Software for Real-Time Analysis of Subsonic Test Shot Accuracy
Abstract
When testing weapons that fire subsonic ammunition, analyzing the accuracy of gunshots fired at paper targets can be very tedious. The U.S. Army Research Laboratory (ARL), Human Research and Engineering Directorate (HRED), Dismounted Warrior Branch (DWB) is working on making the analysis of subsonic shot accuracy faster, less tedious, and more efficient. My Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP) project was to aid in the design and programming of an application that digitally analyzes a target and provides feedback on the location of shots fired in real time. I used the C++ programming language, the Open Source Computer Vision (OpenCV ) software library, and Microsoft Windows Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) to create the application. The software used a microphone to detect when a shot was fired, and a webcam to capture frames of test fire video for comparison through OpenCV image analysis tools. Based on the comparison, the software then computed the coordinates of each shot relative to the center of the target before plotting location points on the screen for real-time accuracy feedback to the shooter. I conducted two software validation studies using the software at an HRED test fire research facility, the results of which are described in detail within this report.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 2014
- Accession Number
- ADA601466
Entities
People
- Sam Spangler
Organizations
- United States Army Research Laboratory