The present invention relates generally to a system for guiding a projectile to a target. More specifically, the present invention is a laser-guided projectile system that adjusts the flight trajectory of a discharged projectile by correcting all external and internal ballistic factors that affect the flight trajectory of the projectile.
The flight trajectory of a projectile that has been discharged from a firearm is affected by a large number of factors. Gravity causes the projectile to descend while traveling to a target in an effect known as bullet drop. The projectile also experiences deceleration due to drag while traveling to the target. Crosswinds can also significantly alter the flight trajectory of the projectile, particularly over large distances. Ambient air density is an additional factor that must be taken into consideration. Many of the external ballistics of a projectile are variable environmental factors and are difficult to compensate for. As such, striking a target from a significant distance is a feat that requires extensive training, experience, and talent. The importance of a properly aimed shot is paramount as poorly aimed shots can result in collateral damage or danger to the shooter from enemy/adversary return fire.
Current technology introduces projectiles that feature complex internal propulsion, guidance, and control systems. However, this technology is expensive as well as difficult to implement. In addition, because these propulsion, guidance, and control systems are integrated into the projectile itself, the technology cannot be utilized with existing firearms and projectiles. Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a laser-guided projectile. The present invention is a laser-guided projectile system for correcting external and internal ballistic factors that affect the flight trajectory of a projectile after the projectile has been discharged from a firearm.
All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describing selected versions of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.
The present invention is a laser-guided projectile system that is able to adjust the flight trajectory of a projectile by correcting the external and internal ballistic factors that affect the flight trajectory of the projectile. The present invention is shown in
The laser tunnel generator assembly 7 comprises an at least one laser diode 8 and a fiber optic dispersion array 9. The at least one laser diode 8 emits a laser through electromagnetic radiation that is of a required intensity, wavelength, and duration to engage the trajectory-correcting actuator 15 upon the projectile 12 coming into contact with the laser tunnel. The at least one laser diode 8 is preferably a steady state laser diode. The fiber optic dispersion array 9 is able to direct the light from the at least one laser diode 8 in order to form a laser tunnel. The at least one laser diode 8 is optically connected into the fiber optic dispersion array 9 to allow the light from the at least one laser diode 8 to be directed into the fiber optic dispersion array 9.
The fiber optic dispersion array 9 preferably consists of multiple fiber optic strands that are arranged in a manner such that the fiber optic dispersion array 9 is able to form a continuous laser tunnel that is emitted from the laser tunnel generator assembly 7. The laser tunnel is formed by laser energy that forms a continuous conduit through which the projectile 12 is able to travel. An emission direction 10 of the fiber optic dispersion array 9 is oriented parallel to the central axis 3 of the barrel 2. This orients the fiber optic dispersion array 9 in a manner such that the laser tunnel is emitted away from the firearm 1 in the direction of flight after the projectile 12 is discharged from the firearm 1. The fiber optic dispersion array 9 is laterally positioned around the barrel 2 in order to allow the laser tunnel to form when the laser tunnel generator assembly 7 is activated. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the fiber optic dispersion array 9 is arranged circularly to form a cylindrical laser tunnel through which the projectile 12 travels after being discharged from the firearm 1. However, alternative arrangements of the fiber optic dispersion array 9 may allow for additional designs for the laser tunnel. The fiber optic dispersion array 9 may additionally allow for varying sizes of the laser tunnel. It is important to note that the size of the laser tunnel directly impacts the corresponding size of the impact zone on the target.
A plurality of explosive outputs 16 is able to physically alter the flight trajectory of the projectile 12 when the projectile 12 comes into contact with the laser tunnel. Selected outputs from the plurality of explosive outputs 16 on the aerodynamic portion 13 of the projectile 12 that come into contact with the laser tunnel physically move the projectile 12 back toward the center of the laser tunnel. The outputs that are selected from the plurality of explosive outputs 16 depend on which embodiment of the present invention is utilized for the present invention. The plurality of explosive outputs 16 for the trajectory-correcting actuator 15 is evenly distributed about an aerodynamic portion 13 of the projectile 12, allowing the plurality of explosive outputs 16 to correct the flight trajectory of the projectile 12, regardless of which portion of the projectile 12 comes into contact with the laser tunnel. The plurality of explosive outputs 16 provides an instantaneous and short-lived counterforce that directs the projectile 12 back toward the center of the laser tunnel. It is important that the plurality of explosive outputs 16 is instantaneous and short-lived due to the spin experienced by the projectile 12 during flight.
As shown in
With reference to
Due to the fact that the projectile 12 may be required to travel for a great distance prior to reaching the target, it is possible that the power of the laser tunnel generator assembly 7 may not be sufficient to activate the plurality of laser-combustible microcapsules 17 and guide the projectile 12 to the target due to the diminished power of the laser tunnel generator assembly 7 over distance. With reference to
As shown in
In the second embodiment of the plurality of laser-combustible microcapsules 17 shown in
The second embodiment of the plurality of laser-combustible microcapsules 17 shown in
The second embodiment of the plurality of laser-combustible microcapsules 17 within the housing cavity 14 may be engaged by the magnetic field generator 27 as well. Each of the plurality of laser-combustible microcapsules 17 comprises a laser-stable propellant 20, an optically-translucent housing 19, an inductively-chargeable capacitor 21, a laser pulse reader 22, and a microcontroller 23. The laser-stable propellant 20 is not directly combustible by laser energy and is engaged when the laser pulse reader 22 detects the specific laser digital pulse code that is emitted by the at least one laser diode 8. As before, the inductively-chargeable capacitor 21 is charged as the projectile 12 rotates during flight while traveling through the magnetic field generated by the magnetic field generator 27. The laser-stable propellant 20 is positioned within the optically-translucent housing 19 along with the inductively-chargeable capacitor 21, the laser pulse reader 22, and the microcontroller 23. When the laser-stable propellant 20 is engaged by discharging the inductively-chargeable capacitor 21, gas is able to escape through the plurality of gas ventilation holes 24.
In the third embodiment of the plurality of laser-combustible microcapsules 17 shown in
The plurality of laser-combustible microcapsules 17 externally layered onto the cap 25 may be ignited directly by the light emitted by the at least one laser diode 8. When the projectile 12 comes into contact with the laser tunnel, the plurality of laser-combustible microcapsules 17 on the cap 25 are ignited, thus correcting the flight trajectory of the projectile 12. Each of the plurality of laser-combustible microcapsules 17 comprises a laser-ignitable propellant 18 and an optically-translucent housing 19. The laser-ignitable propellant 18 is positioned within the optically-translucent housing 19, allowing the light emitted by the at least one laser diode 8 to engage the laser-ignitable propellant 18.
The plurality of laser-combustible microcapsules 17 on the cap 25 may be engaged by the magnetic field generator 27 as well. Each of the plurality of laser-combustible microcapsules 17 comprises a laser-stable propellant 20, an optically-translucent housing 19, an inductively-chargeable capacitor 21, a laser pulse reader 22, and a microcontroller 23. The inductively-chargeable capacitor 21 is charged as the projectile 12 rotates while traveling through the magnetic field generated by the magnetic field generator 27. When the projectile 12 comes into contact with the laser tunnel, the laser pulse reader 22 is able to read the specific laser digital pulse code that is emitted by the at least one laser diode 8. The inductively-chargeable capacitor 21 is discharged and the plurality of laser-combustible microcapsules 17 on the cap 27 is ignited, correcting the flight trajectory of the projectile 12.
Again with reference to
With reference to
Prior to attempting to strike a target, the firearm 1 is sighted utilizing the laser tunnel generator assembly 7 and the calibration laser 26. The calibration laser 26 and the at least one laser diode 8 are first activated and the user looks through the scope of the firearm 1. As previously discussed, the at least one laser diode 8 is activated by partially actuating the multi-stage trigger 4. Once the desired target is acquired, the laser tunnel generator assembly 7 is adjusted in order to ensure that the emitted laser tunnel is positioned on the target with the calibration laser 26 positioned within the center of the laser tunnel. The scope of the firearm 1 is then adjusted to center the scope reticle on the calibration laser 26 and the center of the laser tunnel. The user may then discharge the firearm 1 by fully actuating the multi-stage trigger 4. The laser tunnel remains activated so long as the multi-stage trigger 4 is partially or fully actuated.
Once the projectile 12 is discharged from the firearm 1, the projectile 12 initially follows a flight trajectory within the laser tunnel that is in line with the central axis 3 of the barrel 2. The multi-stage trigger 4 is held in an actuated position in order to keep the at least one laser diode 8 activated. As external and internal ballistic factors begin to affect the flight trajectory of the projectile 12, the projectile 12 comes into contact with the laser tunnel. When this occurs, the plurality of laser-combustible microcapsules 17 is ignited and the resulting plurality of explosive outputs 16 causes the projectile 12 to be directed back toward the center of the laser tunnel. The projectile 12 is continuously directed back toward the center of the laser tunnel when the external and internal ballistic factors cause the projectile 12 to come into contact with the laser tunnel and the process is repeated until the projectile 12 reaches the target. Additionally, if the laser tunnel is moved while the projectile 12 is traveling to the target, the projectile 12 is able to follow a curved trajectory in any direction to the target. This is particularly suitable if the target has moved since the projectile 12 was discharged.
Over long distances where the power of the at least one laser diode 8 is not sufficient to ignite the plurality of laser-combustible microcapsules 17, the magnetic field generator 27 and the laser tunnel generator assembly 7 are both utilized to guide the projectile 12. Once the projectile 12 is discharged, the projectile 12 initially follows a flight trajectory within the magnetic field that is in line with the central axis 3 of the barrel 2. The rotation of the projectile 12 within the magnetic field during flight charges the inductively-chargeable capacitor 21 and activates the plurality of laser-combustible microcapsules 17. The multi-stage trigger 4 is held actuated in order to keep the magnetic field generator 27 activated. The laser pulse reader 22 is able to read the specific laser digital pulse code emitted by the at least one laser diode 8 when the projectile 12 comes into contact with the laser tunnel. This causes the microcontroller 23 to discharge the inductively-chargeable capacitor 21, producing an electric spark that ignites the laser-stable propellant 20 and generating the plurality of explosive outputs 16 that corrects the flight trajectory of the projectile 12. This process is repeated if the projectile 12 comes into further contact with the laser tunnel while traveling to the target.
The present invention allows the user to engage a target without being required to calculate and compensate for external and internal ballistic factors that may affect flight trajectory such as gravity, drag, crosswinds, and air density. The external and internal ballistic factors are automatically compensated for by the plurality of explosive outputs 16 upon the projectile 12 coming into contact with the laser tunnel, allowing the user to simply aim at the target and discharge the firearm 1. Extant firearms, accessories, and ammunition require little to no modification in order to be utilized with the present invention as well.
Although the present invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as hereinafter claimed.
The current application claims a priority to the U.S. Provisional Patent application Ser. No. 62/047,890 filed on Sep. 9, 2014.
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Max Slowik Jul. 12, 2014 Filed under: Military, Product & Industry News Check out DARPA's EXACTO system: Laser-guided .50 bullets in action. |
Ron Barrett, Ryan Barnhart; Richard Bramletter; Proc. SPIE 8341, Active and Passive Smart Structures and Integrated Systems 2012, 83410Z (Apr. 26, 2012): doi:10.1117/12.91. |
Number | Date | Country | |
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62047890 | Sep 2014 | US |