Mortar Glide Kit Canard Control Subsystem
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional mortar rounds have limited range and are subject to significant impact dispersion due to circular error probable (CEP), making them less accurate and effective in various launch conditions and atmospheric factors.
Innovation Solution
A mortar augmentation system comprising an add-on glide kit with deployable canards and wings that attach to the mortar round, utilizing a state estimator and canard control subsystem to actively guide the round to a fixed location, enhancing range and reducing impact dispersion through aerodynamic glide capabilities and precision control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If conventional mortar rounds are used, then the device complexity is low, but the range is limited and impact dispersion is broad
Solution Approach 1:
The glide kit is divided into separate modular components including canards, wings, and control subsystems that can be independently attached to and removed from the mortar round. This segmentation allows the complex glide functionality to be added without permanently modifying the base mortar round structure, resolving the contradiction between extended range and device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The canards are designed with deployable and stowable capabilities, transitioning from a compact configuration during launch to an extended aerodynamic configuration during glide. This dynamic transformation allows the system to achieve extended range through aerodynamic surfaces while maintaining low profile during firing, effectively managing the complexity-range tradeoff.
2Measurement precision
If conventional mortar rounds are used, then the manufacturing precision is simple, but the impact precision is poor due to wide CEP
Solution Approach 1:
The canard control subsystem incorporates sensors and control algorithms that continuously monitor flight parameters and adjust canard positioning in real-time to correct trajectory deviations. This feedback mechanism significantly improves impact precision by compensating for launch perturbations and atmospheric factors, while the automated control reduces the complexity burden on operators.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces manual aiming and passive ballistic trajectories with an active electronic control system that uses sensors, processors, and automated actuators to guide the mortar round. This substitution of mechanical aiming with electronic control systems dramatically improves measurement and impact precision while managing overall system complexity through integration.
3Length of moving object
If flight surfaces are added to extend range, then the range increases, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The canards and wings are designed to nest within or against the body of the mortar round when not in use, similar to a nested doll structure. This nesting approach allows the aerodynamic surfaces to be stored compactly during launch and deployment, minimizing the increase in device complexity while enabling extended range through glide capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The flight surfaces utilize the radial dimension around the mortar round body for stowage, rather than extending linearly along the length. By arranging canards and wings in a radial/nested configuration that fits within the cylindrical envelope of the mortar round, the system adds glide capability without proportionally increasing overall device complexity or launch tube requirements.
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
The system increases the nominal range of mortar rounds by approximately 40% and reduces circular error probable (CEP) by actively guiding the rounds to a desired impact point, improving accuracy and precision despite launch perturbations and atmospheric conditions.
Implementation Method 1
The flight surfaces are adapted to fold-up against the body of the mortar round in order to fit within a mortar launch tube. After launching from the mortar tube, the flight surfaces deploy to provide aerodynamic glide capability to the mortar.
Implementation Method 2
The canards can be deployed by electrically connecting a battery to the Nichrome wire, whereby, once the battery is connected to the wire, the wire disintegrates, allowing the canards to deploy.
Implementation Method 3
During the launch from the mortar tube, the heat from the igniting charges disintegrates the cord. This allows the wings to deploy once the round exits the mortar tube.
Data Source
AI summary
A system, device and method provide a glide kit that can attach to a conventional mortar round to create a glide-enabled round. The glide-enabled round can fit within a mortar tube. When the munition exits the mortar tube, it sequentially deploys wings and canards to initiate the glide maneuver and increase the mortar range. A state estimator subsystem can be employed with a canard control subsystem to actively guide the mortar to a fixed location. The combination of the estimator and canard control subsystems improves the tracking precision of the mortar round.