Patent ID: 7966763

Claim:
A projectile launching apparatus comprising: a barrel configured to discharge a first projectile; a projectile launcher supported by the barrel and configured to discharge a second projectile; a first and second aiming mechanism, wherein said first aiming mechanism is coupled to said projectile launching apparatus and comprises at least one aiming structure for determining a path of said first projectile, said second aiming mechanism is coupled to said projectile launching apparatus and comprises a plurality of sections comprising: an actuator operably coupled to the barrel and the projectile launcher, the actuator configured to adjust an angle of inclination of the projectile launcher relative to the barrel; a positioning section adapted to determine at least one position data comprising a first position data, wherein said positioning section comprises a range finder configured to generate said first position data comprising a range signal indicative of a distance to a target from said range finder; a controller comprising a memory, an input and output portion, and a digital logic portion adapted to process machine readable instructions which are stored in said memory, wherein said machine readable instructions comprises a plurality of processing sequences comprising a first processing sequence; an inclination sensor operably coupled to the controller and configured to generate a second position data comprising a position signal indicative of the angle of inclination of the projectile launcher to the barrel; and an override operably coupled to the controller, the controller configured to prevent operation of the projectile launcher if the range signal indicates a distance beyond the maximum range of the projectile, absent activation of the override; wherein said controller is operably coupled to the range finder and inclination sensor, said controller and said first processing sequence is configured to send a first control signal to the actuator in response to the range signal to adjust the angle of inclination of the projectile launcher relative to the barrel wherein said controller is adapted to selectively adjust said angle of inclination in a plurality of arc trajectories based on said range signal.