A Robust System to Characterize High-Speed Intercepts Using GPS and Pulse-Doppler Radar

Dennis J. Duven and William Devereux

Abstract:	In support of the SDIO’s Brilliant Pebbles program the Applied Physics Laboratory has developed a multisensor Miss DistanceMeasurement System (MDMS) to measure and characterize the intercept geometry between a target vehicle and a kinetic kill vehicle (KV) during an upcom- ing flight test. The system provides an independent, robust, and accurate assessment of the high-speed en- counter to allow designers to understand and recover from anomalies or failures if they should occur, and to grade or qualify system performance and success. System ele- ments include a pulse-Doppler radar miss-distance indi- cator, GPS translators, a GPS transdigitizer on the KV, ground-based signal recovery and recording equipment, and post-mission processing systems. All system ele- ments and the system operation are described and accu- racy predications are reported. A major development during this program was the GPS/Telemetry Transmitter (GTI). The GTT is a small multifunctional device that provides the KV with secure high-rate telemetry data transmission and includes an embedded encrypted GPS transdigitizer. The GTT incorporates the functionality of four previously separate systems in a single package small and light enough to enable its use on high-performance miniature interceptor vehicles. Two flight-qualified GTT systems have been delivered along with all other MDMS system components. A computer controlled GTT/GSE is described and next-generation GTT design concepts are presented.
Published in:	Proceedings of the 6th International Technical Meeting of the Satellite Division of The Institute of Navigation (ION GPS 1993) September 22 - 24, 1993 Salt Palace Convention Center Salt Lake City, UT
Pages:	137 - 137
Cite this article:	Duven, Dennis J., Devereux, William, "A Robust System to Characterize High-Speed Intercepts Using GPS and Pulse-Doppler Radar," Proceedings of the 6th International Technical Meeting of the Satellite Division of The Institute of Navigation (ION GPS 1993), Salt Lake City, UT, September 1993, pp. 137-137.
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