Optical data processing for advanced missile guidance needs

The paper contains a review of the basic and several recent optical pattern recognition systems that have been considered for missile guidance application. The use of OPR in three different missile guidance applications, such as: (1) area correlation for midcourse guidance, (2) multisensor image pattern recognition, and (3) infrared image pattern recognition, are discussed. A sampling of various OPR techniques including hybrid optical/digital systems are presented, emphasizing the practical features of these systems. Attention is given to area correlation and the many expected differences that can occur between the input and reference imagery, the magnitude of the correlation degradation effects of different error sources, and methods to decrease such errors. Emphasis is placed on a multisensor image pattern recognition and the three classes of multisensor imagery: (1) deterministic without noise, (2) deterministic with additive noise, and (3) statistical.