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ASDIC was an abbreviation used during the Second World War for Allied Submarine Detection Investigation Committee. It was a device used for detecting underwater ships. The American name was sonar.
 Research ASDIC
Navigation is the science and technology of finding the position, course, and distance travelled by a ship, plane, or other craft. Traditional methods include the magnetic compass and sextant. Today the gyrocompass is usually used, together with highly sophisticated electronic methods, employing beacons of radio signals, such as Decca, Loran, and Omega. Satellite navigation uses satellites that broadcast time and position signals. The Phoenicians, Syrians, Carthaginians, Greeks and Romans conducted their voyages solely by the observation of the heavens, and by keeping as much as possible to the coast. It was not until the voyages made by direction of Prince Henry of Portugal, after 1418, that navigation seems to have been systematically conducted, and the sea-instruments and sea-charts then constructed formed the basis of maritime science until replaced by satellite
navigation equipment in the late 1990s. An early invention that marked progress was the cross-staff, first described by Werner in 1514. It was used for the determination of longitude, by observation of the distance between the moon and some star; and out of it grew the fore-staff and the back-staff.
In 1530 Gemma Frisius of Louvain devised the idea of using small clocks in conjunction with instrumental observation, and the nautical quadrant in some form was thenceforth part of every ship' s furniture. John Davis' quadrant (the back-staff) seems to have been generally preferred for many years. In the early 16th century there also cam into use at sea the astrolabe, for taking the altitude of the sun and stars. This instrument was made very heavy, so that it hung perpendicularly and steadily. The middle of the 16th century saw the invention of the log-line. Voyages were, however, conducted rather by guesswork and experience, and especially so previous to the discovery of methods of finding the longitude. Mercator's system of plane charts furthered
progress; and Edward Wright discovered the true method of dividing the meridian, and drew up a table for the use of navigators by which latitude could be determined.
The US global positioning system (GPS) was introduced 1992 and features 24 Navstar satellites that enable users to triangulate their position (from any three satellites) to within 15 m. In 1992, 85 nations agreed to take part in trials of a new navigation system which makes use of surplus military space technology left over from the Cold War. The new system, known as FANS or Future Navigation System, makes use of the 24 Russian Glonass satellites and the 24 US GPS satellites. Small computers will gradually be fitted to civil aircraft to process the signals from the satellite, allowing aircraft to navigate with pinpoint accuracy anywhere in the world. The signals from at least three satellites will guide the craft to within a few metres of accuracy. FANS will be used in conjunction with four Inmarsat satellites to provide worldwide communications between pilots and air-traffic controllers.
An Australian prototype for an electronic navigation system ECDIS (Electronic Chart Display Information System) is a single computer-based apparatus that combines information from existing navigational aids, such as charts, radar, sonar and satellites.
Research Navigation
Sonar is a method of locating underwater objects by the reflection of ultrasonic waves.
Research Sonar
The Shin Meiwa PS-1 is a Japanese 10-seater anti-submarine flying-boat. It carries up to 2000 kg of disposable stores in a fuselage weapons bay and on four hard points, two under the wings and two at the wingtips. The PS-1 uses a dedicated General Electric T58 turboshaft (in addition to the four wing-mounted turboprops) to provide air for the boundary-layer control system that provides remarkable STOL performance and a patrol speed comparable with that of the boat's prey, namely nuclear-powered submarines. The PS-1 first flew in October 1967 and one of its advantages is the ability to land and use its dunking sonar even in rough seas. The Shin Meiwa SS-2 variant is an amphibian search-and-rescue flying boat.
Research Shin Meiwa PS-1
MAST is an abbreviation for Multi-Application Sonar Trainer
MAST is an abbreviation for Model Assembly Sterling Centre
MIDAS is an abbreviation for Detect Missile Launching Satellite
MIDAS is an abbreviation for Manufacturing Information Distribution and Acquisition System
MIDAS is an abbreviation for Mine Detection and Avoidance Sonar
MIDAS is an abbreviation for Modified Integration Digital Analog Simulator
MIDAS is an abbreviation for Munich Image Data Analysis System
MIDAS is an abbreviation for Missile Defence Alarm System
Research MIDAS
MMSC is an abbreviation for Multi-Mode Sonar Console
Research MMSC
MOST is an abbreviation for Missile-On-Shipboard Test
MOST is an abbreviation for Mobile Optical Surveillance Tracker
MOST is an abbreviation for Mobile Sonar Technology
SONAR is an abbreviation for Sound Navigation And Ranging
Research SONAR
SOTS is an abbreviation for Sonar Operator Training System
Research SOTS
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The Probert Encyclopaedia was designed, edited and programed by
Matt and Leela Probert
©1993 - 2009 The Probert Encyclopaedia
Southampton, United Kingdom
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