Distance Measuring Equipment


Distance Measuring Equipment (DME) is a transponder-based radio navigation technology that measures the slant range (distance) between an aircraft and a ground station by timing the propagation delay of radio signals in the frequency band between 960 and 1215 megahertz. It is a critical component in the aviation industry, particularly in aerospace engineering, where it is used for navigation and positioning of aircraft. The DME system consists of a ground component, known as the DME ground station, and an airborne component, known as the DME interrogator. The interrogator sends out a pair of pulses, to which the ground station responds with a corresponding pair of pulses. The time taken for the round trip of this signal exchange is measured and converted into distance. The DME provides continuous and accurate distance information and is unaffected by weather conditions. It is often paired with a VHF omnidirectional range (VOR) system for a complete aircraft navigation solution.


Your Previous Searches
Random Picks

  • Cathode Ray Tube (CRT): A Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) is a vacuum tube that uses an electron gun to produce images on a phosphorescent screen. In the context of space and astronautical engineering, CRTs were commonly used in older spacecraft and satellites as display s ... Read More >>
  • Atmospheric Interference: Atmospheric interference refers to the effects of Earth's atmosphere on the transmission and reception of signals between spacecraft and ground stations. The atmosphere can cause signal attenuation, distortion, and delay, which can degrade ... Read More >>
  • Convolutional Coding: Convolutional coding is a technique used in digital communication systems to improve the reliability of data transmission over noisy channels. It involves encoding the input data stream into a longer output stream by convolving the input bi ... Read More >>
Top News

Check out this interactive map of the early universe, considered largest ever cr...

A team of astronomers have put together the largest, most detailed map of the universe ever created – and you can explore it now....

News Source: USA Today on 2025-06-12

The Vera C. Rubin Observatory is about to totally transform astronomy...

With the ability to scan the entire southern night sky every three days, the huge Vera C. Rubin Observatory could be about to start solving the mysteries of the universe, from dark matter to Planet Ni...

News Source: New Scientist on 2025-06-12

Trump's proposed science cuts will have huge consequences...

The universe will still be there to marvel at, despite brutal cuts set to hit NASA and the National Science Foundation's budgets. But the damage to future research will be long-lasting, says Chanda Pr...

News Source: New Scientist on 2025-06-11

Starlink satellites are leaking radio signals that may ruin astronomy...

Our ability to study faint radio signals from when the first stars began to form is being threatened by SpaceX's Starlink satellites, which seem to be unintentionally leaking radio signals that overpo...

News Source: New Scientist on 2025-06-09

Asteroids around Venus pose possible 'invisible threat' to Earth: Should you be ...

A swarm of large asteroids likely lurking around Venus could one day pose an "invisible threat" to Earth if left unchecked, astronomers have warned....

News Source: USA Today on 2025-06-06