A recursive moving-target-indication algorithm for optical imagesequences

A recursive track-before-detect algorithm, producing potentially large signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) gains under realizable conditions, is described. The basic relation has the form of a linear, constant-coefficient difference equation with a unity magnitude damping factor. Known as recursive moving-target-indication (RMTI), this procedure adapts easily to digital processing and achieves SNR gains comparable to those from other robust track-before-detect algorithms. Examples are given to demonstrate the performance of the moving target indicator (MTI) procedure     

Rapid Aquisition Signal Design in a Multiple-Access Environment

Acquisition in a communication receiver is the operation of determining the arrival time of a transmitted periodic timing marker. This is generally accomplished by sending a known acquisition waveform to aid in the arrival time measurement. Certain classes of waveforms are called rapid acquisition waveforms and are advantageous for reducing the time to acquire when sequential methods are used. A multiple-access acquisition environment occurs when a multiplicity of transmitter-receivers are attempting to each individually perform an acquisition operation, each pair interfering with all others. In this paper, a study is made of the interference effects when rapid acquisition techniques are used in a multiple-access environment. The prime object is to determine the manner in which the actual acquisition waveform structure effects the overall system performance. When interference variance is used as a criterion, it is shown that rapid acquisition waveforms made up of component waveforms having disjoint, flat, wideband spectra produce minimal interference. The result suggests the use of coded tone acquisition waveforms. The results have primary application to ranging, surveillance, or navigation operations performed in a many-user situation.     

Optical moving target detection with 3-D matched filtering

Three-dimensional (3-D) matched filtering has been suggested as a powerful processing technique for detecting weak, moving optical targets immersed in a background noise field. The procedure requires the processing of entire sequences of frames of optical scenes containing the moving targets. The 3-D processor must be properly matched to the target signature and its velocity vector, but will simultaneously detect all targets to which it is matched. The results of a study to evaluate the 3-D processor are presented. Simulation results are reported which show the ability of the processor to detect targets well below the background level. These results demonstrate the capability and robustness of the processor, and show that the algorithms, although somewhat complicated, can be implemented readily. Some effects on the number of frames processed, target flight scenarios, and velocity and signature mismatch are also presented. The ability to detect multiple targets is demonstrated     

Application of Three-Dimensional Filtering to Moving Target Detection

The standard approach to the detection of a stationary target immersed within an optically observed scene is to use integration to separate the target energy from the background clutter. When the target is nonstationary and moves with fixed velocity relative to the clutter, the procedure for integrating the target signal is no longer obvious. In this paper it is shown that the problem of tracking a target having a fixed velocity can be cast into a general framework of three-dimensional filter theory. From this point of view, the target detection problem reduces to the problem of finding optimal three-dimensional filters in the three-dimensional transform domain and processing the observed scene via this filtering. The design of these filters is presented, taking into account the target, clutter, and optical detection models. Performance is computed for a basic clutter model, showing the effective increase in detectability as a function of the target velocity. The three-dimensional transform approach is readily compatible with VLSI array processing technology.     

Adaptive Optical Target Detection Using Correlated Images

A method for target detection that achieves clutter rejection by the use of multiple observations of the same target scene is developed. Multiple scene observations can be obtained by processing separate frequency bands of the same target scene or by recursively processing sequential observations in time. Optimal detection algorithms are developed, based on the assumption that the image intensity can be modeled as a variable mean spatial Gaussian process. Several fast detection algorithms are derived which make use of the fact that the covariance matrices of many optical and infrared (IR) images can be accurately approximated by diagonal matrices. These algorithms provide efficient solutions to the problem of processing multiple correlated scenes or multiple sequential imaging. Computer simulations based on actual optical and IR image data were used for checking the theoretical results. The new detection algorithms achieved performance improvement in detection signal-to-noise ratio of up to 10 dB over conventional target correlation methods.     

Error Probabilities in PCM/FM with Phase-Lock Loop Discriminators

Previous literature has analyzed PCM/FM telemetry systems using idealized FM demodulators at the receiver. However, in many systems operating today, phase-lock loop demodulators are employed which depart noticeably from ideal operation as the loop falls ?out of lock.? In this paper an approximate expression for error probability is derived, which clearly indicates the effect of the loop on the previously published data using ideal discriminators. It is shown that the presence of the loop becomes apparent at input signal-to-noise ratios below approximately 3.5 dB, while the amount of error increase over the ideal case depends, to a large extent, upon the shape of IF filtering being used.     

Pointing Error Statistics in Optical Beam Tracking

In tracking optical beams from a source, a pointing error signal is derived from photodetecting the field in the receiver focal plane. This error signal is then used in some manner to control a gimballed system that continually points the receiver optics toward the source. When the source field undergoes turbulent transmission, the optical beam is attenuated and scattered, and the field is randomly defocused at the receiver. In this case the pointing error of the tracking system will evolve as a random vector process in time, statistically related to the random scattering, the photodetection process, and the dynamics of the gimballing system. Such vector processes have probability densities that satisfy well-known differential equations. These equations are derived in terms of accepted scattering models and tracking systems, assuming quadranttype error detectors are used in the focal plane. Approximate solutions are obtained and analyzed for typical operating conditions, and the manner in which the degree of scattering degrades the entire pointing operation is shown.     

Optimal Channelization in FDMA Communications

For most efficient performance in frequency-division multiple access (FDMA), a hard-limiting repeater should be operated completely channelized (i.e., each uplink carrier should be individually filtered and power-controlled prior to spacecraft limiting and downlink transmission). When there are a large number of uplink carriers involved, however, complete channelization is no longer feasible, and the uplink carriers must be grouped together (assigned frequencies), which allows joint filtering and amplification. In this correspondence, it is shown that an optimal grouping procedure always exists for minimizing required repeater power, no matter how many carriers and groups are to be used.