Satellite Passive Positioning Using Azimuth-Elevation Angle-Only Data

Passive detection and tracking is one of the most important tools in the positioning of hidden targets and controlling their performance and this technology is rapidly expanding. Passive sensors, such as cameras, usually provide azimuth-elevation angle-only data that is not enough to find the target distance and its tracking. Satellite positioning algorithms usually use 3 consecutive angular observations by one sensor or two simultaneous angular observations by two sensors and then predict satellite position by performing an initial estimation of its range. The inaccuracy and presence of noise in the recording of sensor’s angular observations can cause errors in the satellite distance estimating, positioning and tracking. For this purpose, a new method based on least squares estimation technique is proposed in this paper which can provide more accurate satellite ranging and positioning than existing methods using angular azimuth-elevation data from two passive sensors. Simulation results show the applicability of the proposed algorithm in determining the hidden position of the satellites.