Systems Approach To The Design Of A Precision Infrared Imaging Tracking System

Felix E. Morgan

doi:10.1117/12.965582

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4 October 1979 Systems Approach to the Design of a Precision Infrared Imaging Tracking System

Felix E. Morgan

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Proceedings Volume 0187, System Aspects of Electro-optics; (1979) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.965582
Event: 1979 Huntsville Technical Symposium, 1979, Huntsville, United States

Abstract

Previous design approaches for precision tracking systems concentrated on the sensor and the signal processor as independent subsystems at the expense of the overall system design. This previous approach resulted in excellent sensors and processors, but quite often the combination was not optimum. Under Air Force contract, the Aeronutronics Division of Ford Aerospace and Communications Corperation developed a precision tracking system consisting of a high resolution FLIR and a computer based signal processor. While each component was an advance in itself, the biggest advance resulted from the successful integrated design of the system. For example, the tracking algorithm compensates in real-time for scanning inaccuracies in the sensor. This algorithm overcame previous tracking accuracy limitations and also relaxed tolerances on the scanner. This paper discusses the design of the tracking system and presents test results demonstrating the improved performance. It also describes a procedure by which the sensor of a tracking system can be optimized for a given processing algorithm. This procedure allows system designers to specify performance of components based on an analysis of the total system's desired performance.

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Felix E. Morgan "Systems Approach to the Design of a Precision Infrared Imaging Tracking System", Proc. SPIE 0187, System Aspects of Electro-optics, (4 October 1979); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.965582

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