Abstract: A method and apparatuses may be provided for detection, tracking, and classification of one or more land, maritime, or airborne objects using a real-aperture radar mounted on a parasail airborne platform. Both wide-area and localized radar surveillance can be provided, and the radar can be either a non-coherent radar or coherent radar. A method and apparatus may use a low-cost, rotating, single-beam, non-coherent, X-band radar that is mounted on an unmanned powered parasail and operated remotely like an Unattended Airborne System (UAS). The parasail, which may be expendable or recoverable, manned or unmanned, powered or unpowered, may have a low operational cost, can carry a heavy payload, stay on station for a long time, circle or move to a specified location for surveillance, operate at an optimal altitude and look-angle, and automatically cue or manually steer an EO/IR camera to a target of interest for classification and identification.

Abstract: A land-based Smart-Sensor System and several system architectures for detection, tracking, and classification of people and vehicles automatically and in real time for border, property, and facility security surveillance is described. The preferred embodiment of the proposed Smart-Sensor System is comprised of (1) a low-cost, non-coherent radar, whose function is to detect and track people, singly or in groups, and various means of transportation, which may include vehicles, animals, or aircraft, singly or in groups, and cue (2) an optical sensor such as a long-wave infrared (LWIR) sensor, whose function is to classify the identified targets and produce movie clips for operator validation and use, and (3) an IBM CELL supercomputer to process the collected data in real-time. The Smart Sensor System can be implemented in a tower-based or a mobile-based or combination system architecture. The radar can also be operated as a stand-alone system.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for detection and tracking of one or more objects in land clutter, including strong clutter and low observable (LO) objects such as a humans, animals, vehicles, and small, low-flying aircraft using a non-coherent radar or the amplitude output of a coherent radar. The preferred embodiment of the method and apparatus uses an X-band, maritime, non-coherent radar and the Doppler spectra computed from the high-frequency amplitude modulations produced by the object interacting with the land-based clutter to determine the presence, velocity, and track of the object.

Abstract: A method and apparatuses may be provided for detection, tracking, and classification of one or more land, maritime, or airborne objects using a real-aperture radar mounted on a parasail airborne platform. Both wide-area and localized radar surveillance can be provided, and the radar can be either a non-coherent radar or coherent radar. A method and apparatus may use a low-cost, rotating, single-beam, non-coherent, X-band radar that is mounted on an unmanned powered parasail and operated remotely like an Unattended Airborne System (UAS). The parasail, which may be expendable or recoverable, manned or unmanned, powered or unpowered, may have a low operational cost, can carry a heavy payload, stay on station for a long time, circle or move to a specified location for surveillance, operate at an optimal altitude and look-angle, and automatically cue or manually steer an EO/IR camera to a target of interest for classification and identification.

Abstract: A land-based Smart-Sensor System and several system architectures for detection, tracking, and classification of people and vehicles automatically and in real time for border, property, and facility security surveillance is described. The preferred embodiment of the proposed Smart-Sensor System is comprised of (1) a low-cost, non-coherent radar, whose function is to detect and track people, singly or in groups, and various means of transportation, which may include vehicles, animals, or aircraft, singly or in groups, and cue (2) an optical sensor such as a long-wave infrared (LWIR) sensor, whose function is to classify the identified targets and produce movie clips for operator validation and use, and (3) an IBM CELL supercomputer to process the collected data in real-time. The Smart Sensor System can be implemented in a tower-based or a mobile-based, or combination system architecture. The radar can also be operated as a stand-alone system.

Abstract: A land-based Smart-Sensor System and several system architectures for detection, tracking, and classification of people and vehicles automatically and in real time for border, property, and facility security surveillance is described. The preferred embodiment of the proposed Smart-Sensor System is comprised of (1) a low-cost, non-coherent radar, whose function is to detect and track people, singly or in groups, and various means of transportation, which may include vehicles, animals, or aircraft, singly or in groups, and cue (2) an optical sensor such as a long-wave infrared (LWIR) sensor, whose function is to classify the identified targets and produce movie clips for operator validation and use, and (3) an IBM CELL supercomputer to process the collected data in real-time. The Smart Sensor System can be implemented in a tower-based or a mobile-based, or combination system architecture. The radar can also be operated as a stand-alone system.

Abstract: A land-based smart sensor system and several system architectures for detection, tracking, and classification of people and vehicles automatically and in real time for border, property, and facility security surveillance is described. The preferred embodiment of the proposed smart sensor system is comprised of (1) a low-cost, non-coherent radar, whose function is to detect and track people, singly or in groups, and various means of transportation, which may include vehicles, animals, or aircraft, singly or in groups, and cue (2) an optical sensor such as a long-wave infrared (LWIR) sensor, whose function is to classify the identified targets and produce movie clips for operator validation and use, and (3) a supercomputer to process the collected data in real-time. The smart sensor system can be implemented in a tower-based or a mobile-based, or combination system architecture. The radar can also be operated as a stand-alone system.

Abstract: A method for determining whether a target of interest located within radar resolution cells in a target area of interest is detectable with a radar system from a location and elevation of the radar system is described. The method includes the steps of (a) developing a topographic map of the terrain in the target area of interest; (b) mapping the radar resolution cells onto the topographic map; (c) modeling radar signal propagation to each of the radar resolution cells on the topographic map; and (d) determining, using the results of the modeling, if the radar system has sufficient signal-to-noise (SNR) to detect the target of interest.

Abstract: A land-based smart sensor system and several system architectures for detection, tracking, and classification of people and vehicles automatically and in real time for border, property, and facility security surveillance is described. The preferred embodiment of the proposed smart sensor system is comprised of (1) a low-cost, non-coherent radar, whose function is to detect and track people, singly or in groups, and various means of transportation, which may include vehicles, animals, or aircraft, singly or in groups, and cue (2) an optical sensor such as a long-wave infrared (LWIR) sensor, whose function is to classify the identified targets and produce movie clips for operator validation and use, and (3) a supercomputer to process the collected data in real-time. The smart sensor system can be implemented in a tower-based or a mobile-based, or combination system architecture. The radar can also be operated as a stand-alone system.

Abstract: A method of detecting a leak in a pressurized pipeline system, in which a measurement is performed to determine the difference in the rate of change of pressure due to a leak between one pressure level and at least one other pressure level, after compensation has been made for thermally induced changes in the pressure.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for measuring the pressure or other physical quantities of a gas or a liquid in a sealed container without penetrating the container. Two permanent magnets, one located on a sensing unit inside the container and one located on a readout unit located outside the container are used to communicate the magnitude of the pressure sensed inside the container to the readout unit. No power supply is required to implement this system.

Abstract: A method and improved apparatus for detecting leaks in pressurized pipeline systems, which compensate for the thermally induced volume changes of the liquid in the line during a test that are produced by both the nonlinear changes in the mean temperature of the liquid and the pressure-induced perturbations of the temperature of the liquid.

Abstract: An acoustic method and apparatus for measuring the horizontal surface location and depth of any type of underground pipe or conduit, including nonmetallic or nonconductive pipe, such as sewer, gas, and water pipes, which cannot be detected with electromagnetic locators. A continuous-wave (CW) acoustic signal is injected into and transmitted through the fluid (liquid or gas) in the pipe. The horizontal surface location and depth of the pipe are determined from an analysis of the phase measurements derived from an array of acoustic measurements, which are made at the surface and approximately perpendicular to the direction of the underground pipe.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring liquid level in a container, the apparatus having a flexible measurement scale attached at one end to a weight for retainment at the bottom of the container and at the opposite end to a receiver at the top of the container. A float moves along the flexible scale, and has a configuration and density designed to place a portion of the float below the level of the liquid to be measured and a portion above the liquid level. The portion above the liquid level contains transmitter apparatus for applying energy to one side of the scale, and detection apparatus on the other side for detecting energy transmitted through the scale and converting it to a liquid level in the container.

Abstract: A method and improved apparatus for detecting leaks in pressurized pipeline systems, which compensate for the thermally induced volume changes of the liquid in the line during a test that are produced by both the nonlinear changes in the mean temperature of the liquid and the pressure-induced perturbations of the temperature of the liquid.

Abstract: An apparatus for detection of leaks in pressurized pipelines which utilizes a large pressure vessel and a small measurement vessel. The measurement vessel magnifies level changes during leak detection tests. The apparatus is connected to a pipeline through the measurement vessel. The entire system can be filled with liquid from the pipeline by opening a valve between the measurement and pressure vessels. Leak detection tests are conducted by measuring changes in volume with the measurement vessel over time while the pressure over the liquid in the pressure vessel and measurement vessel is maintained approximately constant. During tests, liquid communication between the measurement vessel and pressure vessel is prevented by closing the valve between them, but vapor communication between the vessels is permitted.

Abstract: A method for measuring thermally corrected leak rates in a pressurized pipeline system. The pipeline system is pressurized to at least two different pressures, and changes of volume of product required to maintain approximately constant pressure are measurized at each pressure. A temperature-compensated volume rate is computed.

Abstract: The piston displacement apparatus and method for detection of leaks in pressurized pipelines disclosed herein measures volume changes at different pressures to determine thermally compensated leak rates. The apparatus uses a piston displacement apparatus to precisely determine volume changes.

Abstract: The apparatus and method for detection of leaks in pressurized pipelines disclosed herein measures thermally compensated leak rates. The apparatus uses an acoustic sensor and fiducial reference system to precisely determine leak rates.

Abstract: The gas pressure control apparatus and method for detection of leaks in pressurized pipelines disclosed herein measures thermally compensated leak rates. The apparatus uses a pressure vessel and gas pressure control system to precisely determine leak rates.