Abstract: A missile guidance system designed to operate on GPS signals in an anti-jamming environment. The inventive system includes first, second and third airborne vehicles (20). A GPS receiver (24) is mounted on each of the three vehicles (20) to receive signals transmitted from spaceborne satellites (14). Each vehicle (20) acts as a pseudo-satellite or ‘pseudolite’. The received GPS signals are processed by a processor (26) to provide a first intermediate signal indicating the position of the vehicle (20). This signal is retransmitted from each vehicle and received by a GPS receiver mounted on a missile. The received intermediate signal is processed on the missile to provide an output signal indicating the position thereof. The pseudolites would be airborne in the vicinity of a target area.

Abstract: A system for measuring the roll angle of a rotating projectile. The system includes a transmit system mounted on the projectile. The transmit system has a linearly polarized transmit antenna system, a first transmitter coupled to the transmit antenna system for transmitting a first transmit signal at a first frequency, and a second transmitter coupled to the transmit antenna system for transmitting a second transmit signal at a second frequency. The first frequency is different from the second frequency, and the first and second transmit signals are in phase coherency. The system further includes a receiver system located remotely from the projectile. The receiver system includes a linearly polarized receive antenna system for receiving the first transmit signal and the second transmit signal. A first receiver section is provided for receiving and downconverting the first transmit signal to provide a first receiver signal.

Abstract: A rocket launching system employing ignition apparatus that is used with a small rocket to launch the rocket from a gun. The rocket is equipped with acoustic (pressure) and optical (thermal) sensors that detect a pressure pulse and light flash of a primer charge used to fire the gun. The simultaneous detection of the pressure pulse and the light flash by the sensors generates output signals that are used to complete an electrical circuit in an electronic ignition circuit that activates an igniter that ignites a rocket motor.

Abstract: A photonic radar decoy (50) is provided which simulates an aircraft to a radar having an interrogating signal. A plurality of receiving antenna (52, 54, 56, 58, 60) are attached to the decoy (50) with each of the receiving antenna (52, 54, 56, 58, 60) independently capable of receiving the interrogating signal from the interrogating radar system. Each signal received by an antenna (52, 54, 56, 58, 60) is transmitted to a signal combiner and amplifier (82) by delay lines (72, 74, 76, 78, 80). The combiner and amplifier (82) coherently adds the transmitted signals, thereby producing a coherent signal which is amplified and subsequently emitted by a non-directional transmission antenna 106, simulating a dynamic and complex radar signature of an aircraft.

Abstract: A bomb damage assessment system that is carried by a weapon and released to provide imagery of a bombed area before and after bomb delivery. The system comprises a glider that is releasably secured to the weapon that includes tracking and guidance electronics for programmably controlling the flight thereof. An imaging system is disposed in the front end of the glider and a deployable ballute is disposed at the rear end thereof. A data link is provided for transmitting images to a command center for review. The system provides imagery of a target area before, during and after weapon impact. Television or infrared cameras may be used for day or night missions. As a target area is approached, the glider is released, is decelerated by the ballute, wings are unfolded, and the ballute is released, resulting in an aerodynamic vehicle that flies much slower than the weapon. The imaging system tracks the weapon to impact. The explosion of the weapon produces a hot spot that is tracked by the imaging system.

Abstract: An impulse radar that forms a predetermined radar pulse train in space by transmitting individual spectral components thereof. Thus, a train of extremely short pulses is obtained without switching a radio frequency signal on and off at a high rate. An oscillator is coupled to a harmonic generator, and a power divider distributes the output of the harmonic generator to a multiplicity of amplifiers. Each amplifier has a phase-locked VCO circuit that provides frequency accuracy, spectral purity, low noise and frequency stability. Thus, each amplifier provides one of the spectral components of the predetermined radar pulse train. The amplifiers are coupled to a multiplexing feed that illuminates a reflector. On receive, the multiplexing feed separates the spectral components of the incoming pulse train. Each spectral component is coupled to its own narrow band receiver, and one receiver is used to amplify and detect each spectral component.

Abstract: A predetermined radar pulse train is formed in space by transmitting individual spectral components thereof. Thus, a train of extremely short pulses is obtained without switching a radio frequency signal on and off at a high rate. A crystal oscillator is coupled to a harmonic generator such as a comb generator. A power divider distributes the output of the harmonic generator to a multiplicity of final filter amplifiers. Each final filter amplifier has a phase-locked VCO circuit that provides frequency accuracy, spectral purity, low noise and frequency stability. Thus, each final filter amplifier provides one of the spectral components of the predetermined radar pulse train. The final filter amplifiers are coupled by duplexers to a broadband multiplexing feed such as a nested cup dipole feed that illuminates a reflector. On receive, the broadband multiplexing feed separates all the spectral components of the incoming pulse train.

Abstract: A sensor includes a light source (24) and photosensor (28) which are disposed on opposite sides of a fluid flow passageway. A resilient member is fixedly supported at one end or edge and entrained in the fluid (14) for varying the amount of light incident on the photosensor (28) from the light source (24) as a function of the amount of deflection of the resilient member caused by motion of the fluid (14) in the passageway. The resilient member may be an optical fiber (18) which transmits light from the light source (24) toward the photosensor (28). Alternatively, the resilient member may be a curtain (62) which variably blocks propagation of light from the light source (24) to the photosensor (28). The passageway may be defined by a container (12) which is filled with the fluid (14), and the sensor constructed to sense rotational or linear motion of the container (12) relative to the fluid (14).

Abstract: An optical imaging system includes an array of small aperture subtelescopes each with heterodyne detectors. The array detects the amplitude and phase of light waves emanating from a scene under observation before they are combined into an image. The beam combining and interfering functions are performed after detection by the use of novel electronic signal processsing. Large-aperture resolution is synthesized by electronically detecting and correcting phase errors without optical phase compensating components. Parallel processing and atmospheric turbulence compensation are achieved. The system images laser illuminated or naturally illuminated targets as well as stationary or moving targets. The heterodyne detectors can also achieve similar results when arranged in a pupil plane array located behind a single large aperture telescope.

Abstract: An image of a target (11) is produced by illumination of the target (11) with overlapping fields (18, 20) of wave energy, such as coherent light, producing an interference pattern (22) moving across the target. At least one pair (12) of sources (14, 16) wave energy provide the moving interference pattern (22). The scattered illumination reflected from the target is detected by a non-imaging receiver (24); a two dimensional spatial frequency map is recorded (30, 62), based upon the amplitude, frequency and phase of the illumination received; and a two dimensional image of the target is formed (32, 72) by applying a Fourier transform to the two dimensional frequency map.

Abstract: A spark discharge focused drill provided with one pulse forming line or a number of pulse forming lines. The pulse forming line is connected to an array of electrodes which would form a spark array. One of the electrodes of each of the array is connected to the high voltage side of the pulse forming line and the other electrodes are at ground potential. When discharged in a liquid, these electrodes produce intense focused shock waves that can pulverize or fracture rock. By delaying the firing of each group of electrodes, the drill can be steered within the earth. Power can be fed to the pulse forming line either downhole or from the surface area. A high voltage source, such as a Marx generator, is suitable for pulse charging the lines.

Abstract: A system and method is described for obtaining a spatial characterization of a particle beam, including the beam direction, position, divergence, aberrations and intensity profile. A mechanism is also provided for adjusting the beam propagation to a desired state in response to the sensed characteristics. A fiber array in the path of a neutral particle beam casts shadows which are sensed at a downstream location to characterize the beam. Various mechanisms can be used to sense the shadow positions and/or widths relative to the fibers, from which the various beam characteristics can be derived. By magnetically removing charged particles from the neutral beam shadows, the shadows can be sensed by their effect upon the secondary emission currents generated in downstream conducting sensor wires, by their effect upon the fluorescence of downstream optical fibers, or by their effect upon the thermal heating of various types of downstream heat sensors.