Image Analysis Hardware for High-Speed, Sub-Diffraction MDA Applications (Topic 02-003)

The Pixon method enables reliable and accurate imaging well below the diffraction limit. It therefore offers to missile defense two wholly new options for detection and tracking of closely-spaced objects (CSOs): (1) Pixon processing can increase resolution by a factor of four beyond the diffraction limit. It thus can resolve targets at ranges four times greater than otherwise possible, increasing the time available for critical decision making. (2) Conversely, telescope apertures can be reduced by a factor of four while holding performance constant, resulting in significantly reduced system cost. We propose to build a modular Pixon processor that will not only demonstrate such resolution enhancement but also significantly decrease noise and achieve theoretically optimum radiometry. The prototype-implemented in field-programmable gate arrays on a single circuit board-will process images of CSO clusters in 0.03 second. Multiple processors can work in parallel to process larger or multiple images; future implementations in application-specific integrated circuits will further increase speed. In an Enhancement option, we propose to interface this core processor with Aeromet, Inc.'s AIRS sensors and field test the full system. The hardware suits many additional applications: conventional surveillance (satellites or UAVs), guided munitions, satellite mapping, microscopy, and medical tomography.