Types of Guidance

Types of Guidance As we mentioned earlier, missiles have a path control system and an attitude control system. Guidance systems are usually classified according to their path control system, since many missiles use the same type of attitude control. The type of attitude control used in the fleet is inertial. The following is a discussion of the types of path control (guidance) in use in SMS missiles. INERTIAL GUIDANCE.—An inertial guidance system is one that is designed to fly a predetermined path. The missile is controlled by self-contained automatic devices called accelerometers. Accelerometers are inertial devices that measure accelerations. In missile control, they measure the vertical, lateral, and longitudinal accelerations of the controlled missile (fig. 1-19). Although there may not be contact between the launching site and the missile after launch, the missile is able to make corrections to its flight path with amazing precision. During flight, unpredictable outside forces, such as wind, work on the missile, causing changes in speed commands. These commands are transmitted to the missile by varying the characteristics of the missile tracking or guidance beam, or by the use of a separate radio uplink transmitter. BEAM-RIDER GUIDANCE.—A beam-rider guidance system is a type of command guidance in which the missile seeks out the center of a controlled directional energy beam. Normally, this is a narrow radar beam. The missile’s guidance system receives information concerning the position of the missile within the beam. It interprets the information and generates its own correction signals, which keep the missile in the center of the beam. The fire control radar keeps the beam pointed at the target and the missile “rides” the beam to the target. Figure 1-20 illustrates a simple beam rider guidance system. As the beam spreads out, it is more difficult for the missile to sense and remain in the center of the beam. For this reason, the accuracy of the beam-rider decreases as the range between the missile and the ship increases. If the target is crossing (not heading directly at the firing ship), the missile must follow a continually changing path. This may cause excessive maneuvering, which reduces the missile’s speed and range. Beam-riders, therefore, are effective against only short- and medium-range incoming targets. HOMING GUIDANCE.—Homing guidance systems control the path of the missile by means of a device in the missile that detects and reacts to some distinguishing feature of (or signal from) the target. This may be in the form of light, radio, heat, sound waves, or even a magnetic field. The homing missiles use radar or RF waves to locate the target while air-to-air missiles sometimes use infrared (heat) waves. Since the system tracks a characteristic of the target or energy reflecting off the target, contact between the missile and target is established and maintained. The missile derives guidance error signals based on its position relative to the target. This makes homing the most accurate type of guidance system, which is of great importance against moving air targets. Homing guidance methods are normally divided into three types:, active homing, semi-active homing, and passive homing (fig. 1-21). Active Homing.—With active homing, the missile contains both a radar transmitter and a receiver. The transmitter radiates RF energy in the direction of the 1-16 Figure 1-19.—Accelerometers in a guided missile.