Ranging
Encyclopedia
Ranging is a process or method to determine the distance from one location or position to another location or position. Another term for this method is lateration, see unilateration. Further development led to cooperative systems, where both locations are equipped with respective apparatus and thus provide bilateral measuring and to multilateral measurement between a larger set of locations, see multilateration
.
Members in the class of active ranging systems operate with unilateral transmission and passive reflections, as
Special ranging makes use of actively synchronized transmission and travel time
measurements, hence the time difference between several received signals is used to determine exact distances. This principle is used with SatNav, the Satellite Navigation class of systems. In conjunction with a standardized model of the Globe surface a certain location on the Globe may be determined with high accuracy. Ranging methods without accurate time synchronization of the receiver are called pseudorange
, used e.g. in GPS positioning.
With other systems ranging is obtained from passive radiation measurements only, hence the noise
or radiation
signature
of the object is generating the signal that is computed for range. However such asynchronous method requires multiple measurements to obtain range by taking multiple bearings instead of appropriate scaling
of active ping
s, otherwise the system is just capable to provide a simple bearing
from any sole measurement.
Ranging is the term merely applying for distance metering with moving objects. Combining several metering results in a time sequence leads to tracking
and tracing
. Commonly used term for residing terrestrial objects is surveying
.
Multilateration
Multilateration is a navigation technique based on the measurement of the difference in distance to two or more stations at known locations that broadcast signals at known times. Unlike measurements of absolute distance or angle, measuring the difference in distance results in an infinite number of...
.
Members in the class of active ranging systems operate with unilateral transmission and passive reflections, as
- SONARSonarSonar is a technique that uses sound propagation to navigate, communicate with or detect other vessels...
(= SOund Navigation And Ranging), - RADARRadarRadar is an object-detection system which uses radio waves to determine the range, altitude, direction, or speed of objects. It can be used to detect aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, weather formations, and terrain. The radar dish or antenna transmits pulses of radio...
(= RAdio Detection And Ranging) and - LIDARLIDARLIDAR is an optical remote sensing technology that can measure the distance to, or other properties of a target by illuminating the target with light, often using pulses from a laser...
(= LIght Detection And Ranging).
Special ranging makes use of actively synchronized transmission and travel time
Travel time
Travel time may refer to* Travel, movement of people between locations* Travel journal, record made by a voyager* Propagation speed, term in physics to measure things such as the speed of light or radio waves...
measurements, hence the time difference between several received signals is used to determine exact distances. This principle is used with SatNav, the Satellite Navigation class of systems. In conjunction with a standardized model of the Globe surface a certain location on the Globe may be determined with high accuracy. Ranging methods without accurate time synchronization of the receiver are called pseudorange
Pseudorange
The pseudorange is the pseudo distance between a satellite and a navigation satellite receiver —for instance Global Positioning System receivers....
, used e.g. in GPS positioning.
With other systems ranging is obtained from passive radiation measurements only, hence the noise
Noise
In common use, the word noise means any unwanted sound. In both analog and digital electronics, noise is random unwanted perturbation to a wanted signal; it is called noise as a generalisation of the acoustic noise heard when listening to a weak radio transmission with significant electrical noise...
or radiation
Radiation
In physics, radiation is a process in which energetic particles or energetic waves travel through a medium or space. There are two distinct types of radiation; ionizing and non-ionizing...
signature
Signature
A signature is a handwritten depiction of someone's name, nickname, or even a simple "X" that a person writes on documents as a proof of identity and intent. The writer of a signature is a signatory. Similar to a handwritten signature, a signature work describes the work as readily identifying...
of the object is generating the signal that is computed for range. However such asynchronous method requires multiple measurements to obtain range by taking multiple bearings instead of appropriate scaling
Scaling
Scaling may refer to:* Scaling , a linear transformation that enlarges or diminishes objects* Reduced scales of semiconductor device fabrication processes...
of active ping
Ping
Ping is a computer network administration utility used to test the reachability of a host on an Internet Protocol network and to measure the round-trip time for messages sent from the originating host to a destination computer...
s, otherwise the system is just capable to provide a simple bearing
Bearing (mechanical)
A bearing is a device to allow constrained relative motion between two or more parts, typically rotation or linear movement. Bearings may be classified broadly according to the motions they allow and according to their principle of operation as well as by the directions of applied loads they can...
from any sole measurement.
Ranging is the term merely applying for distance metering with moving objects. Combining several metering results in a time sequence leads to tracking
Tracking
Tracking can refer to:*Tracking , separating children into different classes according to their academic ability*Tracking, in computer graphics, a vital part of match moving...
and tracing
Tracing
Tracing may refer to:* Tracing , a process by which a one demonstrates the ownership of property, with the intent to be awarded a claim based on this information...
. Commonly used term for residing terrestrial objects is surveying
Surveying
See Also: Public Land Survey SystemSurveying or land surveying is the technique, profession, and science of accurately determining the terrestrial or three-dimensional position of points and the distances and angles between them...
.