Remote digital firing system
View Patent ↗An apparatus for weaponizing a mobile robotic platform with a mechanically triggered weapon and a firing circuit provides a weaponized mobile robotic platform, in which the mechanically triggered weapon can be fired in a safe, secure, and controlled manner in response to a single electrical pulse from the firing circuit.
1. A method for firing a weapon mounted on a robotic platform, comprising:
receiving a control code sent by an operator control unit to the robotic platform;
validating the control code;
arming a firing circuit when the control code is valid;
transmitting a signal to a sequencing circuit configured to control a mechanical control assembly connected to the weapon; and operating the mechanical control assembly with the sequencing circuit to arm a disarmed weapon, wait until a delay period has elapsed, trigger the weapon, and disarm the weapon,
wherein validating the control codes include determining whether the control codes were encoded with a key programmed by the robotic platform.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein disarming the weapon includes removing a force from a spring included in the mechanical control assembly, and permitting a trigger disposed on the weapon to return to a start position.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein disarming the weapon further includes:
removing a force from another spring included in the mechanical control assembly;
and
permitting a safety latch disposed on the weapon to return to a safe position.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein waiting until the delay period has elapsed comprises implementing a time lag after which the weapon is triggered.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the duration of the time lag is selected by an operator of the robotic platform.
6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising selecting the time lag by actuating a time delay selector.
7. The method of claim 4 , wherein the time lag is defined by a delay circuit of the sequencing circuit.
8. The method of claim 4 , wherein the time lag represents a delay that can occur between a time a signal is sent to arm the weapon and a time when a safety of the mechanical control assembly is completely disengaged to arm the weapon.
9. The method of claim 4 , wherein the time lag represents a delay that can occur between a time a signal is sent to arm the weapon and a time when a trigger of the weapon is operable to actuate and fire the weapon.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein waiting until the delay period has elapsed ensures that a safety control assembly of the weapon has disengaged before the weapon is triggered.
11. A method for firing a weapon mounted on a robotic platform, comprising:
transmitting a signal to a sequencing circuit configured to control a mechanical control assembly connected to the weapon; and
operating the mechanical control assembly with the sequencing circuit to arm the weapon; wait until a time delay period has elapsed, the time delay period representing a delay that can occur between a time a signal is sent to arm the weapon and a time when a trigger of the weapon is operable to actuate and fire the weapon; and trigger the weapon; and
validating control codes before transmitting the signal to the sequencing circuit, wherein validating the control codes includes determining whether the control codes were encoded with a key programmed by the robotic platform.
12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising disarming the weapon after triggering the weapon, wherein disarming the weapon includes removing a force from a spring included in the mechanical control assembly to permit a trigger disposed on the weapon to return to a start position.
13. The method of claim 11 , wherein waiting until the time delay period has elapsed comprises implementing a time lag after which the weapon is triggered.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the duration of the time lag is selected by an operator of the robotic platform.
15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising selecting the time lag by actuating a time delay selector.
16. The method of claim 14 , wherein the time lag is defined by a delay circuit of the sequencing circuit.
17. The method of claim 14 , wherein the time lag represents a delay that can occur between a time a signal is sent to arm the weapon and a time when a trigger of the weapon is operable to actuate and fire the weapon.
18. The method of claim 11 , wherein waiting until the time delay period has elapsed ensures that a safety control assembly of the weapon has disengaged before the weapon is triggered.