Modeling and Simulation Technologies for Multi-Sensor Dynamic Targeting

The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) is soliciting innovative solutions to multi-sensor modeling and simulation in four areas: (1) large-scale scene modeling, (2) physics-base modeling tools, (3) simulation of algorithm performance, and (4) simulation of ATR and sensor fusion in systems. This proposal addresses areas (1) and (2) for hyperspectral thermal IR sensors. The proposed work is an investigation and preliminary design of a simulation that will generate hyperspectral IR imagery for user-specified target/background scenario, environment, atmosphere, and sensor/platform configuration. The proposed design uses commercial scenario construction tools, which can accommodate a range of ATR scenarios, ranging from small test areas to very large scenarios using geospecific terrain. The physics-based thermal/radiance model will be derived from a standard DoD model, adapted for hyperspectral radiance, and including the modeling of target-environment interaction. The model will use a database of material data, including high-resolution spectral emissive and reflective properties. The Phase I work will investigate feasible methods for efficient generation of hyperspectral images from the 3-D scenario data and radiance model, and incorporating a detailed bidirectional reflectance distribution function (BRDF). The proposed work also applies to multispectral or standard thermal IR sensors.