The accomplishments may be subdivided according to the project s theoretical, experimental, and post-processing/computational objectives. Among the theoretical accomplishments, we list a new model for a sparse representation of man-made space objects and its use, via a new spectral-correlation approach, to segment their material components; the use of 2D segment-boundary data for multiple poses of a man-made space object to recover its 3D shape; new fundamental results involving statistical...
Topics: DTIC Archive, NEW MEXICO UNIV ALBUQUERQUE, *SPACE OBJECTS, BAYES THEOREM, DIFFRACTION,...
This document represents the final report on the various scientific activities and accomplishments relating to Grant No. FA9550-09-1-0495 over its period of performance, June 1, 2009 - November 30, 2013. Among the most important technical accomplishments of the project are: * A new relation between two seemingly different metrics of information - mutual information (MI) and estimation theoretic Fisher information (FI) in the high-SNR limit, for arbitrary input and channel probability...
Topics: DTIC Archive, NEW MEXICO UNIV ALBUQUERQUE, *INFORMATION THEORY, IDENTIFICATION, IMAGE...
Space Situational Awareness and Space Object Identification are vital to discovering and assessing space-based threats. The current ground-based mission architecture and operational concept do not provide enough detailed information on space objects to give planners and strategists a true picture of the space order of battle. This thesis looks at the possibility of using space-based assets, based on the CubeSat standard, to perform these missions to a higher level of quality. How this system...
Topics: DTIC Archive, NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL MONTEREY CA, *SPACE OBJECTS, ARCHITECTURE, EMPLOYMENT,...
A new remote sensing approach based on polarimetric wavelet fractal detection principles is introduced and the Mueller matrix formalism is defined, aimed at enhancing the detection, identification, characterization, and discrimination of unresolved space objects at different aspect angles. The design principles of a multifunctional liquid crystal monostatic polarimetric ladar are introduced and related to operating conditions and system performance metrics. Backscattered polarimetric signal...
Topics: DTIC Archive, AKRON UNIV OH, *SPACE OBJECTS, ALGORITHMS, OPTICAL RADAR, POLARIMETRY, REMOTE...
The objective of this task, titles "Space Object Identification (SOI)" is to support AFRL technology development in electro-optics sensors, algorithms, and processing for SOI. The background for performing this task is as follows; The United States Space Command (USSPACECOM) has the mission to develop and maintain the Space Order of Battle (SOB)/Space Situational Awareness (SSA). This includes the knowledge of where all man-made objects in space are, what they are, what their missions...
Topics: DTIC Archive, SCHAFER (W J) ASSOCIATES INC ALBUQUERQUE NM, *IDENTIFICATION SYSTEMS, *SPACE OBJECTS,...
While Space Domain Awareness (SDA), including all of space surveillance and characterization of all space objects and environments, is critical for national and economic security, SDA capabilities cannot be developed independent of cost. This presentation will describe a new approach to SDA being developed by the Defense Advanced Projects Agency (DARPA) and other agencies. This approach endeavors to integrate the data from a wide range of current and future SDA capabilities for a fraction of...
Topics: DTIC Archive, DEFENSE ADVANCED RESEARCH PROJECTS AGENCY ARLINGTON VA, *SPACE SURVEILLANCE, SPACE...
In this report, we describe the first steps towards the goal of quantifying space environment interactions with debris objects using observation data fusion techniques, namely the setup of an observation campaign to acquire lightcurves of geosynchronous artificial space objects. We first explain how the candidate objects were selected. Then we describe the acquisition of the observations, featuring technical details, the observation strategy and also the practical difficulties that we...
Topics: DTIC Archive, BERN UNIV (SWITZERLAND), *SPACE ENVIRONMENTS, *SPACECRAFT DEBRIS, DATA FUSION,...
In our previous work, we demonstrated that hierarchical (taxonomical) trees can be used to depict hypotheses in a Bayesian object recognition and identification process using Figaro, an open source probabilistic programming language. We assume in this work that we have appropriately defined a satellite taxonomy that allows us to place a given space object (RSO) into a particular class of object without any ambiguity. Such a taxonomy allows one to assess the probability of assignment to a...
Topics: DTIC Archive, AIR FORCE RESEARCH LAB KIRTLAND AFB NM, *TAXONOMY, CATALOGS, HIERARCHIES,...
Temporal behavior of a non-resolved resident space object [RSO] signature is a function of the abundance of its contributing materials. These abundances are, in turn, a function of the orbital behavior of the RSO. For example, in case of a spin-stabilized RSO, the abundances display a cyclic behavior. The present work uses a positive matrix factorization technique to extract the temporal variation of material abundances from hyperspectral or multi-spectral time-resolved signatures. A Fourier...
Topics: DTIC Archive, AIR FORCE RESEARCH LAB HANSCOM AFB MA, *SIGNATURES, *SPACE OBJECTS, PHOTOMETRY,...
This study applies the orbital debris modeling techniques to devise an effective search strategy applicable for breakup fragments in the geostationary region. The orbital debris modeling describes debris generation and orbit propagation, so that we can effectively conduct predictive analyses of space objects that include characterizing, tracking and predicting the behavior of individual and groups of space objects. Therefore, the techniques enable us to predict population of debris originated...
Topics: DTIC Archive, IHI CORP TOKYO (JAPAN), *DEBRIS, *DETECTION, FRAGMENTS, PREDICTIONS, SEARCHING,...
Space-based object detection and tracking represents a fundamental step necessary for detailed analysis of space objects. Initial observations of a resident space object (RSO) may result from careful sensor tasking to observe an object with well understood dynamics, or measurements-of-opportunity on an object with poorly understood dynamics. Dim and eccentric objects present a particular challenge which requires more dynamic use of imaging systems. As a result of more stressing data acquisition...
Topics: DTIC Archive, AIR FORCE RESEARCH LAB KIRTLAND AFB NM, *SPACE OBJECTS, COMPUTER VISION, DATA...
In the context of the surveillance of space, known resident space objects (RSO), i.e. active satellites and space debris, need to be acquired periodically to ensure that the knowledge of their orbital parameters is up-to-date. The most sensitive observation method consists of acquiring an image sequence while the target is actively tracked by the optical system such the RSO appears stationary in the image sequence. This generates an incredible amount of data which requires efficient detection...
Topics: DTIC Archive, DEFENCE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CANADA VALCARTIER (QUEBEC), *IMAGE PROCESSING,...
The Kolmogorov Arnold and Moser (KAM) theorem states that a lightly perturbed Hamiltonian system will have solutions which lie on a torus. Earlier work by the second author has shown that most Earth satellite orbits perturbed by the geopotential lie on KAM tori. The problem then arises as to how to convert the current satellite tracking orbits to KAM tori. A KAM torus is characterized by three frequencies and three phase angles. The frequencies are essentially the rates of change of the mean...
Topics: DTIC Archive, AIR FORCE INST OF TECH WRIGHT-PATTERSON AFB OH, *EARTH ORBITS, *MATHEMATICAL...
This paper introduces and discusses a method to rigorously classify and prioritize UCTs using Bayesian inference and admissible regions. A detailed derivation and discussion of the methodology is given, followed by a generalized de nition of prioritization parameters. Several example prioritization parameters including time left to detect,' zero-e ort miss,' and e ective albedo-area' are motivated and given. A number of illustrative applications with optical UCTs are examined to demonstrate...
Topics: DTIC Archive, AIR FORCE RESEARCH LAB KIHEI MAUI HI DETACHMENT 15, *SPACE OBJECTS, EXTRACTION,...
The point pairing method in this paper is based on a set of simple physical truths for three-axis stabilized space objects in the geosynchronous orbit (GEO). It defines a method for the calculation of pairs of observation conditions (i.e. point pairs) that have a special property for three-axis stabilized GEO object characterization. An observation condition is defined to be the geometry of illumination for the solar panel and the body of the satellite and the geometry of its observation by a...
Topics: DTIC Archive, AIR FORCE RESEARCH LAB KIRTLAND AFB NM SPACE VEHICLES DIRECTORATE, *SPACE OBJECTS,...
Object recognition is the first step in positively identifying a resident space object (RSO), i.e. assigning an RSO to a category such as GPS satellite or space debris. Object identification is the process of deciding that two RSOs are in fact one and the same. Provided we have appropriately defined a satellite taxonomy that allows us to place a given RSO into a particular class of object without any ambiguity, one can assess the probability of assignment to a particular class by determining...
Topics: DTIC Archive, AIR FORCE RESEARCH LAB KIRTLAND AFB NM, *ALGORITHMS, *PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES, *SPACE...
The ARPA Maui Optical Station (AMOS) is engaged in research, development, and demonstration of advanced optical measurement techniques and in providing state-of-the-art measurement support to various government agencies. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, through executive agents in the Air Force Systems Command, contracted with the AVCO Everett Research Laboratory, Inc. to conduct Phase III operations at AMOS. The activities during this period, which began 1 November 1974 and...
Topics: DTIC Archive, Hartogensis, J, AVCO EVERETT RESEARCH LAB INC EVERETT MA, *SPACE OBJECTS,...
This paper examines a subset of objects from the USNO-B1 catalogue with listed proper motions between 1.0 and 5.0 arcseconds per year. We look at the degree of contamination within this range of proper motions, and point out the major sources of spurious high proper motion objects. Roughly 0.1% of the objects in the USNO-B1 catalogue with listed motions between 1.0 and 5.0 arcseconds per year are real. Comparison with the revised version of Luyten's Half Second catalogue indicates that USNO-B1...
Topics: DTIC Archive, Levine, Stephen E, NAVAL OBSERVATORY FLAGSTAFF AZ, *MOTION, *STARS, KINEMATICS,...
This research has been concerned with the interrelated subjects of n-widths and optimal reconstruction. An attempt has been made to establish a mathematical framework within which a general theory may be developed. In addition, two important problems have been solved. The first of these deals with n-widths of Sobolev spaces, while the second is concerned with optimal reconstruction and n-widths of time- and band-limited signals. (Author)
Topics: DTIC Archive, Melkman,A A, TECHNION - ISRAEL INST OF TECH HAIFA DEPT OF MATHEMATICS, *Mathematical...
Object characterization is the description of a resident space object (RSO), its capabilities, and its behavior. This paper explores object characterization methods using photometric data. An important property of RSO photometric signatures is the changes in intensity that they exhibit with respect to changes in viewing angle or orientation. Properties that influence the brightness of the photometric signature include geometry, orientation, material characteristics and stability. For this...
Topics: DTIC Archive, Howard,Michael, Charles River Analytics, Inc Cambridge United States, machine...
Space situational awareness (SSA) depends on detection, tracking and characterization of resident space objects. One such system with this capability that is coming online is the Falcon Telescope Network, a network of telescopes dispersed across the state of Colorado as well as around the world. An important capability of the network will be simultaneous observations of a target from multiple sites. Telescopes located in Colorado will enable a study of fast moving low-earth-orbiting targets,...
Topics: DTIC Archive, AIR FORCE ACADEMY COLORADO SPRINGS CO DEPT OF PHYSICS, *SPACE OBJECTS, INFORMATION...
Data association for Uncorrelated Tracks (UCTs) is a persistent and difficult problem in Space Situational Awareness. Space objects (SOs) often maneuver or are perturbed between observations, and when new measurements are collected, these new UCTs not always easily correlated with existing catalog objects. Presently, orbit element gating, Euclidean distances, and Mahalanobis distances are considered in the literature as tools with which UCTs may be appropriately associated. This Final Report...
Topics: DTIC Archive, GEORGIA TECH RESEARCH INST ATLANTA, *ALGORITHMS, *MANEUVERING SATELLITES, *TRACKING,...
Forward modeling will never be perfect. The shape model will never be able to account for every wrinkle in the MLI coating, and similarly, the surface model as represented by the bidirectional reflectance distribution function (BRDF) will never be identical to that found on actual space objects due to space weathering and inherent differences in the same material from lot to lot. The key to making estimation filters work is thus to continually improve the shape and surface models of the space...
Topics: DTIC Archive, AIR FORCE RESEARCH LAB KIRTLAND AFB NM, *KALMAN FILTERING, ATTITUDE(INCLINATION),...
In this paper, we present analysis of the errors associated with optical photometry used in non-resolved object characterization for the Space Situational Awareness (SSA) community. We begin with an overview of the standard astronomical techniques used to measure the brightness of spatially unresolved objects (point source photometry) in deep space. After discussing the standard astronomical techniques, we present the application of astronomical photometry for the purposes of space object...
Topics: DTIC Archive, Payne,Tamara E, Air Force Research Laboratory Kirtland AFB United States, photometry,...
Astrometric and photometric data fusion for the purposes of simultaneous position, velocity, attitude, and angular rate estimation has been demonstrated in the past. This state estimation is extended to include the various surface parameters associated with the bidirectional reflectance distribution function (BRDF). Additionally, a physically consistent BRDF and radiation pressure model is utilized thus enabling an accurate physical link between the observed photometric brightness and the...
Topics: DTIC Archive, PACIFIC DEFENSE SOLUTIONS LLC KIHEI HI, *SPACE OBJECTS, ATTITUDE(INCLINATION),...
The characterization of uncertainty in the estimate of the state of a resident space object is fundamental to many space surveillance tasks including data association, uncorrelated track (UCT) resolution, catalog maintenance, sensor tasking and scheduling as well as space situational awareness (SSA) missions such as conjunction assessments and maneuver detection. The need for and importance of uncertainty quantification is established for each of these problem domains. The following eight...
Topics: DTIC Archive, Poore,Audrey B, Numerica Corporation Fort Collins United States, uncertainty,...
Tracking closely space objects with resolution limited sensors is a difficult problem. One way to address this issue is to track these targets individually, and employ relatively complex data association approaches as a means of pairing detections and tracks. The algorithms outlined in this paper takes a different approach, and instead estimates the group velocity using an unscented Kalman Filter (UKF). The UKF state estimate is then employed within a particle filter, which estimates the...
Topics: DTIC Archive, NAVAL SURFACE WARFARE CENTER DAHLGREN VA, *ALGORITHMS, *KALMAN FILTERING, *TARGET...
ARAPAIMA is a proximity operations mission sponsored by the US Air Force Office of Scientific Research(AFOSR) and the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), to perform the in-orbit demonstration of autonomousproximity operations for visible, infrared, and point cloud generation of resident space objects (RSOs) from ananosat platform. The nanosat is of the 6U CubeSat class, with overall dimensions of 12x24x36cm, a mass of9.78kg, and has been selected as part of AFRLs University NanoSat Program...
Topics: DTIC Archive, Harris,Kristia, Space Development and Test Directorate Albuquerque United States,...
Pollution is an issue that isn't often taken seriously, it is chronic and continually worsening. The reason for this is that pollution does not have an immediate effect on the environment or society. It takes time to see depletion of the ozone, bacterial contamination, or decreased air quality. Due to the lack of immediacy, society assumes that this issue doesn't warrant immediate attention. Unfortunately, these issues will rise in importance and become urgent, time critical, or in need of a...
Topics: DTIC Archive, Sarri,Stephaney, U.S. Air Force Academy Air Force Academy United States, spacecraft,...
Topics: DTIC Archive, AIR FORCE RESEARCH LAB WRIGHT-PATTERSON AFB OH, *OPTICAL DETECTION, AIR FORCE...
Modern space situational awareness is focused on the detection, tracking, identification, and characterization of passive and active resident space objects. In the past, this process relied primarily on ground-based sensors. However, difficulties arise when smaller, more distant, or otherwise dim objects are considered. Space based sensors may help alleviate some of these difficulties. The work funded under this award has focused primarily on optimal design for a constellation of space based...
Topics: DTIC Archive, TEXAS UNIV AT AUSTIN, *DETECTORS, *SATELLITE CONSTELLATIONS, *SITUATIONAL AWARENESS,...
This article addresses one component of the debate on whether or not to weaponize space. Specifically, it looks at whether a decision to base weapons in space would produce a net, long-term increase in relative military capability for the United States or serve to reduce its current military dominance. It defines space-based weapon as a system placed in orbit or deep space that is designed for destroying, damaging, rendering inoperable, or changing the flight trajectory of space objects, or for...
Topics: DTIC Archive, NAVAL WAR COLL NEWPORT RI, *SPACE WEAPONS, LONG RANGE(TIME), MILITARY CAPABILITIES,...
In this paper, we present a flexible format for compiling radiometry/photometry data with pertinent information about the collections into a file for use by the Space Situational Awareness (SSA) community. With the increase in the number of Electro-Optical (EO) sensors collecting photometric, radiometric, and spectroscopic data on man-made Resident Space Objects (RSOs) for SSA purposes, the EO SSA community of interest and stakeholders in SSA require a file format protocol for reporting the...
Topics: DTIC Archive, AIR FORCE RESEARCH LAB WRIGHT-PATTERSON AFB OH, *DATA BASES, COMPUTER PROGRAMMING,...
Why was there so much commotion over the release of Fugate's guide star work? He and his Air Force colleagues had done something revolutionary--they had begun to conquer the age-old problem of atmospheric turbulence causing distortion in light waves. Distorted light waves produced blurred rather than razor-sharp images of objects in space. Fugate's laser guide star technique was a critical first step in the adaptive optics process that would eventually compensate distorted light by removing the...
Topics: DTIC Archive, AIR FORCE RESEARCH LAB KIRTLAND AFB NM, *SPACE OBJECTS, *ADAPTIVE OPTICS, *IMAGES,...
SILC is a low cost method of multi-color photometry that is utilized to enhance the Space Object Identification (SOI) capability. Currently, USSPACECOM has two radar systems to conduct deep space object identification, which are located in one area of the globe; this limits USSPACECOM global coverage. USSPACECOM also has three Electro-optic ground based deep space surveillance systems that are strategically located around the world. However, they provide only the gross stability of a satellite....
Topics: DTIC Archive, Trimble, James D, AIR FORCE SPACE BATTLELAB SHRIEVER AFBCO, *SPACE MISSIONS,...
This work extended on previous efforts to explore state-of the-art blind image deconvolution techniques for improving space surveillance capabilities. The project had two objectives: (1) to develop and test a new theory of speckle statistics based on the model of partially-developed speckle, and (2) to test if inclusion of this theory in deconvolution removes the need for human intervention. Using a physics-based approach to exploit knowledge of the whole imaging process, the goal is to have a...
Topics: DTIC Archive, ROYAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES AND ARTS OF BARCELONA (SPAIN), *IMAGE PROCESSING, *SPACE...
This report summarizes work related to optical superresolution for the ideal incoherent 1D spread function, multi-frame image registration, and high resolution image reconstruction. It also reports on certain software that has been developed to facilitate the management of middle atmosphere data from the Sounding of the Atmosphere using Broadband Emission Radiometry (SABER) instrument. The file structure required to use the codes is described, as are the codes themselves and their usage.
Topics: DTIC Archive, ARCON CORP WALTHAM MA, *COMPUTER PROGRAMS, *IMAGE PROCESSING, *IMAGE RECONSTRUCTION,...
As space gets more and more populated, a classification scheme based upon scientific taxonomy is needed to properly identify, group, and discriminate space objects. Using artificial space object taxonomy also allows for scientific understanding of the nature of the space object population and the processes, natural or not, that drive changes of an artificial space object class from one to another. In a first step, an ancestral-dynamic hierarchical tree based on a priori knowledge is...
Topics: DTIC Archive, AIR FORCE RESEARCH LAB KIRTLAND AFB NM SPACE VEHICLES DIRECTORATE, *ALGORITHMS,...
The report describes some studies made on the application of pattern recognition techniques to the Space Object Identification (SOI) problem using passive photometric signature data. Both simulated and measured passive photometric data (primarily, the latter) on satellite objects were compared using a variety of techniques in both the time and frequency domains. Different sample spaces with dimensionalities ranging from 14 to 50 were tested, with Principal Components Analysis being used in an...
Topics: DTIC Archive, Utley, R G, GENERAL RESEARCH CORP SANTA BARBARA CA, *PATTERN RECOGNITION, *SPACE...
This report covers the third year of the contract AFOSR Contract FA9550-11-1-0279 which has involved the effort of the principal investigator, John L. Junkins, and 5 PhD students. The project addresses a problem near the heart of space situational awareness (SSA), namely efficient and accurate propagation of orbits. This is a classical problem whose importance has been dramatically elevated by the growth of orbital debris population, and by several events involving deliberate and accidental...
Topics: DTIC Archive, TEXAS ENGINEERING EXPERIMENT STATION COLLEGE STATION, *ALGORITHMS, *EARTH ORBITS,...
In this paper, the development of a long range ladar system known as ExoSPEAR at NASA Langley Research Center for tracking rapidly moving resident space objects is discussed. Based on 100 W, nanosecond class, near-IR laser, this ladar system with coherent detection technique is currently being investigated for short dwell time measurements of resident space objects (RSOs) in LEO and beyond for space surveillance applications. This unique ladar architecture is configured using a continuously...
Topics: DTIC Archive, NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION HAMPTON VA LANGLEY RESEARCH CENTER,...
Range observations are scarce for deep space objects. This scarcity sometimes lowers the accuracy of ephemerides. This is especially true for sparsely tracked angles-only objects, objects with too short fit spans, and objects that are created from angles-only uncorrelated tracks. This paper evaluates the use of triangulated range for objects that have been simultaneously tracked by two or more angles-only sites. Evaluated are the accuracy of the triangulated range and the error growth of...
Topics: DTIC Archive, AIR AND SPACE OPERATIONS CENTER (614TH) VANDENBERG AFB CA, *EARTH ORBITS, *SPACE...
A key feature of resident space object (RSO) photometric signatures is change in their brightness and color with time. It has been discovered that because of the illumination angle dependency of this temporal nature, time alone is insufficient to characterize the intrinsic nature of change in signature brightness. In this paper, we present a derivation of how the first derivative of the photometric intensity as a function of phase angle is related to the normalized reflectance spectra of the...
Topics: DTIC Archive, AIR FORCE RESEARCH LAB HANSCOM AFB MA SPACE VEHICLES DIRECTORATE, *PHOTOMETRY, *SPACE...
This paper discusses the application of a single beam laser rangefinger (LRF) to point cloud generation, shape detection, and shape reconstruction for a space-based space situational awareness (SSA) mission. The LRF is part of the payload of a chaser satellite tasked to image a resident space object (RSO). The one-dimensional (1D) nature of LRF returns significantly increases the complexity of the imaging task. To maximize coverage, a method to autonomously detect and fill gaps in sparse point...
Topics: DTIC Archive, Nayak,Michael, Air Force Institute of Technology Wright Patterson AFB United States,...
Synthetic data, simulating the effects of atmospheric extinction on GEODSS observations, are presented. Approximate representations for the atmospheric extinction coefficients and for spectral photon distributions are also developed. Together these data are intended for evaluation of the effects of the atmosphere on space object identification data, and for the development and testing of models for correcting atmospheric extinction. (Author)
Topics: DTIC Archive, Sorvari,J M, MASSACHUSETTS INST OF TECH LEXINGTON LINCOLN LAB, *EXTINCTION, *SOLAR...
Analysis of time-series data can yield remarkably accurate estimates of the frequency of a satellite s brightness modulations. These apparent or synodic frequencies can vary in time, differing from the actual rotation rate of the object by an amount that depends on the relative angular motion between the satellite, illuminator, and observer for reflected light measurements (or between the satellite and observer for thermal emission measurements). When detected with sufficient accuracy, such...
Topics: DTIC Archive, AIR FORCE RESEARCH LAB KIHEI MAUI HI DETACHMENT 15, *SPACE OBJECTS, ANGULAR MOTION,...
The Institute for Astronomy has developed and recently installed a high-resolution cross-dispersed echelle spectrograph for use at one of the coude foci of the AEOS 3.7-meter telescope, operated by the Air Force Space Command atop Mt. Haleakala on the island of Maui. The spectrograph features an optical arm for the wavelength range 0.5-1.0 urn and an infrared arm for the range 1.0 - 2.5 microns We review the spectrograph design and present commissioning results obtained with both the visible...
Topics: DTIC Archive, Thornton, Robert J, HAWAII UNIV HONOLULU INST FOR ASTRONOMY, *INFRARED DETECTORS,...
The Joint Milli-Arcsecond Pathfinder Survey (J-MAPS) mission is a star mapping microsat mission proposed for launch in the 2011 timeframe. The primary objectives of J-MAPS are to generate star catalogs that are 15 times more accurate at current epoch (2007) and 100 times denser than those based on the Hipparcos mission, demonstrate the ability to measure pointing to 10 milliarcseconds (mas) and control pointing to 50 mas on-orbit with a microsat bus, and to mature and risk reduce technology for...
Topics: DTIC Archive, Dorland, Bryan N, NAVAL OBSERVATORY WASHINGTON DC, *MAPPING, *STARS, *SPACE OBJECTS,...
Object correlation and maneuver detection are persistent problems in space surveillance and space object catalog maintenance. This paper demonstrates the utility of using quadratic trajectory control cost, an analog to the trajectory L2-norm in control, as a distance metric with which to both correlate object tracks and detect maneuvers using Uncorrelated Tracks (UCTs), real-time sensor measurement residuals, and prior state uncertainty. State and measurement uncertainty are incorporated into...
Topics: DTIC Archive, COLORADO UNIV AT BOULDER DEPT OF AEROSPACE ENGINEERING SCIENCES, *CORRELATION, *SPACE...
In this paper, we consider the evaluation of information divergence and information gain as they apply to a hybrid random variable (i.e. a random variable which has both discrete and continuous elements) for multi-target tracking problems. In particular, we develop a closed-form solution for the Cauchy- Schwarz information divergence under the assumption that the continuous element of the random variable may be represented by a Gaussian mixture distribution and present the associated...
Topics: DTIC Archive, AIR FORCE RESEARCH LAB KIRTLAND AFB NM, *SITUATIONAL AWARENESS, *SPACE ENVIRONMENTS,...
