Hybrid monopulse/sequential lobing beamrider guidance

Abstract

The method uses a combination monopulse and sequential lobing system to guide a vehicle, such as a missile, aircraft, auto, etc., toward a target. The target is tracked with conventional monopulse techniques while at the same time the vehicle is provided with coded data forming a cluster so as to provide spatial resolution information. The vehicle sequentially receives this information, stores the information until the sequence is complete and processes the information for guidance.

Description

Claims

1. A beamrider guidance system for guiding a guided device toward a target; said system having multiple transmitting and receiving antenna means which are spatially offset from each other; the improvement comprising a method having the steps of transmitting a plurality of different coded radar signals sequentially by said antenna means towards said target and said guided device; selecting the number of coded radar signals to be equal to the number of antenna means such that each antenna means will always transmit the same coded radar signal; receiving and processing said signals by the guided device so as to provide guidance about a center position of all of the coded radar signals; utilizing reflected signals off said target from each of the coded radar signals to position said antenna means toward said target; utilizing a four-horn antenna feed for the multiple antenna means; and supplying the different coded radar signal to the horn feeds for transmission.