A match/merge technique for 121.5/243 MHz beacons in the COSPAS-SARSAT system

Author

Bellantoni, J.F.

Author_Institution

Cambridge Analytics, Boston, MA, USA

Volume

29

Issue

2

fYear

1993

fDate

4/1/1993 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

518

Lastpage

526

Abstract

The COSPAS-SARSAT Mission Control Center (MCC) matches and merges estimates of position and frequency of 121.5/243 MHz distress beacons received from various ground stations and satellites. The matching and merging are done sequentially as the estimates are received, and merges are not reversed once sent out to search-and-rescue forces. A sequential, irreversible match/merge algorithm is derived based on the ratio of probabilities of the same beacon/different beacon hypotheses, and it is tested using data received at the United States MCC. The total number of mismatches based on tests for stability, correctness, and completeness was less than 0.5% when the match parameters were properly selected. The selected match parameters themselves were consistent with previously published results

Keywords

frequency measurement; parameter estimation; position measurement; probability; satellite relay systems; signal detection; stability; 121.5 MHz; 243 MHz; COSPAS-SARSAT Mission Control Center; United States MCC; correctness; distress beacons; frequency estimation; mismatches; position estimation; probabilities; search-and-rescue; sequential irreversible match merge algorithm; stability; Control systems; Digital relays; Doppler shift; Frequency estimation; Instruments; Merging; Pulse modulation; Satellite broadcasting; Satellite ground stations; Table lookup; Tellurium;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Aerospace and Electronic Systems, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9251

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/7.210088

Filename

210088