Loral Vought Systems Corporation

Other

James L Nettles

Ronald William Phillips

Arthur Steven Bornowski

A method employing fuzzy logic for identifying a detected object in LADAR data is disclosed. The method includes extracting a feature of the object; determining a confidence level in the extracted feature; comparing the extracted feature to a corresponding feature of a potential identification using a fuzzy logic process, and identifying the object. The comparison includes weighting at least one rule according to the confidence level in the extracted feature employed by the rule; shifting a membership function for the extracted feature responsive to the confidence level for the extracted feature; and executing the fuzzy logic process to obtain an indication of whether the segmented object corresponds to the potential identification.

Dynamic fuzzy logic process for identifying objects in three-dimensional

A system for transforming a first 3-D image of a target scene obtained from reflected energy signals to create a second 3-D image from a different perspective. In an illustrative embodiment, the original image includes multiple data elements stored in addresses of a row-column array, where each data element comprises a range and an intensity value corresponding to a point in the target scene. Each data element may be addressed by selecting its row and column numbers. To create the new image, each data element's row-column address is first converted into a spherical coordinate. The spherical coordinate is then converted into a 3-D Cartesian coordinate, and the Cartesian coordinate is translated and rotated to achieve the new perspective. The translated, rotated, Cartesian coordinate is then converted back into a spherical coordinate, and then into row-column format. Then, the contents of each data element of the original array are stored in the new array, in the newly calculated address. A 'hidden surface' algorithm may be employed to remove images corresponding to surfaces that are blocked or 'hidden' when viewed from the new perspective. This is accomplished by filling unused addresses of the new array with range and intensity values calculated to match that of a background plane.

System for changing perspective of 3-D images obtained from reflected

An improved system for using reflected energy signals sensed by light detecting optics to identify flat surfaces that are orthogonal to the detecting optics. A light source generates a laser light beam, the beam is scanned across a target scene, and a reflected signal is sensed by light detecting optics to produce an electrical representation of the reflected signal. The representation is stored in an array in the form of a plurality of data elements. The data elements are sequentially analyzed by comparing the range of each data element with the ranges of a selected number of neighboring elements, and giving the data element under analysis a corresponding 'index.' Data elements whose ranges closely match neighboring data elements are assigned higher indices. Neighboring data elements with high indices therefore signify proximate points on a flat surface, which is orthogonal to the detecting optics. The data elements may be further analyzed by distinguishing elements with higher indices from those with lower indices, to highlight the flatter, more orthogonal surfaces.

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Arlington, TX, United States of America

James L Nettles