Adaptive systems research in the U.S. Navy

Pattern recognition and its application to ocean surveillance and the near-real-time screening of tactical reconnaissance imagery presented to the pilot were chosen as a typical adaptive systems project in the Navy. The performance of a pattern-recognition device is compared with that of a human operator. It is concluded that the human operator will make the final decision, but he will be aided by a pattern-recognition device. The interpretation of unfamiliar information such as radar imagery or radar range profiles poses considerable problems for the human operator, and therefore pattern recognition is needed the most in this area. The basic pattern recognition process is briefly described and an example is given of processing techniques for pattern recognition which were implemented. The requirements and the need for a pattern-recognition device for ocean surveillance and near-real-time automatic screening of tactical resonnaissance information are outlined.