Detecting Tactical Targets with Motion Pictures from Low Slow Aircraft
Abstract
Finding and recognizing small unbriefed tactical targets with a narrow-angle forward-looking airborne sensor was examined at a simulated aircraft speed of 60 knots, in the helicopter and hovercraft speed range. A motion picture camera depressed 7 degrees downward flown near noon on sunny days at 340 feet above the terrain along country roads in Florida collected black- and-white pictures, with a narrow field of view of 6 degrees 4 minutes high and 8 degrees 21 minutes wide. Displayed scene resolution for observers in the laboratory was about 1-3/4 minutes of arc. Fourteen university students searched the motion picture screen for heavy construction equipment, trucks, cars, and people. Performance measures were correlated with each other and with target characteristics. Acquisition ranges, percentage of targets detected (%D), and response accuracy increased with target size. Acquisition range and response time varied significantly with response accuracy only for cars, and with contrast only for trucks. Average contrast of detected targets was, except for trucks, unrelated to %D, accuracy, and reaction time. Relative ranks of observers on %D were not maintained across target types, and neither was rank on accuracy, but reaction time had some consistency across target types. Observer selection was discussed.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 01, 1979
- Accession Number
- ADA074808
Entities
People
- Herschel C. Self
Organizations
- Air Force Research Laboratory