Fire Control System Research Articles

Trends in Sighting Systems for Combat Vehicles

Search and tracking in dynamic condition, rapid re-targeting, precision pointing and long range engagement in day and night condition are core requisite of stabilised sighting systems used for combat vehicles. Complex battle field requires integrated fire control system with stabilised sighting system as its main constituent. It facilitates quick reaction to fire control system and provides vital edge in the battlefield scenario. Precision gimbal design, optics design, embedded engineering, control system, electro-optical sensors, target detection and tracking, panorama generation, auto-alerting, digital image stabilisation, image fusion and integration are important aspects of sighting system development. In this paper, design considerations for a state of art stabilised sighting system have been presented including laboratory and field evaluation methods for such systems.

Validation of the NATO Armaments Ballistic Kernel for use in small-arms fire control systems

Abstract In support for the development of a new small-arm ballistic computer based on the NATO Armaments Ballistic Kernel (NABK) for the Canadian snipers, DRDC Valcartier Research Centre was asked to carry out high-fidelity 6 degree-of-freedom (6-DOF) trajectory simulations for a set of relevant vignettes for the snipers, and to compare the direct fire 6-DOF simulation results with those obtained with the 4-DOF NATO Armaments Ballistic Kernel (NABK) adapted to simulate small-arm ammunition trajectories. To conduct this study, DRDC Valcartier Research Centre used BALCO v1.0b. This paper presents (1) the process and the methodology employed to carry out the sniper direct fire solution study, (2) the modeling and the simulation of the sniper projectile, the approach used in calculating the firing solutions, and the results of direct fire simulations for the sniper vignettes, and (3) an analysis of firing solutions obtained with the BALCO engine versus those of NABK. The work presented in this paper serves to validate the use of NABK for the new sniper ballistic computer.

Improved theory of projectile trajectory reference heights as characteristics of meteo-ballistic sensitivity functions

Abstract Projectile trajectories calculated under non-standard conditions are considered to be perturbed. The tools utilized for the analysis of perturbed trajectories are weighting factor functions (WFFs) which are a special kind of sensitivity functions. WFFs are used for calculation of meteo ballistic elements μB (ballistic wind wB, virtual temperature τB, pressure pB, density ρB, speed of sound a) as well. An effect of weapon system parameters can be incorporated into calculations through the reference height of trajectory - RHT. RHT are also calculated from WFFs. Methods based on RHT are far more effective than traditional methods that use weighting factors q. We have found that the existing theory of RHT has several shortcomings due to we created an improved theory of generalized RHT which represent a special sensitivity parameters of dynamical systems. Using this theory will improve methods for designing firing tables, fire control systems algorithms, and meteo message generation algorithms.

THE STUDY TO APPLY FUZZY WEIGHTED INPUT ESTIMATION FOR THE PREDICTION OF TARGET TRAJECTORY IN A FIRE CONTROL SYSTEM

The fuzzy weighted input estimation (FWIE) is proposed in this paper to solve the problem of noise disturbance and combined with the three-dimensional motion equation of target trajectory to construct the tracking rule of fire control system. FWIE can estimate effectively the input data of maneuvering target acceleration to obtain the precise target state and solve the problems from the traditional Kalman filter which cannot compute the precise estimation of target state because of the input information in the system. Simulation results show that FWIE can estimate the change of target state rapidly and precisely compared with the extended Kalman filter and the proposed tracking rule can improve the fire control system to figure out the target intercepting points with shorter miss distance.

Experimental Investigations of a Precision Sensor for an Automatic Weapons Stabilizer System.

This paper presents the results of experimental investigations of a precision sensor for an automatic weapons stabilizer system. It also describes the experimental equipment used and the structure of the developed sensor. A weapons stabilizer is designed for automatic guidance of an armament unit in the horizontal and vertical planes when firing at ground and air targets that are quickly maneuvering, and at lower speeds when firing anti-tank missiles, as well as the bypass of construction elements by the armament unit, and the automatic tracking of moving targets when interacting with a fire control system. The results of experimental investigations have shown that the error of the precision sensor developed on the basis of a piezoelectric element is 6 × 10−10 m/s2 under quasi-static conditions, and ~10−5 m/s2 for mobile use. This paper defines metrological and calibration properties of the developed sensor.

Theoretical and Experimental Testing of the Factors of Mortar Projectiles Trajectory for a New Fire Control System

The paper presents the results of theoretical and experimental tests aimed at developing sets of data. These sets are necessary for compiling firing tables and the operating algorithm for the ballistic computer of a fire control system intended for the mortar system currently used by the Polish Armed Forces as well as the mortar system currently under development. Economy, time saving and the development of numerical methods justify the use of computer simulations for the process of developing software for fire control systems. The theoretical results can only be used for this purpose if their level of compliance with experimental results of live fire tests is acceptable.

Numerical simulation and application study on a remote emergency rescue system during a belt fire in coal mines

Once initiated, coal mine belt fires can develop rapidly, and if improperly controlled, these fires could easily lead to the airflow disorders that undermine the function of the ventilation system, and the smoke plume could lead to heavy casualties. However, belt fires can be effectively prevented by establishing a fire smoke plume control system. According to the characteristics of fire smoke plume control in the ventilation network, models of ventilation systems are analyzed, and different methods of fire emergency rescue systems are designed. A mathematical model for fire smoke flow was developed based on the west-wing mining area in Long-Dong coal mine. The distributions of the smoke parameters and airflow temperature on the roadway before and after performing the smoke flow control measures were simulated by Fluent software. The results indicate that 37 min after the fire began, the smoke plume had invaded all of the roadways in the west-wing mining area. The average temperature of the roadway in the west mining area is 332 K, the O2 concentration is 14.8 %, the CO2 concentration is 5.1 % and the highest concentration of CO is 0.98 %. In this environment, miners in distress are unable to survive. A function to adjust the opening degree of the air-doors was designed, and the air volume control of the key branches was realized during a fire emergency rescue. A permanent refuge chamber was situated in the mining area to provide a safe shelter for miners when a disaster occurs. Many field exercises have verified the combined function of the emergency rescue system and refuge chamber to ensure the security of the miners in the underground coal mine.

De-mystifying Diagrids: Expressive Structural System for Skyscrapers

The word “diagrid” is a blend of the words “diagonal” and “grid” and refers to a structural system that is single thickness in nature and gains its structural integrity through triangulation. Diagrid structural systems have enabled significant transformation in the design of tall buildings. Diagrids are unique in their ability to assume the entire lateral and gravity loading of towers up to at least 50 storeys in height, eliminating the need for traditional columns and cores. Even in super-tall towers, it is possible to reduce or eliminate dependence on the core in the top 15–30%, allowing for unique spatial opportunities.Diagrids have rendered a particular elegance and lightness to buildings through efficiency, geometry and form. While other contemporary structural systems such as megaframes and outriggers are typically repressed in the detailing of the façade and dependent building elements, diagrids are chosen to form the basis of the architectural expression of the building.This article presents a methodology for the design of diagrid structures based on the systematic analysis of major buildings constructed from 2004 to the present as documented in Ref. in 2014. The design of diagrid towers will be demonstrated through primary choices in module size, member type, node design, function of the core and the desired expression in the façade system. These translate into additional concerns of constructability and customized fabrication. Fire control systems impact the ability to architecturally expose or conceal the steel, leading to detailing decisions.This article also looks at more recent trends in construction, such as the move away from optimization through increase in irregular modules, the use of composite construction and the potential inclusion of cast nodes.

SVM을 이용한 교전영역 내 위협목록 획득방법

This paper presents a threat list acquisition method in an engagement area using the support vector machines (SVM). The proposed method consists of track creation, track estimation, track feature extraction, and threat list classification. To classify the threat track robustly, dynamic track estimation and pattern recognition algorithms are used. Dynamic tracks are estimated accurately by approximating a track movement using position, velocity and time. After track estimation, track features are extracted from the track information, and used to classify threat list. Experimental results showed that the threat list acquisition method in the engagement area achieved about 95 % accuracy rate for whole test tracks when using the SVM classifier. In case of improving the real-time process through further studies, it can be expected to apply the fire control systems.

Semi-active vibration control of an 8x8 armored wheeled platform

This study proposes skyhook and fuzzy logic based semi-active control strategies to isolate sprung mass motions of 8x8 military vehicle and provide ride quality, road holding and firing accuracy for a platform, removing the passivity constraints of semi-active suspension system. The governing differential equations of motion of 8x8 platform for semi-active vibration control are formulated analytically and validated under multi body dynamics environment. Sprung mass acceleration and displacement are measured on a quarter car set up experimentally to assess the efficacy of skyhook and fuzzy logic controllers. Control strategies, viz. continuous skyhook control, cascade loop control and cascade loop with ride control are implemented. Cascade loop with ride control is employed such that the outer loop stabilizes heave, pitch and roll motions of full vehicle whereas the inner loop, through fuzzy controller, isolates vehicle from uneven disturbances. Various parametric studies are also performed with 8x8 semi-active suspension systems in terms of stochastic road inputs to represent cross country terrain profile. Furthermore, effect of proposed strategies on ride comfort, road holding, amplitude and settling time of vehicle body motions after firing large projectile from gun and aiming accuracy of the fire control system are investigated. It is demonstrated that cascade loop with ride control in semi-active mode improves vehicle ride comfort and road holding and accuracy of fire control system and rate of fire of gun.

Improved theory of generalized meteo-ballistic weighting factor functions and their use

Abstract It follows from the analysis of artillery fire errors that approximately two-thirds of the inaccuracy of indirect artillery fire is caused by inaccuracies in the determination of the meteo parameters included in fire error budget model. Trajectories calculated under non-standard conditions are considered to be perturbed. The tools utilized for the analysis of perturbed trajectories are weighting factor functions (WFFs) which are a special kind of sensitivity functions. WFFs are used for calculation of meteo ballistic elements µB (ballistic wind wB, density ρB, virtual temperature τB, pressure pB) as well. We have found that the existing theory of WFF calculation has several significant shortcomings. The aim of the article is to present a new, improved theory of generalized WFFs that eliminates the deficiencies found. Using this theory will improve methods for designing firing tables, fire control systems algorithms, and meteo message generation algorithms.

Explicit “ballistic M-model”: a refinement of the implicit “modified point mass trajectory model”

Abstract Various models of a projectile in a resisting medium are used. Some are very simple, like the “point mass trajectory model”, others, like the “rigid body trajectory model”, are complex and hard to use, especially in Fire Control Systems due to the fact of numeric complexity and an excess of less important corrections. There exist intermediate ones - e.g. the “modified point mass trajectory model”, which unfortunately is given by an implicitly defined differential equation as Sec. 1 discusses. The main objective of this paper is to present a way to reformulate the model obtaining an easy to solve explicit system having a reasonable complexity yet not being parameter-overloaded. The final form of the M-model, after being carefully derived in Sec. 2, is presented in Subsec. 2.5.

Asynchronous Message Transmission Technique for Latency Requirements in Time Critical Ship-borne System

<p>A solution to data ageing requirements in time critical ship system like fire control system is presented. In an operational sea borne platform, navigation requirements for the onboard systems are fulfilled by ring laser gyro-based inertial navigation system. For critical systems like fire control system, navigational data must be delivered in real time without any delay. However due to delay occurring in processing of raw information and transmission of data on interface bus some latency is introduced. Algorithm for an asynchronous message transmission technique from inertial navigation system to user system to meet its latency requirements is discussed. Latency requirement is achieved by sending a separate message with the time stamp for the instance the first byte of 100 Hz attitude data is received at the processing computer of navigation system.</p><p><strong>Defence Science Journal, Vol. 66, No. 1, January 2016, pp. 26-29, DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.14429/dsj.66.8502</strong></p>

Evidence of Artillery Ammunition Ballistic Characteristics Using Barcodes within an Automated Artillery Fire Control System

Evidence of Artillery Ammunition Ballistic Characteristics Using Barcodes within an Automated Artillery Fire Control System

Evidence balistických charakteristik dělostřelecké munice pomocí čárových kódů v rámci automatizovaného systému řízení palby dělostřelectva

This article contains the essence of the modular part of an automated artillery fire control system, which will enable automated detection of artillery ammunition ballistic characteristics using barcodes placed on missiles and cartridges. The article describes the current state of evidence of artillery ammunition ballistic characteristics, presents possible approaches to the concept of evidence of artillery ammunition ballistic characteristics using barcodes, defines the framework requirements for the automation of this part of artillery fire ballistics preparation, describes the determination of the distance individual corrections resulting from the artillery ammunition ballistic characteristics and states possible ways to automated processing overview of artillery ammunition carried by the conveyors of missiles and cartridges.

분산분석을 활용한 K11 복합형소총 사격통제장치 균열발생 원인 연구

ABSTRACT Purpose: This study examined the problem of crack formation in the fire control system(FCS) of the K11 objective individual combat weapon(OCIW), using design of exper iment analysis. Three hypothesis were considered. The first hypothesis is that bolted joint has an ef fect on impulse caused by firing the weapon and the second hypothesis is that a short time interval of shooting has an effect on impulse and lastly, the third hypothesis is that a positive correlation has between the bolted joint of the FCS and the impulse. Methods: The relationship between the bolted joint and the impulse cause by firing the weapon were examined experimentally. The first and second hypothesis was tested usin g correlation analysis and the t-test.Results: Using ANOVA, the first null hypothesis was rejected and the alternative hypothesis was accepted. ANONA confirmed the second null hypothesis. Correlation analysi s dismissed the last null hypothesis. A pos-itive correlation between the bolted joint and the impulse caus ed by shooting the weapon was verified. Conclusion: The bolted joint of the K11 FCS and the barrel of t he K11 affect the impulse caused by firing the weapon. A positive correlation was established between the bolted joint of the FCS and the impulse on firing the K11 OICW.Key Words：Fire Control System Cracks, One-way Design of Experiment, Correlation Analysis

A Closed Form Ballistic Solution for Ground and Anti-Aircraft Gun Fire Control System

A Closed Form Ballistic Solution for Ground and Anti-Aircraft Gun Fire Control System

비행시험 발사통제 시스템의 신호처리 알고리즘

The Missile Flight Test Launch Control System is to operate in conjunction with the Fire Control System during flight test to guided weapons. Also, this is a system for the test control and situation monitoring depending on the type of guided weapons and testing purposes. Message structure, communication protocols, such as data types for interworking with the fire control system and the Missile Flight Test Launch Control System are defined in the Launch Control ICD(Interface Control Document). ICD are composed differently of each guided weapons system and each test object. Previously, in order to interwork with the Fire Control System, the interlocking software was developed, which had a variety of problems. Therefore, we developed a new parsing algorithm in order to recognize the variety of Launch Control ICD and verified that the algorithm operates normally by checking transmitting and receiving various message in conjunction with the fire control system.

Using an eye-safe laser rangefinder to assist active and passive electro-optical sensor performance prediction in low visibility conditions

Laser rangefinders are used in various electro-optical (EO) fire control systems. They often operate at eye-safe wavelengths around 1.55 μm, which extends their utility. The paper investigates the use of a modified eye-safe laser rangefinder at 1.55 μm to obtain information on atmospheric attenuation and couple that information to the performance of active and passive EO sensors with an emphasis of lower visibility conditions. Such information can be of great value both for estimating own sensor capabilities at a given moment as well as estimating the threat capability. One obvious example is ship defense where it is difficult to obtain visibility along variable and slant atmospheric paths, especially in darkness. The experimental equipment and the results from measurements of atmospheric backscatter along various atmospheric paths are presented. The backscatter curve is used to evaluate the extinction. These extinction values are compared with those deduced from a point visibility meter and from echo measurements against two similar nets positioned at two ranges from the sensor. TV and IR images of test targets along a 1.8 km path close to sea surface in the Baltic Sea were collected in parallel with the lidar. A weather station and a scintillometer collected weather and turbulence parameters. Results correlating the lidar attenuation with the imaging performance will be given.

Numerical simulation and disaster prevention for catastrophic fire airflow of main air-intake belt roadway in coal mine—A case study

Coal mine belt fire develops very rapidly and is difficult to control. If not suppressed quickly, a belt fire could easily lead to airflow disorder and undermine the ventilation system. However, belt fire can be prevented effectively by establishing fire airflow control system. In this work, the 5th belt roadway of Kongzhuang coal mine was taken as the object of investigation, where geometrical models of this roadway were established firstly. Then, based on mathematical model of fire smoke flow, the CO volume fraction, smoke density distribution, air temperature and pollutant velocity vector in the roadway before and after taking airflow control measures were simulated by using Fluent software. It can be known from the simulation that with the normal ventilation status in 5th belt roadway, the countercurrent of smoke does not happen when a fire occurs; the roadway’s section is almost filled with CO at 10 m downstream from the fire source, and with air velocity getting stable gradually, the CO concentration reaches about 15 %. After taking airflow control measures, the effect range of temperature field which are harmful to the miners decreases from 69 m to 30 m; and the distance of the roadway fully filled with CO is 5 m farther than that before taking measures. Finally, according to the numerical simulation results and the actual condition of the belt roadway, the warning and automatic remote airflow control system with short-circuit method for the 5th belt roadway was designed to guarantee the safety production.