small-object search pattern

small-object search pattern

A five-sided search pattern for finding small objects whose last position is known. The object could be a dinghy or any other object in the sea or in a given area on land. In this pattern, the search is started at the target's last known position. The helicopter, or a fixed-wing aircraft, flying at a low speed flies downwind for a relatively short distance as determined by prevailing visibility conditions. Thereafter, the aircraft flies at an approximately 72° angle to its original heading for a short period before commencing the turn again toward the last known position. It proceeds for a similar short distance to the other side continuing the same pattern, as seen in the illustration. In this pattern, the most intense search is done at the center of the pattern—the area where the target is most likely to be present.
smart
i. A weapon capable of being guided precisely either by self-homing or external inputs so that it has either the capability to score a direct hit or a very low CEP (circular error probability).
ii. As it applies to jammers, the term means those jammers that first pick up the enemy's transmissions and then jam it on the same frequency. Most spot jammers fall into this category.
iii. As it applies to computers, it is one that can “learn” from user inputs.