Sensor Effects Card for PC Based Simulators

The simulation of sensor effects (image degradation by MTF and noise) is an important feature of high-end IR and NVG sensor simulation. Sensor effects simulation for these high-end systems is performed on postprocessor units or VME boards at a cost of $30Kor more. The increasing use of low-cost image PC-based image generators is creating a demand for a low-cost sensor effects card that can be inserted into a PC bus and interfaced with analog or digital image generator output. We propose to design aPCI-based sensor effects board that will performtwo convolutions, noise addition, and video I/O with subframe latency at real-time frame rates. The board will be programmable, with processing parameters determined by the sensor system. We discuss severalprocessing architectures and processor technologies, including pipeline processing, DSP, FPGA, COTS ASIC, and FFT. We examine the tradeoffs of these technologies, and define the strategy for the Phase I design. Based on our 20 years of experience insensor simulation and designing custom signal and image processing boards, we believe that a low-cost ( around $5K) board isfeasible and will meet the performance requirementsA low cost sensor effects card is of interest to both Government and commercialmarkets. A low cost sensor effects card will increase the use of image generators for sensor testing, simulation exercises and training functions. The device has commercial interest in industrial and entertainment industries.