Trajectory Analysis of Free-Floating Objects: A Drift Prediction Model

This paper presents a modeling technique for post-mortem analysis of free-floating objects. The basis is a first principle approach using the geometry of the object and certain analyst-adjusted coefficients. Using a known start position and any other know path-point, the model allows an analyst to predict a family of object trajectories and start times. Because there are likely no human witnesses to the damage as it occurs, the question then arises: did the floating object pass the location of interest? This paper describes a model that can perform a hind-cast to establish the likely path the floating object followed.