Three dimensional radio controlled target training device and methods of use

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

See the Application Data Sheet (ADS). Any document mentioned in the ADS is hereby incorporated in its entirety as if fully set forth herein.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

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REFERENCE TO AN APPENDIX SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC AND INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE OF THE MATERIAL ON THE COMPACT DISC

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STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR A JOINT INVENTOR

Reserved for a later date, if necessary.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of Invention

This invention relates generally to robotics, more specifically, the present invention is a remote controllable robotic device for use in target training purposes.

Background of the Invention

The field of law enforcement and security training evolved to incorporate advanced technologies that simulate real-life scenarios, thereby enhancing the preparedness and response capabilities of officers and security personnel. In this context, the development of training tools that accurately mimic the dynamics of live situations, particularly those involving potential threats and hostages, is of paramount importance. Traditional training methods often fall short in replicating the unpredictability and complexity of such scenarios, leading to a gap in the training efficacy.

The use of firearms by law enforcement officers, given their potential to cause harm, mandates a high level of precision and discernment. Officers are frequently faced with high-stakes situations where they must make split-second decisions that could mean the difference between life and death. The challenge is further compounded when suspects use innocent bystanders as shields, creating a scenario where the risk of collateral damage is significantly high. The ability to accurately differentiate between a threat and an innocent bystander, and to take appropriate action, is thus a critical skill that needs to be honed through rigorous and realistic training.

Existing training devices and methodologies, however, have limitations in providing a realistic and dynamic training environment that closely mirrors the unpredictability and fluidity of real-life encounters. There is a notable absence of training tools that allow for the simulation of moving targets and obstacles, particularly in scenarios where a suspect is using a third party as a shield. This gap in training resources underscores the need for an innovative solution that can elevate the training experience by introducing elements of movement, realism, and complexity into simulated training scenarios.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Addressing the aforementioned challenges, the present invention introduces a groundbreaking approach to target training through the development of a robotic radio-controlled target training device. This device is ingeniously designed to simulate real-life scenarios with a high degree of realism, thereby bridging the gap in existing training methodologies. At the core of this invention is the integration of articulating components that can be remotely controlled to mimic the movements of both suspects and bystanders (or hostages), thus introducing an unprecedented level of dynamism and complexity into training exercises.

The device comprises a three-dimensional, radio-controlled target system that allows for the precise manipulation of target and obstacle positions. This manipulation is achieved through the use of articulating components that can be controlled remotely, enabling the simulation of various scenarios including, but not limited to, a suspect hiding behind a hostage. The flexibility of the system is further enhanced by the possibility of incorporating multiple articulating components on both the target and obstacle portions of the device, allowing for a wide range of movement and positioning scenarios. For instance, the device can simulate the movement of a suspect's head and arm, adding a layer of realism to the training exercise by requiring trainees to adjust their aim and strategy in real-time.

Moreover, the device is designed to accommodate interchangeable objects that represent potential threats or benign items, such as a weapon or a cellphone, held by the target or obstacle. This feature is crucial for training officers to quickly and accurately assess and respond to potential threats, thereby reducing the likelihood of misidentification and unintended harm.

The present invention represents a significant advancement in the field of law enforcement and security training. By providing a highly realistic and dynamic training tool, it aims to enhance the decision-making and precision skills of officers, ultimately contributing to safer and more effective law enforcement practices. This refined background section aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the invention's significance, its contribution to the field of law enforcement training, and the specific challenges it addresses.

Presented herein are methods and devices for robotic radio-controlled target training. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a robotic radio controlled device is disclosed which incorporates at least one articulating component that may be controlled remotely by an instructor, a target, and an obstacle for target training purposes. The device comprises a three-dimensional radio-controlled target, wherein an instructor is capable of remotely controlling the target's position to improve an officer's shooting accuracy and accomplish training goals. The entire device may be stationary or may further comprise a moveable platform that can also be controlled remotely for movement of the device to nearby locations.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, a robotic radio-controlled device is disclosed which incorporates at least two articulating components that may be manipulated remotely by an instructor, a target component, and an obstacle component for target training purposes. The instructor is capable of remotely controlling the target's position behind the obstacle to improve an officer's shooting accuracy and accomplish training goals. The entire device may be stationary or may further comprise a moveable platform that can also be controlled remotely for movement to other locations.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the articulating component is located on the target portion of the device. In yet another embodiment, the articulating component is located on the obstacle portion of the device.

It is also contemplated that there may be more than one articulating component of the device. For example, the present invention may comprise an articulating component on both the target and the obstacle portion of the device. It is also contemplated that more than one articulating component may be present on the target portion of the device. For example, the articulating components may be present on the suspect's neck portion to change the position of the head, and on the suspect's arm portion to change the position of the hand. It is also contemplated that more than one articulating component may be present on the obstacle portion of the device.

Each obstacle and/or target component may also contain an object that is present for training purposes. For example, a target portion may contain an object representing a weapon that is held in the articulating hand component. In another example, the obstacle component of the present invention may further contain an object representing a cellphone that is held in the articulating hand component of the device. Objects that can be represented in the present invention may be interchangeable for training purposes, which assist in training officers to identify and address potential threats. Finally, it is also contemplated that each of the suspect and obstacle components may contain more than one articulating component.

The disclosed device relates to enhancing the versatility and realism of law enforcement and security training. One aspect of its design is an adjustable tripod base, which supports the device's adaptability across various training environments. This foundational element allows for easy height adjustments, ensuring that the device can be tailored to simulate a wide range of real-life scenarios, from indoor situations with limited space to outdoor settings that require greater visibility and range.

The disclosed device is capable of mimicking complex, real-world situations due to inclusion of a diverse set of accessories. Among these, a knife has been added to the existing arsenal of interchangeable objects, which already includes a gun and a cellphone. This expansion of available objects enhances the training experience by introducing a broader spectrum of threat scenarios. Trainees can now be exposed to situations involving not just firearms but also close-quarters threats, requiring them to make rapid, discerning decisions about the appropriate level of force and tactics to employ.

One embodiment involves target training will live ammunition including bullets, pellets, etcetera and other ballistic projectiles. Moreover, in one embodiment the device is capable of being used with paintball training bullets to provide an element of physical feedback to the training process. This feature allows for a more immersive and consequential training experience, where the accuracy of shots can be visually confirmed, and the impact of decisions can be more tangibly assessed. The use of non-lethal ammunition like paintballs also ensures that training exercises remain safe for participants while still providing the stress and pressure of a live-fire scenario.

This summary is not intended to disclose every embodiment or every aspect of the present invention. Rather, it is intended to provide an exemplification of some the concepts and features set forth herein. The features and advantages of this disclosure will be readily apparent from the following description of drawings and detailed description of the invention. This disclosure expressly includes any and all combinations and sub-combinations of the elements and features presented herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

Other objectives of the disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art once the invention has been shown and described. The manner in which these objectives and other desirable characteristics can be obtained is explained in the following description and attached figures in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the target training device;

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of the target training device in an alternative configuration.

FIG. 2 is an environmental view of an upper portion of the target training device;

FIG. 2A is another environmental view of an upper portion of the target training device;

FIG. 2B is another environmental view of an upper portion of the target training device;

FIG. 2C is another environmental view of an upper portion of the target training device;

FIG. 2D is another environmental view of an upper portion of the target training device;

FIG. 3 is an environmental view of an upper portion of the target training device;

FIG. 3A is another environmental view of an upper portion of the target training device;

FIG. 3B is another environmental view of an upper portion of the target training device;

FIG. 3C is another environmental view of an upper portion of the target training device;

FIG. 3D is another environmental view of an upper portion of the target training device;

FIG. 4 is an environmental view of the target training device; and,

FIG. 4A is another environmental view of an upper portion of the target training device.

It is to be noted, however, that the appended figures illustrate only typical embodiments of this invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments that will be appreciated by those reasonably skilled in the relevant arts. Also, figures are not necessarily made to scale but are representative.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PROFFERED EMBODIMENTS

In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art, that the invention can be practiced without each specific detail. In other instances, structures and devices are shown in block diagram form to avoid obscuring the invention.

Reference in the specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the invention. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment.

Presented herein are methods and devices for robotic radio-controlled target training. In a preferred embodiment, a robotic radio controlled device is disclosed which incorporates at least one articulating component that may be controlled remotely by an instructor, a target, and an obstacle for target training purposes. It is also contemplated that there may be more than one articulating component of the device. For example, the present invention may comprise an articulating component on both the target and the obstacle portion of the device. It is also contemplated that more than one articulating component may be present on the target portion of the device. For example, the target may be a human head designed to mimic a suspect of a crime and the articulating components may be present on the suspect's neck portion to change the position of the head, and on the suspect's arm portion to change the position of the hand. It is also contemplated that more than one articulating component may be present on the obstacle portion of the device. For instance, the obstacle portion may be a human head to mimic a hostage or victim of the suspect and the hostage's head or neck portion may be manipulable via the articulating components or the hostage's arm may be manipulated thereby.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the remote controlled target training device 1000. As shown, the device 1000 comprises a tripod 1100 and a U-shaped frame 1200 defined by an upright obstacle portion 1210 and an upright target portion 1220. In the depicted figure, the upright target portion 1210 features a branch or arm 1211 extending outwardly from a midsection thereof the upright portion 1210. Suitably, the arm 1211 is connected to the upright portion via rotatable actuator 1211. Also shown in FIG. 1 are a dual-pivot actuators 1213, 1223 connected to the top of the upright portions 1210, 1220 of the u-shaped frame 1200.

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of the target training device 1000 in an alternative configuration. More specifically: (1) a mannequin head 1214 to mimic a suspect of a crime has been attached to the top of the upright target portion 1210 above the dual-pivot actuator 1213; (2) a mannequin hand 1215 has been attached to the arm 1211; and, (3) a mannequin head 1224 to mimic a hostage of the suspect has been attached to the top of the upright obstacle portion 1210 above the dual-pivot actuator 1223

FIG. 2 is an environmental view of an upper u-shaped portion 1200 of the target training device 1000. FIGS. 2A-2D are additional environmental views of upper u-shaped portion 1200 of the target training device 1000. As shown, a robotic, three-dimensional radio-controlled device 1000 is disclosed which incorporates at least one articulating component (i.e., a dual pivot actuator 1213) that may be controlled remotely by an instructor, a target component including a mannequin head 1214, and an obstacle component including a mannequin head 1224 for target training purposes. Suitably, a radio control (not shown) is capable of remotely manipulating the target's 1214 position behind the obstacle 1224 to improve an officer's shooting accuracy and accomplish training goals. As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2C, pivoting via remote control a lower one of the dual-pivot actuator 1213 shifts the suspects head 1214 down and incrementally to the left or right out from behind the hostage's head 1224. Meanwhile, as shown in FIGS. 2B and 2D, pivoting via remote control an upper one of the dual-pivot actuator 1213 tilts the suspects head 1214 further down and to the left or right further out from behind the hostage's head 1224.

FIG. 3 is an environmental view of an upper u-shaped portion 1200 of the target training device 1000. FIGS. 3A-3D are additional environmental views of upper u-shaped portion 1200 of the target training device 1000. As shown, a robotic, three-dimensional radio-controlled device 1000 is disclosed which incorporates at least one articulating component (i.e., a dual pivot actuator 1223) that may be controlled remotely by an instructor, a target component including a mannequin head 1214, and an obstacle component including a mannequin head 1224 for target training purposes. Suitably, a radio control (not shown) is capable of remotely manipulating the obstacle's 1224 position in front of the target 1214 to improve an officer's shooting accuracy and accomplish training goals. As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3C, pivoting via remote control a lower one of the dual-pivot actuator 1223 shifts the hostage's head 1224 down and incrementally to the left or right out from in front of the suspect's head 1214. Meanwhile, as shown in FIGS. 3B and 3D, pivoting via remote control an upper one of the dual-pivot actuator 1223 tilts the hostage's head 1224 further down and to the left or right further out from in front of the suspect's head 1214.

FIG. 4 is an environmental view of the target training device. FIG. 4A is another environmental view of an upper portion of the target training device 1000. As shown, a remote control may be used to manipulate the rotating actuator 1212 such that an arm 1211 of the target 1210 may be moved in front of the obstacle portion to mimic a suspect's 1214 hand 1215 holding a gun in front of the hostage 1224.

Methods of using the device disclosed herein are also claimed. In particular, a method of using the device is disclosed herein, the method comprising placing the device in a training facility, aiming at a target, and moving a portion of the device to mimic the movement of a person.

Some portions of the detailed descriptions that follow are presented in terms of algorithms and symbolic representations of operations on data bits within a computer memory. These algorithmic descriptions and representations are the means used by those skilled in the data processing arts to convey the substance of their work most effectively to others skilled in the art. An algorithm is here, and generally, conceived to be a self-consistent sequence of steps leading to the desired result. The steps are those requiring physical manipulations of physical quantities. Usually, though not necessarily, these quantities take the form of electrical or magnetic signals capable of being stored, transferred, combined, compared, and otherwise manipulated. It has proven convenient at times, principally for reasons of common usage, to refer to these signals as bits, values, elements, symbols, characters, terms, numbers, or the like.

It should be borne in mind, however, that all of these and similar terms are to be associated with the appropriate physical quantities and are merely convenient labels applied to these quantities. Unless specifically stated otherwise, as apparent from the following discussion, it is appreciated that throughout the description, discussions utilizing terms such as “processing” or “computing” or “calculating” or “determining” or “displaying” or the like refer to the action and processes of a computer system or similar electronic computing device. This manipulates and transforms data represented as physical (electronic) quantities within the computer system's registers and memories into other data similarly represented as physical quantities within the computer system memories or registers or other such information storage, transmission, or display devices.

The present invention also relates to an apparatus for performing the operations herein. This apparatus is specially constructed for the required purposes, or it comprises a general-purpose computer selectively activated or reconfigured by a computer program stored in the computer. Such a computer program is stored in a computer-readable storage medium such as, but not limited to, any type of disk including floppy disks, optical disks, CD-ROMs, and magnetic-optical disks, read-only memories (ROMs), random access memories (RAMs), EPROMs, EEPROMs, magnetic or optical cards, or any type of media, suitable for storing electronic instructions, and each coupled to a computer system bus.

The algorithms and displays presented herein are not inherently related to any particular computer or other apparatus. Various general-purpose systems are used with programs according to the teachings herein, or more specialized apparatuses are constructed to perform the required method steps. The required structure for a variety of these systems will appear from the description below. In addition, the present invention is not described with reference to any particular programming language. It will be appreciated that a variety of programming languages can be used to implement the teachings of the invention as described herein.

It is understood that this invention is not limited to only the elements described herein and that other types of elements will be equivalent for the purposes of this invention. The invention has been described by referencing preferred embodiments and several alternative embodiments, however one of ordinary skill in the art understands that employing other variables and modifications does not depart from the spirit and the scope of the present invention.

Although the invention has been disclosed in terms of specific embodiments herein, in light of these teachings, one of ordinary skill in the art may generate additional embodiments and modifications without departing from the spirit or the scope of the claimed invention. It is understood that the examples and descriptions disclosed herein are merely to facilitate understanding of the invention and should not be construed to limit the scope thereof.

It is also contemplated that the present invention may also apply in other industries, including, but not limited to, the sale of other types of goods.

It is understood that this invention is not limited to only the data, variables, or elements described herein. That other types of data, variables, or elements will be equivalent for the purposes of this invention. The invention has been described by referencing preferred embodiments and several alternative embodiments; however, one of ordinary skill in the art understands that employing other variables and modifications does not depart from the spirit and the scope of the present invention.

Although the method and apparatus is described above in terms of various exemplary embodiments and implementations, it should be understood that the various features, aspects, and functionality described in one or more of the individual embodiments are not limited in their applicability to the particular embodiment with which they are described, but instead might be applied, alone or in various combinations, to one or more of the other embodiments of the disclosed method and apparatus, whether or not such embodiments are described and whether or not such features are presented as being a part of a described embodiment. Thus, the breadth and scope of the claimed invention should not be limited by any of the above-described embodiments.

Terms and phrases used in this document, and variations thereof, unless otherwise expressly stated, should be construed as open-ended as opposed to limiting. As examples of the foregoing: the term “including” should be read as meaning “including, without limitation” or the like; the term “example” is used to provide exemplary instances of the item in discussion, not an exhaustive or limiting list thereof; the terms “a” or “an” should be read as meaning “at least one,” “one or more,” or the like; and adjectives such as “conventional,” “traditional,” “normal,” “standard,” “known,” and terms of similar meaning should not be construed as limiting the item described to a given time period or to an item available as of a given time, but instead should be read to encompass conventional, traditional, normal, or standard technologies that might be available or known now or at any time in the future. Likewise, where this document refers to technologies that would be apparent or known to one of ordinary skill in the art, such technologies encompass those apparent or known to the skilled artisan now or at any time in the future.

The presence of broadening words and phrases such as “one or more,” “at least,” “but not limited to,” or other like phrases in some instances shall not be read to mean that the narrower case is intended or required in instances where such broadening phrases might be absent. The use of the term “assembly” does not imply that the components or functionality described or claimed as part of the module are all configured in a common package. Indeed, any or all of the various components of a module, whether control logic or other components, might be combined in a single package or separately maintained and might further be distributed across multiple locations.

Additionally, the various embodiments set forth herein are described in terms of exemplary block diagrams, flow charts, and other illustrations. As will become apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art after reading this document, the illustrated embodiments and their various alternatives might be implemented without confinement to the illustrated examples. For example, block diagrams and their accompanying description should not be construed as mandating a particular architecture or configuration.

All original claims submitted with this specification are incorporated by reference in their entirety as if fully set forth herein.

Three dimensional radio controlled target training device and methods of use

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