Enhanced Algorithms for EO/IR Electronic Stabilization, Clutter Suppression, and Track-Before-Detect for Multiple Low Observable Targets

Abstract

We develop and evaluate a suite of advanced algorithms which provide significantly-improved capabilities for finding fixing, and tracking multiple ballistic and flying low observable objects in highly stressing cluttered environments. The algorithms have been developed for use in satellite-based staring and scanning optical surveillance suites for applications including theatre and intercontinental ballistic missile early warning, trajectory prediction, and multi-sensor track handoff for midcourse discrimination and intercept. The system performs sensor motion compensation providing sub-pixel stabilization (to 1/100 of a pixel), as well as advanced spatial-temporal clutter estimation and suppression to below sensor noise levels, followed by statistical background modeling and nonlinear Bayesian multiple-target track-before- detect filtering. The multiple-target tracking is performed in physical world coordinates to allow for multisensor fusion, trajectory prediction, and intercept. The algorithms are designed to handle a wide variety of real-world challenges: the scene background may contain significant celestial, earth limb, or terrestrial clutter, and the targets of interest may be dim, relative to the scene background. The performance of the developed algorithms is demonstrated using real-world data containing resident space objects observed from the MSX platform, with backgrounds varying from celestial to combined celestial and earth limb. Simulation results are also presented for parameterized variations in signal-to-clutter levels (down to 1/1000) and signal-to-noise levels (down to 1/6) for simulated targets against real-world terrestrial clutter backgrounds.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Sep 01, 2009
Accession Number
ADA531834

Entities

People

  • Alexander G. Tartakovsky
  • Andrew P. Brown
  • James Brown

Organizations

  • Air Force Research Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Materials and Manufacturing Processes
  • Sensors
  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Algorithms
  • Apogees
  • Artificial Satellites
  • Detection
  • Detectors
  • Elliptical Orbits
  • Image Processing
  • Low Earth Orbits
  • Military Research
  • Multitarget Tracking
  • Orbits
  • Resident Space Objects
  • Sensor Fusion
  • Sequential Monte Carlo Methods
  • Space Objects
  • Target Tracking
  • Trajectories

Readers

  • Adaptive Control and Estimation with Uncertainty in Dynamic Systems.
  • Image Processing and Computer Vision.
  • Sensor Fusion and Tracking Systems.

Technology Areas

  • AI & ML
  • Microelectronics
  • Microelectronics - Microelectromechanical Systems
  • Space
  • Space - Space Objects