Advanced Airborne Optical Sensing
Abstract
The Advanced Airborne Optical Sensing program develops electro-optical and infrared sensors and processing technologies for aerial platforms. Significant challenges arise as the result of two warfighting trends. First, the ever-changing mix of airborne platforms now includes a greater number of smaller UAVs. Second, the target set is increasingly challenging and now includes vehicles and individual dismounts that operate under foliage and in urban canyons, using camouflage, obscurants, and other means of concealment. In response to these challenges, the Advanced Airborne Optical Sensing program brings recent advances in optical, electro-optical, photonic and other technologies to airborne optical sensing systems. Specific examples of these technologies include: embedded image processors tailored to real-time detection, identification, and tracking of military targets; advanced laser radar technologies; hyper-spectral sensing technologies; flash detection and underwater object detection; advanced digital signal processing to support onboard image reconstruction, atmospheric correction, and system calibration; and adaptive optics techniques, such as deformable mirrors and liquid crystal spatial light modulators. The program extends these technologies and makes them practical for airborne surveillance systems. Efforts in this program include: - The Standoff Precision ID in 3-D (SPI 3-D) program is developing an affordable sensor package capable of high-resolution 3-D imaging for confirmatory target ID at long ranges, as well as full field of view (FOV) ranging to support precise geolocation of targets. The program includes a series of ground-based and airborne demonstrations of SPI 3-D capabilities including: (1) high range resolution 3-D imaging; (2) full FOV range to pixel determination; (3) multiple frame-to-frame registration of imagery; and (4) GPS-based cueing from search systems. A demonstration will be performed to illustrate SPI 3-D compatibility with operational ISR systems such as the joint-service LITENING pod or Multi-spectral Targeting System (MTS) turrets and to support transition to the USAF in FY 2012. The program will also produce high speed, ultra sensitive photodetectors for systems requiring operation at very low photon counts. This will support long range sensors that can detect highly obscured targets under canopy/camouflage as well as very wide-area searches for submerged targets including sea mines and semi-submerged mobile vessels. - The HALOE (High Altitude Lidar Operations Experiment) program will demonstrate, in an operational environment, the full capability of a 3-D imaging system. The HALOE system will provide support for current and emerging warfighter needs by delivering high-resolution, wide-area 3-D lidar imagery data in the OCONUS environment. This system provides the unprecedented capability to collect accurate, high resolution 3-D data over wide areas, to support a wide range of high-value applications, including detailed mission planning, vertical obstruction detection, helicopter landing zone analysis, and imagery geolocation. The pathway to accomplish this goal includes improving the robustness and reliability of the sensor, conducting demonstrations, and training with CONUS flight tests leading to OCONUS operational experimentation in partnership with the Army. HALOE successfully completed the CONUS flight testing phase and has deployed OCONUS to address current and emerging needs of U.S. forces under the direction of commanders in theater. The HALOE system is planned to transition to the Army upon completion of the DARPA operations experiment. - The Spatially Processed Image Detection and Ranging (SPIDAR) program will demonstrate coherent imaging methods that will form a large, effective optical aperture from a set of smaller, lighter telescopes providing for very high-resolution 3-D and 2-D ladar imagery of distant targets with a compact system configuration. This capability is very well suited for long-range engagements from airborne or space-based platforms and could significantly enhance the current synthetic aperture imaging approaches by providing the desired cross-range resolution along the axis perpendicular to the direction of travel. This capability is also applicable on a small scale to provide very-high resolution imagery in a compact configuration for long-range target ID beyond the range of conventional imaging methods limited by diameter of the primary receiver aperture. The gain in size, weight, and power over more conventional lidar implementations will be assessed and demonstrated. Additionally, suitable missions and platforms for the technology will be identified. SPIDAR technologies will be transitioned to the U.S. Air Force. - The Tactical Aircraft to Increase Long Wave Infrared Nighttime Detection (TAILWIND) program will develop and demonstrate a system for collecting and processing IR data operating as a framing sensor. The system will accept long wave infrared and color camera images permitting day/night reconnaissance for real-time target detection and tracking. The resulting sensor and processing system will decrease the time required to focus the sensor operator's attention on relevant targets. The TAILWIND system is planned for transition to the U.S. Army.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Accomplishment
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2012
- Source ID
- a72bef060bcaff3feab0661f09584ec2
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- Root: SENSOR TECHNOLOGY