Second environment sensing in smart bombs
View Patent ↗A safety and arming apparatus for arming a fuze of a smart weapon comprise a release sensor and a verification maneuver sensor in cooperative electronic communication with each other, such that when the release sensor senses that the weapon has been released and the verification maneuver sensor detects a predetermined verification maneuver of the weapon in flight, the fuze is armed.
1. A weapon system comprising:
a smart bomb, the smart bomb comprising:
a guidance system; and
a safety and arming apparatus for arming a fuze of a smart bomb, the safety and arming apparatus comprising:
a release sensor and a verification maneuver sensor;
wherein the guidance system commands the weapon to execute a predetermined verification maneuver that is required for arming, and the release sensor is in cooperative electronic communication with the verification maneuver sensor, such that when the release sensor senses that the weapon has been released and the verification maneuver sensor detects the predetermined verification maneuver of the weapon in flight the fuze is armed.
2. The weapon system of claim 1 , wherein the verification maneuver is a predetermined set of partial rolls.
3. The weapon system of claim 1 , wherein the verification maneuver is a predetermined rate of rotation.
4. The weapon system of claim 1 , wherein the verification maneuver is a defined sequence of rolls.
5. The weapon system of claim 1 , wherein the verification maneuver is sustained spinning.
6. The weapon system of claim 1 , wherein the bomb utilizes control surfaces to achieve the verification maneuver.
7. The weapon system of claim 1 , wherein the verification maneuver is determined by the direction and associated time from release.
8. The weapon system of claim 1 , the guidance system comprising a second verification maneuver sensor, which further verifies the verification maneuver.
9. The weapon system of claim 1 , wherein the verification maneuver is the termination or reversal of a sustained spinning.
10. The weapon system of claim 1 , wherein the verification maneuver is a spin-up and a subsequent de-spin.
11. The weapon system of claim 1 , wherein the verification maneuver is sustained predetermined maneuver and a predetermined distance from launch.
12. The weapon system of claim 1 , further including a timer, which is initiated upon release, and further wherein the weapon is armed only if the verification maneuver occurs within a predetermined time from release.
13. The weapon system of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined verification maneuver is commanded after the release system senses that the weapon has been released.
14. The weapon system of claim 1 , wherein the verification maneuver sensor detects rotation around a longitudinal axis of the smart bomb.
15. The weapon system of claim 1 , wherein the verification maneuver sensor comprises:
(a) a counting mechanism for counting a predetermined number of rotations of the weapon as it rotates around its longitudinal axis, the counting mechanism comprising:
(i) a spin signal mechanism for generating a spin signal which varies over time as the weapon rotates about its axis in the earths magnetic field and where the magnitude of the spin signal reaches a predetermined threshold a predetermined number of times for each said rotation of the weapon; and
(ii) a counter operatively connected to the spin signal mechanism for counting the number of times the spin signal reaches its predetermined threshold; and
(b) a spin rate computation mechanism for determining a spin rate of the weapon, wherein the spin rate computation mechanism is comprised of a timing mechanism operatively connected to the counter for determining the time for the weapon to rotate a predetermined number of times.
16. A weapon system comprising:
a smart bomb, the smart bomb comprising:
a guidance system that commands the smart bomb to execute a predetermined verification maneuver; and
a safety and arming apparatus for arming a fuze of a smart bomb, the safety and arming apparatus comprising:
a release sensor and a verification maneuver sensor, the release sensor in cooperative electronic communication with the verification maneuver sensor, such that when the release sensor senses that the weapon has been released and the verification maneuver sensor detects said predetermined verification maneuver of the weapon in flights the fuze is armed;
wherein the verification maneuver sensor comprises:
(a) a counting mechanism for counting a predetermined number of rotations of the weapon as it rotates around its longitudinal axis, the counting mechanism comprising:
(i) a spin signal mechanism for generating a spin signal which varies over time as the weapon rotates about its axis in the earths magnetic field and where the magnitude of the spin signal reaches a predetermined threshold a predetermined number of times for each said rotation of the weapon; and
(ii) a counter operatively connected to the spin signal mechanism for counting the number of times the spin signal reaches its predetermined threshold; and
(b) a spin rate computation mechanism for determining a spin rate of the weapon, wherein the spin rate computation mechanism is comprised of a timing mechanism operatively connected to the counter for determining the time for the weapon to rotate a predetermined number of times.