Projectile guidance with accelerometers and a gps receiver

Abstract

A projectile guidance system without gyros in which the projectile has an orthogonal body coordinate system. The projectile has a triax of accelerometers providing x, y and z acceleration data measured along the x, y and z axes respectively. A GPS antenna and receiver means provides onboard GPS position and velocity data in earth referenced navigational coordinates. A computer and program means stores and accesses time indexed GPS position and GPS velocity data and transforms x, y and z axis acceleration data from body to navigation coordinates. The program means is responsive to corresponding time indexed acceleration data and to GPS velocity and position data for calculating and outputting an estimated projectile roll, pitch and yaw angle via optimal smoothing techniques with respect to local level for each time index iteration of present position to a flight control system, which actuates a divert propulsion system for guiding the projectile to a predetermined location.