Hyperspectral Classification for Muzzle Flash Recognition from the Silver Fox UAV

The objective of the effort is to develop and demonstrate a persistent surveillance and early threat detection and warning system for hostile perimeters around sensitive or high value establishments. The persistent surveillance capability is in the form of a small unmanned air vehicle (UAV) which patrols a predetermined perimeter around the facility. Classification of the threat will be made by observing the muzzle flash and determining whether this corresponds to a known threat data base. Threat detection and early warning will be provided by time sequenced high resolution stereo imaging of the “threat” and the calculation of a trajectory with predicted arrival coordinates and time. This approach holds the potential to rapidly and accurately discriminate between different weapons or projectiles being fired thereby being able to determine the exact location of hostile fire and the type of weapons being used. It also holds promise in minimizing the number of friendly fire incidents by adding another level of information to decision making. Calculations of the atmospheric absorption for various wavelengths were calculated for a path length of 300m, but showed that at the emission peak wavelengths absorption was minimal, in the order of less than 2% per 1000 feet.