Distance-weighted least-squares calibration for pointing errors in electro-optical tracking systems

To enhance the pointing accuracy of mobile electro-optical tracking systems, this paper proposes a distance-weighted least-squares (DWLS) method for installation error calibration. Through analytical derivation, five equivalent independent parameters replace the original nine systematic errors. The method employs a sigmoid-based weighting strategy that accounts for distance-dependent measurement noise. Simulation results demonstrate over 60% accuracy improvement, reducing CEP95 from 0.1002° to 0.0375%. Field validation confirms robustness with limited samples, achieving 48.4% and 55.3% CEP95 reductions compared to conventional methods.