Correlation/estimation reporting engagement system and method
AssigneeLockheed Martin Corporation
InventorsJonathan A. Boardman, Jeffrey B. Boka, Naresh R. Patel
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system and method for performing correlation processing for identifying an object of interest in a cloud of remote objects of different types comprises receiving RF and IR measurement data including rotational, translational bias and noise errors and determining and removing biases by minimizing a weighted distance metric. Correlation pairing metrics are then determined according to a maximum likelihood criteria. This method produces a correlation solution that minimizes the effects of biases and random noise while accounting for the statistical properties of the parameters being estimated.
Claims17
A method for selecting an object of interest in a cloud of objects of lesser interest comprising:
- obtaining object positional data from at least one RF sensor and at least one IR sensor;
- processing, by a processor of an electromagnetic/optical correlator, the positional data to generate a dimensional representation in a common reference frame;
- combining, by said electromagnetic/optical correlator processor, the RF and IR positional data to determine translational bias and angular misalignment errors associated with the RF and IR positional data;
- defining, by said electromagnetic/optical correlator processor, a weighted distance metric based on sensor measurement uncertainties;
- determining, by said correlation processor, bias estimates based on the distance metric;
- and
- determining, by said electromagnetic/optical correlator processor, correlation components for each combination of RF and IR objects using the determined bias estimates for generating RF/IR correlation matrix data for input to an object selection process.
A system for identifying an object of interest in a cloud of remote objects of different types, where the number of object types is no greater than X, said system comprising:
- an RF sensor observing said cloud, and configured to generate RF signals representing RF tracked object data for at least some of the objects of said cloud;
- an electromagnetic discriminator including a computer processor coupled to said RF sensor and configured to compute the probability of each RF tracked object being one of the X possible object types;
- an optical sensor observing at least portions of said cloud, and configured to generate infrared (IR) optical signals representing IR tracked object data for at least some objects of said cloud;
- an optical discriminator including a computer processor configured to compute the probability of each IR tracked object being one of the X possible object types;
- an electromagnetic/optical correlator configured to determine the probability that the ith electromagnetic object is correlated or matched with the jth optical object, the correlator including a computer processor configured to:
- generate an electromagnetic/optical correlation matrix by processing RF and IR positional data to generate a dimensional representation in a common reference frame;
- combine RF and IR measurements to determine translational bias and angular misalignment errors associated with the RF and IR measurements;
- define a weighted distance metric based on sensor measurement uncertainties;
- determining bias estimates based on the distance metric;
- and
- determine correlation components for each combination of RF and IR objects using the determined bias estimates for generating RF/IR correlation matrix data for input to an object selection process.
Apparatus for providing correlation data for object selection and target intercept comprising:
- a data storage device storing object positional data from at least one RF sensor and at least one IR sensor measurements;
- one or more computer processors in communication with the data storage device including an electromagnetic/optical correlator processor;
- and
- a program memory, coupled to the one or more computer processors, storing on a non-transitory computer-readable medium program instruction steps for execution by the one or more computer processors, the program instructions, when executed by the one or more computer processors, causing the one or more computer processors to:
- process the positional data by said electromagnetic/optical correlator processor to generate a dimensional representation in a common reference frame;
- combine in said electromagnetic/optical correlator processor, the RF and IR measurements to determine translational bias and angular misalignment errors associated with the RF and IR measurements;
- define in said electromagnetic/optical correlator processor, a weighted distance metric based on sensor measurement uncertainties;
- determine in said electromagnetic/optical correlator processor, bias estimates based on the distance metric;
- and
- determine in said electromagnetic/optical correlator processor correlation components for each combination of RF and IR objects using the determined bias estimates for generating RF/IR correlation matrix data for input to an object selection process.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.