Spinning Projectile Orientation Tracking via Sensor Actuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Spinning projectiles often experience trajectory alterations mid-flight, causing them to miss targets due to the inability to effectively stabilize and correct their orientation in real-time.
Innovation Solution
A system that determines the rotational position of a spinning projectile using sensors and actuates a steering mechanism, such as a canard or piezoelectric fin, to alter its trajectory based on calculated deviation angles from a desired path, accounting for delays in signal transmission and reception.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a spinning projectile is fired to stabilize ballistic flight, then flight stability is improved, but the ability to alter trajectory mid-flight is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The projectile incorporates movable steering surfaces (canards or fins) that can dynamically change their angle of attack during flight. These surfaces are actuated by piezoelectric motors or shape memory alloy actuators, allowing the projectile to transition from a static stable configuration to a dynamic trajectory-control configuration, resolving the contradiction between flight stability and trajectory adaptability
Solution Approach 2:
The projectile uses onboard sensors (accelerometers, gyroscopes, GPS) to continuously monitor its flight state and position. This data is processed by a microcontroller that calculates the deviation from the desired trajectory and generates control signals to adjust the steering surfaces, creating a closed-loop feedback system that maintains stability while enabling active trajectory correction
2Adaptability or versatility
If steering mechanisms are added to enable trajectory correction, then trajectory control capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the control functions into separate modular components: steering surfaces for trajectory control, piezoelectric actuators for surface actuation, and a microcontroller for signal processing. This modular extraction reduces overall system complexity by allowing independent optimization and testing of each subsystem while maintaining integrated functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical actuation systems with piezoelectric motors and shape memory alloy actuators, which offer precise control with fewer moving parts. The control signals are generated through electronic feedback processing rather than complex mechanical linkages, substituting electronic systems for mechanical ones to reduce complexity
3Measurement precision
If signal transmission and reception delays are not accounted for, then signal processing simplicity is maintained, but trajectory correction accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The microcontroller pre-calculates the required steering surface deflections based on predicted future position rather than current position, compensating for the known time delays in signal transmission, reception, and actuator response. This preliminary action approach accounts for delays proactively rather than reactively, maintaining accuracy without requiring complex real-time compensation algorithms
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
Enables precise correction of projectile trajectories to ensure accurate targeting by dynamically adjusting the flight path in response to real-time sensor data and environmental factors, improving hit probability.
Implementation Method 1
determining a rotational position of a rotating projectile as a function of an orientation of a sensor on the rotating projectile
Implementation Method 2
actuating a steering mechanism on the rotating projectile at the determined rotational position... altering the trajectory of a rotating projectile
Data Source
AI summary
A method includes determining a rotational position of a rotating projectile as a function of an orientation of a sensor on the rotating projectile. The method also includes actuating a steering mechanism on the rotating projectile at the determined rotational position. The method also includes altering the trajectory of the rotating projectile.