Radar Tracking

Tracking of the targets with the help of tracking radar.

Tracking means follow the path of the target using the radar. Radar
tracking have to identify the following parameters to track the targets.
1. Range of the target
2. The velocity of the target
3. The azimuth angle of the target
There are different types of techniques of tracking the
targets such as
4. Sequential lobbing,
5. Conical scanning,
 Radar Tracking
A Tracking Radar system measures the different
coordinates of a target such as range, elevation angle, azimuth angle,
and doppler shift frequency to determine the target path and to
predict its future position.

The ability of a radar set to continuously predict the next

location of the target from the information received from the target
and to align itself to continuously point at the predicted location.
 Radar Tracking
Sometimes single antenna is not favourable for both search
and tracking the target at the same time. In this condition, a
separate search radar is employed to provide the information
related to the position of the target to the tracking system is
called acquisition radar.
 Radar Tracking
Different techniques of tracking the targets
1. Sequential lobbing
A single beam is switched between two angular positions to
obtain an angle measurement. This is called sequential Lobbing, lobe
switching, or sequential switching.
 Radar Tracking
Sequential lobbing
The echo signal from the target will fluctuate at the switching
rates unless the target reaches exactly between two directions.
The difference between the amplitude of these two echo signals
is given the error signal.
 Radar Tracking
Sequential lobbing
The error signal may be defined as the angular
displacement of the target from the switching axis. These tracking
error signals are applied to the servomechanism unit, which
attempts to position the antenna beam on the target. When the target
is located at the reference’s direction then the angular error is
zero.
 Radar Tracking
Different techniques of tracking the targets
2. Conical scanning,
In the conical scanning, the squinted beam is scanned rapidly
and continuously on a circular path around the axis
 Radar Tracking
Different techniques of tracking the targets
Conical scanning,
If a target is present within a squint angle then the echo signal
from the target will be amplitude modulated at a frequency equal to the
rotation frequency of the beam also called conical scan frequency.
 Radar Tracking
Different techniques of tracking the targets
Conical scanning,

The amplitude of the

modulation depends on the angular
distance between the target direction
and the rotation axis. The location of
the target in two angles coordinates
determines the phase of the conical
scan modulation is extracted from the
echo signal and applied to a servo
control system which positions the
antenna on the target both azimuth
and elevation.
 Types of Tracking Radar
There are many types of tracking radar, which is being used to
track the targets. They are as follows:
1. Single Target Tracker (STT)
This type of tracking is used in controlling the missile movements as
it is carried out by a missile guidance radar.
2. Track While Scan (TWS)
TWS radar scans their beam over relatively large areas. This
technique is employed with the air surveillance radar
3. Automatic Detection And Track (ADT)
This type of technique is used in air traffic control radar. This
technique is employed with the air surveillance radar
4. Phased Array Tracking
 AIRBORNE RADAR

1. Radar placed in air is called

Airborne radar
2. It is found in redome of
commercial aircraft to
identify weather, clouds
precipitation and water droplet
which reflects the signal.
3. Radar is used in fighter aircraft
for finding enemy aircraft and
controlling air-to-air missiles
4. It is also used in bombers to
find surface targets, fixed or
moving, and to navigate and
avoid obstacles.
AIRBORNE RADAR
• 300 MHz to 3000 MHz • 30 MHz to 300 MHz
• shorter distance with less power • More distance (160 km) with less power
• Ground counications • Line of sight
• Indoors • Ground to sky communications
• Like shopping complex, mall etc • Open fields
• Penetrate buildings, wall, wood steel etc • Penetrate trees and plants
• Urban areas • Rural areas
 UNIT - IV
Telemetry

Introduction to telemetry, components of a typical wireless

telemetry system, radio wave propagation, frequency band, range,
airborne telemetry system, ground station telemetry.
1. Introduction to telemetry,

2. Components of a typical wireless telemetry system,

3. Frequency band,

4. Airborne telemetry system,

5. Ground station telemetry.

 Introduction to telemetry
Telemetry, highly automated communications process by
which measurements are made and other data collected at
remote or inaccessible points and transmitted to receiving
equipment for monitoring, display, and recording.

The word is derived from the Greek

roots tele, "remote", and metron,
"measure".
 APPLICATION
1. Monitoring electric-power plants,
2. Gathering meteorological data,
3. Biological information is telemetered from inside patients
4. Monitoring manned and unmanned space flights, etc.,
Balloon-borne radiosonde,
A device that automatically measures such
meteorological data as temperature, barometric pressure, and
humidity and that sends the information to an Earth station by
radio.
 Components of a typical wireless telemetry system

The measurement information is transmitted from the distant end and

received at the local end. Electromagnetic energy, usually transmitted at radio
frequencies (RF), carries the information. A typical telemetering system consists
of
1. An input device called a Transducer or sensor
2. Signal Conditioner 1
3. Transmitter
4. Medium of transmission (usually radio waves),
5. Receiver
6. Signal Conditioner 2
7. Recording or display equipment.
Components of a typical wireless telemetry system
 Components of a typical wireless telemetry system

1.Transducer
A transducer is a device that converts energy from one form
to another. Usually a transducer converts a signal in one form of
energy to a signal in another.
The transducer converts the physical stimulus to be
measured, such as temperature, vibration, or pressure, into an
electrical signal.
An example of the self-generating type is a vibration sensor
based on the use of a piezoelectric material—i.e., one that produces
an electrical signal when it is mechanically deformed. A simple
mechanical transducer-sensing device is a strain gauge based on the
change in electrical resistance of a wire.
 Components of a typical wireless telemetry system

1.Transducer / sensors
In manned space probes, sensors for measuring such
factors as the astronaut’s blood pressure, heartbeat, and
breathing rate are employed. Sensors have also been
developed to indicate the rate of flow of a fluid through a pipe.
2. Signal Conditioner 1
Converts the electrical output of the transducer (or
sensor) into an electrical signal compatible with the next
element, i.e. the transmitter.
 Components of a typical wireless telemetry system

3. Transmitter:
Its purpose is to transmit the information signal
coming from the signal conditioner-1 using a suitable carrier
signal to the receiving end. It may perform one or more of the
following functions:
(i) Modulation:
(ii) Amplification
(iii) Signal Conversion:
(iv) Multiplexing:
 Components of a typical wireless telemetry system

3. Transmitter:
(i) Modulation:
Modulation is defined as the process of superimposing a low-frequency
signal on a high-frequency carrier signal. Modulation of a carrier signal by the
information signal.
(ii) Amplification
As and if required for the purpose of transmission.
(iii) Signal Conversion:
As and if required for the purpose of transmission. For example, voltage to
current conversion, or analog to digital conversion, or electrical signal to radio
wave conversion, or electrical signal to optical beam conversion, depending on the
nature of the carrier signal and the signal transmission medium.
 Components of a typical wireless telemetry system

3. Transmitter:
(iv)Multiplexing and sampling.
A telemetry system ordinarily must handle more than
one channel of information. These data-measurement channels
are brought together by a process known as multiplexing,
which combines the channels into one composite signal for
transmission over the communications link.
 Components of a typical wireless telemetry system

4. Medium of transmission
It is the medium or link that connects the sending or transmitting end
to the receiving end, over which the transmitter can transmit its output signal
to the receiver. Broadly, there are three signal transmission media in use:
(i) copper wires,
(ii) radio link, and
(iii) optical fibre.
Radio communication is used for aerospace work and for supervisory
systems in which it is impractical to provide wire line links.
Public utility installations in built-up areas, radio communication is
usually ruled out by the difficulty of finding antenna sites and unobstructed
line-of-sight radio paths. In such cases, cables and line links are used.
 Components of a typical wireless telemetry system

5. Receiver
Its purpose is to receive the signal(s) coming from the
transmitter (located at the sending end of the telemetry
system) via the signal transmission medium and recover the
information from the same. It may perform one or more of the
following functions:
1. Amplification
2. Demodulation
3. Reverse Signal Conversion
4. De-multiplexing:
 Components of a typical wireless telemetry system

5. Receiver
i) Amplification:
Amplification of the received signal as and if required for the purpose of
further processing.
(ii) Demodulation:
Demodulation of the received signal to recover information signal. The
demodulation process has to be complementary of the modulation performed by the
transmitter.
(iii) Reverse Signal Conversion:
This conversion is generally the reverse of the conversion performed by the
transmitter. Thus the receiver is required to perform current to voltage conversion, or
digital to analog conversion, or radio wave to electrical signal conversion, or optical
beam to electrical signal conversion, depending on the nature of the carrier signal and
the signal transmission medium.
 Components of a typical wireless telemetry system

5. Receiver
(iv) De-multiplexing: It refers to the process of segregating or separating
various information signals so that they can be delivered to their respective end devices.
The process in the receiver has to be essentially the reverse of the multiplexing carried
out by the transmitter.
6. Signal Conditioner-2:
Processes the receiver output as necessary to make it suitable to drive the
given end device.
7. Display
Digital Display: Digital display of the value of the measurand on LEDs, LCD,
monitor screen etc.
Digital Storage: Storage of the digital value of the measurand in electronic or
optical storage device for a later use.
Data Processing: The digital values of the mesurand may be given to a data
processor, such as a microprocessor, digital signal processor or computer, for
analysis etc.
 Classification of Telemetry

The telemetry system can be classified as follows:

1. According to the link between that telemeter transmitter and telemeter receiver:
1. Ground station or Land Line (D.C.) telemetry system
i. Voltage telemetering system.
ii. Current telemetering system.
i. Motion Balance Current Telemetering System
ii. Force Balance Current Telemetering System
iii. Position (ratio) telemetering system.
2. Airborne or Radio frequency (RF) telemetering system.
i. Frequency telemetering system.
ii. Pulse telemetering system.
2. AC telemetering system
.
 Classification of Telemetry

1. DC telemetering system
These telemetry systems use no modulation. The
information signal which varies very slowly and is considered as a
DC signal is transmitted as such.
There are two telemetry systems in this category:
1. Direct voltage telemetry system
2. Direct current telemetry system
 Classification of Telemetry

3. AC telemetering system
AC telemetering system is employed for both landline and
radio frequency airborne telemetry techniques. The data is available
in the form of current or voltage which is usually very week for
such transmission, hence it is modulated by AC carrier waves
generated by an oscillator.
There are two telemetry systems in this category:
1. Amplitude modulation (AM) telemetry system
2. Frequency modulation (FM) telemetry system.
 Ground station or Land Line (D.C.) telemetry system

i) Voltage Telemetering System

 Ground station or Land Line (D.C.) telemetry system

Voltage Telemetering System:

The measurand is converted to AC or DC voltage. Usually
the Receivers are self balancing potentiometers.
Working
1. It consists of a slide wire potentiometer connected in series with
the battery at the transmitting terminal.
2. The sliding contact is connected to the Bourdon tube used for
pressure measurement.
3. At the receiving terminal a null balance DC potentiometer or a
recorder is used.
4. In between the transmitting terminal and the receiving terminal, a
pair of wires, which form telemetry channel.
 Ground station or Land Line (D.C.) telemetry system

Current Telemetering System:

 Ground station or Land Line (D.C.) telemetry system

Current Telemetering System:

Construction:
1. It consists of a slide wire potentiometer in series with a battery.
2. The slider is connected to the Bourdon tube which measure pressure.
3. At the receiving terminal, a milliammeter is connected in series, which is
calibrated in terms of pressure scale kN/m².
Working:
4. When the pressure in the system changes, the Bourdon tube moves the
sliding contact thereby changing the current at the transmitting terminal.
5. The current passes to the receiving terminal through the pairs of wires
and at the receiving terminal it is measured by the milliammeter.
 Ground station or Land Line (D.C.) telemetry system

Motion Balance Current Telemetering System:

 Ground station or Land Line (D.C.) telemetry system

Motion Balance Current Telemetering System:

1. Slide wire Potentiometer is replaced by a linear variable differential
transducer (LVDT) has been used as inductive transducer.
2. The pressure acting on the bourdon tube causes a displacement
which moves the core of the LVDT.
3. Thereby producing a voltage output which is amplified by an
amplifier and then rectified.
4. This voltage produces D.C current in the telemetering channel.
5. It is measured by a D.C milliammeter directly calibrated in terms
of pressure being measured (kN/m²).
 Ground station or Land Line (D.C.) telemetry system

Force Balance Current Telemetering System:

 Ground station or Land Line (D.C.) telemetry system

Force Balance Current Telemetering System:

1. The Bourdon tube, after sensing change in pressure, rotates the
feedback force coil.
2. As the coil rotates, the flux linkages between the primary and
secondary winding change.
3. This change in flux linkages varies the amplitude of the amplifier.
4. The output is connected to the feedback force coil which produces
a force opposing the Bourdon tube input.
5. The current telemetering increases the accuracy as small variations
are required which results in better linearity.
 Ground station or Land Line (D.C.) telemetry system

iii. Position (Ratio) Telemetering System:

 Ground station or Land Line (D.C.) telemetry system

iii. Position (Ratio) Telemetering System:

1. It consists of two potentiometers 1 and 2, 1-at the transmitting end and
2-at the receiving end, and are operated by a common power supply.
2. When the pressure is applied, the Bourdon tube positions the sliding
contact at the receiving end.
3. If the sliding contact at the receiving end is positioned until the center,
galvanometer shows zero.
4. The position of the contact will assume the same position as the contact
at the transmitter.
5. The synchromotor telemetering system is the most common example of
position or radio telemetering.
6. In this system angular input displacement is converted into relative
magnitude of three phase A.C voltages.
 Ground station or Land Line (D.C.) telemetry system

iii. Position (Ratio) Telemetering System:

Advantages:
1. Requires no intermediate amplifier or conversion.
2. Relatively inexpensive.
3. Minimum moving parts so the maintenance is low.
4. Instantaneous response
Limitation:
5. These systems are affected by excessive line resistance.
Advantages of ground Line telemetry systems:
1.Very effective system for short distance transmission.
2.Very simple circuitry required for measurement setup.
The information is transmitted easily by the use of modern
electronic circuitry.
4.Wide variety of detector are available.
5. The information can be transmitted in the form of
voltage current and position easily.
Disadvantages of ground Line telemetry systems:
1.Limited frequency response.
2.Signal multiplexing is very difficult.
3.The information transmitted through the link is affected
by the of main frequency from nearby cable.
Airborne or Radio frequency (RF) telemetering systemRadio frequency (RF) Telemering System.
 Airborne or Radio frequency (RF) telemetering systemRadio frequency (RF) Telemering System.
The link between the transmitting end and the receiving end is
established through the "radio link“ is termed as Airborne or Radio
frequency (RF) telemetering. The following two special types of radio
telemetry:
(i) Short-Range Radio Telemetry:
When radio link is used for the reason that the sensor output
cannot be taken through wires whereas the distance involved is so short
that even conventional methods of measurement could have been used,
then this type of radio telemetry is called short range radio telemetry.
(ii) Satellite-Radio Telemetry:
When satellite radio communication is used for linking widely
spaced transmitter and receiver of a radio telemetry system, it is
referred to as satellite-radio telemetry.
Airborne or Radio frequency (RF) telemetering.