Real Time Enhanced Fine Tracking in Directed Energy Applications

Description

To develop a real-time computational pipeline that meets the demanding latency and throughput requirements for real-time enhanced accurate 3D imaging for directed energy applications.Motivation: The growing threat of drone-based attacks has underscored the critical need for advanced counter-drone technology in the DoD. One area of interest is the potential for 3D imaging modalities to outperform 2D modalities in these circumstances. 2D imaging modalities cannot explicitly separate an object from clutter, for example, without additional image processing/hardware. Moreover, the use of coherent illuminators provides 2D imagery with non-uniform illumination patterns (scintillation) on the target and speckle noise in the target imagery. These shortcomings of 2D imaging & tracking are especially relevant to the fine track segment of the directed energy (DE) kill chain. As such, we wish to investigate 3D imaging (a.k.a. LiDaR or ladar) in conjunction with machine-learning-based declutter and image reconstruction approaches to fill in the technology gaps that are present for 2D imaging and tracking. While this topic is focused on counter-drone technologies, a top priority for the Office of the Secretary of Defense, this technology is relevant for missile defense in general, including ballistic, cruise, and hypersonic missiles, which were referenced in a recent executive order [1].Benefit: AFRL/RD is interested in investigating solutions that address the problems of background clutter, scintillation, and speckle in DE-specific target tracking engagements. 3D imaging provides a leg-up over 2D imaging for several key reasons: (1) 3D imaging allows for precise range gating of the target signature from cluttered backgrounds, (2) range images, which are generated from the 3D data itself, are extremely robust against the deleterious effects of scintillation and speckle, and (3) 3D coherent imaging allows for the correction of phase aberrations that arise due to aero-optics and turbulence. Providing 3D imaging & tracking capabilities to the warfighter will greatly enhance counter-drone and counter-missile defenses as well as increase intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities as an added benefit.Main Goal: To develop a 3D imaging & tracking prototype that meets the demanding latency and throughput requirements for real-time enhanced accurate 3D imaging for DE applications.Subgoals: 1. (Basic Research) Study the pros and cons of 3D imaging modalities and determine system requirements for engagements that are of interest to AFRL/RDL. Design 3D imaging system.2.(Applied Research) Develop and improve 3D tracking and aimpoint maintenance algorithms to be used for 3D data in general.3.(Applied Research) Develop 3D imaging prototype by leveraging the results of Tasks 1 & 2into hardware development.Deliverables: Reports on PowerPoint and text-based manuscript formats. Tracking algorithms and software for 3D image processing. Hardware prototype of 3D imaging system (Phase II)