Spin-stabilized projectile with pulse receiver and method of use

A spin-stabilized projectile the trajectory of which can be improved to increase accuracy, said projectile being controlled by a source of electromagnetic radiation providing pulses carrying encoded information, said spin-stabilized projectile comprising:

• a nose end;
• a midportion having a periphery disposed about which are a plurality of spaced masses and a high explosive charge associated with each mass for high explosive detonation acceleration of its corresponding mass to provide an impulse to said projectile which is applied substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of said projectile;
• a boatail defining a cavity open at the rear end of said boatial;
• and
• a pulsed electromagnetic radiation and processor receiver mounted in said cavity and including:
• (a) means for determining the approximate elapsed time from firing of the projectile;
• (b) means for determining the direction of the source of electromagnetic radiation with respect to said projectile;
• (c) means for determining approximate vertical;
• (d) means for counting the times between adjacent electromagnetic pulses in a series of such pulses;
• (e) means for determining projectile rotational rate;
• and
• (f) microprocessor means responsive to said means for determining the approximate elapsed time, said means for determining direction, said means for determining approximate vertical and said means for counting the times between adjacent electromagnetic pulses, said microprocessor means controlling selective high explosive detonation acceleration of said masses to improve said trajectory, wherein said boatail comprises a microdetonator corresponding to each of said masses, said projectile midportion comprising a channel in communication between each microdetonator and the high explosive thruster charge for the corresponding mass, said channel holding a detonation train.

Receiver apparatus for mounting in the boatail of a spin-stabilized projectile the trajectory of which can be improved by the selective high explosive detonation acceleration of masses carried by said spin-stabilized projectile, said receiver being responsive to pulsed electromagnetic radiation and comprising:

• microprocessor means;
• means for determining approximate elapsed time from firing of said projectile and providing an output to said microprocessor means;
• means for determining rotational rate of the projectile;
• means for determining the direction of the source of electromagnetic energy with respect to said projectile and providing an output which provides an indication of true vertical to said microprocessor means;
• means for determining approximate vertical and providing an output to said microprocessor means;
• and
• means for determining the time between adjacent pulses in a series of such pulses and providing an output to said microprocessor means whereby said microprocessor means can control high explosive detonation acceleration of said masses to improve the trajectory of said projectile, said microprocessor means including means responsive to said means for determining the direction and said means for determining approximate vertical to provide a difference between approximate vertical and true vertical.