Advancements in Loran-C Based Vehicle Tracking Systems

Larry Cortland, Ransom K. Boyce

Abstract:	The economic, safety, and control benefits of monitoring vehicles automatically has long been recognized. During the 1970's many studies were commissioned and a number of demonstration systems were implemented. By the beginning of the 1980's only a small number of Automatic Vehicle Monitor (AVM) systems were in operation due mainly to the cost and complexity of the system. Most of these systems were of the Sign Post type. The requirements and demands of the user of today has increased dramatically at an equal, if not greater pace, than the technological improvements and cost reductions of the equipment. An ever increasing number of terrestrial applications with new and unique requirements has also challenged the research and development efforts for Vehicle Tracking Systems (VTS). Where the number of Loran-C receivers in the Aviation and Marine environments is limited by the number of aircraft and vessels; the number of potential users in the terrestrial environment is almost limitless; from the tracking of a small parcel pick-up and delivery truck in a small geographical area to the tracking of long haul trucks cross country. These factors have all set the stage for continued development and improvement in Loran-C based vehicle monitoring systems. This paper will discuss the Loran-C based Vehicle Tracking Systems presently in use and their general application with regard to vehicle type and application; an update on the closing of the Mid-Continent Gap and its impact on Vehicle Tracking Systems; the absolute and relative accuracy of these systems as well as methods of enhancing and improving accuracy; PLC and RFI problems unique to terrestrial applications, and current methods of overcoming them; and finally the impact of Vehicle Tracking Systems on Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) Systems and Mobile Data Terminals (MDT).
Published in:	Proceedings of the 44th Annual Meeting of The Institute of Navigation (1988) June 21 - 23, 1988 U.S. Naval Academy Annapolis, Maryland
Pages:	107 - 111
Cite this article:	Cortland, Larry, Boyce, Ransom K., "Advancements in Loran-C Based Vehicle Tracking Systems," Proceedings of the 44th Annual Meeting of The Institute of Navigation (1988), Annapolis, Maryland, June 1988, pp. 107-111.
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