APPARATUS AND METHOD OF TRACKING OBJECTS IN FLIGHT

A path in three-dimensions for an object in flight is determined according to a radar signal reflected by the object. The radar signal is transmitted at an offset angle from horizontal sufficient to capture the object within the transmitted radar signal. The transmitted radar signal is reflected by the object to form a reflected radar signal containing an indication of a position of the object. The reflected radar signal is recieved and used to determine two-dimensional position information for the object by detection of the indication of the position of the object in the received radar signal. Position information is derived in three-dimensions from the position information in two-dimensions. The path information representative of the path for the object is obtained from the position information in three-dimensions based on an optimization of a curvature of said path information. Dans le mode de réalisation décrit dans cette invention, z est défini comme positif montant, x comme positif est, et y comme positif nord. L'azimut est défini comme un angle nord-est dans le plan x-y, alors que l'altitude est définie comme un angle horizontal-vertical dans le plan perpendiculaire au plan x-y.