Optronic Target Designation via Virtual Primitives
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for terminal guidance by imagery in armaments struggle with processing movable targets and achieving precise target designation, particularly due to limitations in using radar and optronic data, including low resolution, masking effects, and perspective distortions, which hinder accurate primitive extraction and registration.
Innovation Solution
A method utilizing a vertical virtual imaging channel with an optronic system that includes image acquisition, geolocation, extraction of virtual primitives, and transfer of target position to terminal-guided weaponry, allowing for precise target designation without requiring high-resolution geo-referencing and mitigating perspective effects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If SAR imaging mode is used to construct primitives, then good registration accuracy is achieved, but the system requires THR mode which is not operational and has large spectral band differences
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses optical imagery as a substitute for SAR imagery to construct primitives. Instead of requiring operational SAR THR mode, the system captures optical images from the carrier and processes them to extract primitives, achieving compatibility with currently operational sensors while maintaining registration accuracy through geometric correction algorithms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms optical images into a format suitable for primitive extraction by applying geometric corrections and transformations. This changes the parameters of the optical data (perspective, scale, orientation) to match the required format, enabling primitive construction from optical rather than SAR data.
2Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If SAR imaging is used in urban environments, then primitives can be extracted, but masking and parasitic echoes reduce extraction difficulty
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the radar-based SAR imaging mechanism with optical imaging. This substitution eliminates the harmful effects of masking and parasitic echoes that plague SAR in urban environments, as optical sensors do not suffer from these radar-specific interference issues, thereby simplifying primitive extraction in urban settings.
3Measurement precision
If high resolution SAR image is acquired, then good registration is achieved, but trajectory constraints and acquisition time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the necessary primitives from optical images rather than requiring complete high-resolution SAR imagery. This partial action approach achieves sufficient registration precision for weapon guidance without the time-consuming acquisition and processing of full high-resolution SAR images, reducing the time loss while maintaining adequate precision.
4Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If radar is used to illuminate the target, then target detection is achieved, but discretion is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces active radar illumination with passive optical imaging. The optical sensor detects target reflectance without actively illuminating it, thereby maintaining target detection capability while preserving discretion and avoiding the harmful effect of radar signature detection by enemy systems.
5Area of stationary object
If primitives are extracted from oblique optronic images, then target context is captured, but perspective distortions disrupt registration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies geometric corrections and transformations to change the parameters of oblique optical images, converting them into a top-down perspective format. This parameter transformation removes perspective distortions while preserving the expanded field coverage, enabling both broad area capture and precise registration of primitives.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method for designating a target in an area, which is intended for a weapon having terminal guidance via imaging, by means of an airborne optronic system including an imager associated with geopositioning means and a processing unit. Said method includes the steps of: acquiring an image of the area from the imager of the system, and geopositioning said image by the geopositioning means, extracting an orthoimage of the geopositioned area from a database, referred to as the reference virtual image, designating the position of the target in the reference virtual orthoimage, extracting primitives about the position of the target position, referred to as virtual primitives, determining the position of the target relative to said virtual primitives, and transferring the virtual primitives and the target position to the weapon terminal guidance via imaging.