Feasibility of Vibration-Based Projectile Impact Localisation on Steel Targets

Principal Investigator

This project will investigate whether vibration signals measured directly on steel shooting targets can be used to reliably determine the two-dimensional impact location of projectiles. The work focuses on the sensing and signal-processing components of impact localisation, while the overall system design, wireless communications, and firearm testing will be handled separately by TACRDLABS. The core idea is to attach a small array of vibration sensors to the rear of a steel target and analyse the resulting waveforms when an impact occurs. Different sensor technologies will be considered, such as piezoelectric sensors, contact microphones, and knock sensors. The project will study how sensor type, mounting method (for example, adhesive versus bolt-on), and placement on the target influence signal quality, especially the earliest part of the vibration response that is most informative for localisation. High-sample-rate vibration data from live firearm tests on steel targets will be collected and supplied by TACRDLABS. James Cook University will complement this with controlled mechanical impact experiments, such as hammer or pendulum strikes at known locations on instrumented targets. These datasets will be curated with associated metadata (sensor type, mounting method, target size, impact location, and impact type) to enable systematic analysis. Using these datasets, the project will develop proof-of-concept signal processing methods and Python scripts to detect impacts, extract the earliest identifiable arrivals across multiple sensors, and estimate impact coordinates using time-difference-of-arrival style approaches. The analysis will examine how localisation performance depends on sensor layout, target size, and mounting method, and will explore strategies to improve robustness, such as increasing sensor count or applying appropriate filtering. Performance will be quantified in terms of localisation error, timing precision requirements, and detection reliability under a range of realistic conditions. The findings will be synthesised into practical design rules and guidelines for sensor selection, coupling, and placement on steel targets, along with recommendations on timing and sampling requirements for future embedded implementations. Overall, the project will deliver a focused feasibility assessment of vibration-based projectile impact localisation on steel targets, along with example algorithms and configuration guidelines that TACRDLABS can use in the design of an integrated smart target system for defence, law enforcement, and recreational shooting applications.

02 Mar 2026 - 01 Mar 2027

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