Scientific and Technical Aerospace Reports Volume 38 July 28, 2000

achieved. An analogous satellite underflight calibration experiment was performed with AVIRIS and the Optical Sensor (OPS)
onboard the Japanese Earth Resources Satellite (JERS).
Derived from text
Intercalibration; Imaging Spectrometers; Infrared Spectrometers; Ocean Color Scanner; Remote Sensors; Earth Observations
(From Space)
20000064697 Texas Univ., William B. Hanson Center for Space Studies, Dallas, TX USA
Ion Mass Spectrometer for Sporadic-E Rocket Experiments
Heelis, R. A., Texas Univ., USA; Earle, G. D., Texas Univ., USA; Pfaff, Robert, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, USA;
[2000]; 13p; In English
Contract(s)/Grant(s): NAG5-5086
Report No.(s): UTD-FINS-630635; No Copyright; Avail: CASI; A03, Hardcopy; A01, Microfiche
NASA grant NAG5-5086 provided funding for the William B. Hanson Center for Space Sciences at the University of Texas
at Dallas (UTD) to design, fabricate, calibrate, and ultimately fly two ion mass spectrometer instruments on a pair of sounding
rocket payloads. Drs. R.A. Heelis and G.D. Earle from UTD were co-investigators on the project. The principal investigator for
both rocket experiments was Dr. Robert Pfaff of the Goddard Space Flight Center. The overall project title was ”Rocket/Radar
Investigation of Lower Ionospheric Electrodynamics Associated with Intense Mid-Latitude Sporadic-E Layers”. This report
describes the overall objectives of the project, summarizes the instrument design and flight experiment details, and presents representative
data obtained during the flights.
Derived from text
Mass Spectrometers; Fabrication; Aerospace Engineering; Sounding Rockets; Aerodynamics
20000065618 Institute for Human Factors TNO, Soesterberg, Netherlands
Evaluation of CCD Camera Systems for the Fennek Vehicle Final Report Evaluatie van CCD Camera’s Ten Behoeve van
de Fennek
Valeton, J. M., Institute for Human Factors TNO, Netherlands; Kooi, F. L., Institute for Human Factors TNO, Netherlands; Bijl,
P., Institute for Human Factors TNO, Netherlands; Aug. 25, 1999; 40p; In Dutch
Contract(s)/Grant(s): A98/KL/317; TNO Proj. 786.1
Report No.(s): TD-99-0335; TM-99-A057; Copyright; Avail: Issuing Activity
The usefulness of a number of CCD camera systems for the German/Dutch Fennek observation pod has been explored in a
field test. The observation capabilities (target detection, recognition, and identification) for stationary vehicles at a known, distant
location were measured. Seven camera-display combinations have been directly compared to determine the effect of the following
parameters: 1. type of camera (Fennek, RGB reference with contrast-stretching, i-Sight) 2. color versus back-and-white 3. field
of view (2.5 deg: wide field-of-view, 0.9 deg: narrow field-of-view) 4. display size (9”, 14”). The observer task in the field experiment
was target identification. The experimental design was such that recognition and ’detection’ performance could be obtained
from the identification scores. NOTE: this ’detection’ performance concerns determining whether a target is present at a certain,
known location, and is therefore different from the detection in a search task. Target search was not investigated in this study. The
results indicate how the camera system presently used in the Fennek could be improved for target identification. The display size
has no effect on the scores. The ’detection’, recognition, and identification scores with the RGB reference camera are 10% to 15%
higher, due to the 20% better resolution and the contrast-stretching. The 2.7 times stronger tele-lens (narrow field-of-view)
improves the scores by 20%. Color improves the recognition and identification of the vehicles by 7% to 10% but has no effect
on detection. to summarize, of the four variables the field-of-view has the largest effect followed by resolution / stretching and
color. Though these improvements in the scores cannot directly be converted to an improvement in acquisition range, the effects
should be easily noticeable. Only a relatively small effect of color was found in this experiment because of the large distance (atmosphere
effects), the limited color discrimination capability of the human eye for small objects, and the low color contrast of the
targets (camouflage patterns). The color contrast stretching and the high resolution of the CCD cameras apparently are not enough
to compensate for these effects. It is expected however, that color will have a much larger effect on performance for other tasks,
such as visual search, and peace-keeping operations.
Author
Evaluation; CCD Cameras; Target Acquisition; Targets; Detection
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