Real-Time Image Fusion Processor

Princeton Electronic Systems, Inc. (PES) proposes to develop algorithms for combining the most salient features of long wave infrared (LWIR) and near-infrared navigation sensor imagery into a single image, and to implement the algorithms, in real-time, using commercially-available general-purpose processors or digital signal processing devices. The key issue for this project is that the high-resolution imagery (for navigation) that needs to be processed in this project typically has a bandwidth of more than 5 times conventional real-time. Our proposed innovative techniques include: parallel pipeline image processing, and biologically motivated multi-resolution and region-of-interest image processing for image registration, as well as biologically motivated user controllable color coding. The proposed image fusion algorithms and hardware system will be robust and can function properly in the presence of image mismatches or misalignment, especially 5 to 10 pixel displacement mismatches, as specified by the Army. PES has extensive experience in developing image processing systems on low cost commercial off the shelf (COTS) hardware platforms and will implement the entire proposed image fusion system in low cost COTS hardware (PCI image processing boards in Pentium PC). BENEFITS: This project will result in extensive commercial applications, such as Real-time image fusion system for TV news broadcasting and rescue squad, Automatic target recognition (ATR) and tracking, Automatic product inspection.