A Simple Method of Simulating Motion and Plasma Induced Variations in the Attenuation of Signals Transmitted from Reentry Vehicles.

Abstract

A simple method of simulating the variation in the amplitude of microwave signals from rocket-borne transmitters is presented. The technique reproduces signal changes caused by vehicle motion as well as those induced by plasma effects. The simulator uses a voltage controlled attenuator which is programmed to vary the output power of a test transmitter to produce the variations in signal amplitude which would be observed during a flight. An analog system which is suitable for variations of simple cyclical shape and a digital simulator which can reproduce changes of any complexity are presented. Use of the simulator before flight allows the dynamic behavior of a microwave link to be determined, permits optimum receiver and recorder parameters to be selected, increases operator confidence, and enhances flight test reliability. (Author)

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Oct 17, 1973
Accession Number
AD0775741

Entities

People

  • D. H. Tropea
  • J. L. Poirier

Organizations

  • Air Force Cambridge Research Laboratories

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Amplitude
  • Analog Systems
  • Attenuation
  • Attenuators
  • Microwaves
  • Recording Systems
  • Reentry Vehicles
  • Reliability
  • Simulators
  • Transmitters
  • Vehicles

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Computational Modeling and Simulation
  • Plasma Physics.
  • Radio communications and signal processing.