Steerable rotating projectile
OwnerSteven M. Hoffberginventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for controlling a flying projectile which rotates during flight, comprising: determining an angle of rotation of an inertial mass spinning about an axis during flight, and controlling at least one actuator for altering at least a portion of an aerodynamic structure, selectively in dependence on the determined angle of rotation and a control input, to control aerodynamic forces during flight. An aerodynamic surface may rotate and interact with surrounding air during flight, to produce aerodynamic forces. A sensor determines an angular rotation of the spin during flight. A control system, responsive to the sensor, produces a control signal in dependence on the determined angular rotation. An actuator selectively alters an aerodynamic characteristic of the aerodynamic surface in response to the control signal.
Claims20
A projectile, comprising:
- an exterior surface;
- a field sensor configured to determine a relative rotation of the exterior surface with respect to an external field;
- a motor configured to have a selective mechanical response to a control signal;
- and
- an automated controller configured to generate the control signal, selectively dependent on feedback from the field sensor, to synchronize a phase of the mechanical response of the motor with a phase of the relative rotation of the exterior surface.
A method of controlling a projectile having an exterior surface, comprising:
- determining a relative rotation of the exterior surface with respect to an external field with a field sensor;
- and
- driving a motor selectively responsive to an automated control signal, selectively dependent on feedback of the determined relative rotation from the field sensor, to synchronize a phase of a response of the motor with a phase of the relative rotation of the surface.
A projectile, comprising:
- an exterior surface having a radial axis of symmetry, the projectile being dynamically balanced for rotation about the radial axis of symmetry;
- a motor, having a movement about an axis which is non-parallel with the radial axis of symmetry, driven in response to a motor control signal;
- and
- an automated controller configured to generate the motor control signal, to synchronize a phase of the motor about the axis with a phase of a rotation of the exterior surface about the radial axis of symmetry.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.