Importance

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Abstract

A manually movable gun is mounted to a platform with a limited range of correctional computer-controlled updated reorientation in azimuth and in elevation with respect to the platform. The platform fixedly mounts a sighting-rangefinder system, so that correctional reorientation of the gun is a correctional reorientation with respect to the sighting axis of the sighting/rangefinder system. The platform is mounted for two-axis freedom to be moved in azimuth and in elevation. The gunner must so move the gun platform, and at the same time thereby so move his sight, that the sighting alignment is kept on the target. In the course of such movement to keep the sighting line on the target, sensors and detectors of target range and of the components of platform movement in its mount, as well as sensors of other ballistic parameters, feed their output to circuitry including a computer. The computer derives range rate and the two components of the orientation rate of the platform, and provides a calculated output of the necessary two components of trim adjustment of the gun with respect to its mounting platform. Such correctional adjustments are effected by computer control of trim-adjustment motors, in azimuth and in elevation, while the operator keeps his sighting line on the target. The loop of computer calculation in response to updating sensor outputs and range and bearing data is so fast as to reduce the near-insignificance of the time delay of computer calculation and motordriven correctional orientation of the gun, as long as the operator keeps his sight in line on the target. He therefore need not wait to fire a machine-gun burst even while the correctional adjustments are still being made.

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First Claim