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US 9,429,400 B1Granted
Flow control device and method for aircraft and missile forebody
AssigneeOrbital Research Inc.
InventorsZak Sowle, Srikanth Vasudevan, Russell Stucke, Frederick J. Lisy, Robert N. Schmidt
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A forebody flow control system and more particularly an aircraft or missile flow control system for enhanced maneuverability and stabilization utilizes various types of sensors and various types of activatable flow effectors to maneuver the aircraft or missile with the help of a control system. A method of operating the flow control system is also disclosed.
Claims13
A flow control system for a missile or aircraft forebody comprising
- a. at least one activatable micro-vortex generator;
- b. at least one sensor generating a signal, the at least one sensor being used to maneuver the missile or aircraft;
- c. an inertial measurement unit having an output;
- and
- d. a closed loop control system;
- wherein the closed loop control system is used for activating and deactivating the at least one micro-vortex generator based at least in part on the signal of the at least one sensor and the output of the inertial measurement unit.
3 more elements
A method of stabilization for a missile or aircraft forebody comprising the steps of
- a. estimating or determining a need to stabilize a missile or an aircraft based at least in part on a signal from at least one sensor used to stabilize the missile or aircraft;
- the missile or aircraft forebody further comprising at least one activatable micro-vortex generator and a closed loop control system for controlling the at least one micro-vortex generator;
- b. activating the at least one micro-vortex generator to create commanded side forces by oscillation of the at least one micro-vortex generator with the closed loop controller based on at least in part the signal of the at least sensor;
- c. re-estimating or determining the side forces required to stabilize the missile or aircraft based at least in part on a signal from the at least one sensor;
- and
- d. deactivating the at least one micro-vortex generator in response to reduced need for commanded side forces.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.