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Since ancient times, mankind has manifested interest in the development and improvement of weapons, either for military or hunting purposes. Today, in competition with these legal practices, the number of those who commit crimes by non-compliance with the regime of weapons and ammunition has increased exponentially. This is why the technology and methods employed in the area of judicial ballistics, requires constant research and continuous learning. The present paper advances a new experimental set-up and its corresponding methodology, meant to measure the force deployed by the firing pin. The new experimental set-up and procedure consists of a mechatronic structure, based on a piezoelectric force transducer, which allows to measure, in-situ, the force produced by the firing pin when it is deployed. The obtained information can further be used to establish a correspondence between this force and the imprint left on the firing cap. This correspondence furthers the possibility of elaborating a model that would permit ballistic experts to correctly identify a smoothbore weapon.

As illustrated in literature, ballistics is a branch of theoretical mechanics, which studies the construction and working principles of firearms and ammunition, their effects, as well as the motions of projectiles and bullets 1 . Criminalistics identification, as part of judiciary identification represents an activity aimed at finding common traits of different objects, objectives, phenomena and beings, but more importantly, traits that differentiate each of them from similar ones 2-4 . In judicial ballistics, in the case of rifled firearms it is relatively simple for experts to identify the used weapon from traces left on the projectile, as the rifling of the barrel leaves imprints on the bullet, which remain approximately identical even after the respective weapon is fired 100 times with the same barrel. However, in the case of smoothbore firearms, their identification becomes much more complicated. As the firing cap suffers alterations from being hit by the firing pin, determination of the force generated during impact creates the premises for determining the type of firearm used to shoot the respective cartridge. The present paper proposes a simple impact model that can be used to evaluate the force generated by the firing pin during its impact with the firing cap. The present research clearly showed that each rifle, by the combination of the three investigated parameters (impact force maximum value, its variation diagram, and impact time) leave a unique trace. Application of such a method in ballistics can create the perspectives for formulating clear conclusions that eliminate possible judicial errors in this field.

High frame-rate imaging is a valuable tool for non-destructive evaluation (NDE) as well as for ballistic impact studies (terminal ballistics), in-flight projectile imaging, studies of exploding ordnance and characterization of other high-speed phenomena. Current imaging systems exist for these studies, however, none have the ability to do in-barrel characterization (in-bore ballistics) to image kinetics of the moving projectile BEFORE it exits the barrel. The system uses an intensified high-speed CMOS camera coupled to a specially designed scintillator to serve as the X-ray detector. The X-ray source is a sequentially fired portable pulsed unit synchronized with the detector integration window and is able to acquire 3,600 frames per second (fps) with mega-pixel spatial resolution and up to 500,000 fps with reduced pixel resolution. This paper will discuss our results imaging .30 caliber bullets traveling at ~1,000 m/s while still in the barrel. Information on bullet deformation, pitch, yaw and integrity are the main goals of this experimentation. Planned future upgrades for imaging large caliber projectiles will also be discussed.

In the experiment SIGNAL, which is planned to take place on board spacecraft INTERHELIOPROBE, a xenon gammaray spectrometer is to be used. The gamma-ray spectrometer in question has been chosen because of its characteristics permitting detailed study of solar gamma-radiation under rough experimental conditions. The equipment is able to provide: high energy resolution (5-6-fold better than that of scintillation detectors), performance at high temperatures, steady operation under significant vibroacoustic load, and high radiation resistance of the working medium. The aforesaid properties of the xenon gamma-ray spectrometer meet goals and objectives of the experiment SIGNAL. The description of ballistics scenario and operation orbit of the INTERHELIOPROBE spacecraft (SC) are presented.

We apply two-wavelength phase shifting interferometry to generate 3D surface profile maps of spent bullet cartridge cases. From the captured interferograms, an optimized algorithm was used to calculate a phase profile from which a precise digital surface map of the cartridge casing may be produced. This 3D surface profile is used to enhance a firearms examiner's ability to uniquely identify distinct features or toolmarks imprinted on the casing when the weapon is fired. These features play a key role in the matching process of ballistic forensic examination.

The novel application of sensing technology, based on chromatic white light (CWL), gives a new insight into ballistic analysis of cartridge cases. The CWL sensor uses a beam of white light to acquire highly detailed topography and luminance data simultaneously. The proposed 3D imaging system combines advantages of 3D and 2D image processing algorithms in order to automate the extraction of firearm specific toolmarks shaped on fired specimens. The most important characteristics of a fired cartridge case are the type of the breech face marking as well as size, shape and location of extractor, ejector and firing pin marks. The feature extraction algorithm normalizes the casing surface and consistently searches for the appropriate distortions on the rim and on the primer. The location of the firing pin mark in relation to the lateral scratches on the rim provides unique rotation invariant characteristics of the firearm mechanisms. Additional characteristics are the volume and shape of the firing pin mark. The experimental evaluation relies on the data set of 15 cartridge cases fired from three 9mm firearms of different manufacturers. The results show very high potential of 3D imaging systems for casing-based computer-aided firearm identification, which is prospectively going to support human expertise.

Leveraging the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Indian Head Division's historical experience in weapon simulation, Naval Sea Systems Command commissioned development of a remote-controlled, digitally programmable Sensor Test Target as part of a modern, outdoor hardware-in-the-loop test system for ordnance-related guidance, navigation and control systems. The overall Target system design invokes a sciences-based, "design of automated experiments" approach meant to close the logistical distance between sensor engineering and developmental T&E in outdoor conditions over useful real world distances. This enables operating modes that employ broad spectrum electromagnetic energy in many a desired combination, variably generated using a Jet Engine Simulator, a multispectral infrared emitter array, optically enhanced incandescent Flare Simulators, Emitter/Detector mounts, and an RF corner reflector kit. As assembled, the recently tested Sensor Test Target prototype being presented can capably provide a full array of useful RF and infrared target source simulations for RDT&E use with developmental and existing sensors. Certain Target technologies are patent pending, with potential spinoffs in aviation, metallurgy and biofuels processing, while others are variations on well-established technology. The Sensor Test Target System is planned for extended installation at Allegany Ballistics Laboratory (Rocket Center, WV).

Knowledge regarding the processes involved in blasts and detonations is required in various applications, e.g. missile interception, blasts of high-explosive materials, final ballistics and IED identification. Blasts release large amount of energy in short time duration. Some part of this energy is released as intense radiation in the optical spectral bands. This paper proposes to measure the blast radiation by a fast multispectral radiometer. The measurement is made, simultaneously, in appropriately chosen spectral bands. These spectral bands provide extensive information on the physical and chemical processes that govern the blast through the time-dependence of the molecular and aerosol contributions to the detonation products. Multi-spectral blast measurements are performed in the visible, SWIR and MWIR spectral bands. Analysis of the cross-correlation between the measured multi-spectral signals gives the time dependence of the temperature, aerosol and gas composition of the blast. Farther analysis of the development of these quantities in time may indicate on the order of the detonation and amount and type of explosive materials. Examples of analysis of measured explosions are presented to demonstrate the power of the suggested fast multispectral radiometric analysis approach.

The progress on a laser- and stereo-camera-based trajectory measurement system that we already proposed and described in recent publications is given. The system design was extended from one to two more powerful, DSP-controllable LASER systems. Experimental results of the extended system using different projectile-/weapon combinations will be shown and discussed. Automatic processing of acquired images using common 3DIP techniques was realized. Processing steps to extract trajectory segments from images as representative for the current application will be presented. Used algorithms for backward-calculation of the projectile trajectory will be shown. Verification of produced results is done against simulated trajectories, once in terms of detection robustness and once in terms of detection accuracy. Fields of use for the current system are within the ballistic domain. The first purpose is for trajectory measurement of small and middle caliber projectiles on a shooting range. Extension to big caliber projectiles as well as an application for sniper detection is imaginable, but would require further work. Beside classical RADAR, acoustic and optical projectile detection methods, the current system represents a further projectile location method under the new class of electro-optical methods that have been evolved in recent decades and that uses 3D imaging acquisition and processing techniques.

The HuntIR long range thermal weapon sight of AIM is deployed in various out of area missions since 2004as a part of the German Future Infantryman system (IdZ). In 2007 AIM “elded RangIR as upgrade withintegrated laser Range “nder (LRF), digital magnetic compass (DMC) and “re control unit (FCU). RangIR “llsthe capability gaps of day/night “re control for grenade machine guns (GMG) and the enhanced system of theIdZ. Due to proven expertise and proprietary methods in “re control, fast access to military trials for optimisationloops and similar hardware platforms, AIM and the University of the Federal Armed Forces Hamburg (HSU)decided to team for the development of suitable “re control algorithms. The pronounced ballistic trajectoryof the 40mm GMG requires most accurate FCU-solutions speci“cally for air burst ammunition (ABM) andis most sensitive to faint eects like levelling or “ring up/downhill. This weapon was therefore selected tovalidate the quality of the FCU hard- and software under relevant military conditions. For exterior ballistics themodi“ed point mass model according to STANAG 4355 is used. The die rential equations of motions are solvednumerically, the two point boundary value problem is solved iteratively. Computing time varies according to theprecision needed and is typical in the range from 0.1 - 0.5 seconds. RangIR provided outstanding hit accuracyincluding ABM fuze timing in various trials of the Ger man Army and allied partners in 2007 and is now readyfor series production. This paper deals mainly with the fundamentals of the “re control algorithms and showshow to implement them in combination with any DSP-equipped thermal weapon sights (TWS) in a variety oflight supporting weapon systems.Keywords: thermal weapon sight, “re control unit, automatic grenade launcher, “rst hit probability, “re controlalgorithms

Military camps in out-of-area missions are permanently threatened by rockets, artillery projectiles, and mortar grenades (RAM) launched by terrorists. A good portion of these attacks are undertaken by mortars due to their specific advantages for the warfare of irregular forces and their worldwide distribution. The military installations can be protected by counter-RAM systems consisting of several artillery weapons, radar and electro-optical sensors, C 2 and fire control computers. A system analysis has shown that the precision of the sensors is vital for defending the camp with low ammunition consumptions. Furthermore, the type of ammunition is also of great impact: 35 mm Ahead ammunition is hardly suited for this application due to its small hit density and low kinetic energy of the sub-projectiles, especially in the case of mortar grenades. Therefore, 155 mm high-explosive (HE) ammunition is investigated using experimentally determined fragment data. Russian mortar projectiles are considered as worst-case RAM targets and their ballistics are mathematically modeled by an air drag function that is also used for computing firing tables. Due to uncertainties of the target positions that are given by an elliptic cylinder for specific sensor parameters, simulations are conducted in order to determine the ammunition consumption. Penetration and detonation criteria for the terminal impact are also considered and the resulting thresholds are displayed in a 3D fragment map. The results show that HE ammunition is superior to low-caliber ammunition because of their high numbers of effective fragments reducing the number of rounds significantly from hundreds to less than ten.

To perform multi-sensors simulations, the French DGA/DET (Directorate for Technical Evaluation of the French Ministry of Defense) uses CHORALE (simulated Optronic Acoustic Radar battlefield). CHORALE enables the user to create virtual and realistic multi spectral 3D scenes, and generates the physical signal received by one or several sensors, typically an IR sensor or an acoustic sensor. This article presents how the expertise is made to evaluate smart ammunition to detect ground target with infrared sensor and shape detector in a virtual battlefield with the environment CHORALE and the workshop AMOCO. The scene includes background with trees, houses, roads, fields, targets, and the ammunition. Each tool is explained to understand the physics phenomena in the scene to take into account atmospheric transmission, radiative parameters of objects and counter-measure devices. Then numeric models are described as the 6 DOF ballistics models, sensor model according precise positions inside the ammunition as well as the different steps of calculation between industrial model and technical model to obtain the global simulation. Finally, this paper explains some results of the evaluation compared with the true behavior after tests on proving ground. Then future evolutions are presented to perform similar evaluation with other kind of intelligent ammunition in a real-time model.

A combination of techniques including launch ballistics, force sensing, and time-resolved ICCD imaging was applied to the study of the mechanisms of liquid ablation in the irradiance regimes from 106-108 W/cm2. A TEA CO2 laser (λ = 10.6 μm), 300 ns pulse width and 9 J pulse energy, was used for ablation of liquids contained in various quartz glass containers in order to examine dependencies on surface tension, absorption depth, etc . Dominant mechanisms of force generation were analyzed in order to determine their characteristics, and the evolution of the liquid surface was studied in depth. Net imparted impulse and coupling coefficient were derived from the force sensor data and ballistics experiments, and relevant results will be presented for various container designs and liquids used. The key differences between surface and volume absorbing liquids was observed. Various mechanisms including plasma formation, vaporization, bulk liquid flow, etc . will be critically examined and their relevance to force generation and propulsion will be determined.© (2006) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.

Detecting and localizing a threat ballistic missile as quickly and accurately as possible are key ingredients required to engage the missile during boost phase over the territory of the aggressor, and rapid and accurate launch point determination is crucial to attack hostile facilities. Earlier research has focused on track initiation, boost phase tracking and rapid launch point determination using augmented IMM and Kalman-based techniques. This work extends that earlier research by comparing these IMM and Kalman-based trackers and backfitters with the newer particle filters to see what advantages particle filters might offer in this application. Simulations used in this research assume the ballistic missile target is in boost phase, transitioning to coast phase using a gravity turn and constant gravity. The rocket is assumed to be single stage. The IMM tracker performs well in tracking through booster cutoff. A smoothed estimate of the initial target state vector is used to backfit for launch point determination. Errors in this process are rather large and there appear to be biases in the estimates. These results are compared with a particle filter implementation. Here the correct nonlinear model of the missile dynamics was used, but the algorithm had to estimate engine thrust and the drag coefficient as well as position and velocity states. This algorithm proved to be a large disappointment because the number of particles required to generate reasonable results was large and the algorithm run time became unrealistically long.

To perform multi-sensors simulations, the French DGA/DET (Directorate for Technical Evaluation of the French Ministry of Defense) uses CHORALE (simulated Optronic Acoustic Radar battlefield). CHORALE enables the user to create virtual and realistic multi spectral 3D scenes, and generate the physical signal received by a sensor, typically an IR sensor. This article presents how the expertise is made to evaluate smart ammunition with laser guidance in a virtual battlefield with the environment CHORALE and the workshop AMOCO. The scene includes background, targets, a laser to designate and ammunition. The laser source is reflected by a target in the battlefield and the laser receiver is linked with ballistics model and guidance model via a simulation framework. Each tool is explained to understand the physics phenomena in the scene to take into account atmospheric transmission, radiative parameters of objects and counter-measure devices. Then numeric models are described as the different ballistics models 3 DOF or 6 DOF, sensor model. The step of ballistics calculation gives the cadence of the global simulation through the simulation framework. The 4 quadrants sensor provides gap between the center of optical way and the barycentre of the spot on the sensitive surface computed by a spot weighted method. These data are provided to the guidance and ballistics model to calculate a new position and a new view of the scene with the designated target in the field view. Finally, this paper explains some results of the evaluation compared with the true behavior after tests on proving ground. Then future evolutions are presented to perform similar evaluation with other intelligent ammunition in a real-time model.

To recognize the targets state in a battlefield after shots, it's possible to send a video sensor with the same ballistics than real ammunitions. This article describes the modeling of observation ammunition using simulation workshop CHORALE and AMOCO. Before real trials on a battlefield and to define the final features of an embedded video sensor, it is necessary to modeling each part of the behavior of the ammunition. The goal of this simulation is to know how the ammunition with its movements as the rotation, pitch, yaw can see the proving ground and what values of parameters it is possible to set into the embedded sensor. To perform the simulation, we need of a ballistics model taking into account the geometric form of the projectile. This ammunition flights over a battlefield so we need a realistic 3D scene model taking into account the atmospheric conditions, real target, geometric target and all existing things on a real proving ground as building, forest and so on. The frame seen by the sensor is modified by its transfer function. The video sensor model takes into account lot of functional parameters as Optic, Detector and electronic function. An algorithm takes place at the incoming step in the sensor model and takes into account the rotation during the integration time. Each model calculates independently.

The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Aerothermal Targets Analysis Program (ATAP) is a user-friendly, engineering-level computational tool that features integrated aerodynamics, six-degree-of-freedom (6-DoF) trajectory/motion, convective and radiative heat transfer, and thermal/material response to provide an optimal blend of accuracy and speed for design and analysis applications. ATAP is sponsored by the Kinetic Kill Vehicle Hardware-in-the-Loop Simulator (KHILS) facility at Eglin AFB, where it is used with the CHAMP (Composite Hardbody and Missile Plume) technique for rapid infrared (IR) signature and imagery predictions. ATAP capabilities include an integrated 1-D conduction model for up to 5 in-depth material layers (with options for gaps/voids with radiative heat transfer), fin modeling, several surface ablation modeling options, a materials library with over 250 materials, options for user-defined materials, selectable/definable atmosphere and earth models, multiple trajectory options, and an array of aerodynamic prediction methods. All major code modeling features have been validated with ground-test data from wind tunnels, shock tubes, and ballistics ranges, and flight-test data for both U.S. and foreign strategic and theater systems. Numerous applications include the design and analysis of interceptors, booster and shroud configurations, window environments, tactical missiles, and reentry vehicles.

Image correlation techniques developed for speckle metrology have recently been applied to a wide range of ballistics and explosives studies at the Cavendish Laboratory. White-light image correlation applied to quasi-static testing of explosives, at a range of magnifications, is discussed. High-speed ballistic measurements were performed using Digital Speckle Radiography (DSR): a combination of iamge correlation with flash X-rays to study the movement of a plane of X-ray opaque filings within a sample. DSR operates by capturing one image before and a second during the event, allowing the displacements on the plane to be measured to sub-mm accuracy. Varying the delay time and the depth of the seeded plane gives a full three-dimensional flow field in the sample. The use of two X-ray heads stereoscopically increases accuracy by allowing all three components of displacement to be determined. Measurements at velocities ranging from 100 m s-1 to 6 km s-1 have been achieved using this technique.© (2003) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.

This paper considers the effect of two operational constraints on the size of the release envelope for an air- launched seeker-guided weapon: a requirement for a specified terminal accuracy (as determined by the Circular Error Probable (CEP)) and the requirement for carefree handling (i.e., an insensitivity to release conditions within a specified range of delivery parameters). The system considered in the paper is an air-launched, unpowered weapon with an autonomous guidance capability, provided by an infrared seeker and an inertial navigation system. The weapon is modeled using a six degree-of-freedom ballistic simulation with a simulated infrared seeker and a set of simple target detection algorithms. The paper compares the effect of carefree handling requirements on the size of the weapon's release envelope for two standard delivery profiles (low-level toss delivery and medium-level delivery) and for different requirements on the terminal accuracy.

This paper is the second part in a series that provides a comprehensive survey of the problems and techniques of tracking maneuvering targets in the absence of the so-called measurement-origin uncertainty. It surveys motion models of ballistic targets used for target tracking. Models for all three phases (i.e., boost, coast, and reentry) of motion are covered.

Results from investigation of the characteristics of a high- speed IR-photorecorder based on the ionization-type IR- camera KIT-2F and CCD-camera are presented. The photorecorder operate in the spectral range 1-10 micrometers with the frame exposure length of 1-100microsecond(s) , IR radiation detection threshold of 10-6 J/cm2 and spatial resolution of > 104 elem./frame. The photorecorder may be used for recording the structure of thermal fields in fast processes: in gas dynamics, ballistics, motor and aircraft building, pulsed welding and thermal treatment of surfaces, in powerful pulsed electric facilities et al. and for control of the IR laser radiation spatial characteristics.© (2001) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.

An integrated, high-speed photographic system combining a high-repetition rate, pulsed ruby laser and a high-framing rate CCD camera has been demonstrated. Individually, the laser and camera have been discussed previously and each was developed under the Small Business Innovative Research sponsorship through the Air Force Research Lab. This paper present for the first met digital images of dynamic ballistic events captured at 500 kHz using the two elements integrated as a high-speed digital imaging system.

Ballistic missiles can separate in mid-course flight producing several components that include the warhead, control modules, booster segments, and debris. Since many warheads are spin- stabilized, laser radar range-Doppler imaging may provide signatures for identifying the warhead. Discrimination algorithms are most effective when they are based on the signatures expected from the target, however, an analytical model that relates the geometric and physical parameters of the target to its range-Doppler signature has not been available. This study developed a closed-form analytical formulation that models the range-Doppler signatures of a spinning conic warhead as a function of its parameters such as, angular velocity, half-cone angle, height, and aspect angle. Using the 3-D conic surface equation, the angle-of- incidence at an arbitrary point is expressed in terms of the geometric parameters of the target. A relationship that links the Doppler shift to the cross-range coordinate of the target is used to complete the formulation of a point return as a function of range and Doppler. The model predictions match the experimental data well and suggest that this closed-form analytical solution can be used for parameter identification and discrimination in ballistic missile defense.

For very high-speed events, such as ballistics testing, strain measurement speed is not limited by the response of the fiber grating sensor, but rather the demodulation system used. This paper focuses on a current 10 kHz fiber grating demodulator used to support impact and ballistics testing of a composite panel. It also explores the next generation demodulator, pushing the emits of speed upwards of 3 Mhz.© (1999) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.

The Dempster Shafer theory of evidential reasoning may be useful in handling issues associated with theater ballistic missile discrimination. This paper highlights the Dempster- Shafer theory and describes how this technique was implemented and applied to data collected by two IR sensor on a recent flight test.

A spent cartridge case exhibits characteristic markings (firearm fingerprint) that can be used to identify the type, and possibly make, of weapon in which the cartridge was fired. This paper details research into the use of discriminant analysis for the purpose of matching spent cartridge cases to specific make and model of firearms. A fired projectile can also be analyzed by measuring the class characteristics such as land mark, groove, mar, and twist ratio. A personal computer (PC) based prototype software application called FireBall will also be described in detail.© (1998) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.

In a series of spectacular experiments conducted at the High Energy Laser Systems Test Facility (HELSTF), White Sands Missile Range (WSMR), NM, using 13- to 15-cm diameter, 40- to 60-g vehicles designed to fly on the 10 kW PLVTS pulsed carbon dioxide laser (1 kJ pulses for 30 microsecond duration at 10 Hz), Prof. Leik Myrabo of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) and Dr. Franklin Mead of the Air Force Research Laboratory's (AFRL) Propulsion Directorate, have been successfully flying laser propelled Lightcraft under a joint Air Force/NASA flight demonstration program. The axisymmetric Lightcraft vehicles are propelled by airbreathing, pulsed- detonation engines with an infinite fuel specific impulse. Impulse coupling coefficients have been measured with ballistic pendulums as well as a piezoelectric load cell and fall in the range of 100 to 200 N/MW. Horizontal wire-guided flights up to 400 ft, using a unique laser beam pointing and tracking guidance system, have demonstrated up to 2.0 G's acceleration measured by a photo-optic array. Spin-stabilized free-flights with active tracking/beam control have been accomplished to altitudes of 15.25 meters. This paper will summarize the progress made to date on the Lightcraft Technology Demonstration flight test program, since the first 12 - 14 July 1996, experiments at HELSTF.

The high-speed camera KIT-2F has been developed, intended to record spatial distribution of IR-radiation energy and power on the photographic film. The instrument has a wide dynamic range of recording (approximately 103), high sensitivity (approximately 10-6 J/cm2), and fast response (approximately 10-6 s) in a wide spectral range 1 - 10.6 micrometers . The camera has found its application in investigations of fast processes in gas dynamics, ballistics, quantum electronics, and in the development of new industrial technologies.© (1997) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.

A portable flash x-ray inspector have been developed. This inspector mainly consists of three parts, they are spiral strip line high voltage generator, cold cathode x-ray tube and power supply, control and count circuits. This instrument has wide applications. It can also be used to equip cars for field in site to study ballistics, if through some improvement.© (1997) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.

We designed, manufactured and field-tested new combat protection goggles which endow their users with optimal protection against ballistic injuries as well as against dust, sand and wind. A laser protection filter can be snapped on the ballistic goggles. Filters can be provided for any required wavelength. The goggles are of a warp-around shape ensuring peripheral as well as frontal protection. It is 'one size fits all' design with the least possible clearance between eye and lens so as to cause minimal interference with the use of optical equipment such as binoculars. There is an integral insert for prescription lenses inside the goggles. The head bands are self locking and putting the goggles on and off with or without a helmet on is easy.

BBN has developed, tested, and fielded pre-production versions of a versatile acoustics-based counter-sniper system. This system was developed by BBN for the DARPA Tactical Technology Office to provide a low cost and accurate sniper detection and localization system. The system uses observations of the shock wave from supersonic bullets to estimate the bullet trajectory, Mach number, and caliber. If muzzle blast observations are also available from unsilenced weapons, the exact sniper location along the trajectory is also estimated. A newly developed and very accurate model of the bullet ballistics and acoustic radiation is used which includes bullet deceleration. This allows the use of very flexible acoustic sensor types and placements, since the system can model the bullet's flight, and hence the acoustic observations, over a wide area very accurately. System sensor configurations can be as simple as two small four element tetrahedral microphone arrays on either side of the area to be protected, or six omnidirectional microphones spread over the area to be monitored. Increased performance can be obtained by expanding the sensor field in size or density, and the system software is easily reconfigured to accommodate this at deployment time. Sensor nodes can be added using wireless network telemetry or hardwired cables to the command node processing and display computer. The system has been field tested in three government sponsored tests in both rural and simulated urban environments at the Camp Pendleton MOUT facility. Performance was characterized during these tests for various shot geometries and bullet speeds and calibers.© (1997) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.

Recent advancements in the Ultranac camera are described. The camera incorporates all solid state electronics which are used to drive the all metal/ceramic image converter tube. Individual exposure and inter-frame times are fully programmable via an external computer. A review is made of the applications in which Ultranac is being employed -- these include combustion studies, particle flow, ballistics and detonation phenomena.

We describe a high-luminosity holographic system which allows the recording of large volumes at a long distance. A high-resolution image is reconstructed, which allows accurate measurements to he achieved in the object. The arrangement is adapted to double-exposure recording with two separate references. An application to ballistics is presented.

Laser technology has revolutionized range instrumentation by providing methods for gathering precise real time space position data. Current methods are tedious and susceptible to human error in both the data gathering and the subsequent analyses. This paper will discuss typical range instrumentation requirements with a comparison of solutions provided by laser technology and more conventional means. Concrete examples will be provided with the description of an existing laser system which was used as the principal space position test instrument. A movie will be shown demonstrating laser technology applied to determination of space position of aircraft, rockets, ballistics, rocket sleds and other objects. Also, examples of the data gathered with laser systems will be presented.© (1978) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.

The term "ballistic detonics instrumentation" is generally applied to all physical observations that occur in connection with the detonation of conventional high explosives. The reaction and/or detonation velocities are of the order of 1000 m/s to 9000 m/s, at pressures of several hundreds of kbar. In order to obtain records or pictures of a detonative event with little motion blur and high time resolution, exposure times of less than 10 ns and frame rates higher than 106/s are desirable. About one or two decades ago, new discoveries and improved knowledge in the field of detonics were heavily dependent upon developments in high speed photography. Nowadays, however, special cameras are available for diagnosing detonation phenomena and events involving high pressure and shock waves, and their commercial development has produced reliable and easy-to-use instruments. Thus, the scientist working on ballistic detonics problems can now concentrate on developing measuring techniques instead of developing measuring instrumentation. A short overview will be given of the different most used and important optical equipments and cameras in the field of ballistic detonics instrumentation. Furthermore various examples of sophisticated, and even "tricky", configurations for optical high-speed mea-surements in the field of ballistic detonics diagnostics will be shown.

A system allowing the recording of holograms at a long distance is described. Its luminosity is such that a 1 m3 scene could be recorded at 10 meters with the help of a low-energy pulse laser. A resolution of about 100 microns was observed in the object. An application to ballistics is presented.

Frankford Arsenal was a pioneer in the development and application of flash radiography of ballistic phenomena. Frankford Arsenal first began using the Westinghouse Micronex flash X-ray system in 1941, and converted to Field Emission Corporation (now Hewlett-Packard) flash X-ray equipment in the early 1960's. When Frankford Arsenal closed in 1977, its missions and equipment were transferred to U.S. Army Armament Research and Development Command. The flash X-ray studies performed at Frankford Arsenal are now being continued at the ARRADCOM Test Site, Fort Dix, New Jersey as well as at ARRADCOM Headquarters, Dover, New Jersey. These studies are concerned with investigations of small caliber ammunition and weapons, and reduced scale models of large caliber projectiles. The important feature of flash X-rays in ballistics research and development is that high speed radiographs provide qualitative and quantitative information which frequently cannot be obtained by any other means or which can be obtained more easily and inexpensively by this technique. This paper describes some of the experimental applications of high speed radiography in obtaining data on various ballistic phenomena such as the determination of projectile penetration of armor plate, and particle size and orientation after penetration.© (1983) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.

COMPARISON OF HIGH SPEED MOVIE AND FLASH X -RAYMEASUREMENT OF THE TRANSLATIONAL ANDROTATIONAL MOTIONS OF PROJECTILESPENETRATING GELATINEUGENE T. ROECKERUS Army Ballistic Research LaboratoryTerminal Ballistics DivisionAberdeen Proving Ground, MD 21005, U.S.A.Projectiles penetrating a gelatin block were simultaneously mea-sured by a high speed movie camera, Dynafax, and by a sequential,orthogonal, flash x -ray system. The eight orthogonal views of thex -ray system provided position and orientation of the projectiles vs.time From onset of tumble in the gelatin, owing to gyroscopic in-stability, the growth of yaw was the same for each round in a re-plicated set. This phenomenon provided a legitimate procedure forpooling the x -ray data, giving well determined curves of velocitydecay and yaw growth. The movie camera observed the progress of thecavity formed by the projectile. The resulting velocity decay of thecavity tip was compared to that of the projectile as measured by thex -ray technique.

This paper covers the design and application of a state-of-the-art optoelectronic instrumentation system called the Projectile Follower System (PFS). This system is designed to produce high speed motion picture photographic or video records for investigating dynamic ballistic phenomena of ammunition during external flight. It is designed to be used for developing and testing U.S. Army ammunition and especially for high velocity projectiles fired from direct fire weapons such as tank guns. The fundamental operational concept is that the vertical axis of a rotatable mirror is driven synchronously with the motion of the projectile, and thus the projectile is maintained within the field of view of stationary motion picture or video cameras aimed at the mirror. The PFS incorporates microprocegsor and computer control to achieve angular accelerations of the mirror of up to 2,100 rad/s . The mirror is manufactured from beryllium using a honeycomb construction and has a 300 x 500 mm optical surface. It can also be used to provide auxiliary illumination by reflecting a beam generated from a stationary light source onto the moving projectile. Compared to a conventional high speed motion picture camera system, the PFS covers a far greater portion of the projectile's flight from a single camera station with a relatively larger photographic image size. The resulting photographs display a considerable reduction in blur. This paper describes the PFS optoelectronic engineering system design and application. Included are the mirror and its drive, control and drive electronics, projectile synchronization, muzzle velocity correction, projectile illumination, and cameras and related optics. The range installation, data recording methods, and future expansion capability are also discussed.

The design and performance characteristics of a set of high intensity flash X-ray systems will be discussed. At present, six (6) systems are available with output voltages in the range of 75 kV to 1200 kV. Peak current is 10 kA and exposure time 20 ns. Demountable X-ray tubes are being used to increase flexibility and reduce operating costs. Typical applications are found in areas such as ballistics, detonics, quality control, etc.

In 1938, Steenbeck et al.1 succeeded in constructing the first generators capable of delivering intense X-ray pulse. The generation of X-ray flashes, especially with respect to efficiency and reproducibility, was achieved by W.P. Dyke and co-workers who were mainly concerned with field emission and its application for the production of X-ray pulse. These efforts eventually lead to the development of technically superior and commercially available flash X-ray devices which are now in use throughout the world for mainfold purposes. In scientific technological field, the flash X-ray radiography has long been known as an useful radiation source for the investigation of high speed phenomena and has been widely applied. The first part of this paper mainly introduces the work about flash X-ray radiography in China. That includes: flash X-ray radiography system, portable pulsed X-ray system and powerful pulsed X-ray sources. These equipments have been widely used in the fields of ballistics, detonation and biomedical studies. In the 2nd part, it mainly, describes the developments about flash X-ray radiography in the part of the world which includes: flash radiographic biomedical studies, X-ray pulse generators of high repetition rate, tomograpy and other applications.

Model JSG-1 laser velocity interferometer is introduced in this paper. The instrument design is based on the VISAR principle and employes some recent developed teckniques. Some improvements have also made in our device. It has some features: compactness in construction, simplicity for operation and reliability in behavior. As a versatile system with wide measuring range and dual sensitivity, it can be widely used in shock wave and ballistics research.

A survey of the most advanced optical experiments conducted with the help of lasers in the field of mechanics, aerodynamics and ballistics is given: flow visualization, studies of the deformation of materials and structures, vibration analysis, particle sizing and particle velocity analysis, laser velocimetry, shape measurements of 3 D-objects,... All these experiments are related to industrial problems and make use of pulsed lasers and cw-lasers with various techniques such as interferometry, cineholography, optical filtering, fiber optics, light-sheet illumination, etc...

We have developed and used an optical-fiber sensor for detecting the arrival of strong pressure pulses. The sensor consists of an optical fiber, tipped with a gas-filled microballoon. They have been used successfully in adverse environments including explosives, ballistics and electromagnetic pulses (EMP). The sensor produces a bright optical pulse caused by the rapid shock-heating of a gas, typically argon or xenon, which is confined in the spherical glass or plastic microballoon. The light pulse is transmitted via the optical fiber to a photo detector, usually a streak camera or photomultiplier tube. The microballoon optical sensor (called an optical pin by analogy to standard electrical pins), was originally developed for diagnosing an explosive, pulsed-power generator. Optical pins are required due to the EMP. The optical pins are economical arrival-time indicators because many channels can be recorded by one streak camera. The generator tests and related experiments, involving projectile velocities and detonation velocities of several kilometers per/sec have demonstrated the usefulness of the sensors in explosives and ballistics applications. We have also measured the sensitivity of the optical pins to slowly-moving projectiles and found that a 200 m/sec projectile impacting the microballoon sensor produces a flash having a risetime less thanmore » 100 ns and a pulse duration (FWHM) of less than 300 ns. The technical and cost advantages of this optical pin make it potentially useful for many electromagnetic, explosive, and ballistics applications.« less