Designing and testing a prototype of optical-electronic station for detecting and tracking moving objects in the air

Abstract

The object of this study is the process of detection and tracking of air targets. The task being solved is to choose priorities between hardware and software solutions to eliminate structural contradictions in the design of a supporting and rotating device, which at the same time should ensure high speed and accuracy of tracking aerial objects for the optical-electronic station. A prototype of an optical-electronic station was designed and built. The study of the effect of eliminating structural contradictions by hardware and software methods on the accuracy characteristics of the supporting and rotating device was carried out. We have developed original specialized software for testing the accuracy of command execution. A procedure for testing the optical-electronic station has been devised. All conducted tests were performed in compliance with accepted norms and standards. The mechanism of influence of the method of controlling the servo drives of the supporting and rotating device on the characteristics of the optical-electronic station has been established. In this case, the program method has priority. In contrast to existing solutions, the developed software method of controlling the support-turning device makes it possible to exclude stops at the limits of the servo control period and to realize a smooth transition to a new value of the tracking speed. Owing to the improvement of forecasting and synchronization of servo parameters with the period of its control, it was possible to solve the investigated problem by the software method. The mechanism of influence of the inertia of the supporting and rotating device on the characteristics of the optical-electronic station has been established. In this case, the hardware method has priority. The results could be used to improve the characteristics of optical-electronic stations in the detection and high-precision tracking of moving objects in the air environment