Shooting impact detection system on a fixed target using a dynamic video frame reference

Nowadays, virtual simulators are playing a crucial role in the training of the armed forces of a country. Proof of this, is that most First World countries have developments of virtual simulation systems and virtual environments concentrated on military training. Due to the growing demand for this type of systems, virtual shooting simulators based on digital image processing (DIP) have been developed in recent years. In this paper, a DIP algorithm focused on the detection of impacts on a fixed target aided by a laser attachment is proposed. The operation of the algorithm is based on the Euclidean distance metric, generating a decorrelation in the area of interest when an impact of the laser light beam occurs, and maintaining a high correlation in areas of no interest between adjacent video frames. Significant gains are achieved by the proposed algorithm against the typical DIP algorithms found in the literature, which were measured quantitatively by the peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR) metric, obtaining a gain of more than one order of magnitude. Finally, the rms error performance of the detection system was obtained by real fire in a shooting stand.