Digital Terrain System (DTS)

[Crptalk]

Developed in the late 90s, the DTS stored the Digital Terrain Elevation Data and had the following features:

 

terrain referenced navigation (TRN)

predictive ground collision avoidance system (PGCAS) (Not to be confused with AGCAS)

database terrain cueing (DBTC)

obstacle warning and cueing (OW/C)

passive ranging (PR)

 

In addition to being a digital terrain height map, it also contained vertical (towers) and horizontal (wires) obstacle data for OW/C.

 

There is a publicly available paper titled "Developmental flight testing of a digital terrain system for the USAF F-16" published by the IEEE which describes in detail the development and different functions of the DTS and has figures showing HUD symbology. A certain MLU M2 pilot's guide available online goes into further detail and shows more HUD symbology.

Edited September 27, 2021 by Crptalk

[Geraki]

Digital Terrain System (DTS)

The DTS is a digital representation of 480 NM^2 of terrain loaded into the data tape cartridge (DTC). The F-16 uses this digital terrain for a number of different things:

Database terrain cueing (DBTC): With the radar altimeter on, the actual terrain the F-16 is flying over is compared against the database to determine position on the digital terrain. This information is combined with the INS and GPS and used in position fixing. When flying in an area without DTS coverage, the words "OFF MAP" appear below the ASI on the HUD.

Proximity to ground collision avoidance system (PGCAS): Without the DTS, the airplane assumes a "flat earth" for the PULL-UP cues (in other words; it's only effective if flying over the ocean or perfectly flat land). With the DTS, the jet can give accurate PULL-UP cues over mountainous terrain. To differentiate between cues given by the existing ground-proximity warning system and PGCAS, a separate terrain-proximity warning (along with the break-X on the HUD) will appear below the ASI. If PGCAS is not available, a "NO GPW" warning is displayed on the HUD.

Obstacle warning/clearance (OW/C): Along with a terrain database, the DTS includes information on man-made obstacles (height and position). The HUD will display "OBSTACLE" when nearing an obstacle, and "<- OBSTACLE" or "OBSTACLE ->" when one is to the left or right of the aircraft.

The DTS is configured from the DTS page on the DED, ICP button 3. From this page you can turn on and off different DTC features and configure minimum altitudes.

some more DATA for PGCAS ..

http://www.f-16.net/f-16_versions_article8.html


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XgJB9PBnKGw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=577Lh7cEq80

Edited September 24, 2021 by Geraki

[QuiGon]

Not sure why this is a wishlist thread. I thought our DCS F-16 already has DTS?

Or how does my TGP know the ground elevation when I'm looking at the top of a mountain without having the laser on?

Edited September 24, 2021 by QuiGon

[Crptalk]

5 minutes ago, QuiGon said:

Not sure why this is a wishlist thread. I thought our DCS F-16 already has DTS?

Or how does my TGP know the ground elevation when I'm looking at the top of a mountain without having the laser on?

 

If it was modeled we would have terrain referenced navigation, predictive ground collision avoidance system, database terrain cueing, and obstacle warning and cueing. ICP 3 would open the DTS page.

[QuiGon]

47 minutes ago, Crptalk said:

If it was modeled we would have terrain referenced navigation, predictive ground collision avoidance system, database terrain cueing, and obstacle warning and cueing. ICP 3 would open the DTS page.

 

Well, ok, the basic DTS is there (see TGP example), but some/many related systems and functions are still missing, which is true for other systems of the Viper as it is still under development. We're still missing a lot of other pages, not just the DTS page, but DTS is definitely included in the DCS Viper.

Edited September 24, 2021 by QuiGon

[Crptalk]

3 minutes ago, QuiGon said:

 

Well, ok, the basic DTS is there (see TGP example), but some/many related systems and functions are still missing, which is true for other systems of the Viper as it is still under development. We're still missing a lot of other pages, not just the DTS page, but DTS is definitely included in the DCS Viper.

 

Except there's not even a WIP page for the DTS page and no mention of DTS in the roadmap

 

Which is why this is a whishlist thread.

[QuiGon]

2 minutes ago, Crptalk said:

Except there's not even a WIP page for the DTS page and no mention of DTS in the roadmap

 

Which is why this is a whishlist thread.

 

Alright, that's understandable, but the system is there, otherwise the TGP would not be able to provide ground elevation and coordinates on mountainious terrain without using the laser.

[Geraki]

2 hours ago, QuiGon said:

 

Alright, that's understandable, but the system is there, otherwise the TGP would not be able to provide ground elevation and coordinates on mountainious terrain without using the laser.

DTS is another method of telemetry and use another F-16 avionics-than TGP  like DTC  and more other sys..  

[Dawgboy]

IMO, when I first read this and even now, I couldn't figure out your specific request.  I would suggest you list the specific functionality you know is missing and explain how DTS supports that functionality, including any related screenshots, videos, documentation, within forum rules, of course.

[Crptalk]

If it isn't clear, DTS is a collection of systems to store digital terrain data and obstacle data for 5 primary functions:

Terrain Referenced Navigation(TRN): Compares radar altimeter readings to the digital terrain database to calculate aircraft location within the digital terrain map and estimate INS drift.

Predictive Ground Collision Avoidance System(PGCAS): Uses 3d terrain elevation and obstacle data for pullup calculations instead of 2d radar altimeter readings.

Obstacle Warning and Cueing (OW/C): Provides HUD advisories of man-made obstacles along the flight path.

Database Terrain Cueing (DBTC): Displays a vertical steering cue on the HUD to maintain a specified AGL altitude during low level flight. Similar to LANTIRN's manual terrain following hud cue.

Passive Ranging(PR): Backup target ranging method for when the FCR is inoperative and TGP lasing is unavailable.

 

The DTC of Block 50 aircraft have expanded storage to store the digital terrain and obstacle data and has a dedicated DTS processor.

The DTS Priority Page can be accessed by pressing the number "3" button on the ICP. This page allows the pilot to select different DBTC, OW/C, and PGCAS options and to view the current TRN confidence level.

Feel free to educate yourself on the basics and development of DTS with this open source paper titled "Developmental flight testing of a digital terrain system for the USAF F-16" presented at the 1999 IEEE Aerospace conference. Other references sent to the mods in dm's.

 

Edited November 4, 2021 by Crptalk

[Geraki]

Very important implementation for Block50 if created.