Feb 17, 2026

US12551815 - Steerable rotating projectile

A method of controlling a gyroscopically-stabilized projectile, comprising a control system producing a control signal, a rotating aerodynamic shell, and a reaction mass system responsive to the control signal, the method comprising: imparting rotational and translational kinetic energy to induce gyroscopic stabilization of the projectile about a gyroscopic axis and a movement of the projectile along a flight path; interacting the shell with surrounding air while moving, to induce aerodynamic forces; generating the control signal from the control system; and altering a state of the reaction wheel system selectively in dependence on the control signal, to alter the flight path.

Inventors: Steven M. Hoffberg
Filing date: 2023-07-30

projectilegyroscopicaerodynamicmilitary

The patent describes a steerable projectile that utilizes a gyroscopically-stabilized design with an aerodynamic shell and a control system to alter its flight path based on navigational objectives. The projectile’s control system generates signals that adjust the aerodynamic features in response to its rotational phase, enabling precise redirection during flight.

Claim 1

1 . A projectile having a translational vector in a medium, comprising: an aerodynamic surface configured to rotate about an axis while translating along the translational vector in the medium to produce gyroscopic forces, and producing aerodynamic forces from the medium; a control system, configured to generate a rotational phase lead or phase lag control signal synchronized with a phase or rotation of the aerodynamic surface about the axis, the phase lead or phase lag control signal being further dependent on a navigational objective; and at least one modulated aerodynamic feature, configured to selectively produce an aerodynamic interaction with the medium surrounding the rotating aerodynamic surface which varies over time, dependent on the phase lead or phase lag control signal synchronized with the phase of rotation of the aerodynamic surface about the axis, to redirect the translational vector of the projectile to meet the navigational objective. an aerodynamic surface configured to rotate about an axis while translating along the translational vector in the medium to produce gyroscopic forces, and producing aerodynamic forces from the medium; a control system, configured to generate a rotational phase lead or phase lag control signal synchronized with a phase or rotation of the aerodynamic surface about the axis, the phase lead or phase lag control signal being further dependent on a navigational objective; and at least one modulated aerodynamic feature, configured to selectively produce an aerodynamic interaction with the medium surrounding the rotating aerodynamic surface which varies over time, dependent on the phase lead or phase lag control signal synchronized with the phase of rotation of the aerodynamic surface about the axis, to redirect the translational vector of the projectile to meet the navigational objective.

Google Patents

https://patents.google.com/patent/US12551815

USPTO PDF

https://image-ppubs.uspto.gov/dirsearch-public/print/downloadPdf/12551815