Patent classifications
F41G7/34
Control system for controlling a projectile
According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a control system for controlling a projectile, the control system comprising: a plurality of transmitters, wherein each transmitter of the plurality of transmitters is arranged to transmit an electromagnetic wave from a transmission position; a receiver associated with the projectile, the receiver being arranged to receive a plurality of electromagnetic waves transmitted from the plurality of transmitters; a controller associated with the projectile, the controller being arranged to: determine at least one of a position, a velocity or an acceleration of the projectile from transmission positions of the plurality of transmitters and Doppler measurements derived from the received plurality of electromagnetic waves; and generate a control signal for performing an action with the projectile depending on the determined at least one of position, velocity or acceleration of the projectile.
METHODS AND APPARATUSES FOR AERIAL INTERCEPTION OF AERIAL THREATS
Embodiments include active protection systems and methods for an aerial platform. An onboard system includes radar modules, detects aerial vehicles within a threat range of the aerial platform, and determines if any of the aerial vehicles are an aerial threat. The onboard system also determines an intercept vector to the aerial threat, communicates the intercept vector to an eject vehicle, and causes the eject vehicle to be ejected from the aerial platform to intercept the aerial threat. The eject vehicle includes alignment thrusters to rotate a longitudinal axis of the eject vehicle to substantially align with the intercept vector, a rocket motor to accelerate the eject vehicle along an intercept vector, divert thrusters to divert the eject vehicle in a direction substantially perpendicular to the intercept vector, and attitude control thrusters to make adjustments to the attitude of the eject vehicle.
METHODS AND APPARATUSES FOR AERIAL INTERCEPTION OF AERIAL THREATS
Embodiments include active protection systems and methods for an aerial platform. An onboard system includes radar modules, detects aerial vehicles within a threat range of the aerial platform, and determines if any of the aerial vehicles are an aerial threat. The onboard system also determines an intercept vector to the aerial threat, communicates the intercept vector to an eject vehicle, and causes the eject vehicle to be ejected from the aerial platform to intercept the aerial threat. The eject vehicle includes alignment thrusters to rotate a longitudinal axis of the eject vehicle to substantially align with the intercept vector, a rocket motor to accelerate the eject vehicle along an intercept vector, divert thrusters to divert the eject vehicle in a direction substantially perpendicular to the intercept vector, and attitude control thrusters to make adjustments to the attitude of the eject vehicle.
SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MODEL BASED INERTIAL NAVIGATION FOR A SPINNING PROJECTILE
Model based inertial navigation for a spinning projectile is provided. In one embodiment, a navigation system comprises: a strapdown navigation processor; a propagator-estimator filter, the processor inputs inertial sensor data and navigation corrections from the filter to generate a navigation solution comprising projectile velocity and attitude estimates; an upfinding navigation aid that generates an angular attitude measurement indicative of a roll angle; and a physics model performing calculations utilizing dynamics equations for a rigid body, the model inputs 1) projectile state estimates from the navigation solution and 2) platform inputs indicative of forces acting on a projectile platform, and outputs a set of three orthogonal predicted translational acceleration measurements based on the inputs; the filter comprises a measurement equation associated with the physics model and the upfinding navigation aid and calculates the navigation corrections as a function of the navigation solution, the predicted translational acceleration measurements, and attitude measurement.
Method and system of determining miss-distance
The presently disclosed subject matter includes a computerized method and system for determining miss-distance between platforms. The proposed method and system make use of an electro optic sensor (e.g. camera) mounted on one of the platforms for obtaining additional data which is used for improving the accuracy of positioning data obtained from conventional positioning devices. A navigation error is calculated where the relative position of the two platforms is converted to the camera reference frame. Once the navigation error is available, it can be used to correct a measured miss-distance.
Utilizing multipath to determine down and reduce dispersion in projectiles
A method for launching a round from an airborne platform, receiving a plurality of RF signals at the round, determining an amount of time between a first and second received RF signal, where the second signal is a multi-path signal and the first signal is a direct path signal. An altitude of the round is determined based on the delay between the first and second received signal and aligning the round's flight path with an initial velocity vector of the aircraft platform to reduce dispersion. The round can include a plurality of sensors for detecting the RF signals. The second received RF signal may be a multi-path signal having been reflected off of the earth's surface or another object on the earth's surface. The altitude of the round can be determined using the known altitude of the airborne platform, the delay of time between the first and second received signals, and the speed of light.
Glide Trajectory Optimization for Aerospace Vehicles
A computer implemented method is provided for in-flight trajectory steering a vehicle by an optimal path to either a preplanned or in-flight commanded destination. The method includes incorporating realistic environmental physical constants; setting initial angle of attack (AoA) and initial AoA rate; incrementing flight AoA; measuring operation parameters; establishing a flight trajectory; calculating an optimal trajectory; comparing flight trajectories; and commanding flight control. The plurality of physical constants include for gravity and atmospheric conditions, the latter typically provided in tabular form, the flight AoA increments from the initial AoA and any prior increments. The plurality of operation parameters of the vehicle includes pressure, velocity and flight path angle. The flight trajectory denotes the path of the vehicle to its destination based on the operation parameters using the physical constants. The optimal trajectory is based on with altitude (based on physical constants) and velocity (based on measured operation parameters) of the vehicle. The flight trajectory is compared to the optimal trajectory as a steering correction by altering the flight AoA. The vehicle's flight control involves executing the steering correction at the flight AoA.
Weapon on-board velocity and range tracking
The system and method of weapon on-board range and velocity tracking using a synchronized clock and a pulse beacon on a fire control system, or the like, coupled with an on-board rear-facing detector and processor. A round or a UAS may use this system to accurately estimate range with respect to the fire control system, over time, and the round's or UAS's velocity at various times along its flight path. The system provides for smaller miss distances, and the like.
METHOD AND SYSTEM OF DETERMINING MISS-DISTANCE
The presently disclosed subject matter includes a computerized method and system for determining miss-distance between platforms. The proposed method and system make use of an electro optic sensor (e.g. camera) mounted on one of the platforms for obtaining additional data which is used for improving the accuracy of positioning data obtained from conventional positioning devices. A navigation error is calculated where the relative position of the two platforms is converted to the camera reference frame. Once the navigation error is available, it can be used to correct a measured miss-distance.
SEAMLESS SMART MUNITIONS SYSTEM AND METHOD
Systems and methods for deploying smart munitions may provide targeting metadata generated by surveillance networks to munitions deployment and guidance systems for smart munitions. Targeting metadata may be received by a conduit system and automatically processed to generate guidance and deployment data actionable by a munitions deployment platform.