Acquisition and Tracking Algorithms to Exploit Foveal Sensors

A new class of imaging sensors, "foveal sensors", have been developed recently for the purpose of providing (a) wide field of view, (b) high frame rate operation and (c) very high spatial resolution. Patterned after the model of the human visual system, these new imaging sensors will enable the development of a large new class of real-time algorithms specifically designed to acquire and track targets of interest. This proposed program will seek to exploit the new capabilities of foveal sensors by developing a suite of algorithms that efficiently detect and track moving objects in moving cluttered backgrounds. Under past and concurrent AFRL/MNGI sponsorship, the "Variable Acuity Superpixel Imager" (VASI) devices developed at Nova Sensors is just such an enabling device; it provides the capability for the user or controlling processor to change the spatial configuration of high- and lower spatial resolution pixels at the frame rate. It will be increasingly important to exploit the use of this class of imaging sensor with new algorithms that are specifically designed to make use of the spatially-tunable nature of the focal plane array (FPA).