Visual recognition system for LADAR sensors

A method of creating and transmitting an image of a target over a limited bandwidth transmission medium from an on-site location to a remote location, comprising the steps of:

• LADAR scanning on-site a scene to provide scan data representing an on-site, three-dimensional record of the scene including the target;
• processing the data on-site to separate segment data representative of the target from the remaining scene data;
• transmitting substantially only the segment data to a remote site over the limited bandwidth transmission media;
• and
• displaying the transmitted data at the remote site to provide an image of the target at the remote site.

Apparatus for displaying a target in a target scene, comprising:

• a LADAR scanner for scanning the target scene to produce scan data representing a three-dimensional record of the scene including the target;
• a data processor coupled to the LADAR scanner for correlating the scan data to identify a segment of the data representative of substantially only the target in relation to the scene and for producing segmented data representative of substantially only the target;
• a transmitter coupled to the data processor for transmitting the segmented data to a site remote from the scene;
• and
• a display operatively coupled to the transmitter for displaying the transmitted data at the remote site, thereby to display the target at the remote site.