Kaman Aerospace Corporation

Michael V Finn

R Norris Keeler

Kent P Pflibsen

Lonnie K Calmes

Tom A Stefanick

Stanley D Kuo

Henry R Richardson

Thomas L Corwin

Melvin P French

F Gregory Close

A novel data processing technique is provided for detecting, locating and identifying targets from a plurality of images generated by an imaging sensor such as an imaging lidar system. The present invention employs physical models of signals produced by target objects of interest. Such a model based detection system globally processes frames of data to determine the existence and location of component elements that characterize the target being modeled.

Automatic target detection process

An imaging lidar system is presented which utilizes internal or external transmitter beam pattern referencing for improved imaging lidar performance. In general, the present invention samples the laser output at or near the source to obtain a reference of the signal intensity distribution. This reference signal includes any anomalous spatial intensity distributions (associated with the output of the laser transmitter) which can then be discounted or subtracted out from the signals received from the target area of interest.

Imaging lidar employing transmitter referencing

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Silver Spring, MD, United States of America

Michael V Finn