Small Smart Weapon Folding Lug Switch Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current precision guided weapons face challenges in reducing qualification costs and time due to complex data compatibility and software integration issues, and there is a need for weapons that can accurately target specific areas with minimal collateral damage, especially in urban environments where friendly forces or civilians are at risk.
Innovation Solution
A small smart weapon system featuring a warhead with a folding lug switch assembly for attachment to a delivery vehicle, a guidance section with an antenna for receiving mission data, and modular design elements for GPS and laser guidance, allowing for precise targeting with minimal collateral damage and compatibility with existing platforms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If precision guided weapons are used to accurately target specific areas, then collateral damage is reduced, but qualification costs and integration time increase due to complex data compatibility and software integration issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a practice weapon that replicates the physical and aerodynamic characteristics of the operational weapon without requiring full software integration or qualification. The practice weapon copies the external dimensions, weight, center of gravity, and flight characteristics, allowing qualification testing to proceed using simplified procedures while maintaining accuracy for reducing collateral damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The weapon system is divided into separate functional components: the practice weapon for qualification testing and the operational precision-guided weapon for actual missions. This segmentation allows the practice weapon to handle qualification requirements while the operational weapon focuses on precision targeting, resolving the contradiction between qualification complexity and collateral damage reduction.
2Adaptability or versatility
If weapons are integrated with multiple launch platforms, then versatility is improved, but qualification costs and time increase due to complex data compatibility requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The practice weapon is designed with universal characteristics that allow it to serve multiple qualification purposes across different launch platforms. By incorporating standard folding lug switch assemblies and matching external dimensions with existing weapons, a single practice weapon design can qualify multiple platform-weapon combinations, reducing overall qualification time while maintaining platform versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The practice weapon performs preliminary qualification testing before operational weapon integration. By completing safety, compatibility, and effectiveness tests using the practice weapon first, the system establishes a foundation that accelerates subsequent operational weapon qualification across multiple platforms, reducing total qualification time while maintaining adaptability.
3Ease of manufacture
If modular design is used to reduce weapon system costs, then manufacturing flexibility is improved, but integration complexity may increase
Solution Approach 1:
The weapon system employs modular components including interchangeable warheads, guidance sections, and folding lug switch assemblies. This segmentation allows different combinations of modules to be assembled for various mission requirements while maintaining standardized interfaces that simplify integration, resolving the contradiction between manufacturing flexibility and integration complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A weapon and weapon system, and methods of manufacturing and operating the same. In one embodiment, the weapon includes a warhead having destructive elements. The weapon also includes a folding lug switch assembly that provides a mechanism to attach the weapon to a delivery vehicle and is configured to close after launching from the delivery vehicle, thereby satisfying a criterion to arm the warhead. The weapon still further includes a guidance section including an antenna configured to receive mission data before launching from the delivery vehicle and further configured to receive instructions after launching from the delivery vehicle to guide the weapon to a target.