Projectile delivery systems and weaponized aerial vehicles and methods including same

A method for damaging a target, the method comprising:

• providing a weaponized aerial vehicle including:
• an aerial vehicle;
• and
• a projectile delivery system mounted on the aerial vehicle for flight therewith, the projectile delivery system including:
• a projectile including:
• a projectile body;
• an onboard steering system including:
• a steering mechanism operable to change an attitude, orientation, and/or direction of flight of the projectile;
• and
• a steering actuator operable to control the steering mechanism;
• and
• an energetic payload;
• and
• a base system including:
• a projectile holder securing the projectile to the aerial vehicle and configured to selectively release the projectile;
• a target tracking system;
• and
• a projectile guidance system including a projectile tracking system and a projectile control system;
• and using the base system to:
• release the projectile from the projectile holder such that the projectile is driven toward a target by gravity;
• track the target using the target tracking system;
• track the released projectile using the projectile tracking system;
• and
• automatically control the onboard steering system of the projectile using the projectile control system to adjust a trajectory of the falling projectile to steer the projectile to the target.

A weaponized aerial vehicle system comprising:

• an aerial vehicle;
• a projectile releasably mounted on the aerial vehicle for flight therewith, the projectile including:
• a projectile body;
• an onboard steering system including:
• a steering mechanism operable to change an attitude, orientation, and/or direction of flight of the projectile;
• and
• a steering actuator operable to control the steering mechanism;
• an onboard projectile stabilization system;
• and
• an onboard target proximity sensor;
• and
• a guidance station including a projectile control system;
• wherein the projectile is releasably from the aerial vehicle such that the projectile is driven toward a target by gravity;
• wherein the guidance station is configured to remotely automatically control the onboard steering system of the projectile using the projectile control system to adjust a trajectory of the falling projectile to steer the projectile to the target;
• and
• the onboard projectile stabilization system is operative, using sensor input from the target proximity sensor, to automatically control the onboard steering system to correct an orientation of the projectile with respect to the target as the projectile approaches the target.

A method for damaging a target, the method comprising:

• providing a projectile releasably mounted on an aerial vehicle for flight with the aerial vehicle, the projectile including:
• a projectile body;
• an onboard steering system including:
• a steering mechanism operable to change an attitude, orientation, and/or direction of flight of the projectile;
• and
• a steering actuator operable to control the steering mechanism;
• an onboard projectile stabilization system;
• and
• an onboard target proximity sensor;
• and
• providing a guidance station including a projectile control system;
• releasing the projectile from the aerial vehicle such that the projectile is driven toward the target by gravity;
• using the guidance station, remotely automatically controlling the onboard steering system of the projectile using the projectile control system to adjust a trajectory of the falling projectile to steer the projectile to the target;
• and
• using the onboard projectile stabilization system, automatically controlling the onboard steering system to correct an orientation of the projectile with respect to the target as the projectile approaches the target.