Robust 3-D Surface Model Representation

Not Available Tanner Research proposes an innovative approach for detecting cruise missiles. Instead of using the shape, size, or direction of motion, we propose to use only the speed of the missiles to detect them. Speed of a particular type of missile is a better known factor compared to its outward physical characteristics. Our approach will be based on the ongoing work at Tanner Research on low contrast point target detection (LCPTD), and the Wave Process, which has already shown great promise in the detection of cruise missiles from stationary sensor platforms. We aim to extend this technology to detect cruise missiles from moving platforms. We will further enhance the Wave Process by developing a shape based detection method to improve the detection probability for low contrast targets, and provide the direction and speed of the target. We have already demonstrated an efficient analog VLSI implementation for the Wave Process, providing a high-performance signal processing component with low power, weight, and size, making it suitable for near-focal-plane applications. We will test and demonstrate these extended capabilities with synthetic IR focal plane data and a software simulation of the Wave Process.