Development of a prototype vehicle is proposed for a sensor-fuzed submunition employing a rotary wing to provide a large footprint with minimal burden in cost and complexity. With the rotary wing in autorotation, the submunition scans a circular area while in controlled descent. When the mast-mounted sensor detects a target, cyclic rotor pitch is introduced, causing the submunition to glide down a path which passes over the target at a prescribed altitude. Feasibility was demonstrated in Phase I by conducting simulations with all guidance and control elements modeled in detail. Results show the rotary-wing submunition to be a robust system. Glide capability provides high tolerance to winds, performance is insensitive to instrumentation errors and a successful engagement ensues for a wide range of deployment conditions. A prototype vehicle will be developed in Phase II by designing, fabricating and flight testing a submunition simulator, The test article will contain all the rotor and airframe controls, instrumentation and guidance and control electronics delineated in Phase I; radio control signals will replace processor-generated guidance commands. Meeting specified test objectives will provide not only the framework for development of an effective weapon system but also the prototype for development of an observation vehicle for combating forest fires.
Benefits: Development of rotary-wing submunition technology will have direct application in the development of future tactical weapon systems employing sensor-fuzed submunitions. Potential commercial applications are in the development of an observation vehicle for use in combating forest fires.
Keywords: rotor submunition dynamics and control testing
