Airborne geo-location for search and rescue applications

Abstract

Radio direction finding is used in many search and rescue applications. The ability to accurately reduce a search area helps focus limited resources properly, which increases the probability of a search and rescue operations success. This paper examines the application of vector geometry, radio line-of-sight, and a terrain-based cost calculation in order to improve the accuracy of the FORTRAN Fix (FFIX) algorithm when used by airborne platforms. By conditioning data sets to be used by FFIX, airborne platform locations can be shifted to more accurately reflect changes in aircraft and antenna orientation. Additionally, we can reduce the area produced by eliminating low probability search areas.