초록 ▼

A guided projectile may include a projectile body, an inertial measurement unit disposed within the projectile body, one or more control surfaces extendable from the projectile body, and a controller which controls the one or more control surfaces in response, at least in part, to measurement data r

A guided projectile may include a projectile body, an inertial measurement unit disposed within the projectile body, one or more control surfaces extendable from the projectile body, and a controller which controls the one or more control surfaces in response, at least in part, to measurement data received from the inertial measurement unit. The inertial measurement unit may include sensors to measure motion parameters relative to first, second, and third mutually orthogonal axes, wherein each of the first, second and third mutually orthogonal axes is oblique to a longitudinal axis of the projectile body.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A guided projectile, comprising: a projectile bodyan inertial measurement unit disposed within the projectile body, the inertial measurement unit including sensors to measure motion parameters relative to first, second, and third mutually orthogonal axes, wherein each of the first, second and thi

1. A guided projectile, comprising: a projectile bodyan inertial measurement unit disposed within the projectile body, the inertial measurement unit including sensors to measure motion parameters relative to first, second, and third mutually orthogonal axes, wherein each of the first, second and third mutually orthogonal axes is oblique to a longitudinal axis of the projectile bodyone or more control surfaces extendable from the projectile body, the one or more control surfaces stowed within the projectile body before and during launcha controller which controls the one or more control surfaces in response, at least in part, to measurement data received from the inertial measurement unit, wherein the control unit is adapted to compare measurement data relative to the first, second, and third mutually orthogonal axes to determine if the inertial measurement unit is functioning within predetermined tolerances after launch and before extension of the one or more control surfaces, andthe control unit is further adapted to inhibit extension of the one or more control surfaces if a determination is made that the inertial measurement unit is not functioning within predetermined tolerances. 2. The projectile of claim 1, wherein the angles formed by each of the first, second, and third mutually orthogonal axes and the longitudinal axis of the projectile body are essentially equal. 3. The projectile of claim 1, wherein the inertial measurement unit comprises first, second, and third accelerometers disposed to measures acceleration along each of the first, second, and third mutually orthogonal axes, respectivelyafter launch and before extension of the one or more control surfaces, the control unit compares measurement data indicating the acceleration along the first, second, and third mutually orthogonal axes to determine if the first, second, and third accelerometers are functioning within predetermined tolerances. 4. The projectile of claim 1, wherein the inertial measurement unit comprises respective first, second, and third gyroscopes disposed to measure rotation rate about each of the first, second, and third mutually orthogonal axes, respectivelyafter launch and before extension of the one or more control surfaces, the control unit compares measurement data indicating the rotation rate about the first, second, and third mutually orthogonal axes to determine if the first, second, and third gyroscopes are functioning within predetermined tolerances. 5. The projectile of claim 1, wherein the projectile may be programmed to operate in one of a test mode and a tactical modewherein the predetermined tolerances for the test mode are different from the predetermined tolerances for the tactical mode. 6. The projectile of claim 1, further comprising: a GPS receiverwherein the control unit controls the one or more control surfaces in response, at least in part, to positional data provided by the GPS receiver. 7. A method for operating a projectile, comprising: launching the projectile with one or more control surfaces extendable from a body of the projectileafter launch, measuring motion parameters relative to first, second, and third mutually orthogonal axes with an inertial measurement unit, wherein each of the first, second and third mutually orthogonal axes is oblique to a longitudinal axis of the body of the projectileafter launch and before extension of the one or more control surfaces, determining if the inertial measurement unit is functioning within predetermined tolerances based on the measured motion parameters relative to the first, second, and third, mutually orthogonal axeswhen a determination is made that the inertial measurement unit is not functioning within predetermined tolerances, inhibiting extension of the one or more control surfaces whereby the projectile continues on a ballistic flight pathwhen a determination is made that the inertial measurement unit is functioning within predetermined tolerances, extending the one or more control surfaces from the projectile body and controlling the control surfaces, at least in part, in response to measured motion parameters. 8. The method for operating a projectile of claim 7, further comprising prior to launching the projectile, programming the projectile to operate in one of a test mode and a tactical modewherein the predetermined tolerances for the test mode are different from the predetermined tolerances for the tactical mode. 9. The method for operating a projectile of claim 7, wherein measuring motion parameters comprises measuring first, second, and third acceleration values indicating acceleration along the first, second, and third mutually orthogonal axes, respectivelydetermining if the inertial measurement unit is functioning within predetermined tolerances comprises comparing the first, second, and third measured acceleration valueswherein a determination is made that the inertial measurement unit is functioning within predetermined tolerances if the first, second, and third measured acceleration values are equal within a predetermined tolerance. 10. The method for operating a projectile of claim 9, wherein the first, second, and third measured acceleration values are multiplied by respective scale factors prior to the comparing. 11. The method for operating a projectile of claim 7, wherein measuring motion parameters comprises measuring first, second, and third rotation rate values indicating rotation rate about the first, second, and third mutually orthogonal axes, respectivelydetermining if the inertial measurement unit is functioning within predetermined tolerances comprises comparing the first, second, and third measured rotation rate valueswherein a determination is made that the inertial measurement unit is functioning within predetermined tolerances if the first, second, and third measured rotation rate values are equal within a predetermined tolerance. 12. The method for operating a projectile of claim 11, wherein the first, second, and third measured rotation rate values are multiplied by respective scale factors prior to the comparing.