The collision avoidance of a pair of uniformly moving bodies is considered in three dimensions. The relative motion of the bodies yields an expression relating the time to closest approach, the minimum range, the current range and its rate of change, other variables being unobservable. A Boolean relation is then proposed that is satisfied whenever the minimum range and time to closest approach simultaneously fall below given thresholds. The relation is further studied, in particular with regard to the issue of false and premature alarms. An airborne collision avoidance system is a possible application.
