UAV linear observation targets

[rocketman]

The manual states that: "Observe missions have a much higher chance of detecting enemy targets if set to a Point target, which will encompass a 50m diameter circle. Area targets cover much more ground but have a lower resolution. Linear missions function like area missions."

So why set a linear target if it has the same poorer resolution of an area target, but covers less area? Does an area target less thatn 50 m diameter still have the poorer resolution or is 50 m diameter, the cut-off point even for area target?

[womble]

Consider arty: if you set a point target, the shells will all "scatter" from that point. If you make even a tiny (say 10m radius) area target, the initial "aim points" will be "somewhere within that circle" so the scatters will be from points up to 10m further away, so the eventual average fall pattern will be 20m bigger in diameter than a point bombardment. If you make the target area "as big as the expected scatter from a point target" (whatever that might be) your shells will be scattered over 4x the area, as the diameter of the potential fall will be doubled.

If the tightest focus of an LAV is 50m, when you're telling it to look at one spot, then you can expect it to be less tightly focused if you tell it to look at a broader area.

The point of linear missions is that you have a shape covering a long thin path (assumedly 25m either side of the line, with semicircles of 25m radius around the termini of your linear plot) rather than a big circle. So if you want to watch 200m of road, you can linear plot along it, and you'll be looking at a much smaller area (150m x 50m + pi x 25^2 = ~9463sqm) and therefore have a better chance of spotting something than if you made a circular area of watching that was 200m in diameter (pi x 100^2 = ~31416sqm). Three times as big for the circle as for the oval. Lots of wasted looking.

[Kinophile]

Excellent reply, thank you

[rocketman]

Thanks womble. Do you have a degree in UAV mathematics?

[womble]

Thanks womble. Do you have a degree in UAV mathematics?

No, I have a [mumblemumble] year old age 16 exam grade B in maths that involved some geometry rather more advanced than determining the areas of circles and ovals.