A homing guidance law for binary range-rate measurements

In this paper we consider the problem of planar homing guidance for a vehicle with a known heading angle traveling to a beacon with unknown location and using only a measurement of binary range-rate. We present a planar homing guidance law utilizing a sliding mode controller and an observer. This guidance law does not require knowledge of the vehicle´s location, the closest points of approach for multiple headings, or the time history of binary range-rate measurements. We also present this guidance law´s response to initial conditions and measurement errors. This approach provides a method of low-cost, autonomous homing-guidance that utilizes a single, omnidirectional receiver to guide a vehicle to a single, omnidirectional transmitting beacon.