Biologically Inspired Guidance for Tactical Munitions

Abstract

Advances in new propulsion, materials, sensors, micro-electronics, and micro-manufacturing technologies offer the potential for constructing future low cost autonomous tactical munitions that, singly or cooperatively, exhibit behavior that approaches the complexity and flexibility of simple biological systems. Associated with achieving this potential is the requirement to perform complex computations in real-time that are far beyond even the projected capabilities of supercomputers running state-of-the-art mathematical computational algorithms. Challenges include context dependent processing of information from distributed networks of heterogeneous sensors, navigation and control in complex hostile environments, and guidance toward passively or actively deceptive objectives. These challenges are routinely met by living organisms using networks of neurosensory and neuro-effector circuits. With this motivation, this paper explores guidance concepts inspired by results from experimental insect biology.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 2000
Accession Number
ADA386479

Entities

People

  • Johnny H. Evers
  • Martin F. Wehling

Organizations

  • Air Force Research Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Sensors
  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aircrafts
  • Airframes
  • Algorithms
  • Climate Change
  • Collision Avoidance
  • Control Surfaces
  • Control Systems
  • Detectors
  • Flight Control Systems
  • Guidance
  • Inertial Navigation
  • Inertial Navigation Systems
  • Microelectromechanical Systems
  • Navigation
  • Quantum Wells
  • Sensor Networks
  • World Geodetic System

Readers

  • Distributed Systems and Data Platform Development
  • Systems Analysis and Design

Technology Areas

  • Microelectronics