Thesis - Leigh Moody.pdf - Bad Request - Cranfield University

Chapter 1 / Introduction
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a missile system is usually target kill probability subject to target dynamic
capability and countermeasure limitations. High speed targets travelling
along ballistic arcs with superimposed coning, targets performing seaskimming
weaves, and those capable of terrain following, present a
considerable challenge when predicting impact points and providing rapid
reaction times.
§2 deals with the creation of sophisticated, single-target manoeuvres from
simple elemental motions in a target simulator. One-on-many situations are
beyond the scope of this work, to the detriment of sensor data association
studies requiring a multiple-target environment, a deficiency addressed in
the associated Aircraft and Missile Integration Simulation (AMIS).
Idealised target trajectories are created for tuning each of the filters in the
multiple-model target state observer. More complex trajectories are
constructed to expose any state observer shortcomings are for performance
assessment. These trajectories are embedded in the target simulator to
promote direct comparison between tracking comparisons and ease
configuration control. The physical characteristics of typical airborne
targets are provided, and the dynamic relationship between demanded and
actual target acceleration used to generate realistic target responses. The
simulator description covers bespoke track creation using the elemental
target models, tracks that can be interactively modified.
1.3.2 Chapter 3 : Sensors
Sensors are key to successful missile system providing relative target and
missile motion for guidance, their characteristics determining the
operational envelope, state observation complexity, guidance capability and
hence kill probability. They also impose design constraints: on the missile
airframe in respect of shape, size, weight, and aerodynamics; limitations in
range, Field-of-Regard (FoR), Field-of-View (FoV), saturation, error
characteristics, time-to-first-measurement, availability, and dynamics. In
the opinion of the author, the following sensors will dominate weapon
development into the 21st century:
• Gyroscopes
• Accelerometers
• Barometric altimeters
• Radar altimeters + digital maps
• Gimballed missile seekers
• RF phased array radar
1-6
• Fin position transducers
• NAVSTAR Global Positioning System
• Air data sensors and magnetometers
• Helmet mounted sight (HMS)
• Forward looking Infra-Red (FLIR)
• Thermal Imaging & Laser Designation
Just as missile navigation and guidance depends on data from state
observers, so these in turn depend on the type and quality of sensors
selected. Sensor selection is a balance between high quality, expensive
instruments, whose measurements provide the data required directly
requiring no observer, to poorer but cheap sensors requiring estimation of
both the system state and their error characteristics. As neither extreme is