MINIMIZING THE APPROACH TIME OF AN SSK TO ITS TARGET

Abstract : Killer submarine A detects an enemy submarine B moving with a uniform velocity, v knots. The submarine A wants to place himself at a position h miles directly ahead of B as quickly as possible, but is constrained not to exceed a speed f(r), where r is the range between A and B, so as to keep the probability of B's hearing A down to a fixed level. (The faster A moves, the noisier he is.) We suppose that A knows the required function f(r). Find the path that minimizes A's approach time. The differential equations that describe the path, are described and their computer solution is indicated. (Author)