Tracking with Intermittent Radar Coverage: I. Interruptions After Each Collected Frame of Imagery
Abstract
Imagery simulating the output of a moving target indicator (MTI) radar was used in two experiments to determine the effect on the ability of radar operators to track targets moving in one particular area, when the radar was being switched intermittently to provide coverage of a second area as well. In both experiments, we investigated the effects of switching away from the area of interest after each complete scan of that area, varying the length of each interruption that occurred before returning for another scan of the primary area. The frames of simulated MTI radar imagery used for each condition were shown in time compression to twelve operators in both experiments. The results of the two experiments seem to present a coherent picture. Increasing the length of the interruptions in coverage from 15 to 30 seconds had little effect on tracking performance. With interruptions of 45 to 90 seconds, performance was worse with smaller target units, containing ten vehicles, than it was for larger units. However, with interruptions of 120 seconds, there was a decrement for all target units, large and small, compared to the level of tracking performance achieved with shorter interruptions.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 01, 1984
- Accession Number
- ADP003322
Entities
People
- J. R. Bloomfield
- R. K. Little
Organizations
- Honeywell International, Inc.