Automatic rapid attachable warhead section

An apparatus for assembling selected warheads or reentry vehicles with selected weapon carriers, comprising:

• a first storage area containing a plurality of warheads or reentry vehicles,
• a second storage area containing a plurality of weapon carriers,
• computer-controlled means for selecting a warhead or reentry vehicle from said first storage area,
• computer-controlled means for selecting a weapon carrier from said second storage area,
• computer-controlled means for transporting said selected warhead or reentry vehicle to said selected weapon carrier, and
• automatic computer-controlled means for coupling said selected warhead or reentry vehicle to said selected weapon carrier,
• wherein said automatic coupling means include a connectorless interface between said selected warhead or reentry vehicle and said selected weapon carrier, said connectorless interface for conveying orientation information between said selected warhead or reentry vehicle and said selected weapon carrier, for determining when an adjacent warhead or reentry vehicle and weapon carrier are juxtaposed, and
• wherein said automatic coupling means includes a V-band coupling assembly which includes an expandable and contractible V-band for joining complementary engaging structures of said selected warhead or reentry vehicle and said selected weapon carrier, a motor coupled to said V-band for expanding and contracting said V-band when the adjacent warhead or reentry vehicle and weapon carrier are juxtaposed.

An apparatus for joining a warhead or reentry vehicle to a weapon carrier, comprising:

• a V-band coupling assembly which includes an expandable and contractible V-band, a retention cowl for retaining said V-band in an expanded state, and a motor coupled to said V-band for expanding and contracting said V-band,
• engaging structures of the warhead or reentry vehicle for engaging an adjacent weapon carrier,
• engaging structures of the weapon carrier for engaging an adjacent warhead or reentry vehicle, said engaging structures of the warhead or reentry vehicle and the weapon carrier being complementary,
• said engaging structures of the warhead or reentry vehicle and of the weapon carrier being complementary to each other and being complementary to the V-band, such that when the warhead or reentry vehicle and the weapon carrier are in proper alignment, and when said V-band is contracted, the warhead or reentry vehicle, the weapon carrier, and the V-band form a mutually complementary joint for joining the warhead or reentry vehicle with the weapon carrier.

A method for assembling selected warheads or reentry vehicles with selected weapon carriers, comprising the steps of:

• remotely selecting a weapon carrier from a plurality of weapon carriers,
• remotely selecting a warhead or reentry vehicle from a plurality of warheads or reentry vehicles,
• automatically aligning the selected warhead or reentry vehicle with the selected weapon carrier, and
• automatically coupling the aligned selected warhead or reentry vehicle to the selected weapon carrier.

An apparatus for transferring power or data across a connectorless interface between a carried item and a carrying assembly, comprising:

• a connectorless interface subassembly on the carried item,
• a computer processor and cabling on the carried item connected to said carried item connectorless interface subassembly,
• a connectorless interface subassembly on the carrying assembly, and
• a computer processor and cabling on the carrying assembly connected to said carrying assembly connectorless interface subassembly,
• wherein said carried item connectorless interface subassembly and said carrying assembly connectorless interface subassembly constitute the connectorless interface.