System and method for evaluating the performance of a weapon system
Inventors
Assignees
United States Department of the Army
Publication Number
US-9830408-B1
Publication Date
2017-11-28
Expiration Date
2032-11-29
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Abstract
A system and method for evaluating the performance of a weapon platform by modeling, simulating, and analyzing all relative aspects of an engagement that would contribute to a fired projectile missing its intended impact point. The present system embodies various aspects as software objects and defines their dependencies and structure using a multi-node tree. The present system uses an imaged based approach to capture the lethality of ammunition, vulnerability of the targets, and results of an engagement scenario. Monte Carlo simulation is used to calculate the outcome statics and to display individual outcomes of the engagement to the user. The resulting product surpasses the capabilities and performance of conventional systems, protects proprietary information, and reduces the amount of time needed to analyze a weapon system.
Core Innovation
The invention provides a system and method for evaluating the performance of a weapon platform by modeling, simulating, and analyzing all relative aspects of an engagement that contribute to a fired projectile missing its intended impact point. Unlike traditional methods that rely on rough estimations and static error budgets, the system uses a visual representation approach embodied as software objects arranged in a multi-node tree structure, capturing lethality of ammunition, target vulnerability, and results of the engagement scenario.
The core problem addressed is that conventional approaches for evaluating weapon system effectiveness suffer from limitations such as loss of accuracy due to simplified error budget equations, inability to model complex and dynamic error sources like erratic winds or variable sensors, and constraints tied to categorizing errors into strict groups. Existing evaluation methods (e.g., R3011 and FBAR) are limited in scenario complexity, number of rounds considered, and do not provide situational awareness or real-time feedback, making analysis difficult and time-consuming.
The invention overcomes these by integrating modules that dynamically create engagement scenarios, simulate projectile effects with error budgets represented as interactive objects, and provide real-time visual feedback. The system promotes collaboration by allowing sharing of error information without exposing proprietary details, and interprets error budgets for the user directly. This approach supports diverse engagement scenarios including multiple targets and airburst munitions, providing an intuitive and flexible tool for identifying improvements, focusing development resources, and creating doctrines.
Claims Coverage
The patent presents two independent claims: one for a method and one for a computer program product evaluating weapon system performance using visual representations.
Visual representation approach for engagement evaluation
The system uses a visual representation approach to capture ammunition lethality by displaying effect map arrays, impact images, and effect maps encoding projectile lethality values; captures target vulnerability by displaying target vulnerability maps with visually encoded probability of kill values; and displays engagement results showing aim points, target locations, lethality plots, and statistics such as total repetitions, targets endangered, and targets disabled.
Real time visual feedback and interactive error budget representation
The method provides real-time visual feedback to the user and visually represents the error budget as composed of error objects, allowing intuitive interaction with error contributions during simulation.
Dynamic engagement iteration until success
The method iteratively engages the target until a defined success value is achieved, enabling adaptive simulation scenarios.
Dynamic error budget creation and projectile effect calculation
The method dynamically creates an error budget, provides error samples, and calculates effects on projectiles in real time, integrating projectile characteristic data to compute error values for placing simulated rounds within the engagement scenario.
Calculation of user-selected statistics from engagement scenarios
The method calculates user-selected statistics from complete engagement scenarios to provide detailed analytical data on weapon system performance.
Overall, the claims cover a method and computer program that integrate visual, interactive error budget modeling, dynamic simulation of projectile-target engagements, iterative simulation until success, and comprehensive statistics calculation, enhancing realism and usability compared to conventional approaches.
Stated Advantages
Surpasses the capabilities and performance of conventional systems in evaluating weapon effectiveness.
Protects proprietary information by allowing sharing of error objects without revealing implementation details.
Reduces the time required to analyze and optimize a weapon system by providing real-time visual feedback and intuitive interaction.
Enables handling of complex and dynamic error sources and accommodates diverse engagement scenarios including multiple targets and airburst munitions.
Facilitates collaboration among subject matter experts by allowing shared access to error budget data in a secure manner.
Documented Applications
Modeling and analyzing the performance of weapon systems in various combat engagement scenarios.
Identifying potential areas for improvement in weapon systems and concentrating development funds effectively.
Creating doctrines for engagements involving multiple targets, direct hits, and airburst munitions.
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