THE DISTRESS ALERTING AND LOCATING SYSTEM (DALS). SUMMARY OF DEVELOPMENT AND DOCUMENTATION

This report documents the evolution of a Distress Alerting and Locating System (DALS) based on the retransmission of radio navigational aid signals. This equipment, developed from balloon tracking and meterological data gathering equipment manufactured by Beukers Laboratories, progressed through a test and development cycle culminating in a system that could: automatically alert search and rescue forces of a distress situation; identify the distressed vessel; automatically indicate the distress site location to within 1/2 mile; automatically plot the distressed vessel's location; track multiple vessels simultaneously; and operate at extended ranges by using aircraft-mounted telemetry equipment. Ancillary developments include a VHF-FM marine-band distress beacon whose radio signal includes identification information, a plasma-display-based SAR Command and Control Console, and techniques for narrow-band retransmission of the Omega navigation system signals over a telemetry link. Budgetary limitations and cost effectiveness studies resulted in termination of the DALS development prior to installation and testing of an operational system. (Author)

• Corporate Authors:

  Coast Guard

  Office of Research and Development
  Washington, DC  United States 
• Authors:
  • Lindeblad, J R
• Publication Date: 1977-4

Media Info

• Pagination: 38 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Automatic control; Automation; Computer programs; Distress signals; Information display systems; Information processing; Loran; Navigational aids; Omega navigation system; Radio links; Research; Search and rescue operations; Telemetry; Tracking systems; Transmission; Very high frequency
• Identifier Terms: United States Coast Guard
• Uncontrolled Terms: Airborne; Tracking
• Old TRIS Terms: Omega navigation; Retransmission; Telemeter systems
• Subject Areas: Research;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00166471
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: CGR/DC-6/77, USCG-D-29-77
• Files: NTIS
• Created Date: Oct 29 2002 12:00AM