2-D projectile trajectory corrector
AssigneeUnited Defense, L.P.
InventorsJohn G. Rupert, Jeff Siewart
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A device and a method of adjusting a trajectory of a projectile in flight includes increasing projectile drag to effect a downrange correction and altering the yaw of repose to effect a cross range correction. A method of a vernier correction to the trajectory is included.
Claims26
A 2-D projectile trajectory corrector system for improving the trajectory of a spin stabilized artillery projectile after launch, the projectile being tracked after launch by a tracking system, comprising:
- a first trajectory adjustment system of primarily drag inducing surfaces with multiple discrete deployment settings located within the spin stabilized artillery projectile;
- a second trajectory adjustment system of primarily spin altering surfaces with multiple discrete deployment settings located within the spin stabilized artillery projectile;
- and
- a command module disposed within the spin stabilized artillery projectile and operably coupled to the first trajectory adjustment system and the second trajectory adjustment system.
A method of adjusting a trajectory of a projectile in-flight comprising:
- determining a set of coordinates of a target;
- firing the projectile at an initial aim point, wherein said initial aim point is down range and to the right of said target;
- using a tracking system for determining a position of the projectile during flight;
- calculating a trajectory for the projectile and comparing it to a trajectory required to strike the target;
- providing a set of commands to the projectile to adjust said trajectory of the projectile;
- and
- deploying a first set of aerodynamic surfaces to a first discrete setting to correct for an initial trajectory error created by a specific set of launch conditions;
- monitoring trajectory after deploying a first set of aerodynamic surfaces so as to provide a set of additional trajectory correction instructions as needed;
- and
- deploying a set of primarily drag inducing surfaces wit multiple discrete deployment settings and a set of primarily spin altering surfaces with multiple discrete deployment settings for at least one residual trajectory correction to range and cross range.
A 2-D projectile trajectory corrector system for improving an unguided spin stabilized artillery projectile, said trajectory correction system comprising:
- first trajectory adjusting means for reducing the distance the unguided spill stabilized artillery projectile travels, said means including deployment of a plurality of primarily drag inducing surfaces with multiple discrete deployment settings;
- second trajectory adjusting means for changing projectile cross range deflection, said means including a deployment of a plurality of primarily spin altering surfaces with multiple discrete deployment settings;
- and
- tracking means for determining the position of the projectile in-flight so as to correct trajectory errors.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.