Target Acquisition and Analysis Training System: An Exploratory Investigation of Vehicle Identification Performance with Black Hot and White Hot Thermal Images
Abstract
This research note reports on research whose major objectives to determine: 1) how overall identification performance differs between slides of black hot and white thermal vehicle images, and 2) how identification performance is affected by whether the images shown at various ranges are black hot or white hot. The primary conclusions drawn from the data analyses included these: The black hot thermal polarity setting is preferred for target identification by the majority of soldiers who are competent in vehicle recognition and identification using thermal sights. Although an average of absolute differences between performance using black hot and white hot images favored the use of black hot images across all ranges, these results are inconclusive. Further research is suggested. Identification performance using thermal images degrades sharply at intermediate (1300-1700 meter) and far (1800- 2300 meter) ranges. Keywords: Combat vehicles, Thermal imagery, Target acquisition.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 1988
- Accession Number
- ADA195725
Entities
People
- Norman D. Smith
- Otto H. Heuckeroth
- William L. Warnick
Organizations
- U.S. Army Research Institute for the Behavioral and Social Sciences