Discrimination, Identification and Tracking of Unresolved Targets Using Tomographic Integration of Multiplex Sensor Data

Authors: David Brady; DUKE UNIV DURHAM NC OFFICE OF RESEARCH SUPPORT

Abstract:

This final report describes progress in the 2002-2006 fiscal years in development of a small aperture telescopic array for identification and tracking of flying objects using their visible spectral radiance and position. The goal of this project is to simultaneously track and identify objects in orbit. Here we describe several instruments we have developed based on spectrally dispersive elements rather than interferometric designs. These systems also capture spatial and spectral information from a target point source, but do not exhibit the multiplex disadvantage in SNR. These systems concentrate the signal photons onto one or a few narrow bands on thc detector, rather than the RSI, which distributes the signal photons across the entire detector. These dispersive systems are also less sensitive to vibration and precise alignmcnt vcrsus the RSI system.

Limitations:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE