A fire control method against aerial targets flying toward a protection object when the position of the protection object is known includes measuring the position of the aerial target, estimating the position of the aerial target, estimating the velocity of the aerial target, predicting the future path of the aerial target from the estimated position of the aerial target and the estimated velocity of the aerial target, and deciding, on the basis of the predicted path, whether the aerial target i.) is incoming and thus a threat against the protection object, ii.) is passing by and thus not a threat to the protection object.

An optical system for laser-pointing a target through the atmosphere, with four optical channels: a passive imaging channel with an auxiliary camera linked to a coarse pointing control device; an illumination channel with a pulsed illumination source and temporal synchronization means, these channels including a first common optical coarse pointing device; an effector channel with a high-power laser source; an active imaging channel with: a high-speed camera synchronized with the illumination source by the synchronization means, and linked to a fine pointing control device; means for harmonizing the high-speed camera with the high-power laser source; the active imaging and effector channels form a pair and include a second common optical coarse pointing device, the coarse pointing devices controlled by the coarse pointing control device; a common optical fine pointing device, controlled by the fine pointing control device; and the coarse pointing control device is linked to the fine pointing control device.

An optical system for laser-pointing a target through the atmosphere, with four optical channels: a passive imaging channel with an auxiliary camera linked to a coarse pointing control device; an illumination channel with a pulsed illumination source and temporal synchronization means, these channels including a first common optical coarse pointing device; an effector channel with a high-power laser source; an active imaging channel with: a high-speed camera synchronized with the illumination source by the synchronization means, and linked to a fine pointing control device; means for harmonizing the high-speed camera with the high-power laser source; the active imaging and effector channels form a pair and include a second common optical coarse pointing device, the coarse pointing devices controlled by the coarse pointing control device; a common optical fine pointing device, controlled by the fine pointing control device; and the coarse pointing control device is linked to the fine pointing control device.

A multiple target tracking, data association, and track file management system (MTT, DA, and TFM) specifically developed for a ground based EO/IR camera proposed in this present disclosure is intended for three main purposes: (1) providing a ground-based combat vehicle with multiple mission capability by adding a new low cost EO/IR sensor with MTT, DA, and TFM functionalities built-in to interact with the ground-based fire control and command guidance for both surface-to-surface and surface-to-air defense missions; (2) serving as a plug-and-play integrated sensor with built-in MTT functionalities easily adaptable to be used for other missions; (3) part of the weapon GN&C subsystem to function in a smart fashion allowing projectiles to work in a collaborative engagement fashion.

A multiple target tracking, data association, and track file management system (MTT, DA, and TFM) specifically developed for a ground based EO/IR camera proposed in this present disclosure is intended for three main purposes: (1) providing a ground-based combat vehicle with multiple mission capability by adding a new low cost EO/IR sensor with MTT, DA, and TFM functionalities built-in to interact with the ground-based fire control and command guidance for both surface-to-surface and surface-to-air defense missions; (2) serving as a plug-and-play integrated sensor with built-in MTT functionalities easily adaptable to be used for other missions; (3) part of the weapon GN&C subsystem to function in a smart fashion allowing projectiles to work in a collaborative engagement fashion.

A system includes at least one imaging sensor configured to capture images of a target. The system also includes at least one controller configured to generate super-resolution images of the target using the captured images and identify multiple edges of the target using the super-resolution images. The at least one controller is also configured to identify an aimpoint on the target based on the identified edges of the target. In addition, the at least one controller is configured to update the aimpoint on the target as the target moves over time. The system may further include a high-energy laser (HEL) configured to generate an HEL beam that is directed towards the target, and the at least one controller may be configured to adjust one or more optical devices to direct the HEL beam at the identified aimpoint on the target.

An optical system for laser-pointing a target through the atmosphere, with four optical channels: a passive imaging channel with an auxiliary camera linked to a coarse pointing control device; an illumination channel with a pulsed illumination source and temporal synchronization means, these channels including a first common optical coarse pointing device; an effector channel with a high-power laser source; an active imaging channel with: a high-speed camera synchronized with the illumination source by the synchronization means, and linked to a fine pointing control device; means for harmonizing the high-speed camera with the high-power laser source; the active imaging and effector channels form a pair and include a second common optical coarse pointing device, the coarse pointing devices controlled by the coarse pointing control device; a common optical fine pointing device, controlled by the fine pointing control device; and the coarse pointing control device is linked to the fine pointing control device.

An optical system for laser-pointing a target through the atmosphere, with four optical channels: a passive imaging channel with an auxiliary camera linked to a coarse pointing control device; an illumination channel with a pulsed illumination source and temporal synchronization means, these channels including a first common optical coarse pointing device; an effector channel with a high-power laser source; an active imaging channel with: a high-speed camera synchronized with the illumination source by the synchronization means, and linked to a fine pointing control device; means for harmonizing the high-speed camera with the high-power laser source; the active imaging and effector channels form a pair and include a second common optical coarse pointing device, the coarse pointing devices controlled by the coarse pointing control device; a common optical fine pointing device, controlled by the fine pointing control device; and the coarse pointing control device is linked to the fine pointing control device.

A method for classifying an airborne object detected by a radar system is disclosed. The method includes the steps of identifying quefrency peaks in a quefrency cepstrum generated from a received radar return signal, the quefrency peaks indicative of a rotating physical feature of the airborne object. A rotational velocity of the physical feature is determined based on the quefrency peaks. The method further includes determining at least one parameter or characteristic of a physical feature of the airborne object. The at least one characteristic is compared to a known physical feature stored in a classifier database, wherein a classification decision is made upon identifying a match between the at least one characteristic and a known physical feature stored in the database.

Provided are a target tracking device that efficiently tracks a target, a target tracking method, and a recording medium for storing a target tracking program. This target tracking device comprises a determination condition selector and a tracker. The determination condition selector selects a tracking mode for tracking a detected target from among a plurality of tracking modes on the basis of a group of determination conditions related to the position of the target. The tracker tracks the target in the selected tracking mode. The plurality of tracking modes include a first tracking mode that focuses on the vulnerable portion of the target and a second tracking mode that focuses on the center of gravity of the target. The target tracking device further comprises a coping device that irradiates the focused portion of the target with a laser beam to cope with the target.