TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Information Systems, Sensors

ACQUISITION PROGRAM: PM Intel MCSC ACAT IV

OBJECTIVE: This topic will investigate the integration of advanced optics lens design with a hyperspectral sensor. Advanced processing software to enhance the capabilities of hyperspectral sensors for airborne Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions in cluttered environments will also be investigated. The desired end system will be a hyperspectral sensor with zoom capability that can process and track targets of interest near real time with a form factor that can be housed as an Unmanned Air Vehicle (UAV) payload.

DESCRIPTION: Current UAV sensors are limited in field of view and ability to zoom in on an object or potential threat due to the size and weight constraints levied on the payload. Advanced optic lens designs such as compound zoom and folded optical lens allow for a very compact form factor but are able to provide high magnification with excellent image quality. . The compatibility of this advanced optics with hyperspectral sensors at both long and short focal lengths and the ability to eliminate unwanted scene data through zoom operations will be assessed through analysis and hardware demonstrations. Alternative lens materials such as ceramic lenses which have higher index of refraction and lower weight per lens should be investigated Advanced processing software for optimal hyperspectral channel selection as a function of background and target spectra and for optimizing search routines will be assessed through desktop processing and analysis. Algorithms for automated zoom search routines that can vary with altitude and target parameters are also desired resulting in improvements to tracking reliability and functionality.

PHASE I: Conduct research and experiments to determine the advantages, limitations and feasibility of integrating and operating a hyperspectral sensor with advanced optic lens designs. Research should address visible through long wave infrared systems. Off the shelf visible band advanced optics lens and visible band hyperspectral sensors are to be interfaced and operated in controlled conditions to collect highly registered multi-focal length image data to support the analysis effort. Develop hyperspectral imagery processing algorithms that take advantage of eliminating unwanted scene data through the zoom operations to track targets of interest. Develop algorithms for automating zoom search routines. A report and demonstration of analytical and experimental results shall be provided.

PHASE II: Develop a proof of concept prototype for the Phase I capability that includes a visible or shortwave infrared band advanced optics zoom lens integrated with a visible or shortwave infrared band hyperspectral sensor, ground-based pointing system and data storage devices and displays. The system will be operated in a laboratory environment. Slew and zoom control software will be included to investigate automated search routines and user interfaces. Targets of known spectral will be imaged and geo-registered and analyzed to quantify clutter rejection benefits of zoom operations. The effectiveness of imagery processing algorithms in improving probability of detection and false alarm rate will be assessed. Develop a conceptual design for an airborne version that reflects requirements and features identified through the laboratory investigations and analysis. Demonstrate the proof of concept system. Deliver a final report documenting the performance, capabilities and designs.

PHASE III: Demonstrate that the advanced optics zoom hyperspectral system developed under Phases I and II can be applied to ground-based and airborne ISR missions and perform modifications as needed for initial adoption. Integrate the developed optics into the Marine Corps' Tactical Concealed Video System program's sensor suite. The prototype system will be operated in a mountain top scenario that is representative of ground-based and airborne ISR missions involving imaging in urban clutter and rural, desert terrain. Additionally the Phase II system design will be implemented in a prototype that addresses the needs of existing airborne ISR programs such as the Tier 2 UAV. Testing of the prototype will include airborne evaluations in a standalone configuration.

PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL/DUAL-USE APPLICATIONS: Topic has direct relevance to ground based force/area protection applications for the other Services, as well as for counter-terrorism surveillance in support of U.S. Navy ships in domestic and foreign ports. A thermal version of this system has direct application to Department of Homeland Security needs including stand-off chemical gas cloud detection. The airborne system is of value to commercial private sector airborne remote sensing companies engaged in environmental monitoring, agricultural assessments and exploration for natural resources due to the system�s compact form factor, flexible flight profiles and precision identification and change/anomaly detection.

REFERENCES:
1. Neil, I. A., "Compound zoom lenses", SPIE Vol. 5865, San Diego, Ca, U.S.A., 2005.

2. Haranyi, Joe, 1994, Hyperspectral Image Classification and Dimensionality Reduction: An Orthogonal Subspace Projection Approach, Trans. On Geoscience and Remote Sensing, Vol 32, No. 4

3. Eismann, M, 2007, Use of Spectral Clustering to Enhance Clutter Suppression for Hyperspectral Change Detection, Proc. of SPIE, Vol 6565

4. Spectral geographic information system, May 4 2006, Patent #20060093223

5. Methods and apparatus for adaptive foreground background analysis, Oct 19 2006, Patent #20060233421

6. E. J. Tremblay, R. A. Stack, R. L. Morrison, and J. E. Ford, "Ultrathin cameras using annular folded optics," Appl. Opt. 46, 463-471 (2007)

KEYWORDS: Hyperspectral, compound zoom lens, spectral geographic information system, sub-pixel detection, geospatial database, adaptive foreground background analysis.

TPOC: Martin Kruger
Phone: (703)696-5349
Fax:
Email: [email protected]
2nd TPOC: Andre des Rosiers
Phone: (202)404-4436
Fax:
Email: [email protected]
3rd TPOC: Keith Krapels
Phone: (703)696-5787
Fax:
Email: [email protected]

** TOPIC AUTHOR (TPOC) **

DoD Notice:   Between November 13 and December 9, 2007, you may talk directly with the Topic Author(s) to ask technical questions about the topics. Their contact information is listed above. For reasons of competitive fairness, direct communication between proposers and topic authors is not allowed starting December 10, 2007, when DoD begins accepting proposals for this solicitation.

However, proposers may still submit written questions about solicitation topics through the DoD's SBIR/STTR Interactive Topic Information System (SITIS), in which the questioner and respondent remain anonymous and all questions and answers are posted electronically for general viewing until the solicitation closes. All proposers are advised to monitor SITIS (08.1 Q&A) during the solicitation period for questions and answers, and other significant information, relevant to the SBIR 08.1 topic under which they are proposing.

If you have general questions about DoD SBIR program, please contact the DoD SBIR Help Desk at (866) 724-7457 or email weblink.