Sensor fusion options for ballistic missile defense interceptor applications

Charles A. Bjork Jr.; Norman Morris; Belur V. Dasarathy; Bart Smith; Doug Allen; William Tom Prestwood

doi:10.1117/12.341332

12 March 1999 Sensor fusion options for ballistic missile defense interceptor applications

Charles A. Bjork Jr., Norman Morris, Belur V. Dasarathy, Bart Smith, Doug Allen, William Tom Prestwood

Proceedings Volume 3719, Sensor Fusion: Architectures, Algorithms, and Applications III; (1999) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.341332
Event: AeroSense '99, 1999, Orlando, FL, United States

Abstract

Critical elements of future exoatmospheric interceptor systems are intelligent processing techniques which can effectively combine sensor data from disparate sensors. This paper summarizes the impact on discrimination performance of several feature and classifier fusion techniques, which can be used as part of the overall IP approach. These techniques are implemented either within the fused sensor discrimination testbed, or off-line as building blocks that can be modified to assess differing fusion approaches, classifiers and their impact on interceptor requirements. Several optional approaches for combining the data at the different levels, i.e., feature and classifier levels, are discussed in this paper and a comparison of performance results is shown. Approaches yielding promising results must still operate within the timeline and memory constraints on board the interceptor. A hybrid fusion approach is implemented at the feature level through the use of feature sets input to specific classifiers. The output of the fusion process contains an estimate of the confidence in the data and the discrimination decisions. The confidence in the data and decisions can be used in real time to dynamically select different sensor feature data, classifies, or to request additional sensor data on specific objects that have not been confidently identified as 'lethal' or 'non-legal'. However, dynamic selection requires an understanding of the impact of various combinations of feature sets and classifier options. Accordingly, the paper presents the various tools for exploring these options and illustrates their usage with data sets generated to realistically simulate the world of Ballistic Missile Defense interceptor applications.

Citation Download Citation

Charles A. Bjork Jr., Norman Morris, Belur V. Dasarathy, Bart Smith, Doug Allen, and William Tom Prestwood "Sensor fusion options for ballistic missile defense interceptor applications", Proc. SPIE 3719, Sensor Fusion: Architectures, Algorithms, and Applications III, (12 March 1999); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.341332

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available