THERMAL TARGET PROJECTOR FOR COMBAT VEHICLE RECOGNITION TRAINING OF THERMAL NIGHT SIGHT OPERATORS THERMAL TARGE PROJECTOR FOR COMBAT VEHICLE RECOGNITION TRAINING OF THERMAL NIGHT SIGHT OPERATORS

THIS PHASE I CALLS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A PROOF-OF-CONCEPTTHERMAL TRAGET PROJECTOR DEMONSTRATOR FOR TRAINING THERMAL IMAGER OPERATORS IN THE FIELD OR MOTOR POOL AREAS FOR PROFICIENCY IN RECOGNITION OF NATO AND WARSAW PACT COMBAT VEHICLES. THE TIP AS PROPOSED IS A LOW-COST STRAP ON DEVICE ON THE FRONT LENS OF FIELDED THERMAL NIGHT SIGHTS THAT ARE VEHICLE OR TRIPOD MOUNTED. UPON COMMAND THE TIP PROJECTS THIS PHASE I CALLS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A PROOF-OF- CONCEPT THERRMAL TARGET PROJECTOR DEMONSTRATOR FOR TRAINING THERMAL IMAGER OPERATORS IN THE FIELD OR MOTOR POOL AREAS FOR PROFICIENCY IN RECOGNITION OF NATO AND WARSAW PACT COMBAT VEHICLES. THE TIP AS PROPOSED IS A LOW-COST STRAP ON DEVICE ON THE FRONT LENS OF FIELDED THERMAL NIGHT SIGHTS THAT ARE VEHICLE OR TRIPOD MOUNTED. UPON COMMAND THE TIP PROJECTS HIGH-FIDELITY THERMAL SCENES OF COMBAT VECHICLES IMMERSED IN EUROPEAN OR MIDDLE EAST BACK GROUNDS AT A VARIETY OF TACTICAL RANGES. THE THERMAL SILDES CAN BE ANNOTATED WITH TEXT TO PROVIDE SELF-STUDY OF THERMAL PROMINECES THAT CUE THE OPERATOR FOR RECOGNITION AND INDENTIFICATION OF THE COMBAT VEHICLE IN VIEW. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN OPTIMUM PHOTO-SENSITZING PROCESS FOR INFRARED TRANSMISSION SUBSTRATES FOR USE IN FABRICATING THERMAL SLIDES. TECHNIQUES WILL BE DEVELOPED THAT PERMIT THE PERMIT THE IMBEDDING OF COMBAT VEHICLE IMAGES INTO STANDARD TERRAIN SCENES. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES FOR INPUTS FROM TRADOC TO INSURE THE FUNCTIONAL CAPABILITY SATISFIES THE THERMAL TRAINING REQUIREMENTS OF THE USER. IN ADDITION, THE PROGPROVIDES FOR DEMOSTRATION OF THE UNIT AT THE ARMOR SCHOOL AT FORT KNOX AND THE INFANTRY SCHOOL AT FORT BENNING IN ORDER TO OBTAIN MEANINGFUL ASSESSMENT DATA FOR THE FINAL REPORT AND PHASE II CONSIDERATIONS.