectively connect the line linking television camera 1 or television camera 4 with the video mixer 8 and thus the telemetry transmitter 9. When the relay 16 is in operative position the television camera 1 provided for the gunner is connected with the telemetry transmitter 9. The other input of the OR-gate 17 is connected with the input 1 9c to which is fed the signal produced by the commander's aiming device.

The negative input and the AND-gate 18 is connected with the input 1 9a to which is fed the signal produced by the gunner's hand switch, while the other input at the AND-gate 18 is connected with the input 19b to which is fed the signal produced by the commander's hand switch.

As indicated in Figure 2, the change-over in response to the type of operation is effected by switching on the control programmes supplied by the logic control circuits 15a.

Thus when the output of the OR-gate 17 has a logic "zero" signal, the television camera 1 e.g. the television camera for the gunner, is connected with the telemetry transmitter 9. This for example applies when through the input 19a a signal is supplied to the negative input of the AND-gate 18. When through the input 19b or the input 19c a signal is supplied, the signal "one" appears at the output of the OR-gate 17 and this will be switched over to the commander's television camera 4.

With the logic control circuits 15b and 1 sic it is also possible to effect other control programmes which are not described in any more detail.

The video mixer 8, which is not described per se, is so arranged that with the aid of a pulse delay device the synchronisation pulses are so delayed that on the screen of the television receiver device 22 there appear two pictures. The main picture 22a corresponds to the picture of the optics used by the gunner or the commander supplied by the television camera 1 or the television camera 4, while the partial picture 22b appearing in the lefthand upper corner of the main picture 22a in the drawing is supplied by the television camera 10 and thus corresponds to the picture of the aiming device rigidly connected with the weapon. Both pictures constantly appear on the picture screen of the television receiver device. The vertical and horizontal size of the inserted partial picture 22b can be adjusted in the video mixer 8.

In the video mixer 8 there is also provided a device 24 for fading in alphanumeric symbols into the picture signal to be transmitted. The device 24 is constructed in known manner. The data to be transmitted in the form of alphanumeric symbols relating to distance, type of ammunition and state of readiness to fire are supplied by a device which supply this data to the aiming and observation device of the gunner and this is not described in any more detail. At the same time a type of operation signal supplied by the main distributor is taken over.

The potentional-free signals are fed to a device 25a for data processing where they are recoded and via the intermediate store 25b are fed to the device 24 for fading in the alphanumeric symbols. The supply of the data to the device 25a generally takes place in series, while the data transfer from the device 15a to the device 24 takes place in parallel and the intermediate store 25b is synchronised by the device 24. To the intermediate store 25b from a time measuring apparatus 25c a time signal is simultaneously supplied which for example contains the day-hourminute-seconds-0.1 second and 0.01 second.

The faded-in data from the device 24 appears on the screen 22 of the television receiver device in the form of a separate data fixed image 22c whose position and size in the main picture 22a can be adjusted as desired.

Claims (7)

1. An arrangementformonitoring afighting vehicle from a command post characterised in that: A) three television camera devices (1,4,10) are disposed in the fighting vehicle, each being coupled through an optical adaptor (2,5,11) with an aiming or observation device (3,6,12) of the armoured fighting vehicle, and connected or connectable through a picture radio transmission path (9,21) with a television receiver device (22) which is arranged in the command post;; B) the first and second of the said television cameras (1,4) are connected with the said picture radio transmission path through a controllable change-over switch (7) having a priority switch which by means of at least one prearranged control programme determines the priority of one of two signals produced in the said two television camera devices (1,4), and switches the priority signal to the picture radio transmission path (9,21) at a given point in time:: C) the third television camera (10) is connected with the said picture radio transmission path (9,21) through a video mixer (8) disposed in the fighting vehicle and connected in series with the said change-over switch (7) which video mixer operates so that a picture supplied by the said third television camera device appears on the screen of the television receiver device as a partial picture (22b) of the main picture (22a) supplied by the said first or second television camera device, and which video mixer is provided with a device (24) for fading-in alphanumeric symbols onto the picture signal to be transmitted;; D) in the fighting vehicle there is provided a data processer (25a) to which are fed electric signals containing selected data for operating conditions obtained from the fighting vehicle's weapons and observation system, which signals after recording are fed in parallel through an intermediate store (25b) to the device (24) for fading-in alphanumeric symbols.

2. An arrangement according to Claim 1, characterised in that the control programmes for the said change-over device (7) are determined by logic control circuits (15a to 15c) to which are fed electric signals in the form of input signals characterising the respective operating condition of the weapons and observation system of the fighting vehicle, and the output signals of 'which are fed through a selector switch (14) to the winding of a change-over relay (16) which switches the respective priority signal to a picture radio transmission path (9,21).

3. An arrangement according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, characterised in that the said video mixer (8) has a pulse delay device through which the synchronisation pulses ofthetelevision camera devices (1,4,10) are so delayed that the centre of the picture supplied by the said third television camera device appears as a partial picture (22b) on the picture screen of the television camera device (22) in one of the corners of the main picture (22a) supplied by the said first or second television camera device (1,4).

4. An arrangement according to any of Claims 1 to 3, characterised in that there is provided a time measuring device (25c) which is additionally connected through the said intermediate store (25b) with the said device (24) for fading-in alphanumeric symbols.

5. An arrangement according to any of Claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the said television receiver device (22) arranged in the command post is connected to a video recorder (23).

6. An arrangement according to Claim 1, substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

7. An arrangement according to any of Claims 1 to 6, wherein the said fighting vehicle is a battle tank.