PASSIVE BEACON TECHNIQUES.
Abstract
This document describes the work performed on an investigation entitled Passive Beacon Techniques, which is aimed at a feasibility demonstration of the hollow Helisphere reflector as a ground marker beacon for use with low-flying airborne radar. The investigation included the design, construction and test of a 60 inch diameter inflatable Helisphere passive beacon, capable of producing modulated (coded) radar echoes with omni-azimuth coverage over better than an octave bandwidth in the X-band to Ku-band region. Also included was the modification of an AN/APS-42 radar set to permit detection and recognition of the coded beacon returns, and to display them as enhanced blinking echoes on the radar indicator. This final report includes a discussion of the advantages of passive beacons compared with active transponders and a consideration of the system aspects of coded ground marker beacons. Also presented are the design and evaluation tests of the light-weight, man-transportable Helisphere beacon model built for this study, together with a description of the signal processor circuits designed and built for use with the AN/APS-42 radar. The flight test program for evaluating the beacon system is discussed.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1967
- Accession Number
- AD0808296
Entities
People
- H. E. Shrank
- J. Mattern
- R. D. Grove
Organizations
- Westinghouse Electric Corporation