Airborne Visual Reconnaissance as a Function of Illumination Level.
Abstract
An investigation was made of inflight visual detection of ground target sites and identification of specific targets as a function of apparent scene illumination. Individual from three groups of six subjects each searched for tactical target sites in rolling farm and woodland, and identified and counted the targets at the sites located. One group observed under full sunlight illumination, a second group wore goggles with neutral density filters that cut the transmitted by 400 times full moonlight, and a third group wore goggles that reduced the light down by .0008 to an apparent illumination of 40 times full moonlight. The apparent scene illumination for both the groups that wore goggles was between that of the lower limit of civil twilight and sunrise or sunset. The subjects observed from the nose position of a B-50 flying at 180 knots ground speed and 3,500 feet above ground level. There were 25 target sites at various locations, all within two miles of the aircraft flight path, along the 96-mile track length. Each site contained various numbers and types of simulated tactical targets. The mean percent of target sites detected was 36 under sunlight illumination, 22 under the simulated 400 times full moonlight condition, and 9 under 40 times full moonlight. The mean percent of targets identified at the sites that were detected was 60 under sunlight, 34 under 400 times full moonlight, and 27 under 40 times full moonlight. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 1971
- Accession Number
- AD0728629
Entities
People
- Don F. Mckechnie
- E. P. Hanavan
- Herschel C. Self
- James L. Porterfield
- Steve A. Heckart
Organizations
- Air Force Research Laboratory