PROJECTILE TRACKING SYSTEM
First Claim
1. A method for determining the track of a projectile using a thermal signature of the projectile, said method comprising the steps of:
- acquiring sequential infrared image frames from a sensor at a given position;
identifying a set of frames containing spots with characteristics consistent with a projectile in flight;
identifying at least one possible projectile track solution for said spots;
determining a projectile thermal signature value for each pixel of each spot of the possible projectile track solution;
ascertaining whether said determined projectile thermal signature substantially matches an actual projectile thermal signature for a substantially similar projectile track.
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Abstract
A system and method for determining the track of a projectile use a thermal signature of the projectile. Sequential infrared image frames are acquired from a sensor at a given position. A set of frames containing spots with characteristics consistent with a projectile in flight are identified. A possible projectile track solution for said spots is identified. A thermal signature value for each pixel of each spot of the possible solution is determined. The determined thermal signature is then compared to an actual thermal signature for a substantially similar projectile track to ascertain whether the determined thermal signature substantially matches the actual thermal signature, which indicates that the possible projectile track solution is the correct solution.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method for determining the track of a projectile using a thermal signature of the projectile, said method comprising the steps of:
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acquiring sequential infrared image frames from a sensor at a given position;
identifying a set of frames containing spots with characteristics consistent with a projectile in flight;
identifying at least one possible projectile track solution for said spots;
determining a projectile thermal signature value for each pixel of each spot of the possible projectile track solution;
ascertaining whether said determined projectile thermal signature substantially matches an actual projectile thermal signature for a substantially similar projectile track. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A system for determining the track of a projectile using a thermal signature of the projectile, said system comprising:
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an infrared sensor for acquiring sequential infrared image frames;
a database component relating projectile thermal signature values for each pixel of each spot for projectile tracks detectable by said infrared sensor; and
a processing component, operatively connected to said database component and said infrared sensor, for;
identifying a set of frames containing spots with characteristics consistent with a projectile in flight;
identifying at least one possible projectile track solution for said spots;
determining a projectile thermal signature value for each pixel of each spot of the possible projectile track solution; and
ascertaining whether said determined projectile thermal signature substantially matches an actual projectile thermal signature from said database component for a substantially similar projectile track. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A computer readable medium having computer executable instructions for performing a method for determining the track of a projectile using a thermal signature of the projectile, said method comprising the steps of:
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acquiring sequential infrared image frames from a sensor at a given position;
identifying a set of frames containing spots with characteristics consistent with a projectile in flight;
identifying at least one possible projectile track solution for said spots;
determining a projectile thermal signature value for each pixel of each spot of the possible projectile track solution;
ascertaining whether said determined projectile thermal signature substantially matches an actual projectile thermal signature for a substantially similar projectile track. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method of building a projectile thermal signature record comprising the steps of:
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(a) selecting an initial projectile track;
(b) aiming the field of view of an infrared sensor at a portion of a path of travel of said projectile track;
(c) repeatedly shooting projectiles in said projectile track in a first environmental condition;
(d) recording infrared images of said projectiles of step (c);
(e) repeatedly shooting projectiles in said projectile track in a second environmental condition that has a substantially different ambient temperature from said first environmental condition;
(f) recording infrared images of said projectiles of step (e);
(g) determining a projectile thermal signature value for each pixel corresponding to a position along said projectile track by;
using a blending function to characterize the measured brightness value of each pixel as a blend of the infrared radiation attributable to the projectile and the infrared radiation attributable to the background;
setting the average values of the radiation attributable to the projectile for each pixel of each set of images equal to one other;
solving for the unknown values of the blending function for each pixel corresponding to a position along said projectile track; and
solving for the projectile thermal signature value for each pixel corresponding to a position along said projectile track;
(h) moving said infrared sensor to another portion of said path of travel of said projectile track and repeating steps (c) through (h) until the full path of travel of said projectile track is documented; and
(i) selecting anther projectile track and repeating steps (b) through (i) until blended function values and projectile thermal signature values are determined for observable solution tracks. - View Dependent Claims (26)
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Specification