Description of laser spot motion during designation of moving targets

This report identifies and discusses two distinct dynamic components in a mathematical model of the stochastic motion of a laser spot on a moving target as viewed from the position of the designator. One of these components is contributed by manual tracking and possesses approximately second-order dynamics. The other component is contributed jointly by laser device and atmospheric propagation effects (scintillation) and exhibits nearly first-order dynamics. Both frequency-domain and time-domain analyses are pursued in comparing the mathematical model with a sample of spot motion test data. Algorithms for digital implementation of the components of the stochastic model are derived. The implementation is conceived as an input generator for a laser target signature model. There is an exposition of certain distortions which are produced in the autospectra of the stochastic components due to the implementation. Additionally, some statistical aspects of parameter estimation are presented.