A projectile including an ejectable aft fin housing assembly. The aft fin housing assembly includes aft fins that increase a distance between a center of gravity and a center of pressure of the projectile, improving passive stabilization of the projectile. Once the projectile has been passively stabilized, the aft fin housing assembly is ejected, decreasing a distance between the center of gravity and the center of pressure, improving active stabilization of the projectile.

A projectile including an ejectable aft fin housing assembly. The aft fin housing assembly includes aft fins that increase a distance between a center of gravity and a center of pressure of the projectile, improving passive stabilization of the projectile. Once the projectile has been passively stabilized, the aft fin housing assembly is ejected, decreasing a distance between the center of gravity and the center of pressure, improving active stabilization of the projectile.

Methods involve using a guided munition (e.g., a mortar round or a grenade) that utilizes deployable flow effectors, activatable flow effectors and/or active flow control devices to extend the range and enhance the precision of traditional unguided munitions without increasing the charge needed for launch. Sensors such as accelerometers, magnetometers, IR sensors, rate gyros, and motor controller sensors feed signals into a controller which then actuates or deploys the flow effectors/flow control devices to achieve the enhanced characteristics.

Methods involve using a guided munition (e.g., a mortar round or a grenade) that utilizes deployable flow effectors, activatable flow effectors and/or active flow control devices to extend the range and enhance the precision of traditional unguided munitions without increasing the charge needed for launch. Sensors such as accelerometers, magnetometers, IR sensors, rate gyros, and motor controller sensors feed signals into a controller which then actuates or deploys the flow effectors/flow control devices to achieve the enhanced characteristics.

A system includes a target illumination laser (TIL) configured to illuminate an airborne target with a TIL beam. The system also includes a beacon illuminator (BIL) configured to transmit a spot of illumination to an expected location on the target, wherein the spot of illumination is more focused than the TIL beam. The system also includes a camera configured to receive an image of the spot reflected off the target. The system also includes a controller configured to determine an actual location of the spot on the target based on the received image. The controller is also configured to estimate a spot motion by correlating the actual location of the spot on the target with the expected location on the target. The controller is also configured to predict uplink jitter of a high energy laser (HEL) beam generated by a HEL based on the BIL spot motion, the uplink jitter caused by atmospheric optical turbulence.

The present invention relates to projectiles and munitions, and more specifically to such in flight. More particularly the present invention relates to projectiles and munitions in flight equipped with one or more image sensors adapted for acquiring image data of the environment surrounding the projection or munition in flight. The present invention further relates to systems and methods for correcting or stabilizing motion effects and artifacts present in the image data related to the movement or motion of the projectile or munition in flight, including spin or rotation of the projectile or munition.

Projectile guiding assemblies, caps and methods of delivering power for testing and optionally data over spring-mounted fin(s) of the guiding assembly are provided. The guiding assemblies are configured to have continuous electrically conductive path(s) from the fin(s), through the respective spring(s) on which the fin(s) are mounted, and into the electronics module, which may receive power for testing and guiding data from external source(s) over the electrically conductive path(s). In the testing state, cap mechanically secures the fin(s) to contact(s) thereupon to assure continuous power and data transfer, sparing surface area that was previously dedicated to power and data transfer and simplifying these processes, especially under field conditions.

Projectile guiding assemblies, caps and methods of delivering power for testing and optionally data over spring-mounted fin(s) of the guiding assembly are provided. The guiding assemblies are configured to have continuous electrically conductive path(s) from the fin(s), through the respective spring(s) on which the fin(s) are mounted, and into the electronics module, which may receive power for testing and guiding data from external source(s) over the electrically conductive path(s). In the testing state, cap mechanically secures the fin(s) to contact(s) thereupon to assure continuous power and data transfer, sparing surface area that was previously dedicated to power and data transfer and simplifying these processes, especially under field conditions.

Inertial measurement units (IMUs) and methods with adaptations to eliminate or minimize sensor error, offset, or bias shift. More particularly, such IMUs and methods for gun-fired projectiles and particularly adapted to accurately measure forces and to prevent or minimize the error, offset, or bias shift associated with events exhibiting high g shock, and/or high levels of vibration, and/or rotation. Even more particularly, such IMUs and methods utilizing novel IMU packaging adapted to prevent or minimize sensor error, offset, or bias shift, and recalibration adaptations and methods adapted to correct or reset the error, offset, or bias shift from such an event. Ultimately relates to IMUs that are adapted to provide accurate measurements prior to, during and after such event, and to provide continuous accurate measurements during flight of gun-fired projectiles.

Inertial measurement units (IMUs) and methods with adaptations to eliminate or minimize sensor error, offset, or bias shift. More particularly, such IMUs and methods for gun-fired projectiles and particularly adapted to accurately measure forces and to prevent or minimize the error, offset, or bias shift associated with events exhibiting high g shock, and/or high levels of vibration, and/or rotation. Even more particularly, such IMUs and methods utilizing novel IMU packaging adapted to prevent or minimize sensor error, offset, or bias shift, and recalibration adaptations and methods adapted to correct or reset the error, offset, or bias shift from such an event. Ultimately relates to IMUs that are adapted to provide accurate measurements prior to, during and after such event, and to provide continuous accurate measurements during flight of gun-fired projectiles.