This paper addresses research into the application of acoustic-shockwave measurement technology to facilitate the instantaneous scoring of targets (including virtual targets). The scoring data is statistically analyzed and provided in real-time to an operator (or directly to the gunner/gunnery team) for concurrent gunner/weapon system performance evaluation at US Army firing ranges. In particular, this paper discusses the theory of operation, the system components, the usage options, and the value of instant feedback and performance evaluation. When a supersonic projectile travels through the atmosphere, a shock wave is propagated away from the nose of the projectile at the speed of sound. This shock wave propagates normal to the shock front. These shock waves can be detected by an array of sensors that are carefully designed to detect the fast risetimes. The shock wave's sharp risetime allows the accurate calculation of the projectile trajectory geometry. This in turn allows the projectile missed distance, trajectory azimuth and elevation, and projectile velocity to be derived. In addition to solving for the geometrical solution, the first two hundred microseconds of the acoustic pressure profile are examined to extract projectile signature information. This signature information is sufficient to classify the round type.
An Acoustic Target Scoring and Evaluation Technology
1 Views