Precision Targeting System

In air-to-air and air-to-ground missions, target detection and identification can be extremely difficult, especially at extended ranges. There is a need for a precision targeting system which can operate in a high-altitude environment and detect/ID/locatethese deep-hide targets. Photon-X proposes a new and innovative passive EO technique which can provide new innovative target characteristics for target identification. This proven, patent-pending technology performs spatial phase mapping of targets,resulting in a range independent, and angle invariant 3-D mapping of the target through a camera-based system. Such a system could provide target shape, 3-D information, aspect angle of target, and other features required for the JSF mission. Inaddition, changes to these and other target characteristics can be reported to further help classify the target and provide target identification and target status (i.e. after engagement). During Phase I, the preliminary design for the Phase II prototypesystem will be designed. Also, a proof-of-concept demonstration of the underlying technology will be performed to demonstrate the applicability of the technology for this application. The Phase I design effort and the demonstration activities willprovide a low-risk path for brassboard/prototype system development and Phase II field trial success. A Real-Time passive 3-D targeting system will have numerous uses in both Government and commercial activities. The either real-time or snap-shotoutputs from the 3-D system can be used for surveying, mechanical structure modeling, and space-based object imaging/modeling. A high resolution, 3-D measurement system will also have many uses in manufacturing and industrial activities (i.e. reverseengineering, rapid prototyping, etc.). A system that provides streaming real-time output would also provide stress and deformation analysis information. Commercial applications of the system include: manufacturing and inspection of aircraft and automotiveassemblies, and the motion picture industry, where such a system can be used to quickly and cost effectively model dynamic 3D objects and directly insert them into a scene. Commercial applications of the underlying technology include 3-D tracking of humanmotion, 3-D facial recognition and ID, and spatial-Phase tagging applications for tracking known items/targets in adverse conditions (i.e. firefighters through smoke).