Real time detection and compensation of registration errors in a network of radars

This paper describes an algorithm designed to automatically compensate for the angular and positional misalignment of the members of a network of radars using nothing more than the operational data. The method is based upon the simple observation that within any given observation period a significant number of the target aircraft will take flight paths along lines of constant bearing. By using such sets of straight line motion, observed commonly by a pair of radars, it is possible to arrive at an estimate of the relative azimuthal bias between the two. By conducting this estimation for each radar in the network with reference to one nominated member, all the relative azimuthal offsets can then be computed. Once the rotational biases have been resolved it is then feasible to calculate any x, y offset in the actual position of the radars relative to their published coordinates using the same data.