Passive Ranging Using Inferior Mirages

Abstract

A method, and a system responsive thereto, is disclosed for determining the height and range of targets, particularly low altitude targets. The method depends upon the occurrence of a subrefractive atmosphere causing an inferior mirage image which is utilized along with the real image in a ray tracing technique with the cross-over points yielded therefrom being indicative of the height and range of the target being detected.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Sep 18, 1998
Accession Number
ADD019053

Entities

People

  • Joseph W. Trahan

Organizations

  • United States Department of the Navy

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Temperature
  • Altitude
  • Atmospheres
  • Computer Graphics
  • Detection
  • Detectors
  • Electromagnetic Radiation
  • Elevation
  • Infrared Cameras
  • Low Altitude
  • Measurement
  • Optical Detectors
  • Radiation
  • Ray Tracing
  • Refraction
  • Refractive Index
  • Temperature Gradients

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Systems Analysis and Design
  • Vision Science/Vision Psychology/Cognitive Neuroscience.
  • Wave Propagation and Nonlinear Chaotic Dynamics.