A New Tool For Quantification of Bistatic/Multistatic Target Location Error

摘要

In bistatic and multistatic systems, a variety of observables may be used to obtain a final target location. The total target location error will depend upon what observables are used to obtain the location, the individual measurement errors, and the viewing geometry. In planning for a bistatic mission, it is advantageous to have a tool for a priori estimation of target location error as a function of all potential sensor and target positions. This paper presents one such tool, based upon a modification of the dilution of precision (DOP) methodology long utilized in GPS navigation and developed herein into a system of equations specifically for use in a bistatic sensor system. This tool is a system of equations which allow easy determination of a figure of merit, the bistatic position dilution of precision (BPDOP). The BPDOP gives a direct, quantitative measure of the target location effectiveness of a given bistatic sensor geometry for any given potential target location. The paper derives the equations for the BPDOP for six observables: the monstatic range, the bistatic range; the monostatic and bistatic azimuth angles; and the monostatic and bistatic depression angles. Several example scenarios are simulated.