Integrated Scene Imaging for Target Engagement (INSITE)

ABSTRACT: This proposal outlines a plan for developing a fast, integrated simulation system that can be used to generate high-fidelity, time-stepped, imaging fuze sensor data for complex target engagement scenarios over the frequency regime extending from X-band into the hundreds of GHz. In Phase I we propose to produce a comprehensive concept paper addressing all of the requirements for the system architecture along with a roadmap for its development. At the end of Phase I, we would demonstrate a model of the architecture using individual software components to implement all of the major system functionalities. The Phase II work will be focused on developing the proof-of-concept design of the simulation environment, implementing it on an appropriate hardware platform, and validating it with scaled-velocity, target engagement data generated at a Government test site. BENEFIT: Millimeter-wave and quasi-optical sensors should be at the heart of the next generation of weapons and targeting systems because of their inherent high-resolution, low-power consumption and small footprint characteristics; and baseline cost considerations and development timelines are making large-scale, systems simulations a effective way of getting there as quickly as possible. Having a fast, integrated simulation environment available for active imaging sensor simulations will support a wide range of ongoing and future weapons development and testing programs. A significant component that is missing from most military sensor development work, especially in the trans-millimeter-wave regime, is an integrated scene modeling and target signature prediction tool incorporated in a hardware-based simulation environment. And this is going to be the case for a while because there are currently no commercially available tools for target signature prediction and large-scale scene modeling in the millimeter-wave and quasi-optical regimes. In addition to military systems, the fast, integrated sensor simulation technologies developed under this SBIR will be useful for a number of commercial applications. One important potential market for this kind of comprehensive sensor simulation environment is in the commercial sensor and avionics manufacturing community. The efficient synthesis of realistic sensor data for complex environments and scenarios would be of tremendous use in the design, development and testing of such systems. In addition, these tools could readily be incorporated into sensor simulators for use in training pilots and other key operational personnel. This potential exists in both the manufacturing and systems integration markets.