Roadrunner: a novel radar guidance concept

Conference · Mon Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1979

OSTI ID:6038817

Kelsey, J R

Soviet breakthrough tactics require the movement of a large number of vehicles from assembly areas to the forward edge of the battle area. The time requirements of this tactic indicate that the road network must be used extensively, if not exclusively. This paper describes an exploratory development (technology demonstration) program aimed at demonstrating a novel radar navigation/guidance scheme which enables a small unmanned aircraft (drone) to follow roads. Since vehicles on the road can be easily detected, this aircraft could be used as either a strike vehicle itself or as a reconnaissance adjunct to another strike system. The guidance scheme involves on-board radar measurements of the backscatter response of the terrain beneath the aircraft. The differences in reflectivity between road and roadside surfaces are processed by a small on-board computer to generate guidance commands to keep the vehicle over the road. Preliminary system definition includes a 17-GHz radar aboard a subsonic, propeller-driven unmanned aircraft. Estimated operational altitude and speed are 30 m and 100 km/h, respectively. The drone could be either ground or air launched, and would be expendable. Payload capabilities of 50 to 100 kg are envisioned, with an operational range of 50 to 100 km. 5 figures, 1 table.

• Research Organization: Sandia Labs., Albuquerque, NM (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: EY-76-C-04-0789
• OSTI ID: 6038817
• Report Number(s): SAND-79-0412C; CONF-790536-1
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
420200 -- Engineering-- Facilities
Equipment
& Techniques
440300* -- Miscellaneous Instruments-- (-1989)
47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION
AIRCRAFT
BACKSCATTERING
CONTROL SYSTEMS
ELECTRONIC GUIDANCE
EQUIPMENT
FEASIBILITY STUDIES
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
MILITARY EQUIPMENT
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
RADAR
RANGE FINDERS
REFLECTIVITY
ROADS
SCATTERING
SURFACE PROPERTIES
VEHICLES
WARFARE