Mortar training system for simulated firing
A mortar training device includes a barrel body including a bore; a shot detector contained in the barrel body and including a shot detection sensor and configured to output an electronic signal indicating a firing of an inert mortar projectile from the barrel body; a battery; a plurality of orientation sensors contained in the barrel body; and one or more processors and memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to receive the electronic signal from the shot detection sensor indicating that an inert mortar projectile is fired from the barrel body, and determine an elevation of the barrel body and an azimuth of the barrel body when the inert mortar projectile is fired from the barrel body based on sensor data received from the plurality of orientation sensors.
1 . A mortar training device, comprising:
a barrel body comprising a bore;
a shot detector contained in the barrel body and comprising a shot detection sensor and configured to output an electronic signal indicating a firing of an inert mortar projectile from the barrel body;
a battery;
a plurality of orientation sensors contained in the barrel body; and
one or more processors and memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:
receive the electronic signal from the shot detection sensor indicating that the inert mortar projectile is fired from the barrel body, and
determine an elevation of the barrel body and an azimuth of the barrel body when the inert mortar projectile is fired from the barrel body based on sensor data received from the plurality of orientation sensors.
2 . The mortar training device of claim 1 , wherein the shot detector comprises a spring and the shot detector is configured to output the electronic signal based on a compression state of the spring.
3 . The mortar training device of claim 1 , wherein the shot detection sensor comprises a barometric pressure sensor and is configured to output the electronic signal based on a barometric pressure data of an interior of the barrel body.
4 . The mortar training device of claim 3 , wherein the barometric pressure data comprises an instantaneous barometric pressure.
5 . The mortar training device of claim 3 , wherein the barometric pressure data comprises a time curve of barometric pressure.
6 . The mortar training device of claim 1 , further comprising a firing pin extending lengthwise internally along a portion of the barrel body.
7 . The mortar training device of claim 6 , wherein the firing pin extends through a channel in the shot detector.
8 . The mortar training device of claim 7 , wherein the firing pin is connected to a trigger and the trigger is configured to move the firing pin in a longitudinal direction past the shot detector.
9 . The mortar training device of claim 7 , wherein the firing pin extends past the shot detector and is fixed in place.
10 . The mortar training device of claim 1 , wherein the instructions further cause the one or more processors to transmit the elevation and the azimuth to a remote device.
11 . The mortar training device of claim 1 , wherein the barrel body includes a first barrel section having a first threaded end and a second barrel section having a second threaded end, the first threaded end and the second threaded end being configured to mate with each other.
12 . The mortar training device of claim 11 , wherein the battery is contained in the barrel body at a mating location of the first barrel section and the second barrel section.
13 . The mortar training device of claim 1 , further comprising an electronics housing containing the plurality of orientation sensors and the one or more processors.
14 . The mortar training device of claim 13 , wherein the electronics housing is at a base of an interior of the barrel body and an outer surface of the electronics housing includes a raised projection configured to fit in a corresponding slot in an inner surface of the barrel body.
15 . The mortar training device of claim 14 , further comprising a threaded collar configured to fit over an upper section of the electronics housing and between the electronics housing and the inner surface of the barrel body to secure a position of the electronics housing in the barrel body.
16 . The mortar training device of claim 13 , wherein the battery is located between the electronics housing and the shot detector.
17 . The mortar training device of claim 13 , wherein the electronics housing is located between the battery and the shot detector.
18 . A method of mortar training, the method performed using a mortar training device comprising a barrel body comprising a bore; a shot detector contained in the barrel body and comprising a shot detection sensor and configured to output an electronic signal indicating a firing of an inert mortar projectile from the barrel body; a battery; a plurality of orientation sensors contained in the barrel body; and one or more processors and memory, the method comprising:
receiving the electronic signal from the shot detection sensor indicating that the inert mortar projectile is fired from the barrel body, and
determining an elevation of the barrel body and an azimuth of the barrel body when the inert mortar projectile is fired from the barrel body based on sensor data received from the plurality of orientation sensors.
19 . A simulation system for simulating firing of a mortar bomb, comprising:
a mortar training device comprising:
a barrel body comprising a bore;
a shot detector contained in the barrel body and comprising a shot detection sensor and configured to output an electronic signal indicating a firing of an inert mortar projectile from the barrel body;
a battery; and
a plurality of orientation sensors contained in the barrel body;
the inert mortar projectile;
a mobile device; and
a computing system comprising a memory and one or more processors, wherein the memory stores one or more programs that when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:
receive orientation data, the orientation data including an elevation and an azimuth of the barrel body when the inert mortar projectile is fired from the barrel body;
receive location data including a location of the mobile device;
determine a ground elevation of the mobile device based on the location data;
simulate a trajectory of a mortar bomb from a mortar based on the orientation data and the ground elevation of the mobile device; and
determine a simulated impact location of the mortar bomb based on the simulated trajectory.
20 . The simulation system of claim 19 , wherein the one or more programs when executed further cause the one or more processors to simulate the trajectory based on data indicating at least one of a projectile type of the inert mortar projectile, a simulated firing charge associated with the inert mortar projectile, and a model type of the mortar.
21 . The simulation system of claim 20 , wherein the data indicating the projectile type is received from a sensor in the mortar training device or the mobile device.
22 . The simulation system of claim 19 , wherein the one or more programs when executed further cause the one or more processors to determine a ground elevation at the simulated impact location.
23 . The simulation system of claim 22 , wherein the one or more programs when executed further cause the one or more processors to simulate damage caused by the mortar bomb based on the simulated impact location and the ground elevation at the simulated impact location.
24 . The simulation system of claim 23 , wherein the one or more programs when executed further cause the one or more processors to transmit the simulated damage to the mobile device.
25 . The simulation system of claim 23 , wherein the one or more programs when executed further cause the one or more processors to receive a target location and simulate the damage based on the simulated impact location, the ground elevation at the simulated impact location, and the target location.
26 . The simulation system of claim 19 , wherein the inert mortar projectile includes a plastic body and at least one metal insert within the plastic body.
27 . The simulation system of claim 19 , wherein the one or more programs when executed further cause the one or more processors to receive an indication that the inert mortar projectile was fired from the barrel body and to responsively transmit a request for the location data to the mobile device.
28 . The simulation system of claim 19 , wherein the computing system comprises a remote server configured to communicate with the mobile device via a wireless communication protocol.
29 . A method of using a simulation system for simulating firing of a mortar bomb, the simulation system comprising a mortar training device comprising a barrel body comprising a bore, a shot detector contained in the barrel body and comprising a shot detection sensor and configured to output an electronic signal indicating a firing of an inert mortar projectile from the barrel body, a battery, and a plurality of orientation sensors contained in the barrel body; the inert mortar projectile; a mobile device; and a computing system comprising a memory and one or more processors, the method comprising:
receiving orientation data, the orientation data including an elevation and an azimuth of the barrel body when the inert mortar projectile is fired from the barrel body;
receiving location data including a location of the mobile device;
determining a ground elevation of the mobile device based on the location data;
simulating a trajectory of a mortar bomb from a mortar based on the orientation data and the ground elevation of the mobile device; and
determining a simulated impact location of the mortar bomb based on the simulated trajectory.