Kinematic Ranging Accuracy via Optimized Radar Displacement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing kinematic ranging techniques face significant uncertainty in range estimation due to measurement errors associated with azimuth bearings, rate of change, and displacement components, leading to inaccurate range calculations.

Innovation Solution

The method involves measuring initial and final azimuth bearings, calculating the rate of change, and performing a specific displacement maneuver with calculated orthogonal components to minimize measurement errors and achieve desired relative range accuracy, using equations to determine optimal displacement components Δx and Δy for accurate range calculation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a general manoeuvre is carried out by the airborne detecting radar unit, then the radar can detect and track the jammer, but the range measurement uncertainty increases significantly due to measurement errors

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveradar detection and tracking capabilityVSAvoidrange measurement accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by calculating optimal displacement components Δx and Δy based on desired relative range accuracy and estimated range. The maneuver parameters are adjusted dynamically to achieve the desired accuracy level, transforming the general maneuver into an optimized trajectory that minimizes range uncertainty while maintaining detection capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback by using measured bearing angles and their rates of change to calculate the jammer's range. The system continuously updates the range estimation based on real-time measurements of bearing, bearing rate, and displacement, creating a closed-loop measurement system that reduces uncertainty through iterative refinement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Measurement precision

If the displacement components Δx and Δy are calculated based on desired accuracy criteria, then range measurement precision improves, but the computational complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverelative range accuracyVSAvoidcomputational complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-calculating the optimal displacement components Δx and Δy before executing the maneuver. The system determines the required displacement based on desired relative range accuracy and estimated range, preparing the maneuver parameters in advance to ensure accurate range measurement without increasing real-time computational burden.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses partial action by calculating displacement components that achieve the desired relative range accuracy without requiring complete precision in all measurements. The method accepts approximate measurements of bearing and displacement while achieving sufficient accuracy through the optimized maneuver geometry, reducing computational requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP2896970B1Method of kinematic ranging
Publication Date: 2018.03.28 HENSOLDT SENSORS GMBH
  • EP2896970B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2896970B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2896970B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method of kinematic ranging for finding the range R of a jammer moving on a trajetory (28) comprises measuring the bearing of the jammer and the rate of change thereof using an airborne detector radar at a first position (24), causing the the airborne detetor radar to carry out a manoevre such that is it displaced in the horizontal plane by a displacement having orthogonal components Ax, Δy and measuring the bearing of the jammer at a second position (26) subsequent to the manoevre. By making an appropriate choice for the components Δx, Δy, the range R may be found with a desired relative range accuracy, and the error in R may be minimised. The method provides a method of kinematic ranging with improved accuracy.