Lockheed Martin Corporation

Arthur Steven Bornowski

Edward Max Flowers

Lionel D Liebman

Gregory N Whitfield

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.

Dual FOV imaging semi-active laser system

A method for detecting the presence of an object in multi-dimensional imagery data is disclosed. The method includes: (a) providing multi-dimensional imagery data, including an array of pixels; (b) selecting a pixel in the array; (c) applying a linear mask to the selected pixel and local pixels, including selecting pixels linearly adjacent to the selected pixel, amplifying the z coordinate of the selected pixel, summing the z coordinates of the selected linearly adjacent pixels, and comparing the amplified z coordinate to the summed z coordinates to produce value A; (d) if value A exceeds specified threshold A, then applying a confirmation mask to the selected pixel and the selected linearly adjacent pixels, including selecting one linearly adjacent pixel and comparing the z coordinate of the selected pixel to the z coordinate of the linearly adjacent pixel to produce value B; and (e) if value B exceeds specified threshold B, then designating the selected pixel as being associated with the boundary of an object.

Method and software-implemented apparatus for detecting objects in multi-dimensional data

A method for determining the reference plane in multi-dimensional data is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes (a) providing multi-dimensional imagery data, referred to as set A, including an array of pixels having object pixels marked; (b) range gating about at least a subset of the marked object pixels, including marking pixels outside the range gate to form an unmarked pixel subset of set A, referred to as subset B; (c) performing maximal z density analysis on subset B, including marking pixels outside the maximum density to form an unmarked pixel subset of subset B, referred to as subset C; (d) performing a local normal vector estimate on subset C, including marking pixels having a normal vector exceeding specified threshold L from nominal to form an unmarked pixel subset of subset C, referred to as subset D; (e) performing a first ground plane fit on subset D, each pixel producing residual value X, cumulatively known as residual set X; (f) analyzing residual X, including performing a residual density analysis and marking pixels whose residual value X exceeds specified threshold M to form an unmarked pixel subset of subset D, referred to as subset E; (g) performing a second ground plane fit on subset E, each pixel producing residual value Y, cumulatively known as residual set Y; (h) analyzing residual set Y, including marking pixels whose residual value Y exceeds specified threshold N to form an unmarked pixel subset of subset E, referred to as subset F; and (i) estimating the reference plane for subset F.

Growing community of inventors

Sunnyvale, TX, United States of America

Arthur Steven Bornowski