Multi-Sensor Automated Ship and Small Craft Classification Tools

The proposed effort is to develop, compare, and test innovative techniques that will provide robust multi-sensor (infrared and radar) classification tools to assist the operator’s rapid and accurate classification of ships and small boats in the littoral. To that end techniques will be developed that merge simultaneously obtained IR and ISAR sensor information for estimation of motion that will be then used for improved target dimension estimation and visual representation and result in improved automated classification capabilities. In addition performance of these techniques will be assessed at various ranges and vessel sizes using representative sensor parameters. Optionally, a Phase 2 plan will be developed a to mature the technology, determine implementation details and define a demonstration to be performed in Phase 2.