Elevatable observation and target system for combat vehicles

An elevatable observation and target for combat vehicles increases safety and the reaction velocity by a stabilized vision line camera, that is remotely controlled from the combat compartment with an adjustable focal width prepared on an elevatable platform, with the camera comprising angle indicators for the generation of the prevailing sight line coordinates and the platform being capable of following the sight line of the panoramic camera as a function of the angle indicator signals.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The invention relates to an observation and target system that can be 
raised for combat vehicles, consisting of a platform capable of being run 
out and/or pivoted in relation to the vehicle, on which at least one 
television camera is located, said camera being connected by means of a 
cable with at least one monitor provided in the combat compartment of the 
vehicle. 
Observation and target systems of this type permit a substantial 
simplification of conventional observation platforms because the 
installations herertofore required for the housing and protection of the 
observer are eliminated. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The object of the present invention is to develop an elevatable observation 
and target system of the abovementioned type to improve significantly near 
and long range field observation and thus make possible increased reaction 
velocity, and to simplify the entire weapons system and thus obtain a 
higher operating safety. 
This object is attained because the television camera is an attitude 
stabilized panoramic camera, which can be remotely controlled in elevation 
and azimuth and has a focal range that is adjustable from the combat 
compartment. The camera is equipped with angle indicators to generate the 
prevailing line-of-sight coordinates. In particular, the platform 
supporting the panorama camera can pivot and is capable of following the 
azimuth. 
The panoramic camera permits not only angular field of vision adjustments 
as a function of distance and sector observation, but it also makes 
possible a decisive increase in reaction time by means of functional 
coupling with the moving mechanism of the platform. 
The panoramic camera with its zoom lens or its interchangeable objective 
lenses is preferably rigidly mounted on the platform and is equipped with 
a stabilized mirror head, that is adjustable in azimuth and elevation, 
with which the angle indicators for the generation of line-of-vision 
coordinates are correlated. 
This configuration contributes to high operating safety and high adjusting 
velocities.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
The panoramic camera preferably comprises a high resolution television 
camera 1, the field-of-vision to resolution ratio of which approaches that 
of pure optical systems, and which in a particularly advantageous manner, 
may be combined with monitors 6 located in the combat compartment 10 in 
the form of small image flying spot tubes equipped with a binocular 
optical viewing device. Flying spot tubes of this type have screen 
diagonals of approximately 3 to 5 cm and in view of their low inertia 
masses are especially resistant to interference, even in rough operations. 
The binocular viewing device contributes to the increased concentration of 
the observer, provides an impression of direct viewing in a fully 
protected position, and contributes to the shortening of reaction times 
because of the possibility of rapid and accurate near and long range 
detection. 
Appropriately, a thermal imaging device is integrated in the panorama 
camera and means are provided to display the images of the panorama camera 
and the thermal imaging device selectively on the monitors provided in the 
combat compartment. The observer or observers are thus able to select the 
optimum means of information based on the prevailing conditions, including 
a pivotable residual light amplifier, or to merge alternative information 
from the different image generators within the shortest possible period of 
time, thereby increasing the security of a decision to be made. 
A further essential advantage of the invention is that electronic units 4, 
8 to modify signals may be inserted in the signal path between the 
panorama camera and the monitor. Such signal modifications may comprise, 
for example, a variation of contrast, or a special optical target 
identification, by brightening or marking. 
The insertion of an intermediate memory, which significantly facilitates or 
automates the detection of motion, is particularly advantageous. Image 
areas in which motion is to be detected may be programmed, preferably by 
position and magnitude, while image lines on which conditions are to be 
recognized may be programmed by the scanning of a scenical contour by a 
line of vision. 
According to a further appropriate embodiment of the invention, it is 
possible with a slight electronic effort to combine information into the 
existing monitor image, particularly in the form of data and/or markings. 
Items that may be combined for example, are the NATO cross-hairs, a 
measured distance and readiness for action. In a corresponding manner, 
data concerning the prevailing runout height and the firing direction of 
the platform, or the like, may also be blended in. 
According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the 
azimuthal movement may be effected by sectors, and the sector angle 
adapted to the angular coverage of the camera so that the sectors are 
always overlapping. During the change of sectors, the monitor being 
scanned is dark in keeping with a further characteristic of the invention, 
with the dark phase being chosen to be shorter than the ability of the 
human eye to react. 
The platform 20 carrying the observation and target system is preferably in 
the form of a weapons platform, in particular for elevatably supported 
launchers. The platform is capable of following the targeting means in 
elevation. 
Because the structural volume of the weapons platform is small in 
comparison with that of manned combat or observation platforms, this 
configuration is advantageous since in the retracted position a 
correspondingly smaller storage space is required for the housing of the 
weapons platform. Furthermore, it is advantageous that the system 
according to the invention is immediately ready for operation and may be 
used in any position between the retracted and fully extended state, both 
during the day and at night. 
As the result of the sequence controls 7 provided according to the 
invention, the overall system is particularly user friendly and thus also 
safe in operation. This becomes apparent from the description of the 
process of attaching a target. For example: the gunner, observing the 
environment through the binocular viewing device 11 on the monitor 6, 
controls the primarily stabilized mirror head of the panorama camera 1 in 
azimuth and elevation by means of a gunner instrument 7. When the gunner 
discovers a target on his monitor 6, he is able to lock the weapons 
platform onto the target. In the process, the line-of-vision coordinates 
are transferred, whereupon the platform 20 may run in onto the line of 
vision of the panorama camera. The platform 20 follows the panoramic 
camera in the azimuth, while the launchers 9 provided on the platform 
follow in elevation. Once the gunner has identified the target, he may 
initiate the surveying of the target and the transfer of the target data 
to the fire control computer by actuating a target designation key. Once 
the platform and the launchers are run in on the target and the target is 
within the range of the launchers, the fire control computer clears the 
weapons for firing and the gunner is able to fire. 
The use in the present invention of a high resolution panorama camera is of 
essential importance. The characteristics of such a camera given below 
represent a nonlimiting example used essentially to define the type of 
camera: 
Number of lines: 1249 
Objective lens: f=50 . . . 250 mm 
Field of vision: 156 m at 4000 m, f=250 m 
Angle of vision: 2.3.degree.-11.5.degree. 
Directional range: azimuth n.times.360.degree. 
Directional range: elevation+20.degree., -10.degree.. 
The panoramic camera preferably is of a modular construction. In a first 
module the camera housing is combined with the pick-up tube and the video 
electronics; in a second module the objective housing with the objective 
lens and zoom adjusting mechanism; in a third module the stabilized, 
orientable mirror head with the angle indicators to transfer the location 
coordinates to the fire control computer; and a fourth module the 
stabilizing electronics and the signal processing unit. 
The imaging capacity and the resolution of a camera used according to the 
invention make it possible with an objective lens having a focus of f=250 
mm, to resolve objects with a dimension of 120 mm (120 mm=1 line) at a 
distance of 4000 m. As the identification of an object in the shape of an 
armored vehicle requires eight pairs of lines, objects larger than 1920 mm 
may be identified with a camera system described above as an example. 
It is possible, however, to increase the imaging capacity in the target 
field by enlarging the zoom range to greater focal widths. 
In summary, the most important advantages of the system according to the 
invention may be described as a significant simplification of the entire 
weapons system because the observer, who is located in the chassis and 
fully protected by armor, is able to observe and analyze near and target 
areas with a quality equivalent to direct observation and under 
unfavorable conditions, obtain even higher quality than direct observation 
by means of the binocular viewing device; that a high reaction velocity 
may be obtained by sector observation and distance dependent angle of 
vision settings, which may be further enhanced by the blending of data 
into the field of vision of the observer; and that the observer may be 
aided in the detection and tracking of targets by electronic image 
processing, which again has a positive effect on the reaction velocity.