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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
First Claim
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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.

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