Compact Deployable Aero Controls for Range and Control Enhancement of FCS Multi-Role Munitions

Current maneuvering technology on Army's FCS munitions utilizes conventional hinge-based flight control surfaces for control and stability. These systems impose substantial weight, volume, and power requirements and ultimately reduce projectile aerodynamicperformance and payload capacity. The mail goal of the Phase II program is to develop and test a prototype of a Compact Deployable Aero Controls (CODAC)-based Aerodynamic Flight Control System (AFCS), which builds upon successful Phase I feasibilitystudies for enhanced range and control authority for FCS multi-role munitions. During this program, the key innovation is the combination of CODAC, aero control fins and body extensions to provide extended range and three-axes control (pitch, yaw, androll) to the projectiles. In addition, the developed CODAC will readily integrate with MEMS actuators for a cost, weight, and power efficient aero-control system. A successful culmination of the Phase II program will result in significant advances overexisting conventional hinged control surfaces that occupy more space and volume than the proposed AFCS concept. The ultimate manifestation of this technology is the seamless integration of an AFCS with any multi-role armament munitions in the Army'sFCS.Immediate beneficiaries of proposed AFCS technology will be the Department of Defense. The proposed AFCS technology can be applied to a multitude of munitions and sub-munitions for extended range and enhanced maneuverability. For commercialapplication, the proposed CODAC-based AFCS and AFCS- variants may be employed on civil aircrafts for increasing their aerodynamic efficiency via reduced drag and increased lift. The proposed AFCS can also be used in other aerodynamic applications, groundvehicle applications, and turbomachinery.