Simulation of a new 3D imaging sensor for identifying difficult military targets

Christophe Harvey; Jonathan Wood; Peter Randall; Graham Watson; Gordon Smith

doi:10.1117/12.785152

13 May 2008 Simulation of a new 3D imaging sensor for identifying difficult military targets

Christophe Harvey, Jonathan Wood, Peter Randall, Graham Watson, Gordon Smith

Proceedings Volume 6950, Laser Radar Technology and Applications XIII; 69500I (2008) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.785152
Event: SPIE Defense and Security Symposium, 2008, Orlando, Florida, United States

Abstract

This paper reports the successful application of automatic target recognition and identification (ATR/I) algorithms to simulated 3D imagery of 'difficult' military targets. QinetiQ and Selex S&AS are engaged in a joint programme to build a new 3D laser imaging sensor for UK MOD. The sensor is a 3D flash system giving an image containing range and intensity information suitable for targeting operations from fast jet platforms, and is currently being integrated with an ATR/I suite for demonstration and testing. The sensor has been extensively modelled and a set of high fidelity simulated imagery has been generated using the CAMEO-SIM scene generation software tool. These include a variety of different scenarios (varying range, platform altitude, target orientation and environments), and some 'difficult' targets such as concealed military vehicles. The ATR/I algorithms have been tested on this image set and their performance compared to 2D passive imagery from the airborne trials using a Wescam MX-15 infrared sensor and real-time ATR/I suite. This paper outlines the principles behind the sensor model and the methodology of 3D scene simulation. An overview of the 3D ATR/I programme and algorithms is presented, and the relative performance of the ATR/I against the simulated image set is reported. Comparisons are made to the performance of typical 2D sensors, confirming the benefits of 3D imaging for targeting applications.

Citation Download Citation

Christophe Harvey, Jonathan Wood, Peter Randall, Graham Watson, and Gordon Smith "Simulation of a new 3D imaging sensor for identifying difficult military targets", Proc. SPIE 6950, Laser Radar Technology and Applications XIII, 69500I (13 May 2008); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.785152

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