Cavity Waveguide Munition Position Sensor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current position and orientation sensors for munitions and moving platforms are inadequate due to their inability to survive high acceleration rates, accuracy issues, power consumption, volume occupation, and cost, particularly for small and medium-caliber munitions, where existing radar-based and inertia-based systems fail to provide reliable and accurate data.
Innovation Solution
A method utilizing cavity waveguides to transmit and receive signals from an illuminating source, determining the position and orientation of a moving object based on signal strength, and transmitting this data to a remote location for guidance and control, which can also validate sensor performance and correct trajectory adjustments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If radar-based guidance with surface printed or placed antennas is used, then position information can be obtained, but the antennas cannot survive the firing environment, readily loose accuracy, require large power, and are very sensitive to geometrical variations and tolerances
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical/electrical antenna systems with an optical-based waveguide sensor system. Instead of using RF antennas that are sensitive to geometrical variations and cannot survive high acceleration, the invention uses optical waveguides that are embedded in the munition body, making them immune to the harmful firing environment while providing stable, accurate orientation measurements through optical rather than electromagnetic radiation detection.
Solution Approach 2:
The waveguide sensors are embedded within the munition structure itself, nesting the sensing system inside the object being measured. This integration allows the sensors to survive the firing environment along with the munition body, eliminating the problem of surface antennas losing accuracy or failing under extreme conditions.
2Measurement precision
If inertia-based sensors (IMU, accelerometers, gyroscopes) are used, then position and orientation information can be obtained, but they occupy considerable volume, consume large power, are prone to drift and settling problems, and are relatively costly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces inertia-based mechanical sensors (accelerometers, gyroscopes) with an optical waveguide system that measures orientation through light propagation. This substitution eliminates the power-consuming inertial measurement mechanisms while providing drift-free, settlement-free orientation data based on geometric optics rather than mechanical inertia, thereby reducing power consumption and improving reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of directly measuring acceleration and integrating it (which causes drift), the system uses waveguides to directly sense orientation angles through optical path geometry. This creates a direct measurement copy of the orientation state without the need for complex inertial integration, eliminating drift and settlement problems while reducing computational power requirements.
3Reliability
If inertia-based sensors are used for high acceleration munitions, then measurement capability can be achieved, but they cannot survive firing accelerations of 30,000 Gs and over
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical inertia sensors with an optical waveguide system that is inherently immune to high acceleration forces. The waveguides are rigidly embedded in the munition body and measure orientation through optical geometry rather than mechanical inertia, allowing them to survive 30,000 Gs and beyond while maintaining sensitivity to small angular changes through precise optical path measurements.
4Measurement precision
If GPS sensors are used, then position information can be obtained, but they cannot provide orientation information and are prone to loss of signal along the path of travel
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces waveguide sensors as an intermediary system that provides direct onboard orientation measurement without relying on external signal transmission like GPS. The waveguides act as self-contained optical mediators that measure orientation through internal geometric relationships, eliminating signal loss problems while complementing GPS position data with reliable orientation information.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach provides reliable, accurate, and efficient onboard position and orientation measurement, overcoming the limitations of existing sensors by embedding waveguide sensors in munitions to ensure precise guidance and control, even under high acceleration conditions, while reducing power consumption and volume requirements.
Implementation Method 1
receiving the signal at three or more cavity waveguides disposed on the object
Data Source
AI summary
Methods are provided where: a signal is transmitted from an illuminating source and received cavity waveguides disposed on an object; a position and/or orientation of the object is determined based on the signal received in the waveguides; and data representing the determined position and/or orientation is transmitted to a remote location or generated for use in the object. The illuminating source can also be moved to indicate a change in a predetermined trajectory or target position where a new position and/or orientation of the object is determined based on the signal received in the waveguides and the object is controlled to change the predetermined trajectory or target position to the indicated new predetermined trajectory or new target position. A change can also be detected in the predetermined trajectory or target position and the object controlled to correct the change.