On the optimal manoeuvering during bearings-only tracking

You are here: Homepage > Search

On the optimal manoeuvering during bearings-only tracking

Olsder, G.J.

A method has been described which determines optimal steering patterns of the own ship such that the position of the target - of which bearings-only measurements are available - can be reconstructed as well as possible. Due to the complexity of the calculations, this method cannot be used on line. The numerical results indicate that in general a manoeuvre which resembles a zigzag pattern with two legs is optimal. The angles which these two legs make with respect to the line of sight depend on the parameters of the problem such as for instance the distance to the target. The larger this distance, the more perpendicular these legs are with respect to the line of sight. Another conclusion is that a lower velocity of the own ship yields less accurate results. The conclusions drawn above are valid within the context of the assumptions made in this paper. If for instance another criterion in the optimal control problem is chosen - other than minimizing the variance of the distance to the target at the final time - th conclusions are not necessarily valid any more.