A navigation system for straight steering on the Antarctic plateau

A new navigation system and corresponding equipment components for straight steering of a convoy of snow vehicles traveling on the Antarctic plateau is described. On the polar plateau, magnetic compass readings become unreliable, and the surface of snow does not have any distinct target for determination of direction. This new system consists of one guide vehicle situated at the end of the convoy and a pilot vehicle at the head of the convoy. The guide vehicle has two transmission antennas that each transmit alternately. The patterns of these two antennas overlap on the centerline, providing a right-left guidance capability. The pilot vehicle detects this signal and from it determines his correct bearings. The equipment for this system must be protected from the violent vibrations of the snow vehicle. Transistorized equipment designs were therefore selected to meet these requirements.