Development of a Low-Cost Precision Guidance and Smart Electronic Fuze System for a 155 mm Artillery Shell
“You are building a 'smart kit' that attaches to standard artillery shells to make them hit targets with pinpoint accuracy. It uses tiny wings to steer the shell in mid-air and a smart electronic brain to decide exactly when and how to explode.”
Deconstructed Problem Blueprint
WHAT TO BUILD?
A modular Precision Guidance Kit (PGK) consisting of a Canard Actuation Assembly (CAA) for steering and a Multi-mode Electronic Fuze for detonation control.
WHO IS IT FOR?
Yantra India Limited (YIL) and the Indian Army artillery units. The end-users are artillery gunners and field commanders.
WHY DOES IT EXIST?
Standard artillery shells are 'dumb' projectiles that drift significantly over long distances, leading to wasted ammunition and high collateral damage. Precision guidance reduces the number of shells needed to neutralize a target.
INPUT → PROCESS → OUTPUT ARCHITECTURE PIPELINE
GPS/GNSS coordinates, IMU (accelerometer/gyroscope) data, barometric pressure, and pre-fire mission parameters (target coordinates, fuse mode).
Real-time trajectory calculation, PID/LQR control loop for canard actuation, high-g sensor fusion, and fuze logic processing.
Physical movement of canard fins for steering, detonation signal for the fuze, and telemetry data for post-mission analysis.
CONSTRAINTS
- Must survive 15,000g+ launch acceleration.
- Must operate under high-spin conditions (up to 250 RPS).
- Must fit within the standard 155mm shell nose cone volume.
- Must be low-cost for mass production.
- Must be immune to electronic jamming/spoofing.
JURY METRICS
- Circular Error Probable (CEP) <= 30 meters.
- System latency (time from sensor input to fin actuation).
- Power efficiency (battery life during flight).
- Structural integrity under high-g simulation.
- Cost-per-unit vs. conventional unguided shell.
CORE BOTTLENECK
The 'High-g' survival requirement: Designing electronics and mechanical actuators that don't shatter or fail under the extreme force of a cannon launch.
Why You Should Choose This PS (Pros)
- High national security impact.
- Clear, hardware-focused engineering challenge.
- Strong potential for patent filing.
- Direct alignment with 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' defense initiatives.
Challenges & Risks to Watch (Cons)
- Extremely difficult to prototype physically in 36 hours.
- Requires advanced knowledge of control theory and aerospace dynamics.
- High risk of simulation failure if physics models are inaccurate.
Recommended Tech Stack & Grand Finale Features
Killer Features to Impress the SIH Jury
View Official SIH 2026 Portal Raw Text▼
The YIL (Yantra India Limited) possesses extensive expertise in manufacturing the mechanical hardware of 155 mm artillery shells and seeks innovative solutions to transform conventional shells into precision-guided munitions through the integration of an advanced guidance and fuze system.
The integrated system should achieve a Circular Error Probable (CEP) of 30 meters or better, while maintaining compatibility with the existing 155 mm shell design and surviving the extreme mechanical and environmental conditions experienced during artillery launch and flight.
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