Ballistic Wind Correction for Artillery Accuracy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wind correction methods for ballistic projectiles are inadequate, particularly for aircraft like the USAF AC-130 gun-ships, as they rely on single-point wind predictions that lose validity due to changing aircraft and gun states, leading to inaccurate firing solutions and increased miss distances.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method for wind correction that uses a multipoint ballistic wind prediction model, incorporating data from a round tracking system to provide a more stable and accurate wind profile by tracking the projectile's location and velocity at various points along its flight path, adjusting the fire-control processor to improve aiming accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If single-point wind prediction is used, then the system is simple to operate, but the accuracy of wind correction deteriorates due to changing aircraft and gun states
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the wind prediction into multiple discrete points along the projectile's flight path rather than using a single-point prediction. This segmentation allows the system to account for changing wind conditions at different altitudes and positions, improving accuracy while maintaining operational simplicity through automated computation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a dynamic wind prediction system that continuously updates wind parameters based on the current state of the aircraft and gun. This dynamic approach contrasts with static single-point predictions, allowing the system to adapt to changing conditions throughout the projectile's flight without requiring complex manual recalculations.
2Device complexity
If single-point wind prediction is used, then the device complexity is low, but the reliability of firing solutions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates feedback mechanisms where the actual projectile trajectory and wind conditions are continuously monitored and used to refine subsequent wind predictions. This feedback loop improves reliability by ensuring that firing solutions are based on accurate, up-to-date wind data while the automated nature of the feedback maintains reasonable device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary wind predictions at multiple points along the intended flight path before the projectile is fired. This preliminary action allows the system to pre-calculate correction factors that remain valid throughout the flight, improving reliability without requiring complex real-time adjustments during projectile flight.
3Measurement precision
If multipoint wind prediction is used, then the accuracy of wind correction is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical or manual calculation systems with automated computational algorithms that can rapidly process multipoint wind predictions. This substitution of mechanical complexity with computational simplicity allows the system to implement accurate multipoint predictions without proportionally increasing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameters used in wind prediction from a single static value to multiple dynamic parameters representing different points along the flight path. By systematically varying these parameters (altitude, position, time) in a structured manner, the system achieves higher accuracy while managing complexity through parameterized calculations rather than ad-hoc computations.
4Productivity
If multipoint wind prediction is used, then the productivity of fire control is improved through better accuracy, but the loss of time for calculations increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs wind predictions at multiple preliminary points along the expected flight path before the actual firing occurs. This preliminary calculation approach allows the system to have correction factors ready in advance, reducing the time needed during actual fire control operations while maintaining the accuracy benefits of multipoint predictions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements periodic updates of wind predictions at key intervals along the flight path rather than continuous calculations. This periodic approach maintains accuracy by capturing critical wind condition changes while minimizing computational time loss by avoiding unnecessary continuous recalculations.
Data Source
AI summary
A computer-implemented method is provided for implementing wind correction for a projectile launching gun aiming at a target on a gun fire control system on an aircraft. The fire control method includes obtaining first physical parameters; executing a ballistics model to obtain a flight path of the projectile; obtaining number of points for wind direction and velocity across altitudes; executing a tracker model to obtain tracker location and initial gun state; obtaining closure tolerance and cross-correlation factor; modeling wind prediction to obtain a predicted wind column; incorporating the predicted wind column for wind column prediction for a projectile effect; and applying the projectile effect to the fire-control processor to adjust aiming the gun. The first physical parameters include wind column, gun state, ammunition type and aircraft flight conditions. The ballistics model obtains a flight path of the projectile based on the first physical parameters. The tracker model is based on the number of points and the flight path. The wind prediction is based on the closure tolerance, the cross-correlation factor, the tracker location and the initial gun state. The wind direction and velocity are obtained from multiple measurements or alternatively from a single-point measurement.