Electro Optic Avionic Advanced Guidance, Navigation and Control (GNC) Algorithm Development to Enhance the Lethality of Interceptors Against Maneuveri

This Phase II effort will further develop a technique to improve current seeker discrimination and tracking capabilities using a unique particle filter algorithm (PFA) approach. The advancement represents a significant upgrade to current and future seekers facing advanced threats in stressing environments. Quantifiable improvements over many facets of the current approach have been realized during the Phase I effort, including real time operation, operation in cluttered fields, the ability to track multiple targets, and maintaining track on targets which disappear and then re-appear (e.g., go out of frame and then come back into frame), all at low signal to noise ratios. The assumptions of linear dynamics and Gaussian noise as used in traditional Kalman filtering are no longer necessary with the PFA, allowing it to address a much broader range of tracking scenarios including agile and non-ballistic threats. The result of the proposed effort will be a set of optimized algorithms that have been tested and validated in MDA relevant scenarios ranging from simulations to field and flight tests.