Precise Bearing Determination for Formation Flight Using Terahertz Signals

J.S. Parker, J. Rife

Abstract:	This paper introduces the concept of using terahertz frequency (THz) signals for relative positioning of cargo aircraft in formation flight. In particular, we consider the precision airdrop application, where a THz system offers two benefits: (1) stealth due to preferential THz propagation in the horizontal direction at high altitudes and (2) robustness for operations in GPS-denied environments. We introduce two algorithms for this application (one standalone, the other collaborative) and show that not just ranging measurements, but also bearing measurements, are needed for both algorithms. To support implementation of these algorithms, we introduce a new complementary filtering concept inspired by the well-known GPS Hatch Filter. Our proposed filter fuses together amplitude and phasing measurements for the THz signal to improve bearing measurement precision greatly.
Published in:	Proceedings of the ION 2013 Pacific PNT Meeting April 23 - 25, 2013 Marriott Waikiki Beach Resort & Spa Honolulu, Hawaii
Pages:	811 - 821
Cite this article:	Parker, J.S., Rife, J., "Precise Bearing Determination for Formation Flight Using Terahertz Signals," Proceedings of the ION 2013 Pacific PNT Meeting, Honolulu, Hawaii, April 2013, pp. 811-821.
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