Projectile guidance system

Abstract

A guidance system for deployment on-board a projectile includes a laser-seeking detector, an imaging device, and a control module. The laser-seeking detector is designed to detect the position of the projectile with reference to a laser spot on a target. The imaging device is designed to capture one or more images in front of the projectile. The control module is designed to control a flight direction of the projectile based on input received from the laser-seeking detector in a first mode, control the flight direction of the projectile based on input received from the imaging device in a second mode, and switch between the first mode and the second mode while the projectile is in flight towards the target. Both guidance technologies are leveraged to develop an improved guidance technique that provides highly accurate targeting and allows for a faster rate of fire to deal with multiple targets.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A guidance system for deployment on-board a projectile, the guidance system comprising:
 a laser-seeking detector configured to detect a position of the projectile with reference to a laser spot on a target;   an imaging device configured to capture one or more images in front of the projectile; and   a control module configured to
 control a flight direction of the projectile based on input received from the laser-seeking detector in a first mode, 
 control the flight direction of the projectile based on input received from the imaging device in a second mode, and 
 switch between the first mode and the second mode while the projectile is in flight towards the target. 
   
     
     
         2 . The guidance system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more images captured by the imaging device include the target. 
     
     
         3 . The guidance system of  claim 2 , wherein the control module is configured to control the flight direction of the projectile towards the laser spot in the first mode, and the control module is configured to control the flight direction of the projectile towards the target in the one or more images in the second mode. 
     
     
         4 . The guidance system of  claim 1 , wherein the imaging device comprises an infrared camera. 
     
     
         5 . The guidance system of  claim 1 , wherein the flight direction of the projectile comprises one or more of an azimuth angle and an elevation of the projectile. 
     
     
         6 . The guidance system of  claim 1 , wherein the control module is configured to transition between the first mode to the second mode while the projectile is in flight towards the target. 
     
     
         7 . The guidance system of  claim 1 , wherein the control module is configured to switch from the first mode to the second mode when the projectile is a given distance from the target. 
     
     
         8 . The guidance system of  claim 1 , wherein the control module is further configured to transmit a signal to an operator when switching from the first mode to the second mode. 
     
     
         9 . A projectile, comprising:
 a guidance system, comprising
 a laser-seeking detector configured to detect a position of the projectile with reference to a laser spot on a target, 
 an imaging device configured to capture one or more images in front of the projectile, and 
 a control module configured to
 control a flight direction of the projectile based on input received from the laser-seeking detector in a first mode, 
 control the flight direction of the projectile based on input received from the imaging device in a second mode, and 
 switch between the first mode and the second mode while the projectile is in flight towards the target. 
 
   
     
     
         10 . The projectile of  claim 9 , wherein the one or more images captured by the imaging device include the target. 
     
     
         11 . The projectile of  claim 10 , wherein the control module is configured to control the flight direction of the projectile towards the laser spot in the first mode, and the control module is configured to control the flight direction of the projectile towards the target in the one or more images in the second mode. 
     
     
         12 . The projectile of  claim 9 , further comprising a warhead. 
     
     
         13 . The projectile of  claim 9 , wherein the flight direction of the projectile comprises one or more of an azimuth angle and an elevation of the projectile. 
     
     
         14 . The projectile of  claim 9 , wherein the control module is configured to switch between the first mode to the second mode while the projectile is in flight towards the target. 
     
     
         15 . The projectile of  claim 9 , wherein the control module is configured to switch from the first mode to the second mode when the projectile is a given distance from the target. 
     
     
         16 . The projectile of  claim 9 , wherein the control module is further configured to transmit a signal to an operator when switching from the first mode to the second mode. 
     
     
         17 . A method of guiding a projectile to a target, the method comprising:
 receiving a position of a laser spot on a target;   guiding the projectile towards the laser spot;   receiving one or more first images in front of the projectile, the one or more first images comprising the target and the laser spot on the target; and   in response to determining that a distance between the projectile and the target is less than a given threshold, guiding the projectile towards the target based on one or more second received images, wherein the one or more second received images do not include the laser spot.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein receiving one or more first images comprises receiving one or more first images from an infrared camera. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein guiding the projectile comprises adjusting at least one of an azimuth and an elevation of the projectile. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising transmitting a signal to an operator in response to determining that the distance between the projectile and the target is less than the given threshold.