(IVAR) - Final Report - Strategic Environmental Research and ...

Figure 6-14. Remote-controlled helicopter (RCH) on the SEA perimeter road with pilot and
observer.
We initiated the RCH flight at the south end of Runway 34L/16R, moved north along the full
length of the runway, as indicated in Figure 6-16, and we achieved radar and GPS tracking the
full length of the runway. We identified and isolated RCH tracks from other targets based on
their track location, time of detection, and velocity profiles of possible targets.
Although the RCH was flown in a three dimensional flight path, the AR-1 radar was equipped
with an array antenna that only provided range and azimuth data, no altitude data. The tracks of
the RCH as it flew along Runway 3 are illustrated in Figure 6-15 and Figure 6-16. The four
separate tracks illustrated in different colors in Figure 6-16 are the result of the tracking
algorithm characteristics. When the RCH flew near to the surface of the perimeter road and was
shielded from the radar beam for several scan periods (~8-10 s), that track ended and the radar
software assigned a new track number upon the reacquisition of the RCH when it rose above the
level of the runway and was again within the radar beam.
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