Validation of CAD Models Used in Electromagnetic Signature Prediction

CAD models of aircraft are currently used to predict synthetic radar signatures for use in target identification. These CAD models may contain modeling errors which cause errors in the predicted signatures. Signature validation by comparison with measured UHRR signatures will reveal the existence of model errors, but does not specifically identify the portion of the model in error. The proposed research will determine the feasibility of validating CAD models by comparison with a photographic database obtained under strictly controlled conditions. The CAD model image, and the scaled photographs are compared using the blink microscope technique which makes differences in the two images readily apparent.