ARETE ASSOCIATES — Department of Defense SBIR Phase I: N161-013

Description

Precision-guided munitions (PGMs) are highly efficient since they are accurate, reliable, and minimize collateral damage. Image-based guidance systems are often more precise and robust than laser-guided or GPS systems which can be easily jammed or disabled. However, the performance of image-guided systems relies on the correspondence between a reference image collected during the planning stage and images collected by an on-board imaging sensor. The Navy therefore requires a robust image correspondence method to attain the necessary precision and accuracy for mission success. A Figure of Merit (FOM) will be developed through statistical analysis to provide a quantitative assessment during mission planning stages, predicting how effectively the weapon will acquire and be guided to a target with its image-based system. Aret Associates proposed FOM will assess cross-modal (EO/IR) correspondence for day-night capability, determining if the correspondence achieves the necessary high degree of confidence.