Modeling, Analysis and Simulation of Targets and Backgrounds for Infrared Seekers

This report is the first of an anticipated series of progress reports on targetbackground modeling related to the US Army Missile Research and Development Commands Ground Target Signature Program. This report contains a mathematical model of the data collection system and a generic class of seekers, plus general purpose digital computer models capable of analyzing raw thermal imagery of target-clutter data. The computer program methodology and algorithm flow require the AGA Thermovision information in a discrete input format. Furthermore, the computer programs output results in a three dimensional plot of infrared intensity as a function of aspect angle for every object in each Thermovision data frame. A two-dimensional matrix is generated to represent infrared intensity as a function of position for 10,000 data points on each Thermovision picture. A computer generated interactive graphics plot of objects grouped by intensity produces a histogram distribution for each Thermovision data frame. Such a histogram may be used to assess the feasibility of automatic target cueing technology in detecting and recognizing tactical targets in forward looking infrared imagery.