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Steerable rotating projectile

  • US 10,118,696 B1
  • Filed: 03/31/2017
  • Issued: 11/06/2018
  • Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2016
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A flying projectile, comprising:

  • an inertial mass, configured to spin during flight, about an axis of rotation to gyroscopically stabilize the flying projectile;

    an aerodynamic surface having a circular periphery, configured to interact and generate lift from forward movement of the flying projectile with respect to surrounding air during flight, to produce aerodynamic forces having an aerodynamic force profile having a center of pressure;

    a control system, configured to produce at least one control signal varying selectively in dependence on at least a rotation of the inertial mass about the axis of rotation; and

    at least two actuators, responsive to the control signal varying selectively in dependence on, and synchronized with, at least the rotation of the inertial mass about the axis of rotation, configured to selectively alter the aerodynamic forces produced by the aerodynamic surface by independently controlling an aerodynamic property of at least two different portions of the aerodynamic surface, to change a relationship between the axis of rotation and the center of pressure, to selectively generate a torque about the axis of rotation and steer the flying projectile.

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