Precision, airborne deployed, GPS guided standoff torpedo

• US 6,293,202 B1
• Filed: 04/25/2000
• Issued: 09/25/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The United States of America As Represented By The Secretary of Agriculture
• Original Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Inventors: Garcia, Felipe, Woodall, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Jordan, Charles T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BERONA, KIMBERLY SUE
• Application Number:
  US09/560,533
• Time in Patent Office: 518 Days
• Field of Search: 102/386, 102/387, 102/354, 244/14
• US Class Current: 102/387
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 1/02 Dropping, ejecting, or releasing articles jettisonable fuel reservoirs B64D37/12
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 17/00 Rocket torpedoes, i.e. missiles provided with separate propulsion means for movement through air and through water F42B12/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 19/01 Steering control
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 19/10 remotely controlled, e.g. by sonic or radio control control systems using wire F41G7/32
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 19/46 adapted to be launched from aircraft

Abstract

A standoff delivery system is responsive to GPS coordinate signals and in-flight GPS signals to deploy a torpedo at a remote location that avoids the limitations and hazards attendant conventional deployment by full size aircraft. A gliding rigid winged unmanned aircraft carries the torpedo to a desired remote location. A GPS receiver on the aircraft enters GPS coordinate signals representative of the remote location and receives GPS signals representative of the location of the unmanned aircraft. A control signal generator produces control signals in response to both of the GPS signals and feeds control signals to servos that displace control surfaces to pilot the unmanned aircraft. The torpedo is released and descends via parachute in response to GPS signals that are representative of at least the proximity of the remote location. This system provides for clandestine deployment of a torpedo without exposing manned aircraft to danger.

Claims

1. A standoff delivery system for remotely deploying a torpedo to a remote location without exposing personnel to risk at said remote location comprising:

a torpedo having an interconnected parachute;

an unmanned aircraft having rigid wings for flying said torpedo and parachute to said remote location;

means mounted on said rigid winged unmanned aircraft for entering GPS coordinate signals representative of said remote location and for receiving GPS signals representative of the location of said rigid winged unmanned aircraft, said entering and receiving means includes a GPS antenna and receiver;

means connected to said GPS antenna and receiver for generating control signals in response to both of the GPS signals;

means coupled to said generating means for piloting said rigid winged unmanned aircraft to said remote location in response to said control signals; and

means mounted on said rigid winged unmanned aircraft for releasing said torpedo from said rigid winged unmanned aircraft in response to GPS signals representative of at least an acceptable proximity of said remote location.

2. A system according to claim 1 further in which said torpedo is selected from the group consisting of torpedoes guided by wire, active homing, and passive homing.

3. A system according to claim 2 in which said parachute of said torpedo is deployed as said torpedo is released from said rigid winged unmanned aircraft by said releasing means.

4. A system according to claim 3 in which said piloting means includes servo controls joined to displace control surfaces according to said control signals to pilot said rigid winged unmanned aircraft.

5. A system according to claim 4 further including:

an RF antenna and receiver on said rigid winged unmanned aircraft to receive remotely originating RF control signals and to couple said RF control signals to said servo controls, said servo controls being responsive to displace said control surfaces in accordance with said RF control signals.

6. A system according to claim 5 in which said rigid winged unmanned aircraft is a guided wing design having rigid wings pivoted to laterally extend therefrom.

7. A method of remotely deploying a torpedo to a remote location without exposing personnel to risk at said remote location comprising the steps of:

mounting a torpedo on a rigid winged unmanned aircraft;

flying said torpedo to said remote location on said rigid winged unmanned aircraft;

generating control signals in response to entered GPS coordinate signals representative of said remote location and impinging GPS signals representative of the location of said rigid winged unmanned aircraft;

steering said rigid winged unmanned aircraft to said remote location in response to said control signals; and

releasing said torpedo from said rigid winged unmanned aircraft in response to GPS signals representative of at least an acceptable proximity of said remote location.

8. A method according to claim 7 in which said step of generating comprises the step of:

receiving GPS signals on an antenna and receiver on said rigid winged unmanned aircraft, said received GPS signals being representative of its location.

9. A method according to claim 8 in which said step of releasing comprises the step of:

deploying a parachute from said torpedo to slow the descent at said acceptable proximity of said remote location.

10. A method according to claim 9 in which said step of steering comprises the step of:

providing servo controls joined to displace control surfaces in accordance with said control signals to steer said rigid winged unmanned aircraft.

11. A method according to claim 10 further comprising the step of:

providing an RF antenna and receiver in said rigid winged unmanned aircraft to receive remotely originating RF control signals and to couple said RF control signals to said servo controls, said servo controls being responsive to displace said control surfaces in accordance with said RF control signals.

12. A method according to claim 11 in which said rigid winged unmanned aircraft is a guided wing design having rigid wings pivoted to extend therefrom.

13. A method of deploying a torpedo to a remote location without exposing personnel to risk at said remote location comprising the steps of:

mounting a torpedo attached to a parachute on a guided wing having rigid wings pivoted to laterally extend therefrom;

entering GPS coordinate signals in said guided wing representative of said remote location;

carrying said guided wing and torpedo aloft on a conventional aircraft;

releasing said guided wing from said conventional aircraft while aloft;

receiving GPS signals in said guided wing representative of the location of said guided wing as it glides toward said remote location;

generating control signals in said guided wing in response to said GPS coordinate signals and said GPS signals;

piloting said guided wing to said remote location in response to said control signals;

dropping said torpedo from said guided wing in response to GPS signals representative of at least an acceptable proximity of said remote location; and

slowing the decent of said torpedo with said parachute in said acceptable proximity of said remote location.

14. A method of deploying according to claim 13 further comprising the steps of:

closing a pressure switch on said torpedo at a preset depth in water;

separating said parachute from said torpedo; and

initiating battery power, seeker logic, and fuel propulsion systems on said torpedo to acquire a target.