Fluid-based orientation control system
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
InventorStephen D. Russell
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Abstract
A system includes a fluid reservoir containing a first fluid, a pair of fluidic channels in fluidic connection with the fluid reservoir, a counter-fluid reservoir having a second fluid that is non-miscible with the first fluid, and a pump connected to the fluid reservoir. The pump is configured to pump the first fluid from the fluid reservoir into the pair of fluidic channels. When contained in a vehicle, the system allows for control of the vehicle's orientation. The system may use sensor input to determine when to actuate the pump. Each fluidic channel may have a cross-section that varies along its length. The fluidic channels may be geometrically symmetric about the fluid reservoir. The system may be incorporated into a vehicle to control the vehicle's orientation.
Claims20
A system comprising:
- a fluid reservoir containing a first fluid;
- a pair of fluidic channels in fluidic connection with the fluid reservoir, wherein each fluidic channel of the pair of fluidic channels has a cross-section that varies along its length;
- at least one counter-fluid reservoir, in fluidic connection with the pair of fluidic channels, containing a second fluid that is non-miscible with the first fluid;
- and
- a pump, connected to the fluid reservoir, configured to pump the first fluid from the fluid reservoir at least partially through the pair of fluidic channels.
A system comprising:
- a fluid reservoir containing a first fluid;
- a pair of fluidic channels in fluidic connection with the fluid reservoir, wherein each fluidic channel of the pair of fluidic channels has a cross-section that varies along its length;
- at least one counter-fluid reservoir, in fluidic connection with the pair of fluidic channels, containing a second fluid that is non-miscible with the first fluid;
- a pump connected to the fluid reservoir;
- a controller connected to the pump;
- and
- one or more sensors connected to the controller, wherein the controller is configured to receive sensor input from the sensors and, based upon the sensor input, actuate the pump to cause the pump to pump the first fluid from the fluid reservoir at least partially through the pair of fluidic channels.
A method comprising the steps of:
- providing a vehicle containing
- a fluid reservoir containing a first fluid,
- a pair of fluidic channels in fluidic connection with the fluid reservoir, wherein each fluidic channel of the pair of fluidic channels has a cross-section that varies along its length,
- at least one counter-fluid reservoir, in fluid connection with the pair of fluidic channels, containing a second fluid,
- a pump, connected to the fluid reservoir, configured to pump the first fluid from the fluid reservoir at least partially through the pair of fluidic channels,
- a controller connected to the pump,
- a memory module connected to the controller, the memory module having the vehicle's desired values of orientation dynamics parameters stored therein, and
- at least one sensor configured to detect values of the vehicle's actual orientation dynamics parameters;
- determining the difference between the values of the vehicle's actual orientation dynamics parameters from the vehicle's desired values of orientation dynamics parameters;
- and
- actuating the pump for a time T based on the determined difference.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.