Method and apparatus for radial thrust trajectory correction of a ballistic projectile
AssigneeAB Bofors
InventorJames Linick
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system for controlling the placement of a gun launched projectile adapted with a radial impulse motor incorporated into the projectile for imparting a thrust subsequent to launching and a receiver incorporated into the projectile for targeting information for determining the projectile trajectory and the projectile roll rate, roll position, and pitch, i.e., vertical reference; and a computer linked to the receiver and the radial impulse motor for determining the projectile trajectory and the projectile roll rate, roll position, and vertical reference time after launch of the projectile and angle of corrective vector to ignite the radial impulse motor to affect the trajectory of the projectile to land the projectile on a desired target.
Claims23
A system for controlling the placement of an airborne vehicle, comprising:
- an airborne vehicle having a ballistic trajectory and a roll rate, roll position and pitch while in said trajectory;
- a radial impulse motor, incorporated into said airborne vehicle, for imparting a radial thrust on said airborne vehicle while said airborne vehicle is in said trajectory;
- a receiver, incorporated into said airborne vehicle, for receiving targeting information;
- means for determining said trajectory;
- means for determining said airborne vehicle roll rate, roll position and pitch;
- means for determining a vertical reference for said airborne vehicle;
- and
- a computer, linked to said radial impulse motor, said receiver, said means for determining said trajectory, said means for determining said airborne vehicle roll rate, roll position and pitch, and said means for determining a vertical reference, for determining a time during said trajectory of said airborne vehicle and an angle of corrective vector to ignite said radial impulse motor to affect the trajectory of said airborne vehicle to direct said airborne vehicle towards a desired target.
A method of guiding an airborne vehicle towards a desired target, said airborne vehicle having a ballistic trajectory and a roll rate, roll position and pitch while in said trajectory, a center of mass, a receiver for receiving targeting information, a radial impulse motor for delivering an impulse to the airborne vehicle at said center of mass, a roll rate sensor, a pitch sensor, means for determining said trajectory, and a computer for performing targeting calculations, said method comprising the steps of:
- receiving targeting information from an external source, said targeting information being loaded into the computer for use in the targeting calculations;
- launching said airborne vehicle into said trajectory;
- determining said trajectory;
- determining said roll rate, roll position and pitch;
- calculating a time and an angle at which to ignite the radial impulse motor to change the trajectory of said projectile to direct the projectile towards the desired target;
- and
- igniting said impulse motor at the time and angle calculated in said calculating step.
A method of guiding an airborne vehicle towards a desired target, said airborne vehicle having a ballistic trajectory and a roll rate, roll position and pitch while in said trajectory, a center of mass, a receiver for receiving targeting information, a radial impulse motor for delivering an impulse to the airborne vehicle at said center of mass, a roll rate sensor, a pitch sensor, and a computer for performing targeting calculations, said method comprising the steps of:
- receiving targeting information from an external source, said targeting information being loaded into the computer for use in the targeting calculations;
- launching said airborne vehicle into said trajectory;
- determining said trajectory;
- determining said roll rate, roll position and pitch;
- calculating a time and an angle at which to ignite the radial impulse motor to change the trajectory of said projectile to direct the projectile towards the desired target;
- and
- igniting said impulse motor at the time and angle calculated in said calculating step.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.