Systems, devices, and/or methods for managing targeted payload descent

• US 8,939,056 B1
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Issued: 01/27/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Barron Associates Inc
• Original Assignee: Barron Associates Inc
• Inventors: Neal, David Anthony III, Ehlmann, Kevin Marlan, Gressick, William Thomas, Bateman, Alec Jacob Devine, Horneman, Kenneth Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): DAVID, MICHAEL D
• Application Number:
  US13/836,320
• Time in Patent Office: 683 Days
• Field of Search: 89/15.1, 89/11.1, 114/20.1, 102/351, 102386-387
• US Class Current: 89/1.51
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 31/02 Gliders, e.g. sailplanes hang-gliders B64C31/028
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 17/80 in association with aircraft, e.g. for braking thereof
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 10/14 using fins spread or deployed after launch, e.g. after leaving the barrel
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/60 the submissiles being ejected radially
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 15/105 Air torpedoes, e.g. projectiles with or without propulsion, provided with supporting air foil surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 15/22 Missiles having a trajectory finishing below water surface having additional propulsion means for movement through water F42B17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/042 specially adapted for aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0808 specially adapted for aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/105 specially adapted for unpowered flight, e.g. glider, parachuting, forced landing parachutes per se B64D17/00

Abstract

Certain exemplary embodiments can provide a system, machine, device, manufacture, circuit, composition of matter, and/or user interface adapted for and/or resulting from, and/or a method and/or machine-readable medium comprising machine-implementable instructions for, activities that can comprise and/or relate to, providing a guided descent from a release zone and toward an entry zone.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a substantially cylindrical sonobuoy glide harness adapted to;

be operably connected to a substantially cylindrical sonobuoy internal module to form a sonobuoy vehicle, the sonobuoy vehicle adapted to launch from a sonobuoy launch container that defines a sonobuoy launch container inner diameter, the sonobuoy vehicle defining a sonobuoy vehicle length and a sonobuoy vehicle outer diameter; and

operatively replace a substantially cylindrical external housing that is operatively adapted to substantially surround the sonobuoy internal module, the external housing defining an external housing length and an external housing outer diameter, the sonobuoy vehicle length not exceeding the external housing length, the sonobuoy vehicle outer diameter not exceeding the sonobuoy launch container inner diameter;

the sonobuoy glide harness comprising;

a stabilization parachute adapted to provide stabilization of the sonobuoy vehicle while the sonobuoy vehicle is in flight;

a stabilization parachute ejection mechanism adapted to, while the sonobuoy vehicle is in flight, release the stabilization parachute from the sonobuoy vehicle;

a plurality of deployable aerodynamic control surfaces;

an actuation system operatively adapted to deploy the plurality of deployable aerodynamic control surfaces during and/or after launch of the sonobuoy vehicle from a flying aircraft;

a guidance system operatively adapted to provide a dynamically determined, substantially controlled, and substantially guided descent of the sonobuoy vehicle from a release altitude, latitude, and longitude located within a predetermined release zone and toward a predetermined sonobuoy water entry zone that is defined by a predetermined range of water entry longitudes and a predetermined range of water entry latitudes; and

an aerodynamic control surface ejection mechanism adapted to substantially simultaneously release the aerodynamic control surfaces from the sonobuoy vehicle and deploy a terminal parachute.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein:

the sonobuoy launch container is adapted to substantially fit within a launch tube of the flying aircraft.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein:

the sonobuoy vehicle lacks an onboard source of thrust.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein:

the actuation system is operatively adapted to utilize an aerodynamic force on the sonobuoy vehicle to deploy at least one deployable aerodynamic control surface from the plurality of deployable aerodynamic control surfaces.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein:

the plurality of deployable aerodynamic control surfaces comprises a main wing that, upon deployment, is adapted to be moved from a stowed orientation that is substantially parallel to a direction of travel of the sonobuoy vehicle to a deployed orientation that is substantially perpendicular to the direction of travel of the sonobuoy vehicle.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein:

the plurality of deployable aerodynamic control surfaces comprises a main wing and one or more tail surfaces adapted to be removed at the end of the guided descent and prior to touchdown.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein:

the plurality of deployable aerodynamic control surfaces comprises one or more tail control surfaces that, upon deployment from a rear of the sonobuoy glide harness, are each adapted to be moved from a stowed orientation that is substantially parallel to a direction of travel of the sonobuoy vehicle to a respective deployed orientation that is substantially perpendicular to the direction of travel of the sonobuoy vehicle.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein:

the plurality of deployable aerodynamic control surfaces comprises a main wing and one or more tail control surfaces adapted to lock into a deployed state.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein:

the plurality of deployable aerodynamic control surfaces comprises one or more tail control surfaces that are attached to an actuator device and adapted to, after deploying out substantially perpendicular to a direction of travel of the sonobuoy vehicle, rotate into the direction of travel and be operatively controlled by the actuation device.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein:

the guidance system comprises an information device located in the sonobuoy glide harness.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein:

the guidance system is adapted to operatively adapt a flight path of the sonobuoy vehicle responsive to an altitude, velocity, azimuth, and/or flight path angle of the flying aircraft.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein:

the guidance system is adapted to produce a continuously updated plurality of longitudinal control commands and lateral control commands, each command adapted to correct an orientation of the sonobuoy vehicle for line-of-sight guidance to the predefined water entry zone while tracking an equilibrium glide condition.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein:

the guidance system is operatively adapted to utilize multi-phase longitudinal control to provide sink rate control, an optimal flight path angle for a given current bank angle of the sonobuoy vehicle, and/or an equilibrium glide condition.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein:

the guidance system is operatively adapted to provide roll angle instructions to align a velocity vector of the sonobuoy vehicle with the water entry zone.

15. The device of claim 1, wherein:

the guidance system is operatively adapted to provide normal acceleration instructions to adjust a sink rate of the sonobuoy vehicle.

16. The device of claim 1, wherein:

the guidance system is operatively adapted to utilize variations in a steepness of a descent path to land the sonobuoy internal module or sonobuoy vehicle in the predetermined sonobuoy water entry zone.

17. The device of claim 1, wherein:

the guidance system is operatively adapted to automatically determine an altitude at which to cause the main wing and one or more tail control surfaces to be separated from the sonobuoy vehicle and the terminal parachute to be deployed.

18. The device of claim 1, wherein:

the guidance system is operatively adapted to minimize an error between a point within the predetermined water entry zone and an actual landing point of the sonobuoy internal module.

19. The device of claim 1, wherein:

the guidance system is operatively adapted to minimize a descent time to achieve touchdown of the sonobuoy internal module.

20. The device of claim 1, wherein:

the guidance system is operatively adapted to maximize an operative range of the sonobuoy vehicle.

21. The device of claim 1, wherein:

the guidance system is operatively adapted to adaptively respond to sonobuoy vehicle performance characteristics and/or environmental conditions that would otherwise prevent the sonobuoy internal module from landing in the predetermined water entry zone.

22. A method comprising:

providing a dynamically determined, substantially controlled, and substantially guided descent of a sonobuoy vehicle from an arbitrary release altitude, latitude, and longitude located within a predetermined release zone and toward a predetermined sonobuoy water entry zone that is defined by a predetermined range of water entry longitudes and a predetermined range of water entry latitudes, the sonobuoy vehicle comprising a substantially cylindrical sonobuoy glide harness adapted to;

be operably connected to a substantially cylindrical sonobuoy internal module to form the sonobuoy vehicle, the sonobuoy vehicle adapted to launch from a sonobuoy launch container that defines a sonobuoy launch container inner diameter, the sonobuoy vehicle defining a sonobuoy vehicle length and a sonobuoy vehicle outer diameter; and

operatively replace a substantially cylindrical external housing that is operatively adapted to substantially surround the sonobuoy internal module, the external housing defining an external housing length and an external housing outer diameter, the sonobuoy vehicle length not exceeding the external housing length, the sonobuoy vehicle outer diameter not exceeding the sonobuoy launch container inner diameter;

wherein the sonobuoy glide harness comprises;

a stabilization parachute adapted to provide stabilization of the sonobuoy vehicle while the sonobuoy vehicle is in flight;

a stabilization parachute ejection mechanism adapted to, while the sonobuoy vehicle is in flight, release the stabilization parachute from the sonobuoy vehicle;

a plurality of deployable aerodynamic control surfaces;

an actuation system operatively adapted to deploy the plurality of deployable aerodynamic control surfaces during and/or after launch of the sonobuoy vehicle from a flying aircraft;

a guidance system operatively adapted to provide the dynamically determined, substantially controlled, and substantially guided descent of the sonobuoy vehicle from the arbitrary release altitude, latitude, and longitude located within the predetermined release zone and toward the predetermined sonobuoy water entry zone that is defined by the predetermined range of water entry longitudes and the predetermined range of water entry latitudes; and

an aerodynamic control surface ejection mechanism adapted to substantially simultaneously release the aerodynamic control surfaces from the vehicle and deploy a terminal parachute.

23. A machine-readable medium storing machine-implementable instructions for activities comprising:

providing a dynamically determined, substantially controlled, and substantially guided descent of the sonobuoy vehicle from an arbitrary release altitude, latitude, and longitude located within a predetermined release zone and toward a predetermined sonobuoy water entry zone that is defined by a predetermined range of water entry longitudes and a predetermined range of water entry latitudes, the sonobuoy vehicle comprising a substantially cylindrical sonobuoy glide harness adapted to;

be operably connected to a substantially cylindrical sonobuoy internal module to form the sonobuoy vehicle, the sonobuoy vehicle adapted to launch from a sonobuoy launch container that defines a sonobuoy launch container inner diameter, the sonobuoy vehicle defining a sonobuoy vehicle length and a sonobuoy vehicle outer diameter; and

operatively replace a substantially cylindrical external housing that is operatively adapted to substantially surround the sonobuoy internal module, the external housing defining an external housing length and an external housing outer diameter, the sonobuoy vehicle length not exceeding the external housing length, the sonobuoy vehicle outer diameter not exceeding the sonobuoy launch container inner diameter;

wherein the sonobuoy glide harness comprises;

a stabilization parachute adapted to provide stabilization of the sonobuoy vehicle while the sonobuoy vehicle is in flight;

a stabilization parachute ejection mechanism adapted to, while the sonobuoy vehicle is in flight, release the stabilization parachute from the sonobuoy vehicle;

a plurality of deployable aerodynamic control surfaces;

an actuation system operatively adapted to deploy the plurality of deployable aerodynamic control surfaces during and/or after launch of the sonobuoy vehicle from a flying aircraft;

a guidance system operatively adapted to provide the dynamically determined, substantially controlled, and substantially guided descent of the sonobuoy vehicle from the arbitrary release altitude, latitude, and longitude located within the predetermined release zone and toward the predetermined sonobuoy water entry zone that is defined by the predetermined range of water entry longitudes and the predetermined range of water entry latitudes; and

an aerodynamic control surface ejection mechanism adapted to substantially simultaneously release the aerodynamic control surfaces from the vehicle and deploy a terminal parachute.

24. A circuit comprising:

a guidance sub-circuit adapted to provide a dynamically determined, substantially controlled, and substantially guided descent of the sonobuoy vehicle from an arbitrary release altitude, latitude, and longitude located within a predetermined release zone and toward a predetermined sonobuoy water entry zone that is defined by a predetermined range of water entry longitudes and a predetermined range of water entry latitudes, the sonobuoy vehicle comprising a substantially cylindrical sonobuoy glide harness adapted to;

be operably connected to a substantially cylindrical sonobuoy internal module to form the sonobuoy vehicle, the sonobuoy vehicle adapted to launch from a sonobuoy launch container that defines a sonobuoy launch container inner diameter, the sonobuoy vehicle defining a sonobuoy vehicle length and a sonobuoy vehicle outer diameter; and

operatively replace a substantially cylindrical external housing that is operatively adapted to substantially surround the sonobuoy internal module, the external housing defining an external housing length and an external housing outer diameter, the sonobuoy vehicle length not exceeding the external housing length, the sonobuoy vehicle outer diameter not exceeding the sonobuoy launch container inner diameter;

wherein the sonobuoy glide harness comprises;

a stabilization parachute adapted to provide stabilization of the sonobuoy vehicle while the sonobuoy vehicle is in flight;

a stabilization parachute ejection mechanism adapted to, while the sonobuoy vehicle is in flight, release the stabilization parachute from the sonobuoy vehicle;

a plurality of deployable aerodynamic control surfaces;

an actuation system operatively adapted to deploy the plurality of deployable aerodynamic control surfaces during and/or after launch of the sonobuoy vehicle from a flying aircraft;

a guidance system operatively adapted to provide the dynamically determined, substantially controlled, and substantially guided descent of the sonobuoy vehicle from the arbitrary release altitude, latitude, and longitude located within the predetermined release zone and toward the predetermined sonobuoy water entry zone that is defined by the predetermined range of water entry longitudes and the predetermined range of water entry latitudes; and

an aerodynamic control surface ejection mechanism adapted to substantially simultaneously release the aerodynamic control surfaces from the vehicle and deploy a terminal parachute.