Test method used for assessing target detection accuracy of ground moving target indicator data

• US 7,486,229 B1
• Filed: 02/15/2007
• Issued: 02/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Army (Government of the United States of America)
• Original Assignee: The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Army
• Inventors: Govoni, Mark A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza; Thomas H
• Assistant Examiner(s): GALT, CASSI J
• Application Number:
  US11/713,836
• Time in Patent Office: 719 Days
• Field of Search: 342/165, 342/357.02, 342/357.06, 342/357.14, 342 52- 58, 342173-174, 342/119, 342/159, 342/160
• US Class Current: 342/165
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/5242 with means for platform motion or scan motion compensation, e.g. airborne MTI
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4004 of parts of a radar system

Abstract

The Ground Moving Target Indicator (GMTI) target detection accuracy test system receives, compares and analyzes GMTI test data that is formatted according to the NATO-EX (v.2.01) Standard. The GMTI target detection accuracy test system also uses Global Positioning System (GPS) data from the objective target and target reports generated by the GMTI sensor to display the simulation test results. At the conclusion of the GMTI sensor test, both the GPS and GMTI data are collected and compared using a computer processor and the results are displayed using the MATLAB® program to better indicate detection accuracy and provide a higher level of target detection accuracy. A method for testing artillery target detection accuracy method is also provided for characterizing the performance of any GMTI adhering to the NATO-EX Standard and testing against an objective target outfitted with GPS instrumentation.

Claims

1. A terrestrial moving target accuracy test device, comprising:

a detector deployed at a test location detects a plurality of terrestrial moving targets and generates a Ground Moving Target Indicator (GMTI) data input containing a plurality of ground moving target information;

a Global Positioning System (GPS) device positioned at an objective target in proximity to said test location generates a GPS data input, said GPS data input further comprising a plurality of GPS objective target information;

a means for GMTI data input, having a first means for data storage, receives said GMTI data input and converts said GMTI data input according to a NATO-EX standard;

a means for confirmation verifies that said GMTI data input is correctly populated according to said NATO-EX standard;

a means for GPS input, having a second means for data storage, receives and stores said GPS data input;

a means for data conversion, having a plurality of conversion algorithms, converts said GMTI data input and said GPS data input into a common machine-readable format;

a single pairing matrix assembly module combines said GMTI data input and said GPS data input into a matrix;

a matrix error correction module compares said plurality of ground moving target information with said plurality of GPS objective target information that serves as a reference point;

said matrix error correction module provides a matrix error correction input to a means for calculations;

said calculations means identifies a group of variances between said plurality of ground moving target information and said plurality of GPS objective target information to determine a level of target detection accuracy;

said level of target detection accuracy is converted into a graphical display for a user on a means for display;

said graphical display includes a circular error of probability to identify the likelihood of detecting a discrete target at a location relevant to said test location at a given instance in time; and

said graphical display indicates a plurality of detection accuracies of said device.

2. The terrestrial moving target accuracy test device, as recited in claim 1, further comprising

said graphical display includes a group of subplots;

and

said group of subplots include a range and cross-range error of accurate detections, a Time-on-Target (ToT) metric, an output of accepted samples of data, a histogram of standard deviations, and an indication as to where substantial tracks could be created based on frequency of detections and instance of occurrence.

3. The terrestrial moving target accuracy test device, as recited in claim 2, further comprising:

said matrix error correction module performs a group of initial tolerance tests; and

said data conversion means modifies said GPS data by adding a C time and a longitude and latitude coordinate system.

4. The terrestrial moving target accuracy test device, as recited in claim 3, further comprising:

said single pairing matrix assembly module combines a plurality of data sets to form a common instances of occurrence array; and

said plurality of data sets are used for calculating distance tests and acceptance tests.

5. The terrestrial moving target accuracy test device, as recited in claim 4, further comprising:

a means for data processing; and

said device being operated by a group of software programs.

6. A terrestrial moving target accuracy testing system, comprising:

a detector deployed at a test location detects a plurality of terrestrial moving targets and generates a Ground Moving Target Indicator (GMTI) data input containing a plurality of ground moving target information;

a Global Positioning System (GPS) device Positioned at an objective target in proximity to said test location generates a GPS data input, said GPS data input further comprising a plurality of GPS objective target information;

a means for GMTI data input, having a first means for data storage, receives said GMTI data input and converts said GMTI data input according to a NATO-EX standard;

a means for confirmation verifies that said GMTI data input is correctly populated according to said NATO-EX standard;

a means for GPS input, having a second means for data storage, receives and stores said GPS data input;

a means for data conversion, having a plurality of conversion algorithms, converts said GMTI data input and said GPS data input into a common machine-readable format;

a single pairing matrix assembly module combines said GMTI data input and said GPS data input into a matrix;

a matrix error correction module compares said plurality of ground moving target information with said plurality of GPS objective target information that serves as a reference point;

said matrix error correction module provides a matrix error correction input to a means for calculations;

said calculations means identifies a group of variances between said plurality of ground moving target information and said plurality of GPS objective target information to determine a system level of target detection accuracy;

said system level of target detection accuracy is converted into a graphical display for a user on a means for display;

said graphical display includes a circular error of probability to identify the likelihood of detecting a discrete target at a location relevant to said test location at a given instance in time; and

said graphical display indicates a plurality of detection accuracies of said system.

7. The terrestrial moving target accuracy testing system, as recited in claim 6, further comprising:

said matrix error correction module performs a group of initial tolerance tests; and

said data conversion means modifies said GPS data by adding a C time and a longitude and latitude coordinate system.

8. The terrestrial moving target accuracy testing system, as recited in claim 7, further comprising:

said single pairing matrix assembly module combines a plurality of data sets to form a common instances of occurrence array; and

said plurality of data sets are used for calculating distance tests and acceptance tests.

9. The terrestrial moving target accuracy testing system, as recited in claim 8, further comprising:

a means for data processing; and

said system being operated by a group of software programs.

10. A method for testing terrestrial moving target accuracy, comprising the steps of:

deploying a detector at a test location to detect a plurality of terrestrial moving targets;

generating a ground moving target indicator (GMTI) data input from said detector, said GMTI data input containing a plurality of ground moving target data;

positioning a Global Positioning System (GPS) device at an objective target in proximity to said test location;

generating a GPS data input that includes a plurality of GPS objective target information;

receiving and storing said GMTI data input in a means for GMTI input, said GMTI input means, having a first means for data storage, converts said GMTI data input according to a NATO-EX standard;

verifying that said GMTI data input is correctly populated according to said NATO-EX standard with a means for confirmation;

receiving and storing said GPS data input in a means for GPS input, said GPS input means having a second means for data storage;

converting said GMTI data input and said GPS data input into a common machine-readable format in a means for data conversion said data conversion means having a plurality of conversion algorithms;

combining said GMTI data input and said GPS data input into a matrix with a single pairing matrix assembly module;

comparing said plurality of ground moving target information from the GMTI data input with said plurality of GPS objective target information from the GPS data input in a matrix error correction module;

sending a matrix error correction input from said matrix error correction module to a means for calculations;

identifying a plurality of variances between said plurality of ground moving target information and said plurality of GPS objective target information with said calculations means;

determining a level of target detection accuracy based upon identifying said plurality of variances;

converting said level of target detection accuracy into a graphical display for a user on a means for display;

providing a circular error of probability in said graphical display to identify the likelihood of detecting a discrete target at a location relevant to said test location at a given instance in time; and

indicating a plurality of detection accuracies of said method in said graphical display.

11. The method for testing a terrestrial moving target accuracy, as recited in claim 10, further comprising the steps of:

displaying a group of subplots displaying a range and a cross-range error of accurate detections;

displaying a Time-on-Target metric;

displaying an output of accepted samples of data;

displaying a histogram of standard deviations; and

displaying an indication as to where substantial tracks could be created based on a frequency of detections and an instance of occurrence.

12. The method for testing terrestrial moving target accuracy, as recited in claim 11, further comprising the steps of:

performing a group of initial tolerance tests by said matrix error correction module; and

modifying said GPS data by adding a C time and a longitude and latitude coordinate system.

13. The method for testing terrestrial moving target accuracy, as recited in claim 12, further comprising the steps of:

combining a plurality of data sets in said single pairing matrix assembly module to form a common instances of occurrence array; and

using said plurality of data sets for calculating distance tests and acceptance tests.

14. The method for testing terrestrial moving target accuracy, as recited in claim 13, further comprising the step of including a means for data processing.

15. The method for testing terrestrial moving target accuracy, as recited in claim 14, further comprising the step of performing said method with a group of software programs.