Accession Number:

AD0743560

Title:

Atmospheric Contrast Transmission: Application to the Visual Detection and Electro-Optical Lock-On Problem

Descriptive Note:

Master's thesis

Corporate Author:

AIR FORCE INST OF TECH WRIGHT-PATTERSON AFB OH SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING

Personal Author(s):

• Duff, Edward A.

Report Date:

1972-06-01

Pagination or Media Count:

177.0

Abstract:

Models for the prediction of detection range are evaluated in this report. The contrast available at the eye or the electro-optical sensor is assumed to be the limiting factor. The atmosphere provides a transmission factor for the target-background contrast. A model for the prediction of contrast transmission proposed by Duntley in 1948 is examined. Duntleys work provides an analytic solution based on an equation which relates visibility to air-transmittance along an inclined path, and a table of sky-ground ratios. An improved relation for visibility is developed by the author. More realistic sky-ground ratios are obtained from calculated data and from flight tests.

Descriptors:

• *LIGHT TRANSMISSION
• *OPTICAL TRACKING
• SCATTERING
• TARGET RECOGNITION
• SIGNAL TO NOISE RATIO
• BACKGROUND
• ALBEDO
• ATMOSPHERE MODELS
• TARGET POSITION INDICATORS
• THESES
• TARGET DISCRIMINATION
• MONTE CARLO METHOD

Subject Categories:

• Atmospheric Physics
• Optical Detection and Detectors

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE