Thermal imaging is considered as one of the most powerful and easier method that is used in observation applications. Since it can provide users with images that contain a lot of details about the observed scenarios in day and night also during bad atmospheric conditions. But by the fact of aging during the operation of Thermal Imaging Systems (TIS), the TIS main parameters and characteristics’ nominal values are deviated which has a high impact on the TIS tactical performance. These aged TIS are still working but in a lower efficiency, and consequently the observation capability will be decreased. Field performance evaluation of the TIS is one of the powerful measuring methods that is used to determine the actual discrimination ranges under different atmospheric conditions. This paper is devoted to offer a methodology for evaluating the aged TIS at the field. An experimental determination of TIS’s Minimum Resolvable Temperature Difference (MRTD) is performed by using an Inframet DT-150 test station. The discrimination range process (Detection, Recognition and Identification) is executed with the aid of MODTRAN software to simulate the real conditions for the atmospheric scenarios. Our presented methodology has enabled us to stand on the aged TIS actual performance to detect, recognize and identify different standard NATO (vehicle and human) targets. Moreover, redefining the aged TIS new missions according to their actual abilities. Finally, this paper was concluded with a real evaluation for an aged TIS (Bidentifier 100) as a case study. This method can be applied to any TIS whether it operates in mid or long wave Infrared (IR) spectral band.
The increased desire for visible light/infrared dual band imaging systems with compact structure, high resolution coverage and without significantly complicates the optical design is increasing. Such systems are particularly desirable for aerial imaging applications where increased levels of target reconnaissance, precision target location and designation are required in cost-effective and light weight systems. Therefore, in this paper, a high resolution Electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) system to simultaneously operate in the visible band and short wave infrared band (SWIR) band using ZEMAX software are presented. It has a common aperture using Ritchey-Chrétien (R-C) system and the spectrum is separated using a dichroic beam splitter. The results of the optical design indicated that our proposed approach meets the technical performance requirements for high image performance and compact size. This system can be applied in aerial remote sensing applications.
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