Piezoceramic Fin Control System

"BMDO has a need for advanced propulsion and aerodynamic control technologies and systems that significantly reduce overall vehicle mass to permit substantial diverts and agile maneuvering in order to enhance the performance of missile interceptors. Acontrol system is proposed that utilizes durable fins, that are deployed and controlled using low-mass, solid-state, high-speed piezoceramic actuators. The high piezoceramic electrical to mechanical efficiency permits enhanced aerodynamic flight control ina significantly reduced package size and greatly reduced mass. Novel lightweight, high-strength, materials are available that provide the stiffness and stability to the fins and permit it to withstand the high temperature aerothermal environment. The lowmass of the fin coupled with the strength of the actuator permits it to rapidly deploy and retract, allowing the vehicle to more quickly respond to commanded maneuvers. The only massive component of the system is the battery to supply the power to actuatethe fins and the battery can be placed in any convenient location within the vehicle. The successful completion of this proposed effort will demonstrate that the piezoceramic flight control system (PFCS) can meet the broad needs of future BMDO systems,especially for THAAD and AIT type interceptors. This proposal outlines an investigation into the integration of piezoceramic adaptive aerodynamic structures technology with novel lightweight