F41A3/08

Automated ammunition photogrammetry system

The impact angle of a small caliber projectile is determined by accurately measuring the orientation angle of the projectile in flight and modeling epicyclical flight of the projectile. To measure the orientation angle, a projectile is fired along a trajectory within a test gantry. One or more sets of cameras captures images of the projectile in flight. The images are processed using computer vision to measure the position and orientation angle at each station. Calibration of the test equipment prior to the test firing of the projectile, allows for determination of these points in the 3d space of the test fixture. Aeroballistic models are fit to the orientation history. From these models, an impact angle is extrapolated.