Abstract: The invention, in its various aspects and embodiments, comprises a method and apparatus for an optical filament launch. In one aspect, the present invention generates a plurality of plasma filaments defining a radio frequency propagation path. In a second aspect, the present invention generates a pulsed plasma filament RF transmission line.

Abstract: The present invention presents a technique for use in registering two images. In a first aspect, the invention includes a computer-implemented method for use in registering a first image to a second image, comprising: generating a base transform between the first and second image; generating a plurality of candidate control points from the first and second images; generating a plurality of meshed regions from the base control points and the actual control points from which the first image may be mapped to the second image. In other aspects, the includes a program storage medium encoded with instructions that, when executed by a computing device, will perform the method; a computing apparatus programmed to perform the method; a data product produced by the method; a program storage medium encoded with a data product produced by the method; and a computing apparatus on which resides a data product produced by the above method.

Abstract: A LADAR system and with lookdown and loitering capabilities is disclosed. In one aspect, an apparatus includes a LADAR sensor and a gimbal. The LADAR sensor is mounted to the gimbal, which is capable of scanning in azimuth sufficient to provide a look down and loitering capability. In another aspect, a method includes flying an airborne vehicle through an environment; and scanning a LADAR signal forward and to at least one side into a field of regard.

Abstract: A technique for use in security screening and detection contexts employs an X-ray explosive imager that acquires images from backscattered RF modulated X-ray signals on which a time series analysis is performed to detect image change across the time series of images that represent pixels changing at the rate of the difference frequency of the RF frequency and the a priori NQR signature frequencies.

Abstract: The present invention includes a multifaceted imaging semi-active laser system (“I-SALS”). In one aspect, the I-SALS closes on a laser designation of a target until it starts imaging the target, whereupon the I-SALS then homes on the target from the image. Some embodiments employ a slightly defocused designation. Other embodiments use existential jitter in the designation and other embodiments intentionally induce a jitter in the designation called dither. One particular embodiments provides a dual field-of-view optics package that has no moving parts.