Precision Loran-C Navigation for the Harbor and Harbor Entrance Area,
Abstract
THE U. S. Coast Guard is engaged in a long-term program to evaluate the potential and develop the technology for precision navigation using Loran-C. The Coast Guard has taken a three-pronged approach to harbor and harbor entrance (HHE) navigation-user equipment development, time difference (TD) surveying, and grid stability analysis. These three aspects of HHE Loran-C navigation were addressed in separate papers presented in October, 1979. This report updates and consolidates the three papers, and is intended to serve as a source document on the Coast Guard's approach to HHE Loran-C navigation. User equipment is being developed which combines time differences from a precision Loran-C receiver with survey information from a data tape cassette using simple algorithms to present the piloting situation on a CRT display. The algorithms, hardware, and software are described, and the results of summer and winter 1979 tests on the St. Marys River are given. It is concluded that accuracies of better than 25 meters are achievable. Three methods are described for surveying the Loran-C time difference coordinates of waypoints and prominent physical features of a harbor area for precision Loran-C navigation. Resutls are presented from field measurements on the St. Marys River Mini Loran-C Chain using existing visual aids to navigation as a position reference. The survey methods described provide for accurate and timely Loran-C grid survey over a wide range of harbor areas. The general features of each method and details of the visual aids to navigation approach are presented. Analysis of field measurements show survey capability on the order of ten nanoseconds.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 1980
- Accession Number
- ADA086001
Entities
People
- A. J. Sedlock
- C. E. Isgett
- D. L. Olsen
- J. M. Ligon