An infrared system for automatic detection of targets

The authors deal with automation of the process of target acquisition in AFVs (armoured fighting vehicles). They highlight some of the key points of a project which involved identifying all potential sensor technologies and comparing them to known target signatures. A set of `essential´ selection criteria was established and an initial filter of the technologies undertaken. From the resultant short list a set of `pseudo generic´ systems was postulated. The pseudo generic systems were defined to a sufficient level of detail that they could be marked using a scheme devised specifically for the task. The results of the marking scheme enabled a decision to be made as to the most suitable system options for automatic target detection. Once a decision had been made a more detailed assessment of the `winning system´ was undertaken to establish its engineering feasibility. The overall assessment methodology is shown illustrating the two filters which were used to assess the most suitable system option(s)