Methodology for Evaluating Autonomous IR Tracker Performance

Abstract

Evaluating the capability of autonomous infrared (IR) trackers requires tools and methods to assess tracker performance as a function of target and background conditions. A methodology for assessing the performance of such IR trackers has been developed and implemented for analyzing captive flight test IR seeker imagery. imagery is post-processed using the Tracker Analysis and Ground-Truth (TAG) tool to establish the target position in every frame of an IR sequence. The signature metrics of the target and background are extracted from each frame using the Software for Extracting Metrics from IR Sequences (SEMIRS). The sequences are then processed using the Imaging Seeker Algorithm Testbed (ISAT) to assess the performance of individual trackers. Finally, software has been implemented to match tracker performance results with the extracted signature information, producing a spreadsheet compatible file that can be used for analysis and plot generating. This process was developed and demonstrated using more than 50 IR sequences of a CFT IR seeker in closing encounters against ground vehicles.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Aug 01, 2002
Accession Number
ADP023095

Entities

People

  • Carrie Kimbel
  • Jay A. Lightfoot
  • Judson R. Griffin
  • Mark A. Chambliss
  • Paul D. Lavellee

Tags

Communities of Interest

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

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Algorithms
  • Army Aviation
  • Atmospheric Attenuation
  • Batch Processing
  • Calibration
  • Captive Flight
  • Engineering
  • Errors
  • Field Tests
  • Flight
  • Focal Plane Arrays
  • Focal Planes
  • Hot Spots
  • Sequences
  • Slant Range
  • Target Signatures
  • Technical Information Centers

Readers

  • Computer Vision.
  • Sensor Fusion and Tracking Systems.