A method includes defining a designation point on a target within a view area of a scope coupled to a firearm and determining an angular motion deviation of a muzzle of the firearm from the designation point. The method further includes initiating firing of the firearm when the angular motion deviation is below an acceptable level.

Disclosed herein is a target display device for assisting to aim at a target beyond a vision obstructing object, the device comprising: a forward-facing camera; a target marker projector; and an orientation marker projector, wherein: the forward-facing camera is adapted to capture an image beyond the vision obstructing object; the target marker projector is adapted to project a target marker; the orientation marker projector is adapted to project an orientation marker; and the forward-facing camera is adapted to capture an image in alignment with the target marker and the orientation marker along a longitudinal axial plane through the target display device.

A beam director system for a high-energy laser (HEL) weapon includes correction sensors that are able detect misalignments in optical elements throughout the entire optical path traversed by the high-energy laser. The system includes beam correction sensors that sense misalignments in a first part of the optical path, and high-speed track sensors that sense misalignments in a second part of the optical path, with the first part and the second part overlapping. This allows all optics to be sensed by the beam correction sensors and/or the high-speed track sensors. The system can accommodate a wide variety of lasers for the HEL, preferably including a co-boresighted and aligned alignment laser. By having the track sensors further downstream on the optical path than in prior devices, the acquisition and track sensor fields of view of the system may be improved.

Disclosed herein is a target display device for assisting to aim at a target beyond a vision obstructing object, the device comprising: a forward-facing camera; a target marker projector; and an orientation marker projector, wherein: the forward-facing camera is adapted to capture an image beyond the vision obstructing object; the target marker projector is adapted to project a target marker; the orientation marker projector is adapted to project an orientation marker; and the forward-facing camera is adapted to capture an image in alignment with the target marker and the orientation marker along a longitudinal axial plane through the target display device.

A beam director system for a high-energy laser (HEL) weapon includes correction sensors that are able detect misalignments in optical elements throughout the entire optical path traversed by the high-energy laser. The system includes beam correction sensors that sense misalignments in a first part of the optical path, and high-speed track sensors that sense misalignments in a second part of the optical path, with the first part and the second part overlapping. This allows all optics to be sensed by the beam correction sensors and/or the high-speed track sensors. The system can accommodate a wide variety of lasers for the HEL, preferably including a co-boresighted and aligned alignment laser. By having the track sensors further downstream on the optical path than in prior devices, the acquisition and track sensor fields of view of the system may be improved.

New systems, hardware and methods for extremely precise aiming and shooting of firearms by relatively unskilled users are provided. In some embodiments, shots may be planned in advance and rapidly carried out. A specialized control system comprising computer hardware allows a user to plot a planned shot or shot sequence with indicators on a site display, evaluate the accuracy of the planned shot(s), adjust the location of the shot(s), and then shoot. In some embodiments, the system may counteract and otherwise adjust for certain ballistic and other accuracy-impacting factors with a position-actuable firing mechanism to maintain a projected flight path of such a point of impact at all times. The system is unobtrusive, allowing users to engage ordinary targeting activity, including ordinary firearm aiming movements. In some embodiments, aiming and execution aspects of the invention are adapted to non-lethal measures, which may be assigned by the system autonomously.

A target acquisition is disclosed for use with a weapon in acquiring at least one target for the weapon. The system may make use of a mapping sensor subsystem which forms a controllably scanned electromagnetic wave energy subsystem for illuminating a scene where one or more targets are potentially present with selectively scanned electromagnetic wave energy. The system may also incorporate a control subsystem including a target/object recognition software module which uses information supplied by the mapping sensor subsystem to identify at least one target in the scene which forms a valid target to be engaged by the weapon. The system may limit firing of the weapon until a predetermined degree of aiming accuracy is achieved relative to the valid target.

New systems, hardware and methods for extremely precise aiming and shooting of firearms by relatively unskilled users are provided. In some embodiments, shots may be planned in advance and rapidly carried out. A specialized control system comprising computer hardware allows a user to plot a planned shot or shot sequence with indicators on a site display, evaluate the accuracy of the planned shot(s), adjust the location of the shot(s), and then shoot. In some embodiments, the system may counteract and otherwise adjust for certain ballistic and other accuracy-impacting factors with a position-actuable firing mechanism to maintain a projected flight path of such a point of impact at all times. The system is unobtrusive, allowing users to engage ordinary targeting activity, including ordinary firearm aiming movements. In some embodiments, aiming and execution aspects of the invention are adapted to non-lethal measures, which may be assigned by the system autonomously.

An optical sight device includes a housing, a display panel and a reflecting element. The reflecting element is disposed in the housing. The reflecting element is disposed along an optical path defined from a point of an observer looking through the housing to the display panel. The reflecting element is provided between the observer and the display panel.

An automatic deviation correction method, which is applied to a shooting sighting telescope. The automatic deviation correction method includes the following steps: converting an optical image obtained by a shooting sighting telescope into an electronic image, extracting a target paper area from the electronic image, and performing pixel-level subtraction on the target paper area and an electronic reference target paper to detect points of impact, calculating a center point of each of the points of impact to obtain a deviation of the center point of each of the points of impact and a center point of the target paper area; and inputting the deviation into the shooting sighting telescope for automatically correcting subsequent shooting.