Intellectual Tip-Off Optical Reconnaissance Sensor for Counter-Hypersonics

To address the Navy’s need for advanced optical systems for the detection, identification, and tracking of hypersonic cruise missiles, Intellisense Systems, Inc. proposes to develop a new Intellectual Tip-Off Optical Reconnaissance Sensor for Counter-Hypersonics (I-TORCH) based on a combination of a unique mobile-field-of-view (FOV) omnidirectional middle-wave infrared (MWIR, 3-5 um) sensor and artificial intelligence/machine learning (AI/ML) software for efficient detection, tracking, recognition, and identification of maneuverable hypersonic missiles. I-TORCH provides early warning and alerting of fixed-site and ship self-defense systems in tiered fixed and mobile networks, using space, airborne, and fixed (land/naval) unmanned and manned platforms. I-TORCH provides trajectory prediction and yields accurate aimpoint estimates, using AI/ML, for maneuverable hypersonic missiles. Specifically, I-TORCH uses a combined mobile-FOV sensor, controlled by AI/ML software, optimized for efficient high-resolution (1024 by 1024 pixels) high-frame-rate (up to 2.5 kHz) video imaging of the hypersonic missile targets in a highly cluttered environment. The mobile-FOV sensor combines the wide-field-of-view (>34 deg high-resolution (1024 by 1024 pixels) MWIR sensor for patrol of the large areas suitable for far away (hundreds or thousands of nmi) flight of hypersonic cruise missiles. As the hypersonic target is detected by the sensor’s AI, the narrow mobile-FOV MWIR sensor is immediately (<7.5 ms) pointed optically to the detected target(s), providing a super-resolution high-frame-rate (~2.5 kHz) video stream optically zoomed up 200 times. This video stream is used for targets tracking, and identification using their signatures, with the sensor’s AI. The I-TORCH accurately predicts the targets’ trajectories, using its AI/ML software. The tracked hypersonic missiles’ parameters and predicted aimpoints are transferred to other platforms and fixed-site and ship self-defense systems using available communication systems. In Phase I, Intellisense will demonstrate the feasibility of I-TORCH through modeling and simulation of MWIR images acquired by the designed MWIR optical sensor. The parameters of the MWIR optical sensor designed will be estimated: power, volume, weight, noise, motion limitations, etc. The Phase I system prototype architecture will be developed including the requirements of observation behaviors, software, and communications. The prototype plans will be developed for Phase II, where Intellisense will develop a prototype (technology readiness level (TRL)-5/-6) that can perceive, identify, and track a hypersonic vehicle in an idealized Navy data collection system, and demonstrate it on a manned or unmanned system. Data will be collected on individual vehicles in ground- or sea-based trials in terms of feature identification performance, operational agility, and accuracy. A limited sea trial test data analysis of airborne objects will also be performed.