Integrated Flight Control Systems for Kinetic Kill Vehicles with Novel Internal Actuators

New internal actuation technologies and integrated design of guidance-control systems for kinetic kill vehicles are proposed. These actuation technologies can be used for KKV trajectory and attitude control in any speed range, both within and outside the atmosphere. Since the actuators are contained entirely within the airframe geometric envelope, and because no mass expulsion is involved, they offer several advantages over conventional aerodynamic control surfaces and reaction control systems. Phase I research demonstrated the feasibility of using three new internal actuation systems for KKV trajectory and attitude control. Target interception within and outside the atmosphere, and engagements containing both endo- and exo-atmospheric trajectory segments were demonstrated. Flight control system robustness was investigated in Monte-Carlo simulations. Optimality of the trajectories was assessed using numerical trajectory optimization methods. Phase II research will develop designs for internally actuated kinetic kill vehicles using more realistic airframe data. Preliminary mechanical designs, actuator sizing, model refinement, integrated guidance-control law designs, trajectory optimization and flight control code generation will be carried out. Low-speed UAV flight demonstration of the actuation concepts will also be conducted. Full-scale development and flight test of an internally actuated kinetic kill vehicle will be undertaken during the Phase III work.