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Sensor technology, particularly in the area of airborne reconnaissance and surveillance, has been in constant evolution and improvement, putting more demands on data retrieval, display, and recording techniques. The attendant implementation of these newer sensor systems has increased the need for display instrumentation which is capable of handling higher data rates, provides higher resolution and yet can operate on-board in real time or at a semi-mobile ground processing station. For hard copy display of sensor data, attempts to utilize various low cost standard recording instruments has not met with good success. Very high resolution, high cost laser recorders have not been suitable either because of cost, size, and susceptibility to vibration in operating environments. An attempt to find middle ground in cost and still provide a unit that satisfies the above criteria has resulted in the design and development of a series of high resolution, fiber optic coupled CRT line scan recorders. Since the late 1960's, these instruments made by EDO Corporation/Western Division have received increased acceptance as a recording medium for a variety of applications, such as displays for airborne line scan infrared scanners, multi-spectral scanners, side-looking airborne radar, and synthetic aperture radar. EDO/Western Division recognized that while conventional CRT's lack the power of lasers, they are much more easily controlled, and when coupled with a highly efficient fiber-optic faceplate, it is possible for a CRT to transfer power to a photo sensitive surface at levels approaching that of a laser and with resolution capability almost as good as the most expensive laser recorders. This paper describes the features of these recorders, including capability, types of recording media used, and results achieved in various applications. The advantages and benefits of a fiber optic CRT recorder system, as applied to airborne reconnaissance and surveillance, are discussed, along with a future developmental outlook.
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