Patent classifications
F41G7/346
Guidance, navigation and control for ballistic projectiles
A system and method to aid in guidance, navigation and control of a guided projectile including a precision guidance munition assembly. The system and method receive position estimates of the guided projectile from a guiding sensor, determine predicted impact points of the guided projectile relative to a target based on the position estimates, determine miss distances of the guided projectile relative to the target, determine smoothed miss distances based, at least in part, on the determined miss distances, and process updated steering commands to steer the guided projectile based on the smoothed miss distances.
MIDBODY CAMERA/SENSOR NAVIGATION AND AUTOMATIC TARGET RECOGNITION
A guidance assembly and method for guiding an ordnance to a target. The assembly can operated in navigation and targeting modes and has an imager/seeker including an objective lens assembly and an imaging sensor array which provide image data for mapping and terminal seeker performance. The imager/seeker is pivotally mounted on the ordnance. An actuator is coupled to the imager/seeker and can be actuated to pivot the imager/seeker relative to a longitudinal axis of the ordnance from a navigation position to a targeting position. A flight control unit communicates with the imager/seeker and the actuator, and has a processor which analyses the image data to provide navigation flight control signals for guiding the ordnance in the navigation mode of operation and determining a target direction via automatic target recognition or aimpoint algorithms for directing the ordnance to the target in the targeting mode of operation.
Firearm electronic system
Man portable weapons include integrated electronics that calculate orientation and movement in addition to providing that data to a user's heads-up displays (HUD) as well as to group and area networks. By passing data to a HUD, the user is able to see, virtually, the flight path, point of impact and other ballistic data as well as data representing the condition and performance of the weapon for any rounds fired. The HUD also displays the relative position of other members of the team, last known enemy area of operation and other useful parameters from the man portable weapons of the other team members through the network. The electronics may be integrated within the main components of any suitable man portable weapon in a non-intrusive way as to have no effect on the firing mechanism of the small arm when it is fully assembled.
GUIDANCE, NAVIGATION AND CONTROL FOR BALLISTIC PROJECTILES
A system and method to aid in guidance, navigation and control of a guided projectile including a precision guidance munition assembly. The system and method receive position estimates of the guided projectile from a guiding sensor, determine predicted impact points of the guided projectile relative to a target based on the position estimates, determine miss distances of the guided projectile relative to the target, determine smoothed miss distances based, at least in part, on the determined miss distances, and process updated steering commands to steer the guided projectile based on the smoothed miss distances.
MUNITIONS INTERFACE ADAPTER
A munitions interface adapter including a rail adapter body. A plurality of mounting shoes may be coupled to the rail adapter body, and configured to mechanically couple the rail adapter body to a munitions rail of an installed munitions interface. A fire control connector may be configured to communicatively couple with an installed munitions fire control system. An adapter control interface may be included for adapting fire control signals from the installed munitions fire control system to an adapted munitions fire control signals. One or more adapted munitions deployment fixtures may be positioned on the rail adapter body. The one or more adapted munitions deployment fixtures are configured to retain and deploy one or more adapted munitions.
Firearm Electronic System
Man portable weapons include integrated electronics that calculate orientation and movement in addition to providing that data to a user's heads-up displays (HUD) as well as to group and area networks. By passing data to a HUD, the user is able to see, virtually, the flight path, point of impact and other ballistic data as well as data representing the condition and performance of the weapon for any rounds fired. The HUD also displays the relative position of other members of the team, last known enemy area of operation and other useful parameters from the man portable weapons of the other team members through the network. The electronics may be integrated within the main components of any suitable man portable weapon in a non-intrusive way as to have no effect on the firing mechanism of the small arm when it is fully assembled.
Apparatus for translation of GPS signals to facilitate asset tracking
A method for facilitating real time tracking of an airborne asset via downlink of GPS signals that are usable for determining asset location information from the asset to a ground station may include receiving a first GPS signal and a second GPS signal at a device disposed on the airborne asset and combining the first and second GPS signals to form combined signal responsive to filtration and amplification of the first and second GPS signals. The method may further include employing an overlay analog translation to convert the combined signal into a composite signal at a different frequency than the combined signal, generating a pilot carrier frequency for association with the composite signal, and amplifying the composite signal prior to transmission via the downlink from the airborne asset to the ground station. The pilot carrier frequency and amplitude may be adjustable.
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR NULLING OR SUPPRESSING INTERFERING SIGNALS IN DYNAMIC CONDITIONS
A system and method for nulling or suppressing interfering signals directed toward moving platforms based, at least in part, on dynamic motion data of the moveable platform is provided. The system may be an interference nulling system carried by a moveable platform and may include an antenna array including two or more antenna elements that generates at least one initial steerable null radiation pattern, dynamic motion data logic that determines dynamic motion data of the moveable platform; and update logic that updates the at least one initial steerable null radiation pattern based, at least in part, on the dynamic motion data. The at least one updated steerable null radiation pattern is directed toward a direction from which interfering signals are being transmitted from an interfering signal source.
Fusion between AOA and TDOA
A navigation system for a swarm of guided projectiles, such as cruise missiles, having three or more projectiles launched at a target is provided. The projectiles can be in secure communication with one another and can operate as a single swarm using a fusion of angle of arrival and time difference of arrival of a detected signal to direct the projectiles to a point of impact on a target that is offset from an emitter generating the detected signal. The projectiles can further use knowledge of their relative position to maintain and/or adjust their flight path and/or speed to maintain their course to the point of impact in areas of GPS denial or unavailability.
FUSION BETWEEN AOA AND TDOA
A navigation system for a swarm of guided projectiles, such as cruise missiles, having three or more projectiles launched at a target is provided. The projectiles can be in secure communication with one another and can operate as a single swarm using a fusion of angle of arrival and time difference of arrival of a detected signal to direct the projectiles to a point of impact on a target that is offset from an emitter generating the detected signal. The projectiles can further use knowledge of their relative position to maintain and/or adjust their flight path and/or speed to maintain their course to the point of impact in areas of GPS denial or unavailability.