SBIR-STTR Award

This project will investigate and demonstrate the capability of bidirectional reflectance distribution functions to characterize the replication attributes of decoys, allowing specification and tolerances to be developed. This will be performed by a literature search, mathematical analysis and human subject testing. A gonioreflectometer will be designed and breadboarded to indicate the capability of such instrumentation to measure the brdf of surfaces. Instrument parameters and components will be studied, as will the method of data reduction

The project will extend the phase I effort, with the objective of producing a complete specification system for design of decoys and their quality control during manufacturing. This will cover detailed theoretical and mathematical investigations to develop advanced algorithms which provide a measure of decoy realism. Instrumentation will be produced to allow collection of bidirectional reflectance distribution data on real objects and decoys, and forms of data reduction will be provided. Experimental work will collect such data which then will be related to subjective judgements of decoy realism. Factors considered will include types of decoys, both two and three dimensional, angles of incident light, battlefield illumination conditions and enemy viewer geometrics. Test equipment factors include development of a fully automated gonioreflectometer under microcomputer control for measurement of surface reflectance characteristics. Experimentation will analyze typical Army materials, and development of mathematical descriptions of ideal decoys. The result will be a system which provides decoys with enhanced realism, along with a technical and purchasing specification for the Army.