California Institute of Technology

The United States of America As Represented by the United States

Michael Shao

Norbert A Massie

Bijan Nemati

Russell Edward Trahan, Iii

Thomas A Werne

Shanti R Rao

Navtej Singh Saini

Chengxing Zhai

Systems and methods for tracking moving objects in accordance with embodiments of the invention are disclosed. In one embodiment of the invention, an object tracking system comprises a processor, a communications interface, and a memory configured to store an object tracking application. The object tracking application configures the processor to receive a sequence of images; estimate and subtract background pixel values from pixels in a sequence of images; compute sets of summed intensity values for different per frame pixel offsets from a sequence of images; identify summed intensity values from a set of summed intensity values exceeding a threshold; cluster identified summed intensity values exceeding the threshold corresponding to single moving objects; and identify a location of at least one moving object in an image based on at least one summed intensity value cluster.

Systems and methods for tracking moving objects

In multi-telescope arrays that comprise multiple telescopes, a beam-combining module, and flat mirrors for directing light beams from the multiple telescopes to the beam combining module, a laser metrology system is used for monitoring various pathlengths along a beam path where deviations are likely. Some pathlengths are defined simply by a pair of retroreflectors or reflectors at both ends. Lengths between pairs of retroreflectors are measured and monitored by laser interferometers. One critical pathlength deviation is related to the displacement of the flat mirror. A reference frame is set up relative to the beam-combining module to form and define the coordinate system within which the positions of the flat mirrors are measured and monitored. In the preferred embodiment, a pair of retroreflectors along the optical axis of the beam-combining module defines a reference frame. A triangle is formed by the reference frame as the base and another retroreflector at the flat mirror as the vertex. The triangle is used to monitor the position of the flat mirror. A beam's pathlength is dynamically corrected in response to the monitored deviations.

Laser metrology for coherent multi-telescope arrays

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Pasadena, CA, United States of America

Michael Shao