This program will produce a design for an airborne gimbaled sensor fused system for evaluation of night~time navigation and interpretation. The system will use the Inframetrics Mark III Gimbal1 modified to accept an image intensified (l2)CCD camera, whose This program will produce a design for an airborne gimbaled sensor fused system for evaluation of night~time navigation and interpretation. The system will use the Inframetrics Mark III Gimbal1 modified to accept an image intensified (l2)CCD camera, whose dual spectral displayed output (low level visible light and infrared (IR)) is combined using Lincoln Laboratory's patented image fusion processor, to produce a single color fused real-time image. This image will be independently output to a display, and recorded for evaluation as a night-time airborne navigational aid. In Phase I, Inframetrics will evaluate a minor modification to the gimbal to substitute the 'C CD camera Lincoln Laboratory uses for the image fusion system, for the standard color camera. Inframetrics will determine the spatial registration limitations of the system. Lincoln Laboratory will determine the registration correction available within the fusion processor. Inframetrics 'will follow up on the letters of intent to obtain firm commitments from customers to participate in the system flight testing. At the end of Phase It spatial registration accuracy 'will be defined, a system level design for the sensor fused airborne prototype completed1 flight tests determined, and candidate customers obtained to perform the desired tests. In Phase II, Infrarmetrics and Lincoln Laboratory will build on the system level design from Phase I to construct a prototype airborne IRICCO image fusion system, install the system on the candidate aircraft, perform the laboratory and fight tests, and together 'with the customer and program manager, evaluate the results. The imagery gathered from these trial flights will help determine the advantages of the image fusion system for human tasks of interpretation and navigation in nightime airborne applications
