Patent ID: 8433460

Claim:
An onboard sensor suite for use in a projectile that includes a body, a forward section, and an aft section, the onboard sensor suite comprising: a proximity sensor suite that is integrated in the projectile, and that measures a projectile muzzle velocity, V, as the projectile exits a weapon muzzle; wherein the proximity sensor suite includes a plurality of proximity sensors that are integrated in the projectile and that independently defect egress times of the plurality of proximity sensors from the weapon muzzle; wherein the plurality of proximity sensors transmit the egress times to a central processing unit that is integrated in the projectile, and wherein the central processing unit calculates the projectile muzzle velocity, V, by dividing a distance, D, that separates the plurality of proximity sensors by a difference in the egress times; a pressure sensor suite that is integrated in the projectile, and that measures an airspeed of the projectile, A, in order to estimate a flight velocity of the projectile during flight, and to predict a projectile position for improving mid-course trajectory correction; wherein the pressure sensor suite includes a plurality of pressure sensors that are integrated in the projectile, that measure a total air pressure at one location of the projectile forward section, and that further measure a static air pressure at another location of the projectile forward section; and wherein the central processing unit calculates the projectile flight velocity by comparing the total air pressure and the static air pressure.