Innovative Approach for Modeling the Impact of Paint Gloss on Visual and Near IR Detection

The assessment of aircraft paint schemes requires predictions of the signature and detection of aircraft targets. When paints are semi-gloss or gloss, specular reflections of the sun can result in intense glints that make the aircraft susceptible to detection. Accurate modeling of glints requires precise and high-resolution modeling of the specular lobe, the curvature of surfaces, pixel super-sampling, and accurate prediction of sky radiance. ThermoAnalytics proposes to use its MuSES (Multi-Service Electro-optic Signature) thermal and signature modeling tool to predict the visual-through-infrared signature of air targets that employ specular paints. The MuSES rendering engine is capable of accurate signature prediction, having been specially designed for the arduous work of modeling narrow specular lobes. In Phase I, we will demonstrate the rendering capability of MuSES by modeling the signature of cylinders, spheres, and flat paints using a variety of matte, semi-gloss, and glossy paints.