Prof. Charles F. Coker Profile

Prof. Charles F. Coker

Scene Generation Team Lead at Air Force Research Lab

SPIE Involvement:

Author

Publications (32)

Proceedings Article | 8 June 2012 Paper

Mueller matrix by imaging polarimeter

Charles Kim, Bea Thai, David Edwards, Charles Coker

Proc. SPIE. 8364, Polarization: Measurement, Analysis, and Remote Sensing X

KEYWORDS: Transmitters, Optical components, Mirrors, Polarization, Imaging systems, Sensors, Calibration, Error analysis, Reflectivity, Polarimetry

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Proceedings Article | 1 May 2010 Paper

Multispectral tactical integrated scene generation capability using satellite imagery

Charles Coker, Carla Willis, Tan Van, Brian Smith, Phillip Destin

Proc. SPIE. 7705, Modeling and Simulation for Defense Systems and Applications V

KEYWORDS: Staring arrays, Infrared sensors, Point spread functions, Visible radiation, Sensors, Satellites, Satellite imaging, Signal processing, Infrared radiation, Earth observing sensors

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Proceedings Article | 24 April 2010 Paper

GPU based synthetic scene generation for maritime environments

Wayne Keen, Michael Tanner, Charles Coker, Dennis Crow

Proc. SPIE. 7663, Technologies for Synthetic Environments: Hardware-in-the-Loop Testing XV

KEYWORDS: Optical components, Coastal modeling, Data modeling, Visualization, Reflection, Water, Capillaries, Particles, Ocean optics, Motion models

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Proceedings Article | 30 April 2009 Paper

Updates on fuze and SAR modes in RF channel for Irma 5.2 signature prediction model

Carla Willis, Charles Coker, Bea Thai, Omar Aboutalib, John Pau

Proc. SPIE. 7348, Modeling and Simulation for Military Operations IV

KEYWORDS: Radar, Weapons, LIDAR, Sensors, Synthetic aperture radar, Fourier transforms, Image sensors, Reconstruction algorithms, Wavefront reconstruction, Device simulation

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Proceedings Article | 11 April 2008 Paper

Irma 5.2 multi-sensor signature prediction model

James Savage, Charles Coker, Bea Thai, Omar Aboutalib, John Pau

Proc. SPIE. 6965, Modeling and Simulation for Military Operations III

KEYWORDS: Radar, Signal to noise ratio, Human-machine interfaces, Infrared imaging, Weapons, LIDAR, Sensors, Synthetic aperture radar, Image sensors, Systems modeling

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Proceedings Article | 10 May 2007 Paper

Irma 5.2 multi-sensor signature prediction model

James Savage, Charles Coker, Bea Thai, Omar Aboutalib, Anthony Chow, Neil Yamaoka, Charles Kim

Proc. SPIE. 6564, Modeling and Simulation for Military Operations II

KEYWORDS: Staring arrays, Extremely high frequency, Cameras, LIDAR, Sensors, Reflectivity, Image sensors, Black bodies, Systems modeling, Temperature metrology

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Proceedings Article | 16 May 2006 Paper

Fast line-of-sight imagery for target and exhaust-plume signatures (FLITES) scene generation program

Dennis Crow, Charles Coker, Wayne Keen

Proc. SPIE. 6208, Technologies for Synthetic Environments: Hardware-in-the-Loop Testing XI

KEYWORDS: Infrared imaging, Light sources, Sun, Sensors, Computer programming, Infrared radiation, Infrared signatures, Geodesy, Computer architecture, 3D image processing

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Proceedings Article | 25 May 2005 Paper

Irma 5.1 multisensor signature prediction model

James Savage, Charles Coker, Bea Thai, Omar Aboutalib, Neil Yamaoka, Charles Kim

Proc. SPIE. 5811, Targets and Backgrounds XI: Characterization and Representation

KEYWORDS: Human-machine interfaces, Transmitters, Extremely high frequency, Polarization, LIDAR, Sensors, Receivers, Polarimetry, Image sensors, Systems modeling

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The Irma synthetic signature prediction code is being developed to facilitate the research and development of multisensor systems. Irma was one of the first high resolution Infrared (IR) target and background signature models to be developed for tactical weapon application. Originally developed in 1980 by the Munitions Directorate of the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL/MN), the Irma model was used exclusively to generate IR scenes. In 1988, a number of significant upgrades to Irma were initiated including the addition of a laser (or active) channel. This two-channel version was released to the user community in 1990. In 1992, an improved scene generator was incorporated into the Irma model, which supported correlated frame-to-frame imagery. A passive IR/millimeter wave (MMW) code was completed in 1994. This served as the cornerstone for the development of the co-registered active/passive IR/MMW model, Irma 4.0. In 2000, Irma version 5.0 was released which encompassed several upgrades to both the physical models and software. Circular polarization was added to the passive channel and the doppler capability was added to the active MMW channel. In 2002, the multibounce technique was added to the Irma passive channel. In the ladar channel, a user-friendly Ladar Sensor Assistant (LSA) was incorporated which provides capability and flexibility for sensor modeling. Irma 5.0 runs on several platforms including Windows, Linux, Solaris, and SGI Irix. Since 2000, additional capabilities and enhancements have been added to the ladar channel including polarization and speckle effect. Work is still ongoing to add time-jittering model to the ladar channel. A new user interface has been introduced to aid users in the mechanism of scene generation and running the Irma code. The user interface provides a canvas where a user can add and remove objects using mouse clicks to construct a scene. The scene can then be visualized to find the desired sensor position. The synthetic ladar signatures have been validated twice and underwent a third validation test near the end of 04. These capabilities will be integrated into the next release, Irma 5.1, scheduled for completion in the summer of FY05. Irma is currently being used to support a number of civilian and military applications. The Irma user base includes over 130 agencies within the Air Force, Army, Navy, DARPA, NASA, Department of Transportation, academia, and industry. The purpose of this paper is to report the progress of the Irma 5.1 development effort.

Proceedings Article | 4 August 2004 Paper

Scalable hardbody and plume optical signatures

Dennis Crow, Fred Hawes, Matthew Braunstein, Charles Coker, Thomas Smith

Proc. SPIE. 5408, Technologies for Synthetic Environments: Hardware-in-the-Loop Testing IX

KEYWORDS: Reflection, Sensors, Particles, Physics, Bidirectional reflectance transmission function, Missiles, Algorithm development, Target acquisition, Computer architecture, Absorption

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Proceedings Article | 12 January 2004 Paper

Supercomputer-based advanced ladar imaging simulator (ALIS)

Duane Smith, Terry Nichols, Philip Gatt, Kotik Lee, Charles Sicking, Steven Seida, Charles Coker, Kimberly Perry, Jason Coker

Proc. SPIE. 5240, Laser Radar Technology for Remote Sensing

KEYWORDS: Transceivers, Backscatter, Scattering, LIDAR, Sensors, Receivers, Solids, Atmospheric propagation, Atmospheric modeling, Alternate lighting of surfaces

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Proceedings Article | 31 August 2001 Paper

Real-time CHAMP (RTC) infrared scene generation program

Dennis Crow, Charles Coker

Proc. SPIE. 4366, Technologies for Synthetic Environments: Hardware-in-the-Loop Testing VI

KEYWORDS: Infrared imaging, Visualization, Databases, Computer simulations, Infrared radiation, Zoom lenses, Missiles, Real-time computing, RGB color model, OpenGL

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Proceedings Article | 31 August 2001 Paper

Composite hardbody and missile plume (CHAMP 2001) IR scene generation program

Dennis Crow, Charles Coker

Proc. SPIE. 4366, Technologies for Synthetic Environments: Hardware-in-the-Loop Testing VI

KEYWORDS: Infrared imaging, Reflection, Cameras, Sensors, Databases, Composites, Reflectivity, Computer simulations, Infrared radiation, Missiles

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Proceedings Article | 24 July 2000 Paper

Irma 5.0 multisensor signature prediction model

Michael Wellfare, Douglas Vechinski, John Watson, Joe Foster, John Edwards, Mike Richards, Jason Coker, Charles Coker

Proc. SPIE. 4029, Targets and Backgrounds VI: Characterization, Visualization, and the Detection Process

KEYWORDS: Human-machine interfaces, Weapons, Data modeling, LIDAR, Sensors, Image processing, Reflectivity, Image sensors, Thermal modeling, Systems modeling

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Proceedings Article | 12 July 2000 Paper

Simulation of plume dynamics using particle graphics

John Tourtellott, Charles Coker, Dennis Crow

Proc. SPIE. 4027, Technologies for Synthetic Environments: Hardware-in-the-Loop Testing V

KEYWORDS: Infrared imaging, Data modeling, Visualization, Particles, Computer simulations, Turbulence, Atmospheric particles, Real-time computing, Particle systems, Systems modeling

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Proceedings Article | 19 July 1999 Paper

Low-altitude IR terrain and sea model development for a high-speed imaging fuze

Dennis Garbo, Dennis Crow, Charles Coker, Donald Cunard

Proc. SPIE. 3697, Technologies for Synthetic Environments: Hardware-in-the-Loop Testing IV

KEYWORDS: Infrared imaging, Visualization, Sensors, Databases, Volume rendering, High speed imaging, Spatial resolution, Missiles, Algorithm development, RGB color model

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Proceedings Article | 19 July 1999 Paper

Ladar scene generation techniques for hardware-in-the-loop testing

Jason Coker, Charles Coker, Thomas Bergin

Proc. SPIE. 3697, Technologies for Synthetic Environments: Hardware-in-the-Loop Testing IV

KEYWORDS: Light sources, Detection and tracking algorithms, Imaging systems, LIDAR, Sensors, Signal attenuation, Composites, Computer simulations, Signal detection, Hardware in the loop testing

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Proceedings Article | 19 July 1999 Paper

Real-time particle graphics for infrared (IR) scene generation

John Tourtellott, Charles Coker, Dennis Crow

Proc. SPIE. 3697, Technologies for Synthetic Environments: Hardware-in-the-Loop Testing IV

KEYWORDS: Infrared imaging, Visualization, Particles, Volume rendering, Turbulence, Infrared radiation, Translucency, Atmospheric particles, Systems modeling, OpenGL

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Proceedings Article | 19 July 1999 Paper

Developments at the Kinetic Kill Vehicle Hardware-in-the-Loop Simulator (KHILS) facility

Robert Lee Murrer, Rhoe Thompson, Charles Coker

Proc. SPIE. 3697, Technologies for Synthetic Environments: Hardware-in-the-Loop Testing IV

KEYWORDS: Visualization, LIDAR, Sensors, Computing systems, Computer simulations, Signal processing, Projection systems, Infrared radiation, Resistors, Missiles

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Proceedings Article | 13 July 1998 Paper

Composite hardbody and missile plume (CHAMP 98) IR scene generation program

Dennis Crow, Charles Coker

Proc. SPIE. 3368, Technologies for Synthetic Environments: Hardware-in-the-Loop Testing III

KEYWORDS: Reflection, Cameras, Sensors, Databases, Composites, Reflectivity, Computer simulations, Solids, Infrared radiation, Missiles

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Proceedings Article | 13 July 1998 Paper

Demonstration of innovative techniques used for real-time closed-loop infrared scene generation

Eric Olson, Charles Coker, Jason Coker, Dennis Garbo

Proc. SPIE. 3368, Technologies for Synthetic Environments: Hardware-in-the-Loop Testing III

KEYWORDS: Nonuniformity corrections, Infrared imaging, Sensors, Computer simulations, Signal processing, Infrared radiation, Zoom lenses, Resistors, Missiles, Commercial off the shelf technology

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Proceedings Article | 13 July 1998 Paper

Infrared model development for a high-speed imaging fuze

Dennis Garbo, Eric Olson, Dennis Crow, Charles Coker, Donald Cunard

Proc. SPIE. 3368, Technologies for Synthetic Environments: Hardware-in-the-Loop Testing III

KEYWORDS: Infrared imaging, Detection and tracking algorithms, Visualization, Sensors, Databases, Volume rendering, Signal processing, Missiles, Algorithm development, Environmental sensing

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Development and generation of high-fidelity IR scenes to support testing requirements at the Kinetic Kill Vehicle Hardware-in-the-Loop Simulator (KHILS) facility at Eglin AFB, Florida has been the mission for the Air Force Research Laboratory's (AFRL) scene generation team throughout the past ten years. During that time scene generation efforts have supported operational scenarios ranging from surveillance through terminal homing. Recent programs have required the development of IR target and background models to support the testing needs of a high-speed fuze. Development of IR models and techniques to support high-speed fuze applications required advancing the state-of-the-art in IR scene generation. This effort required the development of several target models not available from other sources. In addition, due to the unusual proximity fuze seeker configuration that utilizes a wide angle lens to encompass a full 360 degree field-of-view (FOV) and very fast frame rate requirements, normal scene generation techniques were not adequate. Hundreds of scenarios consisting of hundreds of image frames were needed to develop the fuzing algorithms. This scene generation requirement necessitated that realistic scene sequences be produced in minutes rather than hours. This paper discusses the IR model development path to generate IR scene sequences to support the algorithm development for this fuzing program. The discussion describes the process and unique modeling techniques that were implemented to build foreign target models that include fighter and bomber aircraft, low-flying cruise missiles, and helicopters. Implementation of appropriate rendering techniques to support the generation of backgrounds that include atmospherics, terrain, and sea for realistic target engagements are also discussed. Finally, a description of the process utilized in merging IR model and commercial hardware solutions to satisfy the IR scene generation requirements for this program is presented.

Proceedings Article | 13 July 1998 Paper

Closed-loop real-time infrared scene generator

Dennis Crow, Charles Coker, Dennis Garbo, Eric Olson

Proc. SPIE. 3368, Technologies for Synthetic Environments: Hardware-in-the-Loop Testing III

KEYWORDS: Human-machine interfaces, Infrared imaging, Visualization, Sensors, Databases, Composites, Physics, Infrared radiation, Missiles, OpenGL

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Proceedings Article | 15 July 1997 Paper

Spatial and sampling analysis for a sensor viewing a pixelized projector

Breck Sieglinger, David Flynn, Charles Coker

Proc. SPIE. 3084, Technologies for Synthetic Environments: Hardware-in-the-Loop Testing II

KEYWORDS: Staring arrays, Detection and tracking algorithms, Imaging systems, Spatial frequencies, Sensors, Sensor performance, Image sensors, Projection systems, Picosecond phenomena, Modulation transfer functions

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Proceedings Article | 15 July 1997 Paper

Prefiltering synthetic images for projection in hardware-in-the-loop systems

David Flynn, Breck Sieglinger, Charles Coker

Proc. SPIE. 3084, Technologies for Synthetic Environments: Hardware-in-the-Loop Testing II

KEYWORDS: Imaging systems, Cameras, Sensors, Image processing, Computer simulations, Projection systems, Image filtering, Spatial resolution, Target acquisition, Imaging infrared seeker

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Proceedings Article | 15 July 1997 Paper

Real-time IR scene generation of aircraft targets

Dennis Crow, Eric Olson, Dennis Garbo, Charles Coker

Proc. SPIE. 3084, Technologies for Synthetic Environments: Hardware-in-the-Loop Testing II

KEYWORDS: Reflection, Sensors, Databases, Composites, Reflectivity, Physics, Infrared radiation, Infrared signatures, Atmospheric sensing, Systems modeling

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Proceedings Article | 15 July 1997 Paper

Rendering energy-conservative scenes in real time

Eric Olson, Dennis Garbo, Dennis Crow, Charles Coker

Proc. SPIE. 3084, Technologies for Synthetic Environments: Hardware-in-the-Loop Testing II

KEYWORDS: Infrared imaging, 3D acquisition, Visualization, Sensors, Computer simulations, Signal processing, Software development, Zoom lenses, Infrared signatures, 3D image processing

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Proceedings Article | 24 May 1996 Paper

High-fidelity phenomenology modeling of infrared emissions from missile and aircraft exhaust plumes

Dennis Crow, Charles Coker

Proc. SPIE. 2741, Technologies for Synthetic Environments: Hardware-in-the-Loop Testing

KEYWORDS: Infrared imaging, Sensors, Databases, Physics, Computer simulations, Infrared radiation, Missiles, Imaging infrared seeker, Thermal modeling, Absorption

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Proceedings Article | 24 May 1996 Paper

Real-time three-dimensional infrared scene generation utilizing commercially available hardware

Dennis Garbo, Eric Olson, Charles Coker, Dennis Crow

Proc. SPIE. 2741, Technologies for Synthetic Environments: Hardware-in-the-Loop Testing

KEYWORDS: Infrared imaging, 3D acquisition, Visualization, Sensors, Databases, Computing systems, Computer simulations, 3D modeling, Signal processing, Infrared radiation

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Proceedings Article | 24 May 1996 Paper

Hardware-in-the-loop simulation using direct signal injection

Breck Sieglinger, David Flynn, Charles Coker

Proc. SPIE. 2741, Technologies for Synthetic Environments: Hardware-in-the-Loop Testing

KEYWORDS: Imaging systems, Sensors, Image processing, Interference (communication), Computer simulations, Image sensors, Signal processing, Projection systems, Convolution, Signal detection

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Proceedings Article | 24 May 1996 Paper

Real-time range generation for ladar hardware-in-the-loop testing

Eric Olson, Charles Coker

Proc. SPIE. 2741, Technologies for Synthetic Environments: Hardware-in-the-Loop Testing

KEYWORDS: Human-machine interfaces, Infrared imaging, Visualization, LIDAR, Image processing, Silicon, Computer simulations, Computer graphics, Laminated object manufacturing, Hardware in the loop testing

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Proceedings Article | 2 June 1995 Paper

Analysis of the effect of projector nonuniformity on the output of a sensor under test

Breck Sieglinger, David Flynn, Charles Coker

Proc. SPIE. 2469, Targets and Backgrounds: Characterization and Representation

KEYWORDS: Staring arrays, Signal to noise ratio, Sensors, Error analysis, Interference (communication), Sensor performance, Signal processing, Projection systems, Analytical research, Signal detection

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Proceedings Article | 2 June 1995 Paper

Analysis of errors associated with measurement of projector nonuniformity

Breck Sieglinger, David Flynn, Charles Coker

Proc. SPIE. 2469, Targets and Backgrounds: Characterization and Representation

KEYWORDS: Nonuniformity corrections, Diffraction, Statistical analysis, Imaging systems, Sensors, Error analysis, Computer simulations, Time metrology, Image sensors, Projection systems

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