Doppler Navigation

DOPPLER
NAVIGATION
NAVIGATION GUIDANCE AND CONTROL
INTRODUCTION
Doppler navigation is a self-contained dead reckoning system
it requires no external inputs or references from ground stations
Ground speed and drift can be determined using a fundamental scientific principle
called Doppler shift
developed in the mid-l940s and introduced in the mid-l950s
the system can be used for long distance navigation over oceans and undeveloped
areas of the globe
Doppler navigation sensors are often integrated with other aircraft navigation systems
Doppler sensors are used in other specialized airborne applications, including weather
radar and missile warning systems
Enhanced VOR ground installations also incorporate Doppler principles
THE DOPPLER EFFECT
The Doppler effect is named after Christian Doppler (18031853),An
Austrian mathematician and physicist
His hypothesis was that the frequency of a wave apparently changes as its
source moves closer to, or further away from, an observer
This principle was initially proven to occur with sound; it was subsequently
found to occur with any wave type including electromagnetic energy
An excellent example of the Doppler effect can be observed when fast
trains (or racing cars) pass by an observer
THE DOPPLER EFFECT
an observer located at a certain distance from a sound source that is
emitting a fixed frequency tone.
As the train approaches the observer, the number of cycles received by
the observer is the fixed tone, plus the additional cycles received as a
function of the trains speed
At the instant when the train is adjacent to the observer, the true fixed-
frequency will be heard
When the train travels away from the observer, fewer cycles per second
will be received and the tone will be below the fixed frequency as heard by
the observer
The difference in tone is known as the Doppler shift; this principle is used in
Doppler navigation systems
THE DOPPLER EFFECT
Doppler shift is, directly proportional to the relative speed of movement between the
source and observer. The relationship between the difference in frequencies and velocity
can be expressed as:
FD= frequency difference
v = aircraft velocity
f= frequency of transmission, and
C =speed of electromagnetic propagation (3 x 10^8 meters/second)

DOPPLER NAVIGATION
PRINCIPLES
Doppler navigation systems in aircraft have a focused beam of
electromagnetic energy transmitted ahead of the aircraft at a fixed angle
(theta)
This beam is scattered in all directions when it arrives at the surface of the
earth
Some of the energy is received back at the aircraft
By measuring the difference in frequency between the transmitted and
received signals, the aircrafts ground speed can be calculated
DOPPLER NAVIGATION
PRINCIPLES
The signal-to-noise ratio of the received signal is a function of a number of
factors including:
Aircraft range to the terrain
Backscattering features of the terrain
Atmospheric conditions, i.e. attenuation and absorption of radar energy
Radar equipment
IF AIRCRAFT
MANEUVERS ???
If the aircraft were pitched up or down, this would change the
angle of the beam with respect to the aircraft and the surface
this will change the value of Doppler shift for a given ground
speed
This situation can be overcome in one of two ways:
the transmitter and receiver can be mounted on a stabilized platform
two beams can be transmitted from the aircraft (forward and aft)
DOPPLER NAVIGATION
PRINCIPLES
The relationship between the difference in frequencies and velocity in an
aircraft can be expressed as:
FD = frequency difference,
theta = the angle between the beam and aircraft,
v = aircraft velocity,
f = frequency of transmission, and
C = speed of electromagnetic propagation
Note that a factor of two is needed in the expression since both the
transmitter and receiver are moving with respect to the earths surface
WE NOW NEED TO
CALCULATE DRIFT???
This can be achieved by directing a beam at right angles to the direction of travel
Calculation of drift is achieved by utilizing the same principles
In practical installations, several directional beams are used
The calculation of ground speed and drift provides raw navigation information
By combining these two values with directional information from a gyro-magnetic compass
system
By integrating the velocity calculations, the system can derive the distance travelled (along
track) and cross track deviations
The Doppler system has a resolution of approximately 2030 Hz (frequency difference) per knot
Doppler velocity sensors can also detect vertical displacement from a given point
WHAT? WHEN FLYING OVER
OCEANS???
In case of fixed wing aircraft
Assignment
In case of rotary wing aircraft M1
AIRBORNE EQUIPMENT
Doppler navigation systems use directional beams to derive ground speed
and drift
these beams are arranged in a number of ways
Three beams can be arranged in the form of the Greek letter lambda (X)
The four-beam arrangement is an X configuration
only three beams are actually required, the fourth provides a level of
monitoring and redundancy
The frequencies allocated to Doppler navigation systems are within the SHF
range, specifically 13.2513.4 GHz; some Doppler systems operate within
the 8.758.85 GHz range.
ADVANTAGES OF DOPPLER
NAVIGATION:
Velocity and position outputs from the system are provided on a continuous
basis
It requires no ground navigation aids
Velocity outputs are very accurate
Navigation is possible over any part of the globe, including oceans and
polar regions
The system is largely unaffected by weather (although certain rainfall
conditions can affect the radar retums)
The system does not require any preflight alignment
DISADVANTAGES OF
DOPPLER NAVIGATION:
It is dependent upon a directional reference, e.g. a gyro-magnetic compass
It requires a vertical reference to compensate for aircraft attitude
Position calculations degrade with distance travelled
Short-term velocity calculations can be inaccurate, e.g. when flying over
the tidal waters, the calculated aircraft velocity will be in error depending
on the tides direction and speed
Military users have to be aware that the radar transmission is effectively
giving away the location of the aircraft

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DOPPLER

it requires no external inputs or references from ground stations

FD= frequency difference

f= frequency of transmission, and

C =speed of electromagnetic propagation (3 x 10^8 meters/second)

Calculation of drift is achieved by utilizing the same principles

In practical installations, several directional beams are used

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