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This paper describes new class of high-resolution electro-optical imaging search and surveillance system (visual and/or IR). This new system uniquely provides continuous real-time situation-awareness and response, with immediate detection of approaching/ emerging threats, and rapid assessment of a situation, permitting immediate response/ reaction to counter the threat. As such it is uniquely suited for a very wide variety of diverse surveillance applications, especially in the areas of security and defense. The system provides an uninterrupted real-time, effectively live, imaging-display coverage of the entire 360 degree(s) panorama, all evaluated in real time at the full resolution of the imaging sensor. The image resolution for the full 360 degree(s) panorama collected by the sensor, and displayed by the display module, is unprecedentedly high, typically at least 20 megapixels (e.g., 2,000 pixels vertically by 20,000 pixels in circumference). The associated scene-scan cycle time is typically a second or less. This level of performance assures earliest detection of distant targets and highest-quality evaluation of the targets. Two alternative means of surveillance evaluation are available: the Direct-View (Observer) Surveillance Evaluation, and the Semi-Automated Surveillance Evaluation, with visual verification by the observer personnel. The resulting surveillance capability is unprecedented, simultaneously providing a) assured target detection anywhere within the 360 degree(s) panorama, b) classification, c) localization, d) tracking, and e) target status and activity monitoring, all without the need for any external tip-off or cueing inputs to the system. The greatest value of this unique situation-awareness capability is primarily in situations requiring high-confidence protection of high-value vehicles or installations located inside a relatively open and unobstructed region wherein hostile threats could quickly appear at any time and from any direction. An important practical aspect of the system is that implementation is straightforward and quite cost-effective, fully leveraging current technology in a unique combination of commercially available components.
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