Small caliber guided projectile
First Claim
1. A non-spinning projectile self-guided to a laser designated target, the projectile having a center of gravity, a center of pressure and a length, the projectile comprising:
- an optical sensor operatively arranged to detect light reflected from the laser designated target;
a counterbalance mass operatively arranged to cause the center of gravity of the projectile to be located forward of the center of pressure of the projectile;
a plurality of stabilizing strakes rigidly affixed to an exterior surface of the projectile, each of the plurality extending longitudinally along a portion of the projectile'"'"'s length;
a plurality of control fins each pivotally mounted adjacent to a trailing edge of one of the plurality of stabilizing strakes, one or more of the plurality of control fins attached to each of one or more rotatable shafts, each rotatable shaft having an actuation lever and an opposed actuation lever;
a plurality of electromagnetic actuators each magnetically coupleable to one of the actuation lever and the opposed actuation lever of each rotatable shaft; and
,a control and guidance electronics module operatively arranged to receive a signal from the optical sensor and generate therefrom, a control command for each of the plurality of electromagnetic actuators, causing the control fins to pivot in a controlled manner thereby guiding the projectile towards the target.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A non-spinning projectile that is self-guided to a laser designated target and is configured to be fired from a small caliber smooth bore gun barrel has an optical sensor mounted in the nose of the projectile, a counterbalancing mass portion near the fore end of the projectile and a hollow tapered body mounted aft of the counterbalancing mass. Stabilizing strakes are mounted to and extend outward from the tapered body with control fins located at the aft end of the strakes. Guidance and control electronics and electromagnetic actuators for operating the control fins are located within the tapered body section. Output from the optical sensor is processed by the guidance and control electronics to produce command signals for the electromagnetic actuators. A guidance control algorithm incorporating non-proportional, “bang-bang” control is used to steer the projectile to the target.
59 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A non-spinning projectile self-guided to a laser designated target, the projectile having a center of gravity, a center of pressure and a length, the projectile comprising:
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an optical sensor operatively arranged to detect light reflected from the laser designated target; a counterbalance mass operatively arranged to cause the center of gravity of the projectile to be located forward of the center of pressure of the projectile; a plurality of stabilizing strakes rigidly affixed to an exterior surface of the projectile, each of the plurality extending longitudinally along a portion of the projectile'"'"'s length; a plurality of control fins each pivotally mounted adjacent to a trailing edge of one of the plurality of stabilizing strakes, one or more of the plurality of control fins attached to each of one or more rotatable shafts, each rotatable shaft having an actuation lever and an opposed actuation lever; a plurality of electromagnetic actuators each magnetically coupleable to one of the actuation lever and the opposed actuation lever of each rotatable shaft; and
,a control and guidance electronics module operatively arranged to receive a signal from the optical sensor and generate therefrom, a control command for each of the plurality of electromagnetic actuators, causing the control fins to pivot in a controlled manner thereby guiding the projectile towards the target. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A non-spinning projectile self-guided to a laser designated target, the projectile having a center of gravity, a center of pressure, a length and fore and aft ends, the projectile comprising:
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an infrared optical sensor operatively arranged to detect light reflected from the laser designated target, the optical sensor fixedly mounted proximal to the fore end of the projectile; a counterbalance mass operatively arranged to cause the center of gravity of the projectile to be located forward of the center of pressure of the projectile, the counterbalance mass operatively connected to and aft of the optical sensor; a plurality of stabilizing strakes rigidly affixed to an exterior surface of the projectile, each of the plurality extending longitudinally along a portion of the projectiles length and terminating proximal to the aft end of the projectile; a plurality of control fins each pivotally mounted adjacent to a trailing edge of one of the plurality of stabilizing strakes, one or more of the plurality of control fins attached to each of one or more rotatable shafts, each rotatable shaft having an actuation lever and an opposed actuation lever attached thereto; an actuation module disposed at the aft end of the projectile, the actuation module comprising a plurality of electromagnetic actuators each magnetically coupleable to one of the actuation lever and the opposed actuation lever of each rotatable shaft; a control and guidance electronics module operatively arranged to receive a signal from the optical sensor and generate therefrom, a control command for each of the plurality of electromagnetic actuators, causing the control fins to pivot in a controlled manner thereby guiding the projectile towards the target; and
,a sabot encasing a portion of the exterior surface of the projectile, the sabot operatively arranged to interface the projectile to a smooth bore gun barrel and prevent damage to the stabilizing strakes and control fins upon firing. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification