The predicted impact point (PIP) is the location that a ballistic projectile (e.g. bomb, missile, bullet) is expected to strike if fired. The PIP is almost always actively determined by a
targeting computer, which then projects a PIP marker (a "pipper") onto a
head-up display
A head-up display, or heads-up display, also known as a HUD () or head-up guidance system (HGS), is any transparent display that presents data without requiring users to look away from their usual viewpoints. The origin of the name stems from a ...
(HUD). Modern HUDs are focused so the weapon operator will see the marker projected directly over the point of impact, regardless of the position of the shooter's eye position.
Modern combat aircraft are equipped to calculate the PIP for onboard weapons at any given time. Using the PIP marker, pilots can achieve good accuracy at ranges of up to several kilometers, whether the target is ground-based or airborne. Variables included in the calculation are aircraft velocity, target velocity, target elevation, distance to target, forces on the projectile (drag, gravity), and others.
Another example of devices that show the PIP are
red dot sights like the
M68 Aimpoint. Such sights, like those on an HUD, are collimated
reflector sight
A reflector sight or reflex sight is an optical sight that allows the user to look through a partially reflecting glass element and see an aiming point or some image (helping to aim the device, to which the sight is attached, on the target) sup ...
s, so the dot always appears over the weapon's impact point, regardless of the shooter's eye position. Red dot sights do not use internal computers and must be manually zeroed for maximum accuracy.
Impact Point Prediction (IPP) refers to the method by which the impact point is evaluated.
Impact Point Prediction Methods include one ore more of the following seven categories which are ordered with decreasing complexity in the perspective of the model and the necessary initial states and parameters:
• Six-Degrees-of-Freedom rigid body (6DoF)
• Modified-Linear Theory (MLT)
• Modified Point Mass (MPM)
• Full Point Mass (FPM)
• Simple Point Mass (SPM)
• Hybrid Point Mass (HPM)
• Vacuum Point Mass (VPM)
Guidance methods for ballistic missiles are used to compensate for the difficulty in pre-launch prediction, which originates from uncertainties in maneuvering. In these,
machine learning
Machine learning (ML) is a field of study in artificial intelligence concerned with the development and study of Computational statistics, statistical algorithms that can learn from data and generalise to unseen data, and thus perform Task ( ...
techniques like
neural networks
A neural network is a group of interconnected units called neurons that send signals to one another. Neurons can be either Cell (biology), biological cells or signal pathways. While individual neurons are simple, many of them together in a netwo ...
can can be used to update the predicted impact point based on the current flight state in a reasonable amount of time and computational resources.
See also
*
Fire-control system
A fire-control system (FCS) is a number of components working together, usually a gun data computer, a director and radar, which is designed to assist a ranged weapon system to target, track, and hit a target. It performs the same task as a hum ...
References
External links
''Army Research and Development'', p. 31. Development and Engineering Directorate, U. S. Army Materiel Development and Readiness Command. United States. Dept. of the Army, 1968.''Google Books''.
Targeting (warfare)
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