Guidance system for missiles

摘要

A missile guidance system is provided in which a sensor is pivotally mounted on the missile in a gimbal system having two degrees of freedom. The sensor is controlled during flight in such a manner that the axis of the sensor is aligned in a direction determined by the acceleration of the missile, and the sensor locates the target and determines the angle between the direction of the sensor axis and the direction of the target. Guidance information is derived from this angle for directing the missile toward the target. Compensation for gravity may be provided by means of a spring suitably arranged in the gimbal system. The sensor system may be either active or passive and may be responsive to any desired type of signal from the target.