A conventional optical pattern recognition system such as the optical correlator is based on template matching between the input target and the filter. However, automatic target recognition, in a heavily camouflaged environment, requires additional spectral information to enable effective target discrimination. In this paper, an innovative spatial-spectral pattern recognition system is introduced. An acousto-optic tunable filter (AOTF) imaging spectrometer is used as the spatial-spectral preprocessor to enhance the camouflaged target image against its background. A cascaded correlator is then used for target recognition and tracking. An overview of the AOTF imaging spectrometer developed at JPL is provided. Experimental demonstrations of camouflaged target recognition from a foliage background are also provided.

Date Published: 25 October 1993
PDF: 11 pages
Proc. SPIE 1959, Optical Pattern Recognition IV, (25 October 1993); doi: 10.1117/12.160312

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 1959:
Optical Pattern Recognition IV
David P. Casasent, Editor(s)