Gun Hardened High-Performance Miniature Angular Acceleration Sensor

Accurate targeting of ordnance is of vital importance for current and future battlefield requirements. A particular need exists for guidance devices applicable to gun-fired munitions. Currently available angular acceleration sensors do not fulfill the accuracy, size, weight, sensitivity, or especially the shock resistance requirements for gun-fired payloads. MET Tech, Inc. has recently developed novel angular acceleration sensors that promise to fulfill all the requirements for guidance of such munitions: high accuracy, small size and weight, low power consumption, and high sensitivity; and, because they have no proof mass or moving parts, the sensors are able to withstand extremely high forces such as those experienced during gun firing, without any degradation of operability. In this SBIR program, MET Tech proposes to develop novel high-performance miniature acceleration sensors having low drift, high dynamic range, and resistance to shock associated with gun firing, in a compact, economical package. MET Tech will demonstrate the feasibility of the new sensors through modeling and simulation, focusing on two key characteristics: ability to survive shock, and settling time after firing. Based on the model developed, we will then fabricate and test a laboratory prototype sensor. Finally, using both calculated and measured results, we will predict the expected performance of optimized sensors. Phase II will be devoted to design and fabrication of system-level angular acceleration sensors, as well as development of design drawings and drawings supporting the design, manufacture, test and evaluation of production model sensors, which will be produced in Phase III.