A pre-prototype real-time video tracking system

This paper describes a new approach to real-time optical tracking of high performance targets in noisy, multiple target environments. A TV camera is used for the sensor and the video is digitized by a high speed analog to digital converter. A hardware picture decomposition module separates the targets from the background and stores a reduced binary picture into a high speed buffer memory. The contents of the buffer memory are processed by a structural image processor to identify and locate target images. Multiple targets within the target window are identified and located using structural projections. When the target is located control signals are generated to orient the camera towards the desired target.