Precision airdrop terminal seeker

摘要

A beacon receiving system on a pallet of a container cargo bundle is airdropped from a cargo airplane. The beacon receiving system comprises a sensor that detects during descent a beacon signal generated from a beacon placed at the target drop location. The sensor provides signals to a microcontroller that ascertains an angle at which the beacon signal is received. An inertial measurement unit provides signals indicating a tilt of the pallet during descent, which is used by the microcontroller to determine an offset angle of the received beacon signal. This information is used to steer the container cargo bundle during descent to achieve high precision in landing at the desired target drop location. The beacon signal may comprises a modulated light signal which can be distinguished by the sensor from other light sources.

主权项

1. A system for targeting airdropped cargo delivery comprising:
a sensor configured to be integrated into a pallet of a container delivery system (“CDS”) bundle, wherein the sensor is able to detect a beacon signal of a specified electromagnetic wavelength spectrum directed in an upward direction from ground, said sensor further configured to generate a first set of reference signals associated with the beacon signal; an inertial reference unit configured to be integrated into the pallet and generate a second set of reference signals corresponding to a tilt of the pallet; a microcontroller configured to
receive the first set of reference signals,receive the second set of reference signals, anduse the first set of reference signals and the second set of reference signals to ascertain an offset angle of the beacon signal, andprovide the offset angle for steering the pallet to the beacon signal; and a beacon signal generator, configured to be placed at a drop location and generate the beacon signal of the specified electromagnetic wavelength spectrum.