One aspect is an illumination assembly including: a first light emitting element; a first counterweight; and at least one of a nock or a connector configured to attach the illumination assembly to a nock, such that the first light emitting element and the first counterweight are positioned symmetrically from each other relative to the nock on opposite sides of the nock. Preferably the first light emitting element is substantially the same mass as the first counterweight. The illumination assembly can include a shaft of an arrow or bolt and/or include an adapter configured to attach to a shaft of an arrow or bolt, such that the first light emitting element and the first counterweight are collinear on a virtual line substantially perpendicular to the central axis of the arrow or bolt, and such that the first light emitting element is positioned off of the central axis of the arrow or bolt and configured to emit light in a rearward direction offset from the central axis of the arrow or bolt.

An archery projectile locating facility comprises an elongated body. The elongated body includes a connection facility adapted to connect to the archery projectile. The elongated body includes a microcontroller. The elongated body includes a sensor facility in communication with the microcontroller and operable to detect a flight state. The elongated body includes a transmitter in communication with the microcontroller and operable to broadcast at least one data signal after the flight state has been detected. The at least one data signal includes information generated by the sensor facility.

An archery projectile locating facility comprises an elongated body. The elongated body includes a connection facility adapted to connect to the archery projectile. The elongated body includes a microcontroller. The elongated body includes a sensor facility in communication with the microcontroller and operable to detect a flight state. The elongated body includes a transmitter in communication with the microcontroller and operable to broadcast at least one data signal after the flight state has been detected. The at least one data signal includes information generated by the sensor facility.

Embodiments of a projectile are provided herein. In some embodiments, a projectile includes a body made of a cast polymer composite material comprising a thermoset resin and a powdered steel. In some embodiments, a projectile includes: a body made of a cast polymer composite material comprising a thermoset resin and a powdered metal; a metal core embedded in the body having a front portion that tapers radially inward to define a front end of the projectile; and a casing assembly coupled to the body.

A high impact strength lighted nock assembly for an arrow that is activated when the arrow is fired with a bowstring. The lighted nock assembly includes a nock molded from a high impact strength, transparent polymeric material containing at least 10% by weight reinforcing fibers. The nock includes a head configured to engage with the bowstring and a shank configured to couple with a rear end of the arrow. The shank includes a recess extending in a distal end of the shank toward the head. A light assembly including a light emitting device is located in the recess in the shank that is electrically coupled to a battery. A switch is electrically coupled to the light emitting device and the battery that is triggered when the arrow is fired to activate the light emitting device.

A self-glowing solid material comprises a man-made metal mixture containing at least one rare earth metal and an oxide of iron. The material is inducible by flame initiation to self-glow with yellow-to-red colors (577-to-700 nanometer wavelengths). A stealth tracer ammunition comprises a projectile body having a tip and a base, and a solid pellet disposed in the base. The pellet may be made from the above-mentioned self-glowing solid material or another suitable material. The pellet becomes incandescent as a result of being heated when the ammunition is fired. The incandescent pellet emits a glow observable only from behind when the ammunition travels downrange after being fired. An illuminant comprises a bimodal blend of a man-made metal mixture containing at least one rare earth metal and an oxide of iron. The bimodal blend is a blend of smaller-sized fragments and larger-sized pellets. The illuminant is capable of ignition and dispersion in response to ballistic energy to create illumination. An illumination device comprises a body having an interior cavity, the body configured to be launched as a projectile or configured to contain projectiles. An illuminant is disposed in the cavity, the illuminant comprising a bimodal blend of a suitable illuminant material. The illuminant is capable of ignition and dispersion in response to ballistic energy to create illumination.

Methods and systems for illuminating an arrow nock or bolt end are disclosed, including providing a lighted nock having: a nock body which has a portion for attachment to an arrow or shaft and a slotted proximate end adapted to receive a bowstring; and a detent member, a luminous assembly, and a push member all of which are at least partially disposed within the nock body, wherein the push member comprises a recess and at least a portion of the push member protrudes into the proximate end; attaching the lighted nock to the bowstring, thereby releasing the portion of the detent member from within the recess of the push member; drawing the bowstring; and releasing the bowstring, thereby withdrawing the bowstring from the slot, and illuminating the nock. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

A projectile device for establishing a wireless network and transmitting data within the network. The projectile device includes a motion sensor configured to measure at least one of an acceleration, angular velocity, or an orientation of the projectile device; an antenna configured for communication within a wireless network between the projectile device and at least one external device. The projectile device includes a processor configured to establish communication in the wireless network for receiving and/or transmitting a message between the projectile device and the at least one external device via the antenna and a wireless protocol that is determined by at least one of the acceleration, angular velocity, or orientation of the projectile device. The projectile device includes a damping agent arranged to impact movement of components of the projectile device, wherein a form factor of the projectile device is complimentary with a launching mechanism of the projectile device.

The present disclosure relates to a search and protect device for airborne targets including projectiles. The disclosure is directed to a search and protect device for airborne threats of interest within a 360-degree field of view via a spinning device with range finders. The disclosure relates to a search and protect device that can autonomously determine threats and engage said threats with appropriate counter-measures by determining its future location through the use of range finders within an at least three sensor array with a rotating path of a given speed to protect a target. The location of the projectile may be determined using a distance formula and further trigonometry.

An archery projectile facility comprises an elongated body. The elongated body includes at least one accelerometer. The at least one accelerometer is operable to generate three-dimensional acceleration information. The archery projectile facility comprises a body processor. The body processor is operably connected to the at least one accelerometer. The body processor is adapted to process the three-dimensional acceleration information to generate sampled information. The archery projectile facility comprises a transmitter. The transmitter is operably connected to the body processor to broadcast the sampled information. The archery projectile facility comprises a receiver. The receiver includes a receiver processor. The receiver processor is adapted to generate resulting information based on the sampled information. The resulting information is based on a determination of a stabilization point.