ME 651 Advanced Topics of Infrared Systems
This course is intended to provide a comprehensive review of Surveillance and Reconnaissance (S&R) imaging system modeling and performance prediction. The goal of S&R systems is to provide information-detection, classification and identification of objects and features based on image characteristics. Given a set of information requirements, the system designer and operator must design and operate a system in a manner that will provide the required information. They thus require the ability to model and predict the performance of S&R systems based on design attributes and measurable operating parameters. Performance is defined in terms of the ability of users to extract the desired information. System descriptions, S&R modeling history, system characteristics, and performance models are all provided. While there are many texts describing imaging systems in the realm of linear shift invariant systems, target acquisition, driving and flying, there are few texts that address the specific design and analysis techniques used with S&R imaging systems. In particular, the emphasis here is on validated prediction of human observer performance. Prerequisite: graduate student status.