Efficient 3-D Imaging of Vessels for Improved Classification and Persistent Tracking

The goal of this SBIR research topic is to develop an efficient automated 3-D ISAR algorithm that improves classification and tracking of ships and small boats. The solicitation mentions two approaches that have not produced satisfactory results, particularly for small boats: (1) interpretation by analysts of 2-d images selected from a sequence and (2) autofocus over longer dwells. Although neither approach is capable of solving the problem, each contains elements that can contribute to the solution. Electromagnetic Systems Inc (EMSI) has demonstrated that small boats in the littoral exhibit significant wave-induced motion that facilitates measurement of well-formed ISAR features with short radar dwells on the order of 200 ms. We propose to leverage this work to provide the inputs to processing that uses a sequence of such short dwells for automated 3-D ISAR imaging.