KEYWORDS: Target detection, Sensors, Signal detection, Land mines, Mining, Visualization, Signal generators, General packet radio service, Environmental sensing, Electromagnetic coupling
We report results from an experiment designed to study the perceptual and learning processes involved in the detection of land mines. Subjects attempted to identify the location of spatially distributed targets identified by a sweeping a cursor across a computer screen. Invisible screen 'objects' were identified by either tones (A) or clicks (B) or both. Objects defined by a tone or a click only are distracters; the single object defined by both is the target (mine). We looked at the effect on target detectability of the number and spatial distribution of distracters. As expected from theoretical analysis, target detectability was highest when A and B distracters were negatively correlated; lowest when they were positively correlated. Under these conditions, detectability is was also inversely related to the number of A distracters (which were spatially diffuse) but was largely unaffected by the number of B distracters (which were punctate). Adding a second sensor channel greatly enhanced target detectability, especially if A and B distracters were spatially uncorrelated or negatively correlated.
We report preliminary results from an experiment designed to study the perceptual and learning processes involved in the detection of land mines. Subjects attempted to identify the location of spatially distributed targets identified by a sweeping a cursor across a computer screen. Each point on the screen was associated with a certain tone intensity; targets were louder than 'distractor' objects. We looked at the effects on target detection and false-alarm rates of the intensity difference between target and distractor signals, the number of distractor signals, the number of distractors and training order. The time to detect 50 percent of targets was measured by a rapid adaptive technique which generated reliable thresholds within few trials. The result are consistent with a simple model for the detection of cryptic prey by foraging predators: search was slower with more distractors, and the effect of distractors was greater when S/N ratio was lower. Although subjects got no accuracy feedback, performance improved somewhat with experience and was slightly better in the low S/N condition when it followed the high S/N condition. The procedure seems to be a useful one for studying more complex mine-related detection tasks with a range of signal types and numbers of concurrent detection signals.
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