Tracking and guidance techniques for semi-ballistic rounds

Claim 1

A command adjusted trajectory fire control system comprising: a semiballistic projectile for hitting a target; a first system means for ranging, tracking, the semiballistic projectile to the target and for issuing course correction commands to the semiballistic projectile, said first system means including; a laser means for accurately pointing a laser beam to a first end of the semiballistic projectile which when struck will reflect the laser beam to generate laser returns, the semiballistic projectile has a spin associated with it when in flight and includes means for encoding spin data in the laser return, a tracker for using laser returns to track the semiballistic projectile, a target tracker means for maintaining a line of sight reference to the target to provide target tracking data thereby, and a data processor means for determining orientation of the projectile by the encoded spin data, for processing the target tracking data into an actual and an ideal trajectory to target, for comparing the actual and ideal trajectories and for generating steering commands from the comparison of the actual and ideal trajectories; and a second system means associated with the semiballistic projectile and wherein the means for encoding spin data includes a retro-reflector means mounted on the first end of the semiballistic projectile for selectively reflecting the laser beam to provide laser returns for projectile spin position orientation, the second system means additionally includes a detector means for detecting the laser steering commands of the first system means, and a steering control means for providing a course correction to the projectile in response to the steering commands.

Claim 10

A system which determines attitude information for a projectile as it progresses along a trajectory to a target, the projectile having fore and aft portions positioned along a longitudinal spin axis, said system comprising: a first subsystem capable of illuminating the projectile with radiation; and a second subsystem including an optical system located in the aft end of the projectile for receiving radiation from the first subsystem, said optical system comprising a focusing portion for directing the radiation along an optical path parallel with the spin axis and a plate positioned in the optical path to selectively transmit or reflect radiation during projectile progression, the transmitted or reflected radiation including encoded information indicative of projectile orientation about the spin axis.

Claim 11

A system which determines attitude information for a projectile as it progresses along a trajectory to a target, the projectile having fore and aft portions positioned along a longitudinal spin axis, said system comprising: a first subsystem capable of illuminating the projectile with radiation; and a second subsystem including an optical system located in the aft end of the projectile for receiving radiation from the first subsystem, said optical system comprising a focusing portion for directing the radiation along an optical path parallel with the spin axis and a plate positioned in the optical path to selectively transmit or reflect radiation during projectile progression, the transmitted or reflected radiation including encoded information indicative of projectile orientation about the spin axis.