Abstract: A reflecting target device usable in space or on earth in the testing and simulation of weapons and other energy radiating space hardware. The disclosed embodiment includes an icosahedral reentrant cavity structure providing both infrared and radio-radar frequency retroreflective capability through the use of corner reflectors, conductive grid wires and coating layers. Launch-related apparatus are also described.

Abstract: An aircraft is equipped with a system of the FM-CW type including an on-board radio altimeter which cooperates with a transponder/beacon located at A. The radio altimeter is adapted for the measurement, alternately with the measurement of the altitude H, of the distance D in relation to point A, and of the angle .beta. in relation to a horizontal axis (46) linked to the transponder. The radio altimeter includes two aerials and a supplementary processing chain for the measurement of angle .beta.. The transponder is equipped with a base with two receiving/transmitting aerials (25, 27), switched alternately to sequentially operated circuitry in the transponder. Furthermore, the exact position of the aircraft within the vicinity of point A is determined by at least two measurements of distance D and of the angle .beta. in relation to the aerial base of the transponder.

Abstract: The electro-optical correlator performs pattern-recognition by forming the columnar dot product of an input image with a reference image at video through-put rates. The correlator incorporates an analog-to-digital converter for digitizing the input-image data, a plurality of serially arranged delays having a delay time equivalent to one input-image data line, each delay for receiving in turn the digitized input data and for producing a parallel output signal, and a vertical column of photodiodes for receiving the respective multiple parallel delayed signals and for converting same to an optical output. The optical output is fed through a lens, reference image mask, and lens unit and is focused on a plurality of photodiodes that are connected to a time-delay-and-integrate (TDI) array. The data from the time- delay-and-integrate array are clocked through an analog-to- digital converter which produces the final system output. The time delay and integrate array may be a charge-coupled device (CCD).

Abstract: Improved non-cooperative radar apparatus locates and type-classifies an agitated, vibrating reflective target (e.g., a vehicle with its engine running) - whether the target is moving or stationary.A homodyne-type receiver with a cooperating band pass filter extracts a reflected, frequency-shifted energy pattern which identifies the incidence of the agitated target. In accordance with further aspects of the instant invention, the particular energy distribution for the returned, reflected wave is then compared with a stored ensemble of such distributions, or target "signatures", to type-catagorize the target.

Abstract: A vehicle identification system includes a doppler radar producing a doppler frequency signal having noise components and having a value f.sub.D corresponding to the speed of the vehicle to be identified and a doppler frequency having a value X.multidot.f.sub.D corresponding to the speed of the vehicle propelling means, each doppler frequency being modulated by signals corresponding to the movements made by individual elements of the vehicle propelling means. The doppler signal is passed through first and second adjustable filters adjusted to pass f.sub.D and x.multidot.f.sub.D respectively and sidebands relating to the modulating signal. Amplitude detectors coupled to the outputs of the two filters remove the doppler frequencies leaving the modulating signals relating to the movement of the vehicle elements. The modulating signals are applied to an adjustable commutating filter adjusted to frequency by a signal corresponding to frequency f.sub.D.