High Speed Wide-Field-of-View Small Target Tracking Sensor

Surveillance and tracking of small targets such as caliber bullets at supersonic speed has been a difficult task, especially when multiple targets exist simultaneously in the scene. Due to the insufficient wavelength resolution, conventional radar technology is only suitable to detect and track large, far or well spaced objects such as ballistic missiles, air or land vehicles. There is a continuing need to develop innovative sensor that is able to recognize and track small, closely located and fast moving objects in real time at short to intermediate ranges, which can be applied to small projectile and gunfire locating. In Phase I, New Span Opto-Technology Inc. has demonstrated a novel optical concept that is capable of detecting and tracking multiple small targets with the required wide viewing angle and spatial resolution. The visible optical sensor demonstrated in Phase I research offers cost effective advantage over infrared target sensors. In Phase II, we will improve our target sensor based on our successful Phase I work, and develop a prototype fully packaged to meet Phase II performance requirements. Another milestone in Phase II is to pass actual field test to support a variety of military and civil target tracking applications.