Patent ID: 6629668
Filing Date: 2003-10-07
Classification: F41G,F42B,G05D

Abstract:
A jump correcting projectile system comprising:a projectile having a longitudinal axis; at least one pair of orthogonally positioned accelerometers within the projectile, each mounted perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the projectile, said at least one pair of accelerometers providing projectile acceleration data to a microprocessor mounted on the projectile; an array of thrusters mounted around an outer periphery of the projectile which are positioned to exert a thrust normal to the longitudinal axis of the projectile upon deployment by a signal from the microprocessor corresponding to the acceleration data; wherein the projectile is engaged with a mounting platform and oriented in an initial target direction when engaged in the mounting platform; wherein the projectile is launched away from the Platform toward a target; wherein the acceleration data of the projectile is measured with the accelerometers during and immediately after said launching away from the platform and signaling the acceleration data to the microprocessor; wherein the microprocessor calculates a projectile jump by calculating any angular deviation, arising from launch disturbances imparted to the projectile just prior to, and shortly after the projectile is disengaged from the mounting platform, in the position of the projectile longitudinal axis from its pre-launch initial target direction using the acceleration data; and wherein one or more of the thrusters are deployed to cause a correcting thrust normal to the longitudinal axis of the projectile via a signal from the microprocessor corresponding to the acceleration data to correct for the projectile jump.