Optimizing Weapon Precision
Name
kendall-kendallt-sm-orc-2021-thesis.pdf
Description
Thesis PDF
Size
24.71 MB
Format
Adobe PDF
Checksum (MD5)
545f0248a795fd93f5a2b6ec0387c89b
Author(s)
Kendall, Thomas P.
Advisor(s)
Graves, Stephen
Slocum, Alexander
Kim, Louis
Date Issued
June 2021
Publisher
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Abstract
An accurate soldier is a lethal soldier, lethal soldiers make an effective army, and an effective army is a deterrent to war. In this paper we aim to apply optimization methods to nonlinear trajectory models to make every soldier more lethal with their assigned weapon system (and hunters more humane with their rifles). We first discover a way to optimize the trajectory of the average soldier's bullet over a specific range in a way that can be immediately implemented with negligible impact to current infrastructure, equipment, practices, and procedures. Next, we develop the mathematics behind an aiming device which considers the angle at which a weapon is aimed and the angle at which the weapon is tilted, and automatically adjusts to produce the optimal bullet trajectory over a specified range. We design this device while minimizing power consumption, minimizing weight, and avoiding the use of additional sensors such as laser range finders. Finally, we model a similar device intended for civilian hunters and military snipers which guarantees minimized deviation at an estimated range.
MIT Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Operations Research Center
Terms of Use
In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted
Copyright retained by author(s)
Persistent DSpace Link
