Tracking

The title of this article is ambiguous. For the astronomical tracking method see tracking (astronomy)

Tracking is the tracking of a moving object with an apparatus or a measuring device to increase efficiency or accuracy.

• In the case of photovoltaic systems (PV tracking) and solar collectors , which capture solar radiation and generate electrical energy or heat from it, the modules or collectors can be tracked to the position of the sun on one or two axes in order to increase the yield. See tracking (solar technology) .
• In astronomy , telescopes are used to track the position of celestial bodies in the sky (see mounting ). When measuring star passages , the star is tracked with a movable measuring thread, a recording micrometer .
• In geodesy , one follows the movements of a measuring stick, a reflector or a balloon probe with a laser total station or a radio measuring device. The tracking of the orbit of an earth satellite can be done with a kinetheodolite - a theodolite developed for such cases.
  • The tracking of laser telescopes is particularly demanding in satellite laser ranging , where the narrow laser beam has to stay precisely on the satellite, which is several kilometers per second.
• In metrology , the tracking of moving objects is dealt with in the area of tracking . The mentioned practical examples of tracking (see examples of tracking algorithms ) are mostly based on technical implementations using tracking technologies.
• Tracking, or English tracking, is used in communications technology for synchronization to the signal with spreading code and for later evaluation.