A Method of Passive Range Determination Using Only Two Bearing Measurements.

Abstract

A method of determining range from a moving vessel to an approaching object using only two bearing measurements is provided. At a first point in time, a first bearing measurement to the approaching object is obtained using the vessel's conventional bearing sensor. The vessel and approaching object are then postulated to be on an intercept course based on the vessel's first velocity vector and first bearing measurement. At a second point in time, the vessel commences a maneuver to a known second velocity vector different from the first velocity vector. Then, at a third point in time, a second bearing measurement to the approaching object is obtained using the vessel's bearing sensor. At the same third point in time, a virtual bearing to the approaching object is provided as if the vessel and the approaching object were on the postulated intercept course. A time difference is computed between the second and third points in time and standard trigonometric methods are applied to determine the range to the approaching object. The determined range is accurate when the approaching object is on an actual intercept course. (Author)

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Oct 02, 1991
Accession Number
ADD015182

Entities

People

  • Anthony F. Bessacini

Organizations

  • United States Department of the Navy

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Ground and Sea Platforms

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Maneuvers
  • Measurement
  • Military Operations
  • Standards

Readers

  • Approximation Theory.
  • Electrical Engineering
  • Tribology (the study of the boundary interaction between sliding surfaces, lubrication, wear and friction).