Multi-photoelectric theodolite deployment optimization of intersection measurement

Two reasons, inappropriate measurement station deployment and considering large size target as ideal particle, brings large error in multi- photoelectric theodolite intersection measurement for aviation weapon test. In order to overcome these two problems, firstly, a new method to estimate the actual target position based on common vertical-line of the two intersection planes is proposed, it includes 3 steps. Step 1: Observing azimuth angle and pitch angle of target by multiphotoelectric theodolite intersection measurement. Step 2: Calculating the coordinator of two crossing points of two optical axis on the tracking target and then deducing common vertical line. Step 3: Estimating the actual target position by taking angle measurement accuracy of theodolites as weighted factor. Secondly, error transfer´s analysis has been made for the new measurement method, which shows that intersection angle, azimuth angle, pitch angle, baseline length, and photoelectric theodolite arrangement all are the critical factors for the measurement accuracy. Thirdly, several times of aircraft flight test were carried out to study the relation between measurement accuracy and these factors, furthermore, measurement station arrangement guidance principles and other accuracy influence factor´s optimum range for multi-theodolite intersection measurement are proposed based on flight test data analysis. Flight tests and application results both show that positioning error of the new measurement method is less than 0.2 m and can satisfy aircraft weapon high accuracy positioning requirement.