Tracking a Hypersonic Aircraft from a Space Platform

Abstract

This study developed a data processing algorithm for a space-based platform engaged in tracking a hypersonic transatmospheric vehicle. The geosynchronous platform was assumed to possess passive sensors measuring target position from data angles. The hypersonic vehicle was assumed to be operating in the outer fringes of the atmosphere. Four element and six element state Kalman filters were developed, coded, and tested against typical transatmospheric flight profiles. Accuracy of the filters in estimating position, velocity, heading, and acceleration was determined for 1, 5, and 10 second data intervals. From this test data, it was concluded that the six element state Kalman filter posed a viable option for tracking and estimating performance of hypersonic aircraft. Theses.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 01, 1989
Accession Number
ADA216399

Entities

People

  • David W. Ziegler

Organizations

  • Air Force Institute of Technology

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Materials and Manufacturing Processes
  • Sensors
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Accuracy
  • Air Force
  • Aircrafts
  • Algorithms
  • Birds
  • Data Processing
  • Detection
  • Detectors
  • Equations Of Motion
  • Estimators
  • Filters
  • Geometry
  • Hypersonic Aircraft
  • Infrared Detectors
  • Kalman Filters
  • Optimal Estimators
  • Vehicles

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Aerospace Engineering.
  • Inertial Navigation Systems.
  • Regression Analysis.

Technology Areas

  • Hypersonics
  • Hypersonics - Hypersonic Flow
  • Space
  • Space - Hall-Effect Thruster
  • Space - Space Objects