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Radar servo velocity error coefficient

Short answer

Angular velocity is 4.775 °/s. Required velocity error coefficient Kv ≥ 47.75 s⁻¹.

A servomechanism as shown in block diagram below is designed to keep a radar antenna pointed at a flying aeroplane. If the aeroplane is flying with a velocity of 600 km/hr, at a range of 2 km and the maximum tracking error is to be within 0.1°, determine the required velocity error coefficient. [Figure: R(s) → summing point (+, −) → Kv/[s(1+sT)] → C(s), unity negative feedback]

For a type-1 system with a ramp input of slope ω\omega (constant angular velocity), the steady-state error is ess=ωKve_{ss} = \frac{\omega}{K_v}. So the required Kv=ωess,max⁡K_v = \frac{\omega}{e_{ss,\max}}.

Angular velocity of the line of sight

The antenna must turn at the angular rate of the aeroplane as seen from the radar:

v=600 km/h=600×10003600=166.67 m/sω=vr=166.672000=0.08333 rad/s=0.08333×180π=4.775∘/s\begin{aligned} v &= 600\ \text{km/h} = \frac{600\times1000}{3600} = 166.67\ \text{m/s} \\ \omega &= \frac{v}{r} = \frac{166.67}{2000} = 0.08333\ \text{rad/s} \\ &= 0.08333\times\frac{180}{\pi} = 4.775^\circ/\text{s} \end{aligned}

So the input to the servo is a ramp θr(t)=4.775 t\theta_r(t) = 4.775\,t degrees.

Velocity error coefficient

For G(s)=Kvs(1+sT)G(s)=\frac{K_v}{s(1+sT)} (type 1):

lim⁡s→0sG(s)=Kv\lim_{s\to0}sG(s) = K_v ess=ωKv≤0.1∘⇒Kv≥4.7750.1=47.75 s−1e_{ss} = \frac{\omega}{K_v} \le 0.1^\circ \quad\Rightarrow\quad K_v \ge \frac{4.775}{0.1} = 47.75\ \text{s}^{-1}

Answer: Required velocity error coefficient Kv≥47.75 s−1K_v \ge 47.75\ \text{s}^{-1} (about 48 s−148\ \text{s}^{-1}).

✓ Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort)

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