The performance of modern Forward-Looking Infrared (FLIR) systems is vital to preserving the lives of military personnel and civilians. Proper test and evaluation processes enhance system integration and provide useful data for system improvements and tactical implementation. Such processes are also necessary to effectively compare modeling and laboratory data with in-situ flight data. In this paper we discuss the test and evaluation processes typically used for infrared imaging systems and discuss some methods of correlating laboratory and modeling results with flight data. We will present a hypothetical infrared imaging system, demonstrate how it is put through various stages of testing, observe sample hypothetical system data results, and discuss some reasons for selecting specific testing facilities and locations. Additional discussion will focus on preliminary testing considerations such as selection of ground targets for Minimum Resolvable Temperature Difference tests and the selection of proper target FLIR test patterns. Finally we will mention future testing challenges such as short-wave infrared systems and the validity of current assumptions used when testing mid-wave infrared systems.
Experiments with two laser radar systems were conducted off the coast of Key West Florida in May of 2001. The purpose of the test was to observe the effect of the water optical properties on the Lidar return signal decay rate and compare the performance of the two systems. The first lidar system, the Shipborad K-meter Survey System (KSS) was configured to transmit linearly polarized light and to receive backscattered light in both channels. The second system, the Airborne KSS, is designed to conduct global surveys from patrolling P3-C aircraft. For this test the Airborne KSS was specially configured to operate from the deck of a ship and both systems were operated in conjunction with each other. The shipboard KSS was configured with a remotely controlled mechanical iris in both receiver channels to allow the use of different fields of view in each channel. Several oceanographic in-situ instruments were used to measure such water properties as optical transmission and absorption, backscatter coefficient, diffuse attenuation , temperature, and salinity as functions of depth. This in-situ dat was then compared with the lidar measurements.
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