Radio Direction Finding Fix Solution in Spherical Trigonometry with Confidence Region and Location Error Analysis

摘要

Although parts of the paper may be applicable to various other location finding systems, radio direction finding was selected for development because of the extensive literature available on the subject. Using a modification of the navigation coordinate system, equations in spherical trigonometry are developed by analogy with graphical solution procedures. Ellipticity of the earth is corrected for by use of geocentric latitude in all calculations. The least squares solution is found by a combination of second-order gradient searches and Golden Section Searches on the corrected sphere. A Chi-Square contour confidence region is presented with defense against the empty region arguments and with verification of its reliability of target containment. Sensitivity of location error to network layout, number of measurements available and intercept geometry factors is examined by computer simulation, demonstrating the predictive value of these statistics. (Modified author abatract)