Trajectory adjustments

Abstract

In some example, a method for regulating a trajectory of a projectile comprises adjusting the position of a mass within a cavity defined by a jacket of the projectile, whereby to modify a centre of gravity of the projectile.

1 . A method for regulating a trajectory of a projectile, the method comprising: adjusting the position of a mass within a cavity defined by a jacket of the projectile, whereby to modify a centre of gravity of the projectile. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: adjusting the position of the mass in an axial direction of the projectile. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein adjusting the position comprises actuating a gear arrangement of the projectile. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising: adjusting the position of the mass in a radial direction of the projectile. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein adjusting the position of the mass in a radial direction comprises translating the mass parallel to a radial axis of the projectile. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein adjusting the position of the mass in a radial direction comprises rotating the mass around a pivot point. 
     
     
         7 . A projectile, comprising:
 a jacket defining an internal cavity; and   a trajectory modification structure provided within the cavity configured to adjust the position of a mass, whereby to modify a centre of gravity of the projectile.   
     
     
         8 . The projectile of  claim 7 , wherein the trajectory modification structure comprises: a gear arrangement configured to adjust the position of the mass in an axial direction. 
     
     
         9 . The projectile of  claim 7 , further comprising means to adjust the position of the mass in a radial direction. 
     
     
         10 . The projectile of  claim 8 , wherein the gear arrangement comprises a leadscrew mechanism configured to enable adjustment of the position of the mass in the axial direction. 
     
     
         11 . The projectile of  claim 7 , further comprising an electromagnetic actuator configured to adjust the position of the mass within the internal cavity. 
     
     
         12 . A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium encoded with instructions for regulating a trajectory of a projectile, the instructions executable by a processor of a machine whereby to cause the machine to: adjust the position of a mass within a cavity defined by a jacket of the projectile, whereby to modify a centre of gravity of the projectile. 
     
     
         13 . The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of  claim 12 , further encoded with instructions executable by a processor of a machine whereby to cause the machine to: adjust the position of the mass in an axial direction of the projectile. 
     
     
         14 . The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of  claim 12 , further encoded with instructions executable by a processor of a machine whereby to cause the machine to: actuate a gear arrangement of the projectile. 
     
     
         15 . The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of  claim 12 , further encoded with instructions executable by a processor of a machine whereby to cause the machine to: adjust the position of the mass in a radial direction of the projectile. 
     
     
         16 . The method claim of  3 , further comprising: adjusting the position of the mass in a radial direction of the projectile. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein adjusting the position of the mass in a radial direction comprises translating the mass parallel to a radial axis of the projectile. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein adjusting the position of the mass in a radial direction comprises rotating the mass around a pivot point. 
     
     
         19 . The projectile of  claim 8 , further comprising an electromagnetic actuator configured to adjust the position of the mass within the internal cavity. 
     
     
         20 . The projectile of  claim 9 , wherein the means to adjust the position of the mass in a radial direction includes:
 a leadscrew leadscrew mechanism can be used to translate and/or rotate the mass about a pivot point in a radial direction; and/or   a non-transitory machine-readable storage medium encoded with instructions executable by a processor of a machine, to cause the machine to translate and/or rotate the mass about a pivot point in a radial direction.