Program Overview of the Multi-Spectral Sensor Surveillance System (M4S)

Abstract

Over the years a great deal of multi-sensor fusion research has been conducted. While the potential military value of such research is considered high, there have been few fielded examples in the tactical arena. The objective of the Multi-Spectral Sensor Surveillance System (M4S) program is to transition high-payoff, low risk multi-sensor fusion technology from the research and development phase into practical user-oriented systems applications. The primary application focus of M4S is toward a robust and highly integrated autonomous littoral surveillance capability for either manned or unmanned surveillance aircraft. Sensor data from various organic, i.e. on-board, sensors as well as off-board sources is used to provide superior battlespace awareness. Specific operational payoffs from M4S include reduced manning requirements, improved detection, classification, and geo-location accuracy, and reduced prosecution timelines against timecritical targets. This objective and focus has led to the selection of a suite of notional sensors and a data fusion architecture consistent with the limited space and computational capabilities of airborne platforms. The four non-developmental organic sensors chosen for M4S include the PLAID ESM system, AN/APS-137B (V) 5 synthetic aperture radar, AN/AAQ-49 passive mid-wave FLIR, and a coherent CO2 LIDAR vibration sensor. The distributed data fusion architecture, which includes closed loop control of the above on-board sensors, is implemented using Pentium class microprocessors and the Windows NT operating system. All internal communications between system components is provided by a Multipoint Messaging System (MMS), which provides information flow control via an ask-answer messaging protocol. Use of MMS has aided system integration and provides a plug-and-play capability for new or additional sensors.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 01, 1998
Accession Number
ADA399443

Entities

People

  • Elizabeth G. Sullinger
  • Kathleen A. Demetri
  • Michael C. Boe
  • Shozo Mori
  • William H. Barker

Organizations

  • RTX

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Materials and Manufacturing Processes
  • Sensors
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Airborne
  • Aircrafts
  • Data Fusion
  • Detection
  • Detectors
  • Identification
  • Information Processing
  • Operating Systems
  • Platforms
  • Sensor Fusion
  • Software Development
  • Surveillance
  • Synthetic Aperture Radar
  • Test And Evaluation
  • Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

Readers

  • Enterprise Information Systems Architecture and Joint Command Capability Interoperability Support.
  • Image Processing and Computer Vision.
  • Robotics and Automation.

Technology Areas

  • Autonomy
  • Autonomy - UAVs
  • Space
  • Space - Space Objects