Terminal guidance of weapons immediately prior to impact is an especially demanding control problem. While Global Positioning System (GPS) guidance can get a weapon close to a target, a greater level of accuracy is often needed to account for uncontrollable factors such as the movement of a target. QEI Technologies proposes to develop an entirely new class of pattern recognition control system that is exceptionally fast, inexpensive, and rugged. This control system is based on a novel mathematical methodology that eliminates many faults or limits found in existing control architectures. Phase I work will focus on demonstrating the new control system through mathematical modeling. Models will include the connection of a digital imaging sensor to the control system, and simulated target patterns will be input to the control system through the simulated imaging sensor. A preliminary electronic circuit and bill of materials for hardware implementation will be completed by the end of Phase I. Phase II work would focus on the hardware demonstration of the control system and validation of Phase I modeling results. Phase III will see the production of monolithic imaging and control integrated circuits implementing this new control methodology. Successful completion of this project will result in a new class of control system that will have a wide range of military and commercial applications. The control system will significantly improve the accuracy of GPS/INS guided missiles. In addition, the fast, low-cost system will be applicable to vision systems used in many applications such as surveillance, autonomous vehicle control, and manufacturing control.
