Luminance, Contrast and Polarization of White Light Reflected from Ground Combat Vehicles
Abstract
This document presents the results of a comprehensive study for the luminance and polarization characteristics of three selected combat vehicles. The objective was to measure and analyze bi-directional reflectance data for the M60 tank, the Marine Corps amphibious Light Armored Vehicle (LAV25), the Ml tank and various background scenes. The goal was to understand the passive, visual signatures of these vehicles in terms of phenomenological parameters such as angles of incidence and reflection, polarization angles, material properties, diurnal changes, vehicle geometry and shape, and scene content. The primary illumination sources were the sun, sky and background reflections, and a laboratory xenon arc lamp. The analysis relied primarily upon the Fresnel equations for the polarization work and geometric optics for the luminance data. Important results include the identification of elevated vehicle regions as the primary sources of specular reflected solar illuminance, sky illumination as the principal source of intensely polarized reflected light, temporal variations in contrast across the target as a function of diurnal time period and vehicle orientation, and the aging characteristics of the chemical agent resistant coating (CARC) paints used on the vehicle surfaces. This work is volume one of an extended effort to analyze ground combat vehicle signatures.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 1992
- Accession Number
- ADA265255
Entities
People
- Grant R. Gerhart
- Roy M. Matchko
Organizations
- Tank-automotive and Armaments Command