GB2265444A

GB2265444A - Aiming guided weapons

Info

Publication number: GB2265444A
Application number: GB9206829A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Daphne Juliet Knowles
Original assignee: UK Secretary of State for Defence
Current assignee: UK Secretary of State for Defence
Priority date: 1992-03-28
Filing date: 1992-03-28
Publication date: 1993-09-29
Anticipated expiration: 2012-03-28
Also published as: GB2265444B; GB9206829D0

Abstract

An aiming system includes a screen (15) and means for imaging a target (21, 22, 23, 24) on the screen, a target indicator (26) on the screen and means (18) for varying the size of the target indicator (26), means (17) for moving the target indicator (26), an operating programme containing a plurality of preferably linear control laws (30) (Fig 3 not shown), each control law (30) being associated with a particular target indicator (26) size range, and means (16) for selecting the appropriate control law (30) according to the size of the target indicator (26). Once a target has been selected by the operator one of the homing devices (12) of a rocket (11) is locked onto the target, this process is repeated until all rockets have been locked onto a target or all targets have a rocket locked thereto. The rockets are then fired simultaneously at independent targets. <IMAGE>

Description

AIMING SYSTEMS The present invention relates to aiming systems, and is expecially concerned with such systems as used for guided weapons.

There are various types of guided weapon. Two of the main types which require external aiming systems are those which remain under operator control throughout operation and those which contain their own guidance systems but which require operator definition of targets before being locked on. Modern multi-launch systems mainly use the latter of these in order to minimise operator requirement and to ensure that no more than one missile is locked on to a particular target.

Aiming systems are required to cope with targets at a variety of ranges. They are typically set up to enable an operator to track a fast moving close range target. To assist in tracking distant targets, where the fine control needed for close range fast moving targets would make tracking difficult, a shaped control law, typically a cubic law, is used. With a cubic law the ratio between target indicator (that is, the symbol on the operator's screen with which a target is tracked) movement and control input varies as a cubic function. However it has been found that as the range at which missiles are designed to operate increases, accurate tracking at the longest ranges is becoming harder for the operator even with such control laws.

According to the present invention an aiming system includes a screen and means for imaging a target on the screen, a target indicator on the screen and means for varying the size of the target indicator, means for moving the target indicator, an operating programme containing a plurality of control laws, each control law being associated with a particular target indicator size range, and means for selecting the appropriate control law according to the size of the target indicator.

Each control law will preferably be linear, but other control laws are possible and some embodiments of the invention may have different types of control law for different target indicator size ranges.

The target indicator will normally be of the type which will enclose the target, such as a square, rectangle or circle, but may be a line, cross or other symbol.

According to another aspect of the invention a method of aiming a missile includes the steps of positioning a target indicator over a target, controlling the size of the target indicator according to the apparent size of the target, controlling the position of the target indicator to follow any movements of the target, and selecting, according to the size of the target indicator, one of a plurality of control laws which control the relationship between. movement of a position controller and movement of the target indicator.

By "target" is meant not only a target as seen directly by an operator but also an image of the target as depicted on a remote display.

Some embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, of which; Figure 1 is a perspective view of a guided weapon carrier and aiming system, Figure 2 shows a shaped control law as typically used in an aiming system, and Figure 3 shows control laws for a system according to the present invention.

A weapon system (Figure 1) has a transporter 10 carrying a plurality of missiles 11 each of which has its own detection and tracking unit 12, which may be, for example, a laser unit or a radar unit. An aiming system has a tracking and transmitting unit 13 also mounted on the transporter 10.

A remote control unit 14 has a screen 15 and a control panel 16 on which are mounted a target indicator movement controller 17, a target indicator size controller 18, a missile lock on switch 19 and a fire button 20.

In use, when targets 21, 22, 23, 24 are identified the remote control unit 14 is used to manouevre the missiles 11 and tracking and transmitting unit 13 to aim at the targets. Images of the targets 21, 22, 23, 24 appear on the screen 15 shown at 21a, 22a, 23a, 24a. An operator 25 positions a rectangular target indicator 26 over one of the target images, adjusting the size of the target indicator by means of the size controller 18 until it will exactly enclose one of the images, shown as 23a, and moving the target indicator by means of the movement controller 17 until the target indicator overlies and encloses the image 23a.

The missiles 11 and tracking and transmitting unit 13 are slaved to move in response to movements of the target indicator 26 on the screen 15.

When the operator 25 is satisfied that he has a target, shown as 23, sufficiently located he operates the lock on switch 19 and one of the missile detection and tracking units 12 is locked on to the target 23. The operator 25 repeats the process with another target until either all targets have been allotted a missile 11 of all the missiles 11 have had a target allotted, and then presses the fire button 20 which fires all the missiles 11.

A control law conventionally used in this type of targetting is shown in Figure 2. According to this law movements of the target indicator movement controller 17 results in movement of the target indicator 26 according to a cube law. However this has proved unsatisfactory for some modern systems with long range capability.

When these are arranged to give optimum operator control for close range fast moving targets it has been found that the operator has had difficulty in tracking targets at maximum range.

According to the present invention, therefore, the control unit 14 is programmed such that the relationship between movements of the target indicator 26 and of the target indicator movement controller 17 is controlled by a number of linear control laws as shown at 30 in Figure 3. The particular law 30 in use at any time is controlled by the size of the target controller 26 on the screen 15, switching from one law to the next taking place automatically.

It will be realised that many different arrangements of control laws are possible, in order to optimise the operator's task at all possible ranges. For example, it might be found that a square or cubic law is better for short ranges and a linear law better for long ranges. This can easily be programmed into the equipment.

It will also be realised that the particular missile control system described here is for example only. The aiming system of the invention is equally applicable to other control systems, such as those where the operator views targets directly through a sight.

Claims

CLAIMS What is claimed is:

1. An aiming system including a screen and means for imaging a target on the screen, a target indicator on the screen and means for varying the size of the target indicator, means for moving the target indicator, an operating programme containing a plurality of control laws, each control law being associated with a particular target indicator size range, and means for selecting the appropriate control law according to the size of the target indicator.

2. An aiming system as claimed in Claim 1 wherein each control law is linear.

3. An aiming system as claimed in Claim 1 or in Claim 2 wherein the target indicator is of the type which will enclose the target, such as a square, rectangle or circle.

4. A method of aiming a missile including the steps of positioning a target indicator over a target, controlling the size of the target indicator according to the apparent size of the target, controlling the position of the target indicator to follow any movements of the target, and selecting, according to the size of the target indicator, one of a plurality of control laws which control the relationship between movement of a position controller and movement of the target indicator.

5. An aiming system substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 1 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.

6. A method of aiming a missile substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 1 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.