Gas Generator Actuator Arrays for Flight Control of Spinning Body Projectiles

This paper presents batch-fabrication lamination approaches for the realization of large arrays of high-power, short-duration gas generator actuators (GGAs), and system implementation approaches for integration of these GGAs into a 40-mm diameter gun-launched projectile for projectile flight control and course correction. The GGAs are tested to determine the impulse delivered per GGA and the time required delivering the impulse. The arrays of GGAs are connected with control electronics and integrated into a 40-mm diameter projectile. The final result is a flight control system for a small-scale projectile; fabrication and characterization of the actuator component of this system will be presented here. The original document contains color images.