Aircraft, missile, projectile, or underwater vehicle with improved control system and method of using
First Claim
1. A method of defending a threatened aircraft from enemy attack comprising:
- firing, launching or releasing from the threatened aircraft a countermeasure projectile, the countermeasure projectile having a body and at least one control surface movable along at least one track along the body and distinct from the body;
propelling the at least one control surface along the at least one track positioned on the countermeasure projectile to dynamically and adaptively reconfigure the stability or maneuverability of the countermeasure projectile throughout flight; and
intercepting an enemy missile or projectile with the countermeasure projectile.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An aircraft, missile, projectile, or underwater vehicle with an improved control system, an improved control system, or a method of maneuvering an aircraft, missile, projectile, or underwater vehicle uses control surfaces that are movable along a track. The control system on a track (or “tracked control surface”) advantageously enables the aircraft, missile, projectile, or underwater vehicle to have an unlimited number of configurations, each configuration being tailored to the specific stability or maneuverability requirements during a specific portion of the flight by adjusting the center of pressure of the aircraft, missile, projectile, or underwater vehicle relative to its center of gravity.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method of defending a threatened aircraft from enemy attack comprising:
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firing, launching or releasing from the threatened aircraft a countermeasure projectile, the countermeasure projectile having a body and at least one control surface movable along at least one track along the body and distinct from the body; propelling the at least one control surface along the at least one track positioned on the countermeasure projectile to dynamically and adaptively reconfigure the stability or maneuverability of the countermeasure projectile throughout flight; and intercepting an enemy missile or projectile with the countermeasure projectile. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An aircraft, missile, projectile, or underwater vehicle comprising:
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a body; at least one track along the body, distinct from the body; at least one sensor or device being a GPS having an output for detecting a change in condition requiring increased maneuverability or increased stability; at least one control surface for moving along the at least one track; and a controller for controlling the movement of the at least one control surface along the at least one track, and wherein the controller received the output from the sensor or device for detecting a change in condition requiring increased maneuverability or increased stability wherein the repositioning of the at least one control surface along the body by propelling the at least one control surface along the at least one track increases either the stability or maneuverability of the aircraft, missile, projectile, or underwater vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of destroying a target comprising:
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launching or releasing a missile or projectile comprising at least one tracked control surface, a control system for controlling the at least one tracked control surface, and a sensor or device for detecting a condition requiring increased maneuverability or increased stability of the missile or projectile; moving the at least one tracked control surface to increase the maneuverability or stability of the missile or projectile in response to the condition detected by the sensor or device; intercepting the target with the missile or projectile. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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Specification