Chapter 13
Range-Finding Radio Navigation Systems
The range-finding radio navigation systems (RRNS), also called the radionavigational range finders, are intended for determination of the current range
(distance) D(t) from an object to radio-navigational guide point, e.g., radio beacon.
RRNS position line is a circle, and in spatial case—a sphere. RRNS are widely used
autonomously and within composition of other radio navigation systems.
The main tactical characteristics of RRNS are accuracy, operational range, operating (coverage) zones, bandwidth capacity, jamming resistance and reliability.
RRNS capacity is evaluated by the maximum amount of objects, which it can simultaneously provide with corresponding navigational information. RRNS capacity with
responder is limited by its capability to give out response signals and mutual interference of interrogators. RRNS, used at the present time, are often operated in frequency
bands. The prime RRNS technical characteristics are the following: size and stability
of a carrier frequency, modulation type and its parameters, directional patterns of
receiving and transmitting antennas, transmitter power and receiver sensitivity etc.
The RRNS are divided by design concept into RRNS without responder and RRNS
with responder.
In RRNS without responder, a signal propagation time is measured, radiated by
ground-based station, to an object, on board of which a receiving unit is mounted.
The generalized functional chart of RRNS without responder is shown in Fig. 13.1. In
composition of ground-based station transmitter and onboard receiver, there are highstable reference (calibration) oscillators, which at specified moment are synchronized
between each other with special synchronization signal, radiated by ground-based
station.
Based on received signal, either time interval τ D = D/c between reference pulse
and pulse at receiver output (at pulsed method of range measuring), or phase difference ϕ between oscillations of onboard reference oscillator and oscillations at
receiver output (at phase method of range measuring) are measured onboard an
object. The measuring range is correspondingly defined as follows:
© The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2021
D. A. Akmaykin et al., Theoretical Foundations of Radar Location
and Radio Navigation, Springer Aerospace Technology,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-33-6514-8_13
237
Range-Finding Radio Navigation Systems
The range-finding radio navigation systems (RRNS), also called the radionavigational range finders, are intended for determination of the current range
(distance) D(t) from an object to radio-navigational guide point, e.g., radio beacon.
RRNS position line is a circle, and in spatial case—a sphere. RRNS are widely used
autonomously and within composition of other radio navigation systems.
The main tactical characteristics of RRNS are accuracy, operational range, operating (coverage) zones, bandwidth capacity, jamming resistance and reliability.
RRNS capacity is evaluated by the maximum amount of objects, which it can simultaneously provide with corresponding navigational information. RRNS capacity with
responder is limited by its capability to give out response signals and mutual interference of interrogators. RRNS, used at the present time, are often operated in frequency
bands. The prime RRNS technical characteristics are the following: size and stability
of a carrier frequency, modulation type and its parameters, directional patterns of
receiving and transmitting antennas, transmitter power and receiver sensitivity etc.
The RRNS are divided by design concept into RRNS without responder and RRNS
with responder.
In RRNS without responder, a signal propagation time is measured, radiated by
ground-based station, to an object, on board of which a receiving unit is mounted.
The generalized functional chart of RRNS without responder is shown in Fig. 13.1. In
composition of ground-based station transmitter and onboard receiver, there are highstable reference (calibration) oscillators, which at specified moment are synchronized
between each other with special synchronization signal, radiated by ground-based
station.
Based on received signal, either time interval τ D = D/c between reference pulse
and pulse at receiver output (at pulsed method of range measuring), or phase difference ϕ between oscillations of onboard reference oscillator and oscillations at
receiver output (at phase method of range measuring) are measured onboard an
object. The measuring range is correspondingly defined as follows:
© The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2021
D. A. Akmaykin et al., Theoretical Foundations of Radar Location
and Radio Navigation, Springer Aerospace Technology,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-33-6514-8_13
237