Layered Target Reacquisition and Prosecution from Wide Area Motion Imagery (WAMI) Cues

ABSTRACT: Under this effort, we will perform system performance analysis, design tradeoffs, and prototype algorithm development for target handoff and long duration tracking functions in layered sensing systems that include wide-area motion imagery (WAMI) and one or more narrow field of view (NFOV) sensors, e.g. small unmanned aerial vehicles (SUAVs) and/or munitions carrying high-resolution sensors. We will develop a detailed parametric model of the multi-sensor, multi-platform tracking and handoff process. Our model will account for detection and track geolocation errors, association performance based on the nature and quality of the target feature measurements, sensor cueing performance, data communications requirements, on-board vs. off-board computational requirements, and performance benefits for inclusion of additional NFOV sensors. We will leverage our existing models and prototype algorithms for feature aided trackers and sensor performance. We will validate key model components via comparison with measured data and ground truth. We will exercise the system model to explore the performance requirements for the component technologies, i.e. the sensors, tracking, association and resource management algorithms. At the conclusion of the Phase 1 effort we will have a system-level model of the long duration tracking and handoff process, parametric system performance estimates and recommendations for system architectures and algorithm development. BENEFIT: This effort will enable rigorous analysis of layered sensing system requirements and performance, and will develop layered sensing components supporting WAMI handoff and integrated layered sensing system long term track maintenance.