USA As Represented by Secretary of the Navy

John C McKechnie

Windell N Mohon

Herbert Berke

Paul D Grimmer

Frank J Oharek

Robert J Entwistle

David T Long

Don D Doty

A terrain vehicle contour measuring and storage system is disclosed, for ulating a carrier vehicle, which senses and follows a model board surface by means of first, second, third, and fourth terrain probes, with each of the terrain probes providing an analog signal which is proportional to the elevation sensed by the terrain probe. The terrain probes are connected in a unique combination with a pair of shift registers, with each shift register having a plurality of adjacent storage bits, and a computer. The computer, upon sampling the analog signals obtained from the terrain probes, calculates the pitch, roll, and heave of the carrier vehicle body being simulated by the terrain vehicle contour measuring and storage system.

Terrain vehicle simulator contour measuring and storage device

A terrain probe for sensing the elevation of a terrain surface whose prof is being measured and followed. A two-phase induction motor will raise or lower the terrain probe in response to either an increase or decrease in the elevation of the terrain surface. A four arm bridge circuit, which has an arm enclosed within the terrain probe, in combination with a low frequency oscillator, a differential amplifier, and power amplifier generate a sinusoidal drive signal which controls the two-phase induction motor.

Surface elevation measuring apparatus

A marksmanship training system is disclosed as comprising a viewing screen pon which a scenic picture having a predetermined target included therein is projected by a combination motion picture projector and film. A plurality of simulated rifles shoot laser light shots of different colors, respectively, at the target located within the image of said projected motion picture scene. A like plurality of receiver channels respond to the colors of said laser shots respectively, and as a result of being properly synchronized with said projector and film, determine and indicate the number of target 'hits' for any given number of shots. A color television camera and video tape recorder monitor training exercises, and a video tape player permits the playback thereof for additional training purposes. Optionally, a suitable sound system may be used in conjunction with the aforesaid projector and film combination, so as to provide a more realistic training environment for the marksmen while they are shooting at the aforementioned viewing screen with said simulated rifles.

Marksmanship training system

A surface profile follower and indicator system is disclosed which pneumaally senses and follows the gradients occurring in the surface of a modelboard by means of a pneumatic probe and negative feedback control sub-system which maintains said pneumatic probe at a predetermined distance from the modelboard surface being sensed at any given instant, as the entire profile follower system is moved in such manner as to effect a desired traverse thereof by any suitable carrier vehicle. A probe position pick-off is effectively connected to the aforesaid negative feedback control subsystem and supplies an analog signal to an appropriate readout which, in turn, indicates the position of said pneumatic probe with respect to a predetermined datum, thereby effectively indicating the surface irregularities of the aforesaid modelboard.

Surface profile follower and indicator system

An analog surface profile follower and indicator system is disclosed which neumatically senses and follows the gradients occurring in the surface of either the earth's terrain or a modelboard by means of a pneumatic probe and negative feedback control sub-system which maintains said pneumatic probe at a predetermined distance from the terrain or modelboard surface being sensed at any given instant, as the entire profile follower system is moved in such manner as to effect a desired traverse thereof by any suitable carrier vehicle. A probe position pick-off is effectively connected to the aforesaid negative feedback control subsystem and supplies an analog signal to an appropriate readout which, in turn, indicates the position of said pneumatic probe with respect to a predetermined datum, thereby effectively indicating the surface irregularities of the aforesaid terrain or modelboard.

Terrain contour tracking system

A radio communications system is disclosed as incorporating a high freque electrical signal generator employed for energizing a light emitting diode, the latter of which projects its light toward a vibratable, flexible, light-reflecting diaphragm for reflection thereof thereby. The light reflected from said diaphragm is received by a photodiode which, in turn, energizes a radio transmitter with electrical energy that is proportional thereto for the effective broadcast thereof toward a, perhaps, remotely disposed compatible radio receiver and/or other utilization apparatus. The aforesaid diaphragm vibrates in response to an acoustical communication signal applied thereto, thereby causing it to effectively vibrate and modulate the light reflected thereby therewith and, hence, the broadcast thereof toward said remotely disposed radio receiver is ultimately effected.

Electro-optical radio system

A surface contour sampling system is disclosed which intermittently measu the elevational irregularities in various and sundry surfaces, including those of the earth's terrain, model boards, and the like, with respect to a predetermined datum plane. A unique rotating bell crank and stepping surface sensing sampler combination permits the stepping upon and/or over large sloping or elevational changes by said surface sensing sampler, including those that are normal to the surface trend at any given location, without being stopped thereby, as it is moved forward along a predetermined path thereon by a suitable carrier vehicle.

Elevation sampling terrain probe

A vibration sensing and measuring system is disclosed as including a series connected signal generator, vibration sensor adapted for being connected to any appropriate compatible object from which the vibration information and/or parameters analogous thereto are desired, and utilization apparatus - such as, for example, a readout - for indicating or otherwise utilizng the measured vibrations of said vibrating apparatus. When the aforesaid object vibrates, said sensor vibrates in synchronism therewith; thus a liquid disposed therein is disturbed in such manner as to cause standing waves at the surface thereof that are proportional thereto. The reception by a photodiode (located in said sensor) of light broadcast in a given amount along and in contiguous disposition with the surface of said liquid by a light emitting diode (likewise located in said sensor) is reduced in accordance with the aforesaid standing waves thereof and, by calibration, constitutes a measure of the vibration of said sensor and, hence, the object to which it is connected.

Growing community of inventors

Maitland, FL, United States of America

John C McKechnie