Abstract: A spectrometer for capturing two dimensional images of observed scenes in a sequence of spectral sub-bands wherein each measurement of a sub-band occurs over a two dimensional detector array at the same time. Sub-band measurement sequences are executed based upon, a) environmental conditions, b) user priorities, and, c) results of real-time analysis of the two dimensional spectral scene data outputs from the sensor.

Abstract: A low Size, Weight, and Power (SWaP) Agile Navigation and Guidance Enabled by LIDAR (ANGEL) sensor system that enables deployment on a wide variety of air and surface vehicle that have need of accurate situation awareness and have need of timely warning of potential objects that may cause collisions. A highly functional LIDAR sensor system provides accurate and timely detection and localization of potential threat objects. The ANGEL LIDAR sensor system operates in a fully eye-safe spectral band which enables it to be deployed and pose no threat to human vision impairment. The spectral band of operation also enables successful operation under day and night conditions and under conditions of degraded visual environment caused by such weather conditions as dust, fog, and rain.

Abstract: The Hy-ALERT processing system operates simultaneously on the data streams from visible and thermal imaging sensors and from hyperspectral imaging sensors. The visible and thermal image processing uses cognitive-inspired processing techniques that determine the salient content of the imagers based on the system user definition of salient content. The hyperspectral image processing uses anomaly detection and template matching techniques to determine the salient materials content of the observed scenes. Cross-correlation processing of the salient content of the various image and hyperspectral data streams enables the sensor systems to adapt their operating characteristics to optimize effectiveness in near real-time.

Abstract: A spectrometer for capturing two dimensional images of observed scenes in a sequence of spectral sub-bands wherein each measurement of a sub-band occurs over a two dimensional detector array at the same time. Sub-band measurement sequences are executed based upon, a) environmental conditions, b) user priorities, and, c) results of real-time analysis of the two dimensional spectral scene data outputs from the sensor.

Abstract: An imaging LIDAR that can observe varied size scene areas with varied resolution as range to the observed scene changes and as the need for information to be extracted from the LIDAR sensor data evolves. The LIDAR operates at a fully eye-safe spectral wavelength, operated under all conditions of natural illumination and operate in conditions of clear and degraded visibility. The LIDAR is built of materials that can operate in the radiation environments experienced in space. The disclosed LIDAR sensor system has small size, low weight, and consumes minimal power, thus enabling its deployment on platforms that are constrained by size, weight or power limitations.

Abstract: The ACASS 3D LIDAR system operates in a fundamentally new manner combining features of flash LIDARS and scanning LIDARS simultaneously which enables mission and performance trades to be conducted by varying the sizes of illumination patches within the scenes being observed. Further the combination of these modes of operation into a single LIDAR system enables multiple modes of operation and multiple missions to be accomplished with single lasers obviating the need for multiple lasers and enabling significant simplification of beam control modes. Systems which result from the new, expanded size, weight, power, cost trade space enabled by the ACASS concept can provide new levels of performance at significantly reduced risks and costs The achievement of wide area, three dimensional imaging using a LIDAR sensor system is accomplished with one laser which operates using an eye safe fiber laser with very high puke 13 rates but very low energy per pulse.

Abstract: The Hy-ALERT processing system operates simultaneously on the data streams from visible and thermal imaging sensors and from hyperspectral imaging sensors. The visible and thermal image processing uses cognitive-inspired processing techniques that determine the salient content of the imagers based on the system user definition of salient content. The hyperspectral image processing uses anomaly detection and template matching techniques to determine the salient materials content of the observed scenes. Cross-correlation processing of the salient content of the various image and hyperspectral data streams enables the sensor systems to adapt their operating characteristics to optimize effectiveness in near real-time.

Abstract: A LIDAR system that can accommodate both a clear atmosphere and be adaptable to environments in which smoke, dust or other particulates (i.e., a degraded environment) exist in the atmosphere around the target is described. The system operates in two fields of regard: clear view mode (wide field of regard) and a degraded view mode (narrow field of regard). The wide field of regard allows the output laser energy to be concentrated over a large number of detector pixels and thus resulting in high scene scan rate. The narrow field of regard allows concentrating the laser output energy on fewer pixels to compensate for the loss of laser energy due to atmospheric degradation. The combination of the ROIC and LIDAR modes of operation result in a system that is capable of operation under clear and degraded environments.

Abstract: The LIDAR system disclosed herein consists of a wide area search LIDAR subsystem and a narrow field of view 3D Imaging LIDAR subsystem that detects, tracks, and recognizes small Unmanned Aerial Vehicles at ranges that enable interference with the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle mission if desired. The disclosed LIDAR system discriminates the detected small Unmanned Aerial Vehicles from similar, but different, observed objects. The disclosed LIDAR system uses eye safe SWIR lasers for both the search and imaging modes of operation. A signal processor analyses the LIDAR sensor system outputs and provides precision range estimations of observed objects.

Abstract: A low Size, Weight, and Power (SWaP) Agile Navigation and Guidance Enabled by LIDAR (ANGEL) sensor system that enables deployment on a wide variety of air and surface vehicle that have need of accurate situation awareness and have need of timely warning of potential objects that may cause collisions. A highly functional LIDAR sensor system provides accurate and timely detection and localization of potential threat objects. The ANGEL LIDAR sensor system operates in a fully eye-safe spectral band which enables it to be deployed and pose no threat to human vision impairment. The spectral band of operation also enables successful operation under day and night conditions and under conditions of degraded visual environment caused by such weather conditions as dust, fog, and rain.

Abstract: The ACASS 3D LIDAR system operates in a fundamentally new manner combining features of flash LIDARS and scanning LIDARS simultaneously which enables mission and performance trades to be conducted by varying the sizes of illumination patches within the scenes being observed. Further the combination of these modes of operation into a single LIDAR system enables multiple modes of operation and multiple missions to be accomplished with single lasers obviating the need for multiple lasers and enabling significant simplification of beam control modes. Systems which result from the new, expanded size, weight, power, cost trade space enabled by the ACASS concept can provide new levels of performance at significantly reduced risks and costs. The achievement of wide area, three dimensional imaging using a LIDAR sensor system is accomplished with one laser which operates using an eye safe fiber laser with very high pulse rates but very low energy per pulse.

Abstract: The LIDAR apparatus disclosed in this application provides a capability, when deployed on airborne platforms, to increase area search rates to over 1000 square kilometers per hour which is an increase of over a factor of 100 better than the current state of the art. This apparatus operates in the SWIR and Blue-green spectral bands and provides a capability to detect and recognize small objects on the land and sea surface and below the sea surface.

Abstract: An invention is disclosed for a multi-mode LIDAR sensor system that embodies a high pulse rate fiber laser operating in the SWIR wavelength at 1.5 microns, a long linear array of small SWIR sensitive detectors with very high speed readout electronics, and fully integrated methods and processing elements that perform target detection, classification, and tracking using techniques that emulate how the human visual path processes and interprets imaging data. High resolution three dimensional images are created of wide areas. Image exploitation processing methods detect objects and object activities in real time thus enabling diverse applications such as vehicle navigation, critical infrastructure protection, and public safety monitoring.

Abstract: There has been a significant advance in the capabilities of electro-optical sensors to search wide areas and provide data streams that contain information critical to system operators. The problem being addressed by this invention is the accurate and timely interpretation of the observations made by these sensor suites and the instantiation of the processing on practical low power, high throughput processors which enable deployment on a wide variety of platforms. The interpretation of sensor observations will also depend upon a) the general situation, e.g. level of hostility, and b) collateral data, e.g. normal or abnormal operations of the platforms themselves. Can accurate and timely situation awareness be achieved? Yes, humans do it all the time. Can it be done on small, ultra-low power, ultra-high throughput processors? Yes 3D stacked analog ASIC circuits enable such processors.

Abstract: A high resolution holographic imaging system. A laser illuminator is configured to operate in two or more wavelengths sequentially and a phase modulator element configured to operate at three or more phase positions. The illumination beam is split into two parts and propagated into optically diffractive elements to define “top hat” signals from the received Gaussian signals. One beam is directed onto a target area scene of interest and one beam is directed to an optical phase modulator element. The two beams are combined on an electronic imaging element for three phase positions of the phase modulator. The laser wavelength is shifted slightly and operation repeats. The data frames are digitized and a data processing unit implemented to calculate the complex amplitude and perform reconstruction of the image.

Abstract: A multilayer electronic imaging module and sensor system incorporating a micro-lens layer for imaging and collimating a received image from a field of regard, a photocathode layer for detecting photons from the micro-lens layer and generating an electron output, a micro-channel plate layer for receiving the output electrons emitted from the photocathode in response to the photon input and amplifying same and stacked readout circuitry for processing the electron output of the micro-channel plate. The sensor system of the invention may be provided in the form of a Cassegrain telescope assembly and includes electromagnetic imaging and scanning means and beam-splitting means for directed predetermined ranges of the received image to one or more photo-detector elements which may be in the form of the micro-channel imaging module of the invention.

Abstract: A hyper-spectral and hyper-spatial sensor system is disclosed. A micro-channel plate array imaging sensor is provided for imaging a scene of interest and cooperates with a passive imaging system which may comprise a system having a responsivity to the visible electromagnetic spectrum. Image data from the dual-sensor systems is received and processed at high processing speeds using a massively parallel image processing architecture for the detection of salient scene features in the scene.

Abstract: A LIDAR system that can accommodate both a clear atmosphere and be adaptable to environments in which smoke, dust or other particulates (i.e., a degraded environment) exist in the atmosphere around the target is described. The system operates in two fields of regard: clear view mode (wide field of regard) and a degraded view mode (narrow field of regard). The wide field of regard allows the output laser energy to be concentrated over a large number of detector pixels and thus resulting in high scene scan rate. The narrow field of regard allows concentrating the laser output energy on fewer pixels to compensate for the loss of laser energy due to atmospheric degradation. The combination of the ROIC and LIDAR modes of operation result in a system that is capable of operation under clear and degraded environments.

Abstract: An imaging device and method of providing an increased depth-of-field of an electronic image. The image sensor and the optical lens assembly are selectively repositionable along the optical axis of the lens using electronic actuator elements such as piezo-electric actuator elements, A plurality of images of a scene are captured while the image sensor, the optical lens assembly, or both are positioned at predetermined locations along the optical axis. Selected elements of each of the images captured using different focal planes are electronically combined to define a final image having an increased depth-of-field.

Abstract: A method for processing sensor data representative of a scene of interest. A plurality of sensor data outputs representative of the scene is selected from the group consisting of visible, VNIR, SWIR, MWIR, LWIR, far infrared, multi-spectral data, hyper-spectral data, SAR data, and 3-D LIDAR sensor data. The data is input to a plurality of graphics processing elements that are configured to independently execute separate image processing filter operations selected from the group consisting of spatial filtering, temporal filtering, spatio-temporal filtering, and template matching. A cross-correlation operation is performed on the filter outputs based on predetermined filter output characteristics which may then be used to annotate the scene with regions of interest (ROI) for display to a user.