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Active Target Tracking through Deep Atmospheric Turbulence
Title: Vice President
Phone: (310) 216-1677
Email: wang@tempest-tech.com
Title: President
Phone: (310) 216-1677
Email: fitzpatrick@tempest-tech.com
In this proposal we consider the development of statistical image processing and filtering techniques for optical tracking in systems such as the AirBorne Laser (ABL) tactical missile defense system. Based on a combination of stochastic modeling fornon-uniform illumination patterns with nonlinear Bayesian filtering, our methods promise to provide greatly enhanced tracking and pointing. Scintillation, the turbulence-induced fluctuation of image intensities, is widely regarded as a major problem fortracking and adaptive optics. The methods we propose herein provide the potential to mitigate significantly the effects of scintillation, thus enhancing system performance. Our estimation techniques are also relevant to problems of anisoplanatism that areof crucial importance in extended range ABL system design. Also included in this effort are the study of illumination optimization, using both placement and focus as design variables. Collaborating with scientists and engineers at Georgia Tech, TrexEnterprises, and AFRL, we will use wave propagation simulations data and data collected in tests at Lincoln Laboratory's ACL facility to score the performance of these algorithms. Our partnership with Trex Enterprises, a leading developer of opticaltracking hardware, will allow us to leverage the results obtained in this effort into hardware systems in a most efficient and cost-effective manner.
* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *