Patent Abstract:
One virtual environment hunting system includes a platform, a wall surrounding the platform, a projector system configured to apply images to the wall, and at least one processor. The wall is separated from the platform by a floor, defines an opening above the platform, and is configured such that all bullets fired to the wall from a shooter on the platform reflect into the floor. Programming causes the processor to: (a) actuate the projector system to apply images to the wall to represent an environment; (b) determine a trajectory of a fired bullet using data from at least one housing sensor and at least one shooter sensor; (c) determine how the trajectory of the fired bullets interacts with the represented environment; and (d) actuate the projector system to update the images applied to the wall to account for the trajectory of the fired bullets.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Patent Application No. 61/520,201, filed Jun. 6, 2011, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     People regularly hunt birds, animals, and even other people (e.g., fugitives or enemies) using firearms. Firearms are typically, though clearly not always, used outdoors and are by their very nature dangerous. As such, proper training for firearm use is often emphasized. 
     Currently, firearm training that uses live fire often occurs at local firing ranges where physical targets are displayed and fired upon in designated, linear areas. Hunting, on the other hand, generally involves traveling to locations having sought prey, and often requires one or more licenses. While some prior art systems use lasers or other non-live fire for training purposes, such systems may fail to provide an accurate experience that fully simulates (or prepares the user for) live fire. 
     SUMMARY 
     Virtual environment hunting systems and methods are provided. According to one embodiment, a virtual environment hunting system includes a platform, at least one wall surrounding the platform, at least one projector, at least one housing sensor, at least one shooter sensor, and at least one processor. The at least one wall is separated from the platform by a floor, defines an opening above the platform, and is configured such that all bullets fired to the at least one wall from a shooter on the platform reflect into the floor. The at least one projector is configured to apply images to the at least one wall. The processor is in data communication with the at least one projector, the at least one housing sensor, the at least one shooter sensor, and programming. The programming causing the processor to: (a) actuate the at least one projector to apply images to the at least one wall to represent an environment, the images including a visual representation of prey; (b) determine a trajectory of a fired bullet using data from the at least one housing sensor and the at least one shooter sensor; (c) determine how the trajectory of the fired bullets interacts with the represented environment; and (d) actuate the at least one projector to update the images applied to the at least one wall to account for the trajectory of the fired bullets. 
     According to another embodiment, a virtual environment hunting system includes a first area having a first platform and at least one wall surrounding the first platform. The at least one wall is separated from the first platform by a first floor, defines an opening above the first platform, and is configured such that all bullets fired to the at least one wall from a shooter on the first platform reflect into the first floor. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Illustrative embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the attached drawings. 
         FIG. 1  is a sectional view of a virtual environment hunting system according to one embodiment, in use. 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram showing certain components of the system of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a section view of a part of a wall of the system of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a flow chart showing an exemplary set of steps performed by the system of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  shows an alternate embodiment of a housing of the system of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Firearms have become a common household item, and it is estimated that over seventy million people in the United States alone own at least one firearm. Firearms may be used for a variety of purposes. For example, people may use firearms to defend their homes and workplaces (e.g., shops or banks) against invaders, to hunt animals, to defend against enemies in wars, or for mere recreation. 
     To improve their shooting accuracy, firearm owners often practice their shooting at firing ranges. One type of firing range generally comprises an enclosed area that is divided into multiple linear shooting lanes. Each shooting lane may include a pulley (or other comparable) system that allows the shooter to set up a target paper within the lane at a desirable distance. The shooter may set up the target paper at the desired distance, shoot at the target paper, and then reel the target paper back towards him to analyze the accuracy of his shots. 
     This type of a firing range, however, has several drawbacks. Consider, for example, a bird (e.g., pheasant) hunter who uses a conventional firing range to improve his bird hunting skills. In practice, the bird hunter may encounter target birds flying in all directions. The firing range, however, may only allow the bird hunter to practice his shots in a linear direction. Moreover, the target paper may not be shaped like a bird, and the stationery target paper may not prepare the bird hunter to shoot at flying targets. Additionally, the overall ambiance and environment of the firing range may fail to emulate an actual hunting environment (e.g., a forest or hunting ground). 
     Another type of firing range is less confined and launches clay targets as targets for shooters. Those firing ranges may require a relatively large amount of space, and the movement of the clay targets may fail to accurately depict the flight of a bird. 
     Because of these drawbacks, the bird hunter may prefer to practice shooting at birds on an actual hunting ground instead of a firing range. This too, however, has its drawbacks. For example, if a bird hunter shoots at a live bird and misses, he may not get any feedback to help him correct his mistake (e.g., the bird hunter may not know whether his shot was too high, or too much to the left, et cetera). Furthermore, shooting on the hunting ground may require costly licenses, and the hunting ground may only be open during particular seasons and not allow the hunter to practice his shooting year round. 
     Virtual shooting ranges may solve some of these problems. Virtual shooting ranges, akin to certain shooting video games available on the market today, may display targets on a screen and allow a user to shoot at these targets with a dummy gun that emits, for example, infrared signals or lasers. Such virtual shooting ranges, however, have their own drawbacks; the most noticeable of which is that they do not simulate live fire. Those who have fired firearms will appreciate that the experience of firing a live gun, because of gun recoil and other such factors (e.g., loading and reloading, gun heft and feel, et cetera), cannot be accurately replicated with dummy guns. 
     Attention is now directed to  FIG. 1 , which shows a cross sectional view of a virtual environment hunting system  100  in accordance with one embodiment of the current invention. The hunting system  100  comprises a housing or shooting area  102  which generally surrounds a platform  200 . As discussed in more detail below, a user may shoot live rounds at the housing  102  while standing (or sitting, kneeling, et cetera) on the platform  200 . 
     As people of skill in the art will appreciate, shooting live rounds in an enclosed space presents serious safety concerns. Specifically, a bullet from a firearm (such as a rifle, hand gun, etc.), once it hits a surface of an enclosed space, may ricochet and injure (or even kill) the shooter or others in the vicinity. The housing  102  may be designed to prevent such unintended consequences. While the system  100  is generally described in use with “bullets”, it should be understood that the term “bullet” is used herein both to refer to a single projectile such as that fired from a rifle as well as pellets (or “shot”) such as those fired from a shotgun. 
     To prevent such unintended consequences, the housing  102  may generally be dome shaped and have a curved portion  104  and a top portion  106  as shown in  FIG. 1 . The curved portion  104  may be configured to ensure that a bullet fired by a shooter on the platform  200  does not ricochet back to the platform  200 , irrespective of where it strikes the curved portion  104 , and irrespective of the position of the shooter on the platform  200 . More specifically, a shooter  108  may shoot at the curved portion  104  a bullet having an angled trajectory  110  from a rifle  112  while standing towards a side  200 L of the platform  200 ; as can be seen, the bullet, because of the arced shape of the curved portion  104 , may be reflected along a trajectory  114  into the ground  116  (away from the platform  200 ). Similarly, the shooter  108  may kneel and shoot at the curved portion  104  a bullet having generally horizontal trajectory  118 ; this bullet too, because of the arced shape of the curved portion  104 , may be reflected along a trajectory  120  into the ground  116 . While the trajectories  110 ,  118  of two bullets are shown in  FIG. 1 , people of skill in the art will appreciate that any bullet shot by the shooter  108  at the curved portion  104 , as he stands, sits, kneels, et cetera on the platform  200  (regardless of whether the shooter  108  is located at the side  200 L, a side  200 R, or anywhere else on the platform  200 ), may ricochet into the ground  116  and not contact the platform  200 . The ground  116  may be configured to ensure that the bullets will not ricochet off it; for example, the ground  116  may comprise loose dirt and be capable of absorbing hundreds of bullets. From time to time, the bullets and shells on the ground  116  may be removed (e.g., by replacing the loose dirt on the ground  116 ). 
     To ensure that a bullet shot generally vertically by the shooter  108  does not reflect back towards the platform  200 , the top portion  106  may have various configurations. In one embodiment, the top portion  106  is shaped like a cone and have angled walls  106 W. The angled walls  106 W may be tilted so as to deflect any bullet away from the platform  200 . For example, a bullet fired at the top portion  106  along trajectory  122  may be deflected towards the ground  116  along trajectory  124  after hitting the angled walls  106 W more than once. It will be appreciated that a bullet fired at an edge  126  of the top portion  106  may deflect straight back towards the platform  200 , as this bullet may not contact the angled walls  106 W. The edge  126  may thus be constructed of materials configured to absorb and retain bullets (e.g., shock absorbing concrete such as SACON®, or other suitable materials). In other embodiments, the top  126  may be offset from above a center point of the platform  200 . And in still other embodiments, much or all of the walls  106 W may be configured to absorb and retain bullets. 
     Thus, as has been described, the shooter  108  may stand (or walk around, sit, kneel, lie down, et cetera) on the platform  200  and shoot live rounds anywhere at the housing  102  indiscriminately without risking injury from ricocheting bullets. People of skill in the art will appreciate that the platform  200  may be circular or any other desirable shape (e.g., rectangular, triangular, octagonal, et cetera). 
     Attention is now directed to  FIG. 2 . The hunting system  100  may be interactive, and may include a processor or controller  300  that is in data communication with projectors  302 , platform sensors  304 , housing sensors  306 , shooter sensors  308 , input devices  310 , and output devices  312 . The hunting system  100  may also include a storage unit  314  and a computer memory  316  in data communication with the processor  300 . The storage unit  314  may be, for example, a disk drive that stores programs and data, and the storage unit  314  is illustratively shown storing a program  318  embodying the steps and methods set forth below. It should be understood that the program  318  could be broken into subprograms and stored in storage units of separate computers and that data could be transferred between those storage units using methods known in the art. A dashed outline within the computer memory  316  represents the software program  318  loaded into the computer memory  316 , and a dashed line between the storage unit  314  and the computer memory  316  illustrates the transfer of the program  318  between the storage unit  314  and the computer memory  316 . The processor  300 , the storage unit  314 , and the computer memory  316  may be placed within the housing  102  (e.g., underneath the platform  200 ) or may be external to the housing  102 . 
     The projectors  302  may be any appropriate type of projectors, for example, HD projectors, LCD projectors, DLP projectors, CRT projectors, et cetera. The projectors  302  may be placed underneath the platform  200  ( FIG. 1 ) and/or on the sides  200 L,  200 R of the platform  200 . The projectors  302  may also be placed within the top portion  106  or the curved portion  104  of the housing  102 . When the projectors  302  are placed within the top portion  106  or the curved portion  104 , protective coverings may be provided to shield the projectors  302  from damage by bullets and ensure proper deflection of bullets. 
     The projectors  302  may be configured to project videos onto the curved portion  104  and the angled walls  106 W. In some embodiments, the videos may be projected by the projectors  302  on part of the curved portion  104  and/or the angled walls  106 W to create a virtual environment. Alternatively, the videos may be projected by the projectors  302  in continuous fashion on the entire curved portion  104  and/or the angled walls  106 W to generate a virtual environment that surrounds the shooter  108  standing on the platform  200  on all sides. The projectors  302  may also display still images. In some embodiments, the projectors  302  may be 3D projectors that are configured to display 3D images and videos on the curved portion  104  and/or the angled walls  106 W. 
     The platform  200  may include one or more of the platform sensors  304 , which may be, for example, weight sensors or relays that are configured to determine whether or not the shooter  108  is standing on the platform  200 . Where multiple platform sensors  304  are provided, the platform sensors  304  may also be used to determine the location of the shooter  108  on the platform  200  (e.g., shooter  108  is standing towards the side  200 L of the platform  200 ). The platform sensors  304  may also act as part of a kill switch. More specifically, as discussed in more detail below, the processor  300  may be configured to immediately shut down the projectors  302  and terminate the program  318  as soon as the shooter  108  steps off the platform  200 . 
     The housing sensors  306  may be any type of sensors that can detect that a bullet has impacted the housing  102 . In the preferred embodiment, the housing sensors  306  may be configured to detect vibrations (for example, the housing sensors  306  may be piezoelectric accelerometers). As shown in  FIG. 3 , the curved portion  104  of the housing  102  may include an inner wall  1041 , an intermediate wall  104 B backing the inner wall  1041 , and an outer wall  1040 . The inner wall  1041  of the curved portion  104  may be metallic, and in conjunction with the intermediate wall  104 B and the outer wall  1040 , may be configured to deflect bullets towards the ground  116 . Multiple housing sensors  306  may be secured at known intervals to the intermediate wall  104 B. These housing sensors  306  may also be in contact with the inner wall  1041 . A shooter  108  standing on the platform  200  may shoot a bullet B having a trajectory A at the inner wall  1041 , which may cause vibrations to flow along the inner wall  1041  in direction D. The housing sensors  306  may be configured to evaluate these vibrations to enable the processor  300  to quantify the point of impact of the bullet B on the inner wall  1041 . 
     Specifically, as will be appreciated, the vibrations from the bullet B will reach different housing sensors  306  at different times depending on the proximity of the housing sensors  306  to the point of impact (i.e., a housing sensor  306  that is closer to the point of impact of the bullet B on the inner wall  1041  may detect these vibrations before a housing sensor  306  that is further away from the point of impact.) Based on the different times at which these vibrations are detected by the various housing sensors  306 , and the known distances between the various housing sensors  306 , the processor  300  may triangulate the point of impact of the bullet B on the inner wall  1041  with precision. The top portion  106  of the housing  102  may similarly include housing sensors  306  to determine the point of impact of a bullet that strikes the angled walls  106 W. In other embodiments, the sensors  306  may for example include audio and/or optical sensors. 
     Additional information may be provided to the processor  300  by the shooter sensors  308 . The shooter sensors  308  may be configured to determine or approximate the location of the firearm  112  when the bullet B is fired by the shooter  108 . By way of example, the shooter sensors  308  may be optical or audio position sensors that have an emitting element and sensing elements. The emitting element may for example be adhered to the firearm  112  (e.g., on the scope of a rifle or the butt of a handgun) or incorporated into the apparel of the shooter  108  (e.g., on a shooter&#39;s earmuffs or helmet). The corresponding sensing elements may reside within the platform  200  or the housing  102 . The emitting element may emit, for example, laser beams or radio frequency waves that are sensed by the sensing elements. The processor  300 , based for example on the time that elapses between the emissions by the emitting element and the sensing by the sensing element, the known speed of the emissions, and the strength of the received signal, may triangulate or otherwise determine the location of the firearm  112  at the time the bullet B was fired by the shooter  108 . From this information, the processor  300  may ascertain whether the shooter  108  was kneeling on the platform  200  as he fired the bullet B, or whether the shooter  108  was standing up or lying down, et cetera while firing. Where the platform sensors  304  are configured to determine the position of the shooter  108  on the platform  200 , the processor  300  may nevertheless triangulate the position of the shooter  108  on the platform  200  using the shooter sensors  308  to verify (or determine with improved accuracy) the position of the shooter  108 —and particularly the firearm  112 . People of skill in the art will appreciate that the number of sensing elements and emitting elements of the shooter sensors  308  need not be equal, and that positioning of the sensing elements and emitting elements may be reversed. 
     The input devices  310  may include, for example, a keyboard, a mouse, a microphone, et cetera. The input devices  310  may be wired to the processor  300  or may be configured to communicate with the processor  300  wirelessly (e.g., over a wireless internet or intranet network). As discussed in more detail below, the input devices  310  may allow an administrator or user of the virtual hunting system  100  to access, configure, and tailor the program  318  to meet the specific requirements of the user. The output devices  312  may include, for example, printers, speakers, video and/or audio recorders, et cetera. 
     Attention is now directed to  FIG. 4 , which shows example steps performed by the processor  300  in accordance with the program  318  according to one embodiment. The program  318  begins at step  400 , and at step  402  asks the shooter  108  whether he would like to select a shooting environment  403 . This inquiry (and the remaining inquiries) may for example be displayed by the projectors  302  for the shooter  108  on the inner wall  1041  of the curved portion  104 . The shooter  108  may respond to the inquiries by using one or more of the input devices  310 . If the shooter  108  conveys that he does not want to select a shooting environment  403 , the program  318  may end at step  402 E (or alternatively, randomly select a shooting environment  403  for the shooter  108 ). If, on the other hand, the shooter  108  answers at step  402  that he would like to select a shooting environment  403 , at step  404 , the program  318  may cause the projectors  302  to display various available shooting environments  403 . By way of example, these shooting environments  403  may include a hunting environment  403 A and a military environment  403 B. 
     The hunting environment  403 A may be configured to emulate hunting experiences. For example, selection of the hunting environment  403 A may cause the projectors  302  to display onto the inner wall  1041  of the curved portion  104  and the angled walls  106 W of the top portion  106  a forest as it appears during the day time, a hunting ground as it appears at dusk, a wooded area with a water body as it appears in the evening, et cetera. The military environment  403 B may be configured to emulate militaristic scenarios. For example, if the shooter  108  chooses the military environment  403 B, the projectors may simulate residential areas with tanks and other military vehicles and weapons, et cetera. It will be appreciated that the hunting environment  403 A and the military environment  403 B are exemplary only and that various other environments  403 C may be provided (e.g., a futuristic environment depicting robots and space vehicles, a medieval environment with knights on horses, an environment simulating a burglary, an environment simulating a kidnapping, et cetera). 
     The shooting environments  403  may be customized further to meet the unique requirements of the shooter  108 . For example, if the shooter  108  chooses the hunting environment  403 A at step  404 , then at step  406  the program  318  may inquire whether the shooter  108  wishes to shoot at birds, deer, or other animals. Similarly, if the shooter  108  had chosen a military environment  403 B, the program  318  could have inquired at step  406 , for example, whether the shooter  108  wishes to emulate the Cold War, World War I or II, the Iraqi invasion, et cetera. 
     Assume that the shooter  108  chooses birds at step  406 . At step  408 , then, the program  318  may provide the shooter  108  with different types of birds to choose from (e.g., pheasants, doves, ducks, et cetera). If the shooter  108  had chosen the military environment  403 B at step  404  and the Iraqi invasion at step  406 , for example, then at step  408 , the program  318  may have inquired whether the shooter  108  wishes to practice his shooting in a crowded or uncongested area. For purposes of illustration, ducks  411  have been chosen at step  408  in  FIG. 4 . 
     Steps  402 ,  404 ,  406 ,  408  in the embodiment of  FIG. 4  may be collectively thought of as setup or user input steps. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that some (or even all) of those steps may be combined together or omitted, and that additional setup steps may be included. For example, the type of firearm  112  and ammunition and/or a duration (e.g., one hundred targets, one hundred shots, a time limit, etc.) may be selected. 
     At step  410 , the program  318  may cause the projectors  302  to project onto the internal wall  1041  and/or the angled walls  106 W one or more target ducks  411  (see  FIG. 1 ). The ducks  411  may be displayed as being at rest or in flight, and the ducks  411  may be blended in with the hunting environment  403 A (e.g., the ducks  411  may be shown as resting in a pond) which may remain stationary or which may constantly change to simulate wind, cloud cover, or other environmental factors. At the same time, the program  318  may cause the speakers  312  to provide audio inside the housing  102  to further simulate the hunting environment and prey. 
     After causing the projectors  302  to display the target ducks  411 , the processor  300  may poll the housing sensors  306  to determine whether the bullet B has been fired by the shooter  108 . If the housing sensors  306  indicate that the bullet B has been fired (i.e., if some or all of the housing sensors  306  detect significant vibrations), then at step  414  the program  318  may determine the point of impact of the bullet B on the internal wall  1041  and/or the angled walls  106 W (e.g., through triangulation). As discussed above, the processor  300  may quantify the point of impact of the bullet B by using the difference in the times at which the vibrations caused by the bullet B are detected by the various sensors  306 , and the known distance between these sensors  306 . 
     At step  416 , the processor  300  may determine the location of the shooter  108  on the platform  200 —and specifically the location of the firearm  112 —at the time the bullet B was fired by using the platform sensors  304  and/or the shooter sensors  308 . At step  418 , as discussed above, the processor  300  may also determine whether the shooter  108  was standing up, kneeling, lying down, et cetera while shooting the bullet B by using the shooter sensors  308 . 
     At step  420 , the processor  300  may determine whether the bullet B struck any of the target ducks  411 . Specifically, the processor  300  may keep track of the location of the projected target ducks  411  on the inner wall  1041  and/or the angled walls  106 W at all times. The processor  300  may also determine the time of impact of the bullet B by using the housing sensors  306 , and may determine the trajectory of the bullet B using the firing location, the point of impact, and information about the firearm  112  and the bullet B such as orientation of the firearm  112  (which may be provided by a gyroscope attached to the firearm  112 , through analyzing visual data captured by the video recorder  312 , etc.), velocity of the bullet B upon firing, the shape of the bullet B, et cetera. The processor  300  may then compare the location of the target ducks  411  to the trajectory of the bullet B and determine whether the bullet B struck any of the target ducks  411 . 
     If the bullet B did not strike a target duck  411 , then at step  421  the processor  318  may save the information from steps  414  to  420  in a report  421 R and loop back to step  412  to wait for the next bullet B. If, on the other hand, the processor  300  determines that the bullet B struck a duck  411 , the processor  300  may save the information from steps  414  to  420  in the report  421 R at step  422  and simulate death of the duck  411  at step  424 . For example, the processor  300  may cause the projectors  302  to display the duck  411  falling down from flight onto the ground. Next, at step  426 , the processor  300  may project one or more other target ducks  411 , and according to step  428 , repeat steps  412  to  426  until a run time  427  elapses. Steps  412 ,  414 ,  416 ,  418 ,  420 ,  421 ,  422 ,  424 ,  426  may be repeated very quickly to analyze shots fired in quick succession (or generally simultaneously, such as with shotgun shot). 
     The run time  427  may be, for example, a fixed length of time such as ten minutes, twenty minutes, an hour, et cetera. Alternatively, the run time  427  may be performance based; for example, the run time  427  may elapse when the shooter  108  successfully shoots down (or misses) ten target ducks  411 , twenty target ducks  411 , et cetera. After the run time  427  elapses, the processor  300  may finalize the report  421 R. The program  318  may then end at step  432 . 
     Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various described steps may occur in different orders, and that steps may be omitted or added. For example, in some embodiments, step  416  and step  418  may occur before step  414 ; or step  418  may be omitted. 
     The report  421 R may be, for example, computer printouts that outline the performance of the shooter  108 . For example, the report  421 R may include the number of target ducks  411  that the shooter  108  was able to shoot successfully, and the number of bullets B that were off-target. In the case of shotgun shot, the number of off-target shots taken (instead of the number of bullets B) may be provided. In addition, the report  421 R may include, for example, the number of ducks  411  that the shooter  108  was able to shoot in the head or body, as opposed to the wing. The report  421 R may also include suggestions for the shooter  108 . For example, the report  421 R may outline that the shooter  108  is generally off-target towards the left and that the he should aim further towards the right. Or, for example, the report  421 R may convey that the shooter  108  was kneeling when he should have been standing up, or that the shooter  108  should have moved to the left  200 L of the platform  200  to get a clear line of sight to shoot a duck  411  that was otherwise obstructed by a tree. The report  421 R may also include a video and audio recording of the shooter&#39;s experience with the virtual hunting system  100 , captured by the output device(s)  312 . The shooter  108  may utilize the video and the instructional feedback in the report  421 R to improve his shooting. 
     In some embodiments, the program  318  may allow the shooter  108  to shoot at the target ducks  411  with different types of firearms and ammunition. For example, shooter  411  may shoot at the first ten target ducks  411  with a twelve gauge shotgun  112 , and at the next ten target ducks  411  with a twenty gauge shotgun  112 . For different types of prey, a rifle  112 , a nine mm handgun  112 , a .38 caliber pistol  112 , etc. may be used. As people of skill in the art will appreciate, parameters of the calculations performed by the processor  300  may vary based on the type of firearm and ammunition; for example, the duration between firing and impact on the housing  102  may be different for different types of firearms and ammunition. Similarly, the vibrations sensed by the housing sensors  306  may be different for different firearms (e.g., the housing sensors  306  may sense greater vibrations from a bullet fired by a nine mm handgun than from a bullet fired by a .22 caliber handgun). The program  318  may allow the shooter  108  to input via the input devices  310  the types of firearms  112  and ammunition that the shooter  108  wants to shoot with so that the processor  300  accounts for them in its computations. In some embodiments, the program  318  may allow the shooter  108  to enter these and other preferences into the system  100  by using a firearm instead of the input devices  310  (i.e., the program may display the options and allow the shooter  108  to choose a particular option by shooting at it). 
     As set forth above, while the system  100  is generally described in use with “bullets”, it should be understood that the term “bullet” is used herein both to refer to a single projectile such as that fired from a rifle as well as pellets (or “shot”) such as those fired from a shotgun. When a shotgun and shot are used, it may be desirable for the processor  300  to track the travel of all or substantially all of the pellets in the manner discussed above, treating individual pellets in generally the same way that a projectile from a rifle is treated. 
     The program  318  may also be configured to generate targeted advertisements for the shooter  108  by using the report  421 R. For example, if the report  421 R indicates that the shooter  108  is unable to consistently hit the chosen target with the rifle  112  but that the shooter  108  is able to consistently hit the chosen target with a 9 mm handgun and a .38 caliber pistol, the report  421 R may suggest that the shooter  108  purchase a different rifle  112 , a different type of rifle  112 , different ammunition for the rifle  112 , a scope, et cetera. The program  318  may also include for the shooter  108  coupons and other promotional offers from stores in the area where such items may be purchased. Similarly, if the report  421 R indicates that the shooter  108  is unable to consistently shoot the chosen target with any type of firearm, then the report  421 R may suggest that the shooter  108  retain a personal trainer and provide to the shooter  108  promotional offers from such personal trainers. An owner (or administrator) of the hunting system  100  may charge the shooter  108  to use the system  100 , and/or the targeted advertisements may generate revenue for the owners. Further, the video and audio recording of the experience (captured by the output devices  312 ) may be made available (e.g., online or through a disc or other media), either for a fee or free of charge, and with or without advertising added. 
     As discussed above, when the shooter  108  successfully shoots at a target duck  411 , at step  424 , the program  318  may simulate death of the duck  411  (e.g., display the duck  411  falling down). In some embodiments, the simulation may be more interactive. Consider, for example, that the shooter  108  chooses the military environment  403 B as the shooting environment  403 . The processor  300  may then cause the projectors  302  to display enemy targets (e.g., enemy soldiers on foot, enemy soldiers in tanks, et cetera). The projected enemy targets may be configured to shoot back at the shooter  108 . In this embodiment, the platform  200  may (but need not) include barricades (e.g., barrels, walls, et cetera) which the shooter  108  may use to evade the projected enemy fire. The processor  300  may determine whether the projected enemy fire struck the shooter  108  by evaluating the known trajectories of the enemy fire along with the position and location of the shooter  108  on the platform  200  as ascertained via the platform sensors  304  and the shooter sensors  308 . The report  421 R may outline whether the shooter  108  was struck by enemy fire, and the steps that the shooter  108  could have taken to better evade the enemy fire. 
     According to another embodiment, the virtual environment hunting system  100  may include multiple housings  102  that are in data communication with each other. For example, a warehouse or other such structure may include four separate housings  102  to enable four different shooters  108  to simultaneously experience the virtual environment of the hunting system  100 . Or the housings  102  may be remote from each other but connected through a network. Each of the housings  102  may display on their inner walls  1041  and the angled walls  106 W the same shooting environment  403 , either from the same or different vantage points. Consider, for example, that the four shooters  108  choose the hunting environment  403 A as the shooting environment  403  and the ducks  411  as targets. Then, a duck  411  that is shot by one of the shooters  108  may be displayed as being shot in all four housings  102 . Each of the four shooters  108  may attempt to shoot the ducks  411  before the ducks  411  are shot by the other three shooters  108 . The report  421 R may include the number of target ducks  411  that each shooter  108  shot successfully, to enable the shooters  108  to compare their performances with each other. The report  421 R may also include other information. For example, the report  421 R may outline which shooter  108  was most accurate (i.e., had the best ratio of shots fired versus targets  411  struck), or where applicable, which shooter  108  was best able to evade enemy fire. Such versatility may make the hunting system  100  particularly attractive for militaristic applications (e.g., for conducting comparative tests on a large scale). Families and friends may also enjoy interacting with each other via the hunting system  100  in this fashion. 
     In some embodiments, the shooting environment  403  of the interconnected housings  102  may allow the shooters  108  to shoot at (the projections of) other shooters  108 . Consider, for example, a hunting system  100  that includes two housings  102  that are in data communication with each other. The projectors  302  of each housing  102  may display on the inner wall  1041  and the angled walls  106 W a target that emulates the shooter  108  in the other housing  102 . For example, if a shooter  108  in one housing  108  is kneeling behind a barricade on the platform  200 , the target in the other housing  102  may be projected as kneeling behind a barricade. Alternatively, a video of the actual shooter  108  in one housing  102  may be projected in the other housing  102  in real time. The shooters  108  may thus safely shoot at each other (i.e., at the projections of each other) with live rounds. 
     As noted above, for safety, it is important that the shooters  108  stay on the platforms  200  while shooting, as otherwise, the shooters  108  may be struck unintentionally with ricocheting bullets. The processor  300  may thus be configured to continuously poll the platform sensors  304  to ensure that the shooters  108  are situated on the platform  200 . If the platform sensors  304  indicate that a shooter  108  has stepped off the platform  200 , even momentarily, the processor  300  may generate an audible warning signal and immediately shut down the program  318 , including the projectors  302 , and not restart the program  318  until the shooter  108  steps back onto the platform  200 . In some embodiments, if a shooter  108  steps off the platform  200 , the processor  300  may terminate the program  318  and not restart the program  318  until an administrator of the system  100  follows up with the shooter  108 . 
     While each housing  102  and platform  200  have been described herein as accommodating a single shooter  108  at a time, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the housing  102  and the platform  200  may be designed to accommodate multiple shooters  108  simultaneously. Additionally, the housing  102  need not be generally dome shaped as shown in  FIG. 1 . Rather, the housing  102  may take any shape, so long as it is ensured that bullets will not reflect off the walls of the housing  102  onto the platform  200 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , for example, a housing  502  generally shaped as a pyramid may be used for the virtual environment hunting system  100 . 
     Many different arrangements of the various components depicted, as well as components not shown, are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Embodiments of the present invention have been described with the intent to be illustrative rather than restrictive. Alternative embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art that do not depart from its scope. A skilled artisan may develop alternative means of implementing the aforementioned improvements without departing from the scope of the present invention. It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations and are contemplated within the scope of the claims. Not all steps listed in the various figures need be carried out in the specific order described.

Technology Classification (CPC): 5