An integrated propulsion and guidance system for a vehicle includes an engine
coupled to an impeller via a driveshaft to produce propulsive force. The impeller
includes a hub and a plurality of blades, wherein one or more of the blades is
pivotably mounted to the hub. A control system provides a control signal to the
impeller to adjust the blade pitch of the pivotable impeller blades as the blades
rotate about the hub. The change in blade pitch produces a torque on the driveshaft
that can be used to control the heading of the vehicle. By varying the magnitude
and phase of the control signal provided to the impeller, the torque can be applied
in a multitude of distinct reference planes, thereby allowing the orientation of
the vehicle to be adjusted through action of the impeller.
