The missile knows where it is at all times.
It knows this because it knows where it isn’t.
By subtracting where it is from where it isn’t,
or where it isn’t from where it is —
whichever is greater —
it obtains a difference, or deviation.
The guidance subsystem uses deviations to generate corrective commands
to drive the missile from a position where it is to a position where it isn’t,
and arriving at a position where it wasn’t,
it now is.
Consequently, the position where it is
is now the position that it wasn’t,
and it follows that the position that it was
is now the position that it isn’t.
In the event that the position that it is in
is not the position that it wasn’t,
the system has acquired a variation —
the variation being the difference between where the missile is
and where it wasn’t.
If variation is considered to be a significant factor,
it too may be corrected by the GEA (Guidance Error Algorithm).
However, the missile must also know where it was.
The missile guidance computer scenario utilizes deviation and variation
to generate corrective commands to compensate for the difference
between where the missile is and where it wasn’t.
The missile knows where it is at all times.
It knows this because it knows where it isn’t.
