Novel Concepts in Real-Time Optical Tracking,

Optical tracking has been a mainstay of accurate metric range instrumentation since the first testing of modern rocketry. The accuracies that were possible from optical instruments exceeded those from other available instruments. Improvements in encoders, optical testing, modelling of the atmosphere, and optical design continuously improved the accuracies of optical instruments. The major drawback is the required film processing which delayed the delivery of boresight corrected optical data. Recent changes in technology have created the potential for relieving part of the delay in data delivery. Automatic tracking methods using high-speed microprocessors, artificial intelligence, and pattern recognition techniques, together with special modifications to the existing optical systems, are now available to perform most of the film reading function in an on-line, real-time mode. These methods far exceed the conventional contrast, edge, and correlation trackers in sophistication and capability, since they are based upon an understanding of some definable properties of the image involving many parameters as compared to only a few.