Navigation method for spinning body and projectile using same
US5114094A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 23, 1990 |
| Grant date | May 19, 1992 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 23, 2010 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF41G7/222
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A method for navigating a spinning body to intercept an object includes configuring the body to have a predetermined nominal precessional rate and measuring actual changes in the precessional rate. The angular position of the sensed object is corrected for precessional error based on estimates using the predetermined rate adjusted by the measured actual changes in the precessional rate as determined by measuring accelerations about axes orthogonal to the spin axis. Changes in spin rate are determined via measuring acceleration about the spin axis and the sensed object angular position corrected for this error as well. Discrete thrusters are activated to propel the body in a direction to reduce differences between corrected object angular position and a predetermined position which may be the previously corrected sensed position. The projectile using the above method includes a cylinder body having a face-mounted sensor, a moment of inertia ratio of nominally 2:1 to yield an asymptotically imbalanced body, and two matched accelerometers pairs to determine changes in precessional rate. Changes in spin rate are determined by another matched accelerometer pair. The accelerometer pairs …
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.