Missile Warning System Development Simulation Tools For Rapid Technology Insertion

Man/hardware-in-the-loop laboratory simulation is a cost-effective method for developing and maturing advanced IR/EO missile warning systems (MWS) because the MWS can be immersed into a realistic, multi-spectral, synthetic battlespace simulation.Laboratory simulation technologies for testing IR/EO MWS are evolving: PC-based scene rendering and enhanced commercial scene rendering techniques; IR resistive arrays improvements; and UV scene generation using micro-mirror technology. However, one areahas not received the attention it deserves: the development of MWS processing algorithms. This is critical for MWS systems because the effectiveness of the detection, discrimination, tracking, and declaration algorithms is crucial to MWS performance. DRAproposes to fill this gap by developing a Testbed for Algorithm Development (TAD). TAD will provide a flexible, reconfigurable IR/EO MWS algorithm testbed. In Phase I, DRA will define requirements, investigate hardware technology to implement areconfigurable, real-time algorithm testbed, and develop a top-level design. In Phase II, a prototype TAD will be developed and integrated with the commercial Real-time IR/EO Scene Simulator (RISS) in the Sensors Directorate Integrated Demonstrations andApplications Laboratory (IDAL). RISS will be the TAD demonstration testbed. Phase II will provide a capability for rapid evolution of advanced IR/EO MWS algorithms. The Phase I development shall demonstrate the feasibility of a flexible andreconfigurable IR/EO MWS algorithm testbed to develop and mature MWS processing algorithms. The realization of this capability will provide the government a much-needed tool to support the development and evaluation of advanced MWS algorithms. Thiscapability will be applicable to MWS systems for commercial and military aircraft and other sensor systems such as sensors to warn commercial aviation pilots about approaching aircraft and sensors to aid firefighters in locating people in smokyenvironments.