Self-initializing internal guidance system and method for a missile

Abstract

A guidance system for internally controlling the flight path of a missile includes a guidance platform having dispersion control means mounted on the guidance platform for detecting acceleration of the missile due to lift and side forces. The dispersion control means includes dispersion detection means to calculate the velocity and position errors relative to a drag-only trajectory from the detected acceleration due to the lift and side forces. The internal guidance system also includes missile positioning means for controlling the position of the missile platform to substantially eliminate the velocity and position errors. The guidance system also includes level finding means for determining a substantially horizontal level axis and the orientation of the missile relative to a level axis. The missile positioning means also performs other functions such as missile leveling in which the wings-level axis of the missile is aligned to the level axis. Accordingly, the position of a free-falling missile may be internally controlled to increase the targeting accuracy of the missile without initialization of the missile from the launch platform.