Optically guided munition control system and method
US8450668B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 7, 2006 |
| Grant date | May 28, 2013 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 21, 2027 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG05D1/12
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An optically guided munition and control system has a replacement fuse assembly mounted on the front of a munition body or shell casing. An optical seeker subsystem detects an illuminated target and supplies signals to a processor. The processor develops steering commands sent to a flight control subsystem having a plurality of guidance canards which are actuated by drive motors through gear assemblies. The roll of the munition is established and left/right and up/down steering commands are sent to the canard drive motors based upon the optical seeker subsystem detection of the target illuminator. Range adjustment is based upon bore sight lockdown angle and cross range control is based upon left/right centering error. A code is contained in the optical radiation received from the illuminated target which must be validated by a preset code in the system processor to arm the munition.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.