Reaction control system
AssigneeIsrael Aerospace Industries Ltd.
InventorAlon Kahana
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A reaction control system (RCS) is provided for use with an air vehicle having a nose portion and a center of gravity aft of the nose portion. The RCS includes a belt element configured for selectively securing the RCS to the nose portion, and also includes a plurality of micro-rocket modules affixed to the belt element, each micro-rocket module being configured for being selectively activated to provide corresponding control moments to the air vehicle when secured to the nose portion thereof. A corresponding air vehicle, and a method for modifying an air vehicle, are also provided.
Claims37
A reaction control system (RCS) for use with an air vehicle having a nose portion and a center of gravity aft of the nose portion, wherein the air vehicle includes a flight computer for controlling a trajectory of the air vehicle, the RCS further comprising:
- a belt element configured for selectively securing the RCS to the nose portion;
- a plurality of micro-rocket modules affixed to the belt element, each of said plurality of micro-rocket modules being configured for being selectively activated to provide corresponding control moments to the air vehicle when secured to the nose portion thereof;
- an RCS controller operatively connected to, and configured for controlling activation of, each of said plurality of micro-rocket modules;
- and
- a communications module operatively connected to said RCS controller and configured for providing a communication link between the RCS and the flight computer and for receiving operation commands therefrom for selectively activating each of said plurality of micro-rocket modules via said RCS controller.
A reaction control system (RCS) for use with an air vehicle having a nose portion and a center of gravity aft of the nose portion, the RCS comprising:
- a belt element configured for selectively securing the RCS to the nose portion;
- a plurality of micro-rocket modules affixed to the belt element, each of said plurality of micro-rocket modules being configured for being selectively activated to provide corresponding control moments to the air vehicle when secured to the nose portion thereof;
- an RCS controller operatively connected to, and configured for controlling activation of, each of said plurality of micro-rocket modules;
- an inertial navigation system operatively coupled to said RCS controller;
- and
- the RCS being operative to control activation of each of said plurality of micro-rocket modules responsive to navigational data provided by said inertial navigation system.
An air vehicle having a nose portion and a center of gravity aft of the nose portion, the air vehicle including a flight computer for controlling a trajectory of the air vehicle, the air vehicle comprising:
- a reaction control system (RCS), the RCS comprising:
- a belt element configured for selectively securing the RCS to the nose portion;
- and
- a plurality of micro-rocket modules affixed to the belt element, each of said plurality of micro-rocket modules being configured for being selectively activated to provide corresponding control moments to the air vehicle when secured to the nose portion thereof;
- an RCS controller operatively connected to, and configured for controlling activation of, each said micro-rocket module;
- and
- a communications module operatively connected to said RCS controller and configured for providing a communication link between the RCS and the flight computer and for receiving operation commands therefrom for selectively activating each of said plurality of micro-rocket modules via said RCS controller.
A method for modifying an air vehicle, the method comprising:
- providing the air vehicle, the air vehicle having a nose portion and a center of gravity aft of the nose portion, and a flight computer for controlling a trajectory of the air vehicle;
- providing a reaction control system (RCS) comprising:
- a belt element configured for selectively securing the RCS to the nose portion;
- and
- a plurality of micro-rocket modules affixed to the belt element, each of said plurality of micro-rocket modules being configured for being selectively activated to provide corresponding control moments to the air vehicle when secured to the nose portion thereof;
- providing:
- an RCS controller operatively connected to, and configured for controlling activation of, each said micro-rocket module;
- and
- a communications module operatively connected to said RCS controller and configured for providing a communication link between the RCS and the flight computer and for receiving operation commands therefrom for selectively activating each of said plurality of micro-rocket modules via said RCS controller selectively securing the RCS to the nose portion.
An air vehicle having a nose portion and a center of gravity aft of the nose portion, and comprising a reaction control system (RCS), the RCS comprising:
- a belt element configured for selectively securing the RCS to the nose portion;
- a plurality of micro-rocket modules affixed to the belt element, each said micro-rocket module being configured for being selectively activated to provide corresponding control moments to the air vehicle when secured to the nose portion thereof;
- an RCS controller operatively connected to, and configured for controlling activation of, each of said plurality of micro-rocket modules;
- an inertial navigation system operatively coupled to said RCS controller;
- the RCS being operative to control activation of each of said plurality of micro-rocket modules responsive to navigational data provided by said inertial navigation system.
A method for modifying an air vehicle, the method comprising:
- providing the air vehicle, the air vehicle having a nose portion and a center of gravity aft of the nose portion;
- providing a reaction control system (RCS) comprising:
- a belt element configured for selectively securing the RCS to the nose portion;
- a plurality of micro-rocket modules affixed to the belt element, each said micro-rocket module being configured for being selectively activated to provide corresponding control moments to the air vehicle when secured to the nose portion thereof;
- providing:
- an RCS controller operatively connected to, and configured for controlling activation of, each said micro-rocket module;
- an inertial navigation system operatively coupled to said RCS controller;
- the RCS being operative to control activation of each said micro-rocket module responsive to navigational data provided by said inertial navigation system;
- selectively securing the RCS to the nose portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.