Synthesis of routes of movement of mobile measuring complexes when determining location of radio-frequency sources by multiple estimates of the directions and time of arrival of signals

The main directions of increasing the efficiency of monitoring and controlling the electronic environment are focused on improving methods for assessing the location of radio-frequency sources in the interests of spatial localization of their unmasking features for recognizing types and modes of operation. To determine the coordinates of long-duration signal transmitters, it is advisable to use mobile measuring systems that perform multiple direction finding along the route. Location of pulse-type radiators is determined based on results of synchronous measurements of time of arrival of signals at spaced points of space. Root-mean-square errors in estimating the coordinates of emitters depend on the size and spatial orientation of the measuring base. Therefore, an increase in the accuracy of establishing positions of objects with fixed variances in measurements of directions and time of arrival of signals can be achieved by synthesizing the routes of movement of mobile measuring complexes with a rational choice of turning points and heading angles.

The purpose of the article is construction of routes of mobile measuring complexes movement at determination of location of radio emission sources by multiple estimates of directions and time of signals arrival.

Analytical dependences of dispersions of estimates of coordinates of radio-frequency sources on directions of movement of a single mobile measuring complex which performs multiple direction finding on the route of movement, and a group of complexes which perform synchronous measurement of the time of arrival of signals at spaced points in space have been obtained. Rules of selection of course angles of complexes in turning points of routes for achievement of minimum standard errors of determination of objects location are found. It has been found that multiple measurement of the directions of arrival of signals provides an effective refinement of the azimuth components of the coordinates of the object as the mobile measuring complex approaches; synchronous measurements of time of arrival of signals allow achieving high accuracy of determining the radial component of coordinates of a radio-frequency source.

Analytical expressions for variances of estimates of coordinates of radio-frequency sources and heading angles of movement of mobile measuring complexes at turning points of routes make it possible to establish achievable errors of determining location of objects with limitations of operational accuracy of changes in directions and time of arrival of signals at spaced points of space. Rules of synthesis of movement routes of complexes provide reduction of standard errors of location due to selection of positions for measurements. Based on the results of comparison of variances in estimates of coordinates of emitters and the length of routes of movement of mobile measuring complexes, it becomes possible to substantiate the areas and conditions for the expedient use of location methods based on measurements of directions and time of arrival of signals, as well as substantiate the technical characteristics of measuring instruments and their carriers.