An automated weapons system is comprised of: a sensing subsystem; a munitions subsystem; a targeting subsystem; a computational subsystem; positioning apparatus; and, a firing subsystem. The sensing subsystem provides target data for at least one acquired target, responsive to at least one sensor. The munitions subsystem, provides selection of one from up to a plurality of types of said munitions as available as a selected munition. The targeting subsystem, is responsive to the target data to provide recognition of a type of target, for each said acquired target. The computational subsystem, selects a chosen target from the acquired targets, based on the type of the selected munition. The positioning apparatus adjusts the aim of the selected munition so that it will hit the chosen target. And, the firing subsystem fires the selected munitions through a barrel at the chosen target. In one embodiment, there are a plurality of the sensors, wherein the system acquires target data from at least one of the plurality of the sensors, for at least one target as said acquired target. The targeting subsystem recognizes the type of target responsive to analyzing the target data to provide recognition of each said acquired target.

An automated weapons system is comprised of: a sensing subsystem; a munitions subsystem; a targeting subsystem; a computational subsystem; positioning apparatus; and, a firing subsystem. The sensing subsystem provides target data for at least one acquired target, responsive to at least one sensor. The munitions subsystem, provides selection of one from up to a plurality of types of said munitions as available as a selected munition. The targeting subsystem, is responsive to the target data to provide recognition of a type of target, for each said acquired target. The computational subsystem, selects a chosen target from the acquired targets, based on the type of the selected munition. The positioning apparatus adjusts the aim of the selected munition so that it will hit the chosen target. And, the firing subsystem fires the selected munitions through a barrel at the chosen target. In one embodiment, there are a plurality of the sensors, wherein the system acquires target data from at least one of the plurality of the sensors, for at least one target as said acquired target. The targeting subsystem recognizes the type of target responsive to analyzing the target data to provide recognition of each said acquired target.

An automated weapon system is comprised of a human transported weapon comprising a barrel and munitions; sensing means; targeting means; computational logic for determining where to aim the human transported weapon; aim computational logic; firing activation means; and, firing means. The munitions can be aimed towards a targeting area to be propelled through the barrel. The sensing means senses which of up to a plurality of targets are within firing range of the automated weapon system. The targeting means selects a selected target from the targets in the targeting area that are within the firing range, responsive to the sensing. The computational logic determines where to aim the human transported weapon so that the munitions will hit the selected target if fired at a firing time. The aim computational logic adjusts the aim of the munitions through the human transported weapon, to compensate as needed for where the selected target is at the firing time, responsive to the determining where to aim. The firing activation means initiating firing of the munitions at the firing time. The firing means fires the munitions responsive to the adjusting the aim and the initiating firing.

An automated weapon system is comprised of a human transported weapon comprising a barrel and munitions; sensing means; targeting means; computational logic for determining where to aim the human transported weapon; aim computational logic; firing activation means; and, firing means. The munitions can be aimed towards a targeting area to be propelled through the barrel. The sensing means senses which of up to a plurality of targets are within firing range of the automated weapon system. The targeting means selects a selected target from the targets in the targeting area that are within the firing range, responsive to the sensing. The computational logic determines where to aim the human transported weapon so that the munitions will hit the selected target if fired at a firing time. The aim computational logic adjusts the aim of the munitions through the human transported weapon, to compensate as needed for where the selected target is at the firing time, responsive to the determining where to aim. The firing activation means initiating firing of the munitions at the firing time. The firing means fires the munitions responsive to the adjusting the aim and the initiating firing.

A firearm having an aim-compensation system. The firearm includes a barrel and is configured to fire a projectile. The firearm further includes a sensor disposed on the firearm that determines an orientation of the firearm. The firearm further includes a control unit that determines an intended point-of-aim of the firearm and an actual expected point-of-aim of the firearm based on the orientation of the firearm, and the control unit determines a differential of the intended point-of-aim and the actual expected point-of-aim. The firearm further includes a muzzle device arranged on the barrel which is in communication with the control unit, wherein, when the projectile is fired, the muzzle device directs a gas toward the projectile in an amount and direction based on the differential determined by the control unit so as to exert an aerodynamic force on the projectile to alter the trajectory of the projectile towards the intended point-of-aim.

A firearm having an aim-compensation system. The firearm includes a barrel and is configured to fire a projectile. The firearm further includes a sensor disposed on the firearm that determines an orientation of the firearm. The firearm further includes a control unit that determines an intended point-of-aim of the firearm and an actual expected point-of-aim of the firearm based on the orientation of the firearm, and the control unit determines a differential of the intended point-of-aim and the actual expected point-of-aim. The firearm further includes a muzzle device arranged on the barrel which is in communication with the control unit, wherein, when the projectile is fired, the muzzle device directs a gas toward the projectile in an amount and direction based on the differential determined by the control unit so as to exert an aerodynamic force on the projectile to alter the trajectory of the projectile towards the intended point-of-aim.

An elevation range meter is configured to be used in conjunction with a reticle to provide an offset range marking, such as an offset range distance that a target is located over on the reticle before firing. An offset range distance factors in the range to the target and the elevation of the firearm. The elevation range meter has a weighted dial that rotates with respect to the barrel or elevation angle to indicate an offset range marking, such as a distance, milliradians or minutes of angle, from a plurality of elevation range marking columns on the weighted dial. The weighted dial may have a plurality of columns of elevation range markings and the appropriate column for the determined range may be selected to indicate the offset range distance. The user may then locate the target on the reticle at this offset range distance before firing.

The present invention relates to target acquisition and related devices, and more particularly to telescopic gunsights and associated equipment used to achieve shooting accuracy at, for example, close ranges, medium ranges and extreme ranges at stationary and moving targets.

The present invention relates to target acquisition and related devices, and more particularly to telescopic gunsights and associated equipment used to achieve shooting accuracy at, for example, close ranges, medium ranges and extreme ranges at stationary and moving targets.

A device that causes a weapon to fire upon a target when the weapon is enabled by an operator, and when the weapon point of impact passes through a target or in a proximity thereto and when the target satisfies certain criteria as determined by one or more sensors/designations.

This invention represents a significant paradigm shift. Some prior art (large scale) weapons automatically acquire/track/prioritize/target/fire upon targets without operator intervention (i.e. Phalanx). Most prior art weapons, especially but not limited to small arms, are manually aimed, and fire immediately upon an input (trigger pull, or equivalent) from the operator. The current invention is a novel approach which triggers the release of a round, multi-round burst, rocket, missile, or other projectile(s) when enabled by the operator, and when the target passes through the point of impact (or desired/computed proximity thereto), relieving the operator of the split second judgment in timing the release and/or cessation of such fire. The results intended include a reduction in off-target rounds fired, increased hit rate, conservation of ammunition, more effective targeting for non-motion-stabilized weapons (in particular small/medium arms), and the introduction of a backup mode for nominally motion-stabilized weapons which may allow effective operations when primary stabilization systems fail or are overwhelmed by dynamics.

This invention is applicable (in embodiments of varying complexity) to weapons ranging from handheld pistols to the main (artillery) gun of a tank, a ship, or the cannon aboard an aircraft.