Research/Patents/US 5444669
US 5444669Tier 3 — General Defense

MAGNETIC RELATIVE POSITION MEASURING SYSTEM

Assignee

Westinghouse

Filed as: WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC CORPORATION

Filed

Dec 10, 1990

Granted

Aug 22, 1995

Location

ARNOLD MD US

Abstract

A torpedo relative position measuring system, including an active sonar system and a passive magnetic system, is coupled to computing apparatus which operates in response to a set of stored computer programs, all located in the torpedo for homing in on a ferrous target. At long ranges and mid ranges, the torpedo is directed to the target by the sonar system, while at near ranges the magnetic system determines the x, y, z, relative position coordinates between the target and the torpedo in accordance with a calibrated stored magnetic model of the target and numerical solution of the non-linear equations linking the target's magnetic field, as measured at the torpedo, with the target's relative position. Guidance information derived therefrom is then fed to the torpedo's guidance system. With the magnetic system providing the relative position of the target at close range, the torpedo's normal guidance system can readily steer the torpedo to a desired hit point on the target.

Source: Google Patents

35 USC §181 Secrecy Order

Imposed

Jan 10, 1992

Rescinded

Jan 18, 1995

Duration

3 years

Inventor

  • 1DONALD G. POLVANI

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Back to patent indexSource: USPTO 35 USC §181 secrecy order records