US2011290140A1PendingUtilityA1

System and Method for Powered Bomb Guidance

28
Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: May 27, 2010Filed: May 27, 2010Published: Dec 1, 2011
Est. expiryMay 27, 2030(~3.8 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:David HowardRobert A. Bailey
F42B 10/64F42B 15/01
28
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Claims

Abstract

According to one embodiment, a system of powered bomb guidance includes a munition and a guidance system operable to detect a relative position of a target. The guidance system determines course corrections to direct the munition to the target and generates a control signal reflective of the course corrections. One or more explosive guidance units are disposed at one or more control surfaces disposed along an outer surface of the munition. Each explosive guidance unit is mechanically coupled to one of a plurality of control surfaces and in electrical communication with the guidance system. Each explosive guidance unit is configured to detonate in response to receiving the control signal from the guidance system and is further configured to apply force upon detonation to the control surface to which it is coupled.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 . A system for powered bomb guidance, comprising:
 a munition;   a guidance system operable to detect a relative position of a target, determine course corrections to direct the munition to the target, and generate a control signal reflective of the course corrections;   an explosive guidance unit disposed at a control surface of the munition, the explosive guidance unit being mechanically coupled to the control surface and in electrical communication with the guidance system, the explosive guidance unit configured to detonate in response to receiving the control signal from the guidance system and further configured to apply force upon detonation to the control surface in order to alter a motion of the munition.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a plurality of explosive guidance units disposed along one or more control surfaces of the munition, wherein the guidance system determines course corrections to direct the munition to the target by selecting one or more of the explosive guidance units to detonate.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the munition is a bomb. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the guidance system is coupled to the munition and comprises a GPS receiver and an inertial navigation system. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the control surface is disposed along an outer surface of the munition at an angle, the control surface configured to alter the path of the munition when the angle is adjusted; and
 the explosive guidance unit coupled to the control surface is configured to apply force to the control surface upon detonation to adjust the angle at which the control surface is disposed along the outer surface of the munition.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the explosive guidance unit is coupled to a release mechanism that is configured to apply force to the control surface to which it is coupled upon detonation of the one or more explosive guidance units. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the release mechanism is coupled to the control surface. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the release mechanism comprises a piston coupled to a rod. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the munition is traveling along a path; and   the explosive guidance unit is configured to apply force to the control surface in order to push the munition farther along the path.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein more than one explosive guidance units are coupled to the same control surface. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the guidance system is operable to generate one or more subsequent control signals to be received by the explosive guidance unit. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the explosive guidance unit comprises an exploding foil initiator coupled to a propellant. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the control surfaces is a tail fin of the munition. 
     
     
         14 . A method for powered bomb guidance comprising:
 detecting a relative position of a target;   determining course corrections to direct a munition to the target;   generating a control signal reflective of the course corrections;   receiving, in one or more explosive guidance units, the control signal; and   detonating the one or more explosive guidance units, each explosive guidance unit being mechanically coupled to one of a plurality of control surfaces disposed along an outer surface of the munition and configured to detonate in response to receiving the control signal and further configured to apply force upon detonation to the control surface to which the explosive guidance unit is coupled.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein determining of course corrections to direct a munition to the target comprises selecting one or more of the explosive guidance units to detonate. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the control surfaces are disposed along the outer surface of the munition at an angle, the control surfaces configured to alter the path of the munition when the angle is adjusted; and
 the explosive guidance units coupled to the control surfaces are configured to apply force to the control surfaces upon detonation to adjust the angle at which the control surfaces are disposed along the outer surface of the munition.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 engaging a release mechanism upon detonation of the explosive guidance unit;   applying a force to the control surface by the release mechanism upon detonation of the one or more explosive guidance units.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein more than one release mechanism are coupled to the same control surface. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the release mechanism comprises a piston coupled to a rod. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the munition is traveling along a path; and   one or more of the explosive guidance units are configured to apply force to the control surface to which they are coupled to push the munition farther along the path.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein more than one explosive guidance units are coupled to the same control surface. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein each explosive guidance unit comprises an exploding foil initiator coupled to a propellant. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein one or more of the control surfaces is a tail fin of the munition. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 generating one or more subsequent control signals to be received by one or more explosive guidance units.

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