Seeker Sensor Fusion Optimization and Visualization System

The Air Force has a large number of sensors that can be used for pattern recognition to aid target detection and identification including: SAR (synthetic-aperture radar), MMW (millimeter-wave), IIR (imaging infrared; SWIR, MWIR, LWIR) and LADAR (laser radar). When hyperspectral imaging in the infrared is added, then the number of potential sensor (color) combinations and associated data increases dramatically. The targets of interest can vary from an approaching missile, an enemy aircraft, camouflaged enemy tanks, trucks, missile launchers, chemical warfare cloud, military installations, military air fields, etc. The match of sensor/sensors technology to use for the different detection and identification applications is not straight forward. Using visualization of sensor fusion will allow the Air Force to determine which and how many sensors can give the information necessary to detect and identify the different targets. This reduces the amount of data that must be received and processed and eliminates redundant information. This STTR program will develop a seeker fusion visualization system that will allow the operator to input the target type and scenario in order to select combinations of sensors from a sensor suite that are effective for a particular application.