Ordnance delivery system and method including remotely piloted or programmable aircraft with yaw-to-turn guidance system

• US 4,730,793 A
• Filed: 01/26/1984
• Issued: 03/15/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/1981
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: E-Systems LLC
• Original Assignee: E-Systems LLC
• Inventors: Behrens, Frederick A., Hunton, John H., Thurber, Charles H. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jordan, Charles T.
• Application Number:
  US06/566,163
• Time in Patent Office: 1,510 Days
• Field of Search: 244/3.1, 244/3.15, 244/3.21, 244/76 R, 244/117 R, 244/119, 244/120, 244/171-181, 244/184, 89/1.801, 89/1.804, 89/1.805
• US Class Current: 244/3.1
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/10 using self-propelled vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 20/96 using air
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/60 for transporting passengers; for transporting goods other than weapons
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/10 autonomous, i.e. by navigating independently from ground or air stations, e.g. by using inertial navigation systems [INS]
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/20 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/12 Variable or detachable wings, e.g. wings with adjustable sweep
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/11 using internal combustion piston engines
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/13 using external fans or propellers
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/15 using combustion exhausts other than turbojets or turbofans, e.g. using rockets, ramjets, scramjets or pulse-reactors
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/70 Launching or landing using catapults, tracks or rails launching from storage containers B64U70/50
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 80/70 in containers B64U80/60 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 80/86 Land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 7/007 Preparatory measures taken before the launching of the guided missiles
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 7/22 Homing guidance systems

Abstract

A method and system for delivery ordnance to a target via a remotely piloted or programmable aircraft including a yaw-to-turn guidance system, a deployment and launching system and packaging for the aircraft are disclosed.

Claims

1. A system for guiding an expendable pilotless aircraft to an electromagnetic wave energy emitting target comprisng:

an aircraft having control surfaces asymmetrical in the pitch and yaw planes, a sensor, and a guidance system operative in the terminal portions of the flight of the aircraft in a yaw-to-turn mode with a substantially zero roll rate; and

rapidly deployable aircraft launching means.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said guidance system comprises:

a directional sensor for providing azimuth and elevation error signals;

means for providing guidance signals indicative of the rate of change of said azimuth and elevation signals;

a guidance programmer responsive to said guidance signals for providing pitch control and yaw control signals;

an altitude sensor for providing an altitude control signal;

an angle of attack sensor;

roll, pitch and yaw rate gyros for providing rate control signal; and

a three axis autopilot responsive to said control signals for controlling the control surfaces of said airframe.

3. A guidance system for an expendable pilotless aircraft having an airframe with control surfaces comprising:

a directional sensor for providing azimuth and elevation error signals;

means for providing guidance signals indicative of the rate of change of said azimuth and elevation signals;

a guidance programmer responsive to said guidance signals for providing pitch control and yaw control signals;

an altitude sensor for providing an altitude control signal;

an angle of attack sensor;

roll, pitch and yaw rate gyros for providing rate control signals; and

a three axis autopilot responsive to said control signals for controlling the control surfaces of said airframe.

4. A method for guiding an expendable pilotless aircraft to an electromagnetic wave energy emitting target comprising the steps of:

(a) providing an aircraft having control surfaces asymmetrical in the pitch and yaw planes, an electromagnetic energy sensor, and a guidance system;

(b) controlling the flight of the aircraft in the initial portion of the flight of the aircraft in accordance with a predetermined program;

(c) sensing the difference between the longitudinal axis of the aircraft and the line-of-sight to detected electromagnetic wave energy in the pitch and yaw planes with a maximum error between about seven degrees and about ten degrees; and

(d) controlling the flight of the aircraft in the terminal portion of the flight of said aircraft in a yaw-to-turn mode with a substantially zero yaw roll rate.

5. A method for guiding an expendable pilotless aircraft to an electromagnetic wave energy emitting target comprising the steps of:

(a) launching an aircraft having control surfaces asymmetrical in the pitch and yaw planes;

(b) sensing an electromagnetic wave energy emitting target; and

(c) controlling the flight of the aircraft in response to the sensing of the electromagnetic wave enregy in a yaw-to-turn mode with a substantially zero roll rate.

6. A system for guiding an expendable pilotless aircraft to a target comprising:

an aircraft having control surfaces about the pitch and yaw axis and a guidance system operative to turn said aircraft in the terminal portions of the flight of the aircraft by yawing the aircraft without effecting any substantial roll rate; and

rapidly deployable aircraft means.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein said aircraft includes a removable fuel cell and a removable ordnance;

and

wherein said aircraft launching means includes a removable solid fuel rocket,

whereby said aircraft may be positioned on said launching means prior to the attachment of said fuel cell, said ordnance and said rocket.

8. A system for guiding an expendable pilotless aircraft to an electromagnetic wave energy emitting target comprising:

an aircraft having control surfaces generally symmetrical about the roll axis, asymmetrical about the pitch and yaw axis, an electromagnetic wave energy detector, and a guidance system operative in a first position of the flight of the aircraft in resonse to predetermined data in a roll-to-turn mode and operative in a second portion of the flight of the aircraft in response to the detection of electromagnetic wave energy in a yaw-to-turn mode; and

rapidly deployable aircraft launching means.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein said aircraft includes a removable fuel cell and a removable ordnance;

and

wherein said aircraft launching means includes a removable solid fuel rocket,

whereby said aircraft may be positioned on said launching menas prior to the attachment of said fuel cell, said ordnance and said rocket.

10. A system for guiding an expendable pilotless aircraft to an electromagnetic wave energy emitting target comprising:

an aircraft having control surfaces about the pitch and yaw axis, means for sensing electromagnetic wave energy, and a guidance system operative in the termial portions of the flight of the aircraft in response to said sensing means to turn the aircraft without any substantial roll rate; and

rapidly deployable aircraft launching means.

11. The sytem of claim 10 wherein said aircraft includes a removable fuel cell and a removable ordnance;

and

wherein said aircraft launching means includes a removable solid fuel rocket,

whereby said aircraft may be positioned on said launching means prior to the attachment of said fuel cell, said ordnance and said rocket.

12. A method for guiding an expendable pilotless aircraft to an electromagnetic wave energy emitting target comprising the steps of:

(a) providing an aircraft having control surfaces symmetrical about the roll axis and asymmetrical about the pitch and yaw axis, an electromagnetic energy sensor, and a guidance system;

(b) controlling the flight of the aircraft in a first portion of the flight of the aircraft in a mode which includes substantial roll rate in effecting a turn in accordance with a predetermined program;

(c) senisng the difference between the longitudinal axis of the aircraft and the line-of-sight to detect electromagnetic wave energy in the pitch and yaw planes with a maximum error between about seven degrees and about ten degrees; and

(d) controlling the flight of the aircraft in a second portion of the flight of the aircraft in response to said sensed differences in a mode which includes a substantially zero roll rate in effecting a turn.

13. A method for guiding an expendable pilotless aircraft to an electromagnetic wave enregy emitting target comprising the steps of:

(a) providing an aircraft having control surfaces about the pitch and yaw axis, an electromagnetic energy sensor, and a guidance system;

(b) controlling the flight of the aircraft in an initial portion of the flight of the aircraft in accordance with a predetermined program;

(c) sensing the difference between the longitudinal axis of the aircraft and the line-of-sight to detect electromagnetic wave energy in the pitch and yaw planes; and

(d) controlling the yawing of the aircraft in the terminal portion of the flight of said aircraft without inducing any substantial yaw roll rate.

14. A method for guiding an expendable pilotless aircraft to an electromagnetic wave energy emitting target comprising the steps of:

(a) launching an aircraft having control surfaces about the pitch and yaw axis;

(b) sensing an electromagnetic wave energy emitting target; and

(c) controlling the flight of the aircraft about the yaw axis in response to the sensing of the electromagnetic wave energy without indicing any substantial roll rate.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein said aircraft is readied for launch by the steps of:

(a) inserting a removable fuel cell into the aircraft;

(b) inserting a removable ordnance into the aircraft; and

(c) programming the aircraft for the initial portion of its intended flight.

16. A method for guiding an expendable pilotless aircraft to an electromagnetic wave energy emitting target comprising the steps of:

(a) launching an aircraft having control surfaces about the pitch and yaw axis;

(b) sensing an electromagnetic wave energy emitting target; and

(c) turning the aircraft in response to the sensing of the electromagnetic wave energy by yawing the aircraft without rolling the aircraft.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein said aircraft is readied for launch by the steps of:

(a) inserting a removable fuel cell into the aircraft;

(b) inserting a removable ordnance into the aircraft; and

(c) programming the aircraft for the initial portion of its intended flight.

18. A method for guiding an expendable pilotless aircraft to an electromagnetic wave energy emitting target comprising the steps of:

(a) launching an aircraft having control surfaces about the pitch and yaw axis;

(b) sensing an electromagnetic wave energy emitting target; and

(c) yawing the aircraft in response to the sensing of the electromagnetic wave energy without rolling the aircraft.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein said aircraft is readied for launch by the steps of:

(a) inserting a removable fuel cell into the aircraft;

(b) inserting a removable ordnance into the aircraft; and

(c) programming the aircraft for the initial portion of its intended flight.