Patrick Michael Moran

US Patent:

40469930, Sep 6, 1977

Filed:

Jun 28, 1976

Appl. No.:

5/700655

Inventors:

Charles A. Wilson - Oxnard CA
Patrick J. Moran - Ventura CA

Assignee:

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy - Washington DC

International Classification:

G06G 780

US Classification:

235 615D

Abstract:

A system for determining the proper instant of time to launch an object, h as a target or torpedo, from an aircraft to cause the object to impact a water surface at a predetermined nose-down angle, thereby preventing structural damage due to high impact forces. The system utilizes signals produced by instrumentation representative of the aircraft pitch and angular rate of pitch. The desired launch altitude and predetermined impact angle are physically set into the system by means of adjustable voltage sources. These parameters are processed in the system such that the system forms a complete electronic analogy to the physical laws which govern the motion of the free falling object. In operation, the system continuously computes the predicted impact angle based on the instantaneous inputs of the aircraft's altitude, pitch angle and pitch rate. It then compares the predicted impact angle with the predetermined impact angle.