Abstract: A method is described for providing an estimate of the state of a stationary or moving contact in a three dimensional ocean. The method comprises the steps of collecting information about a location of an observer during a sequence of time, information from at least one sensor about a position of the contact relative to the observer during the time sequence, and a knowledge vector. Transforming the information into a series of three dimensional geographical grids. Examining the grids to identify hypothesized contact paths and analyzing the hypothesized contact paths to produce an estimate of the state of the contact with respect to the location of the observer. A device for providing the estimate of the state of a stationary or moving contact includes a grid stimulation block for transforming the collected information into the three dimensional geographical grids. A fusion block where grids corresponding to similar time intervals are combined or fused.

Abstract: A likelihood of detecting a reflected signal characterized by phase discontinuities and background noise is enhanced by utilizing neural networks to identify coherency intervals. The received signal is processed into a predetermined format such as a digital time series. Neural networks perform different tests over arbitrary testing intervals to determine the likelihood of a phase discontinuity occurring in any such interval. An integration time generator subsequently uses this information to define a series of contiguous coherency intervals over the duration of the received signal. These coherency intervals are then used for piece-wise processing of the received signal by parallel quadrature receivers. The outputs are combined and processed for detecting the presence of the reflected signal.

Abstract: A system for unwrapping an artificial neural network (ANN) to determine the tilization and functionality of the nodes uses a network generator for generating an initial ANN architecture. Training and pruning processors operate to generate minimal ANN architectures having increasingly lower levels of classification accuracy. A network analyzer uses an analysis controller to receive minimal ANN architectures from the pruning processor. A connection analyzer operates on the minimal ANN architectures to identify the inputs to the minimal ANN architecture and determine the information represented by and contained in the network inputs. A node analyzer, coupled to the connection analyzer, then defines the utilization and functionality of each node in the minimal ANN architecture in terms of known functions.

Abstract: A system for generating a minimal artificial neural network (ANN) architecture having as inputs the minimal number of features necessary to discriminate between event classes. A network generator generates an initial ANN architecture. A training processor generates a trained ANN by training the initial ANN to a desired degree of accuracy. A pruning processor prunes the trained ANN by removing interconnections and nodes from the trained ANN. The training processor and pruning processor continue to train and prune the ANN until a minimal network architecture having the class discrimination features as its only inputs is obtained.

Abstract: A method is described for providing an estimate of the state of a moving contact. The method comprises providing a device for estimating the state of the contact, inputting information about a location of an observer platform at particular time intervals and information from at least one sensor about a position of the moving contact relative to the observer platform at each time interval into the device, transforming the inputted information into a series of geographical grids with one grid being formed for each reading of the at least one sensor; combining grids corresponding to similar time intervals into a series of consolidated grid representations; and analyzing the series of consolidated grid representations to produce an estimate of the state of the contact at a final point in time where an observation was made.

Abstract: A method is described for providing an estimate of the state of a moving tact in a three dimensional ocean. The method comprises the steps of providing a device for estimating the state of the contact, inputting into the device information about a location of an observer during a sequence of time, information from at least one sensor about the position of the contact relative to the observer during the time sequence, and a knowledge vector, transforming the inputted information into a series of three dimensional geographical grids, and analyzing the geographical grids to produce an estimate of the state of the contact with respect to the location of the observer. The device for providing the estimate of the state of the moving contact is a neurally inspired contact estimation device.