SBIR-STTR Award

A simple safety arming switch for guided missiles can be built around an accelerometer and integrating circuit. In general, during the launch boost phase, the acceleration of a missile increases to a maximum just before burnout. Characteristic acceleration profiles for a particular missile are dependent upon fuel tailoring and mission requirements; i.e. air-to-air mission, ground-to-air mission, etc. An acceleration activated safety arming switch could determine the missile's acceleration and the distance traveled. Such a safety arming switch could compare the measured acceleration profile to that expected of the missile and provide a final safety check before energizing the missile's firing circuit. This proposal addresses the design and development of an acceleration activated safety arming switch for a missile. The proposed switch will first be developed in analog form to facilitate design verification. Once the basic design has been determined, the switch will be redesigned as a solid state device.

In the Phase I effort Enfitek demonstrated the feasibility of a number of innovative concepts for an acceleration driven energy interrupter that can function as a safety-arming switch for a missile system. A total of nineteen electro and optomechanical accelerometer concepts were deemed feasible but only four are proposed as most promising for phase ii prototyping as follows: gas chamber and diaphragm (gcd); electrorheological fluids (er); microbending sensors (mbs); and optomechanical accelerometer (oma). Eight timer concepts were judged feasible for use in conjunction with the four accelerometer options. All of these proposed phase ii choices meet requirements of cost, simplicity, size, weight, performance, reliability, and safety. A two-year five-step prototype development program is presented for the work plan; i.e. first design and supplier consultation, detailed design, component procurement and manufacture, prototype construction and preliminary testing, and final testing and manual production. The work schedule would be phased to avoid overtaxing manpower capabilities and creating slack time.