A POLARIZED LIGHT METHOD FOR DETERMINING POSITION ON THE GLIDE PATH

Dr. Alvin M. Marks

Peer Reviewed

Abstract:	A polarized light method is presented for automatically measuring and displaying to the pilot the glide path angle, distance to touchdown point, altitude, and tilt of a landing aircraft. Projected polarized beams of light of different frequencies scan the approach space and are detected selectively by pairs of polarized filters and photocells in the aircraft. The instantaneous angle of elevation of each beam mechanically determines the angle of its plane of polarization which is measured by teh photocells. One polarized beam gives a true vertical reference in teh aircraft. An airborne computer trangulates to obtain glide path angle, distance to touchdown, and altitude. Infrared and microwaves can be used instead of visible light. The method can be extended to give range, bearing and altitude of aircraft with respect to a station at any line-of-sight distance.
Published in:	NAVIGATION: Journal of the Institute of Navigation, Volume 11, Number 3
Pages:	306 - 310
Cite this article:	Marks, Dr. Alvin M., "A POLARIZED LIGHT METHOD FOR DETERMINING POSITION ON THE GLIDE PATH", NAVIGATION: Journal of The Institute of Navigation, Vol. 11, No. 3, Fall 1964, pp. 306-310.
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