Visual guidance system for barrel-fired projectiles

Abstract

A winged external guidance frame placed on the muzzle that can couple with a projectile while exiting the barrel utilizing the kinetic energy of the projectile to travel to the target while the accuracy is provided by on board electronics and corrected using the wings. Alternately a reusable unmanned aerial system that travels in the speed and direction of the projectile and couples with the projectile as it exits the barrel.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . In combination, an external guidance vehicle, having onboard electronics, for use in conjunction with a projectile launched from a barrel, comprising:
 a barrel;   a projectile disposed within said barrel and adapted to be launched from said barrel;   an external guidance vehicle mounted upon said barrel and adapted to be launched at approximately the same time, and at the same velocity, as that of said projectile such that the relative velocity between said projectile and said external guidance vehicle is substantially zero; and   an attachment device mounted upon said external guidance vehicle for effectively grasping said projectile after said projectile has been launched from said barrel such that said external guidance vehicle is carried by said projectile so as to guide said projectile toward a target by said onboard electronics of said external guidance vehicle.   
     
     
         8 . The combination as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein:
 said external guidance vehicle has wings; and   said external guidance vehicle has a self-contained propulsion device such that after said external guidance device has guided said projectile toward the target, said attachment device releases said external guidance device from said projectile whereby said external guidance device becomes a reuseable external guidance device which may be flown and guided back to a launch site utilizing said wings, said self-contained propulsion device, and said onboard electronics.   
     
     
         9 . The combination as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein:
 said self-contained propulsion device is selected from the group comprising a propeller, a jet engine, and a rocket engine.   
     
     
         10 . The combination as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein:
 said external guidance vehicle is mounted upon a rail of said barrel; and   a catapult system is utilized to launch said external guidance vehicle along said rail of said barrel when said external guidance vehicle is launched in conjunction with said projectile.   
     
     
         11 . The combination as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein:
 said catapult system is selected from the group comprising an electric, gas, steam, and torsion/elastic type catapult system.   
     
     
         12 . The combination as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein:
 said attachment device comprises at least one claw for grasping said projectile.   
     
     
         13 . The combination as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein:
 said attachment device comprises a net for grasping said projectile.   
     
     
         14 . The combination as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein:
 said attachment device comprises at least one ring for grasping said projectile.