homing

(′hōm·iŋ)

(navigation) A process in navigation by which the destination is approached by keeping some parameter constant.

---

A process of navigation by which a destination is approached by keeping some navigation parameter constant. In its early uses, the most commonly chosen parameter was the relative bearing from the vehicle to destination as determined from a signal emitted at or near the destination point. The vehicle then steers to travel in the direction of its destination. The signal can be of many forms, ranging from a visual image to a radio wave or even an odor. This simple form of homing requires minimal on-board equipment, but the path taken by the vehicle over the Earth's surface is influenced by vehicle drift due to winds, currents, or other causes. See also Direction-finding equipment.

A higher level of homing is available through certain radio navigation aids (navaids), such as the very high frequencyy omnidirectional range (VOR) and the aircraft instrument landing system (ILS). While the signals from these aids define a path in space that can be followed by the user, the signals themselves do not indicate the courses that should be selected to remain on the path. In the case of VOR, the signals define the azimuth to or from the station, with the user being required to adjust the vehicle heading to acquire the desired path and to compensate for any drift in order to remain on the path. The ILS signals define a precise fixed path in space, which the user equipment processes to yield deviation indications in the lateral and vertical directions. See also Electronic navigation systems; Instrument landing system (ILS).

The advent of affordable on-board digital processing accompanied by extensive geographical databases has resulted in supporting direct-to paths from present position to destinations that need not radiate a signal. The navigation aids used most for establishing direct-to paths include VOR/DME (distance-measuring equipment), DME/DME, Loran-C, and the Global Positioning System (GPS). See also Distance-measuring equipment; Loran; Satellite navigation systems.

One of the most useful navigation features developed after the advent of radionavigation is vehicle-to-vehicle homing, where a vehicle homes on signals radiated by another vehicle. This is especially valuable in rescue operations. In the United States, aircraft are required to carry emergency locator transmitters (ELTs) which automatically turn on when the aircraft crashes.

The most serious military homing mode is that which enables a missile to home on any source of radiation. Typical sources are radio transmitters of all kinds, including radar and navigation aids, and the infrared exhausts of jet engines, tanks, and ships. See also Electronic warfare; Guided missile; Missile.

---

adj. (of a weapon or piece of equipment) fitted with an electronic device that enables it to find and hit a target.

See the Introduction, Abbreviations and Pronunciation for further details.

(DOD, NATO) The technique whereby a mobile station directs itself, or is directed, towards a source of primary or reflected energy, or to a specified point.

IN BRIEF: adj. - Orienting or directing toward one's place of residence or to a destination.

Dansk (Danish)
adj. - som søger hjem, målsøgende

idioms:

• homing pigeon    brevdue

Français (French)
adj. - (Tech, Mil) autoguidé, d'autoguidage

idioms:

• homing pigeon    pigeon voyageur

Deutsch (German)
adj. - zielsuchend

idioms:

• homing pigeon    Brieftaube

Ελληνική (Greek)
adj. - αυτοκατευθυνόμενος

idioms:

• homing pigeon    ταχυδρομικό περιστέρι

Italiano (Italian)
che torna a casa (da solo)

idioms:

• homing pigeon    piccione viaggiatore

Português (Portuguese)
adj. - em direção à casa, relativo à dirigibilidade a um alvo

idioms:

• homing pigeon    pombo-correio (m) (Zool.)

Русский (Russian)
возвращение домой, чувство дома, направляющийся домой, служащий для самонаведения, самонаводящийся

idioms:

• homing pigeon    почтовый голубь

Español (Spanish)
adj. - volver al hogar, buscador

idioms:

• homing pigeon    paloma mensajera

Svenska (Swedish)
adj. - hemvändande, målsökande

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
归巢的, 回家的

idioms:

• homing pigeon    传信鸽

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
adj. - 歸巢的, 回家的

idioms:

• homing pigeon    傳信鴿

한국어 (Korean)
adj. - 집으로 돌아가는, 자동 유도의, 목적지로 인도하는

日本語 (Japanese)
adj. - 家へ帰る, 帰巣性を有する
n. - 帰来, 帰巣本能

idioms:

• homing pigeon    伝書鳩, 伝書バト

עברית (Hebrew)
adj. - ‮שב הבייתה, מתביית‬

If you are unable to view some languages clearly, click here.

To select your translation preferences click here.