SBIR-STTR Award

The US Navy seeks improved capabilities to generate automatically 3-D target template data in support of the Tomahawk Cruise Missile Program. Our collective approach herein is divided between: (1) feature generation using enhancements to the IAVO TrueDEM DEM extraction tool and (2) a new high-level system called TrueTemplate that automatically builds 3-D target templates from the TrueDEM feature sets and any available a-priori knowledge about the targets and/or environment. Of prime importance for an automated solution are: - A capability to define man-made structural objects and connect these accurately to a ground DEM; - A capability to create a template with few false points; - A capability to infer building material(s) as per the modeling output; - A method for quantifying the reliability of the output; and - Emphasis on leveraging existing capabilities from both Government and Commercial off-the-shelf packages whenever possible. These 3-D data are critical for missile support; and this includes generation of reference content as well as advanced target and site modeling. Generally, commercial and DoD 3-D marketplaces are demanding robust modeling solutions of this type, which suggests an eventual commercialized solution should do well within the spirit and intent of the SBIR program.

Keywords:
Targeting, Templates, Site-Model, Dem, Software, Photogrammetry, Automation, 3-D Structure

The US Navy is seeking improved capabilities to quickly and efficiently generate 3-D target templates (or “site models”) to support such operational systems as the Tomahawk Command and Control Systems (TC2S), Distributed Common Ground Station-Navy (DCGS-N), and collateral damage assessment (e.g., CDET and FastCD). There are two parts of interest. The first is to extract valid and reliable 2-D and 3-D feature sets from a set of spatially-oriented images to generate 3-D models from restricted domains, such as POL (Petroleum, Oil, and Lubricant) tanks, and rectilinear buildings. The second is to find ways to make model generation more efficient with the goal of eventual automation via finding specific ways to streamline workflows. Of prime importance for this system are capabilities to: - map the total site of interest -- structures and surrounding terrain -- with accuracy, efficiency, and robustness; - utilize/add new data in model construction from multiple image sources and other externally acquired data; and - generate results (i.e., models) that can be transitioned for use in current and future Navy programs. Significant advances in the state of the art will require a systems approach that integrates a number of technologies from photogrammetry, image processing, and machine vision.

Keywords:
Targeting, Templates, Site-model, DEM, Software, Photogrammetry, Automation, 3-D Structure