Guided Projectile Air Brake for Evasive Maneuvers
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current air-defense systems are challenged by the ability of attacking projectiles to evade defensive projectiles, as existing countermeasure systems are complex, expensive, and not fully effective in ensuring the attacking projectile reaches its intended target.
Innovation Solution
A guided projectile equipped with a deployable air brake and sensors that allow it to rapidly decelerate and change trajectory to evade intercepting objects, then re-accelerate and re-maneuver towards its target after the threat has been cleared, utilizing a processor to monitor proximity and deploy/detach the air brake as needed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If electronic jamming systems, low observability materials, and evasive maneuver programming are used as countermeasure systems, then the attacking projectile's ability to evade defensive projectiles is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a simple, inexpensive air brake that can be deployed temporarily to evade intercepting objects. The air brake is a disposable component that provides a low-cost alternative to complex electronic jamming systems, sacrificing long-term durability for immediate, effective countermeasure action.
Solution Approach 2:
The air brake changes the projectile's flight parameters (drag coefficient, velocity, trajectory) temporarily during the evasion maneuver. By adjusting these physical parameters through brake deployment and retraction, the system achieves effective evasion without requiring complex electronic or programming systems.
2Reliability
If the air brake is deployed to create separation distance from intercepting objects, then the guided projectile can evade the intercepting object, but the time to reach the target location increases
Solution Approach 1:
The air brake is deployed in a periodic manner - activated only during the brief window when an intercepting object is detected and then retracted. This periodic deployment minimizes the time the projectile spends in braking mode while still achieving effective evasion, allowing rapid resumption of target approach after the threat is avoided.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor system performs preliminary detection of intercepting objects before they reach critical proximity. This early warning allows the air brake to be deployed at the optimal moment, creating separation distance just in time to avoid interception while minimizing the overall time lost in the evasion maneuver.
3Reliability
If the air brake remains deployed to maintain separation distance, then the guided projectile continues to evade intercepting objects, but the guided projectile cannot reach the target location
Solution Approach 1:
The air brake system is dynamically controlled with real-time deployment and retraction based on the presence of intercepting objects. The system transitions from a static, always-deployed state to a dynamic, condition-based state, maintaining separation only when threats are detected while preserving high velocity toward the target when the path is clear.
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 effectively counters air-defense systems by creating a separation distance from intercepting projectiles, increasing the likelihood of the guided projectile reaching its intended target by exploiting the limited maneuvering capabilities of defensive projectiles.
Implementation Method 1
an air brake that is deployable from a flight configuration to a braking configuration and that causes the guided projectile to rapidly decelerate
Data Source
AI summary
A guided projectile including a projectile housing, a first sensor, and an air brake detachably coupled to the projectile housing. The air brake is deployable from a flight configuration to a braking configuration. A processor is configured to monitor, based on data received from the first sensor, a proximity of the at least one intercepting object relative to the guided projectile, wherein the guided projectile is configured to advance towards a target location on a first target trajectory. The processor is also configured to deploy the air brake to cause the guided projectile to veer from the first target trajectory to evade the at least one intercepting object, and detach the air brake from the guided projectile to enable the guided projectile to advance on a second target trajectory that is offset from the first target trajectory, wherein the first target trajectory and the second target trajectory have the same target location.