Seeker and data-processing modeling for the Strategic Defense Initiative

The author describes the pixel-level modeling of a starting sensor (seeker) and its associated signal- and object-processing functions in a high-fidelity six-degree-of-freedom (6-DOF) missile simulation. The seeker model is composed of two parts: an infrared seeker and a visible seeker. The infrared seeker implements a 128-by-128-pixel focal plane array (FPA), and the visible speaker implements a 1024-by-1024-pixel FPA. Either five independent focal planes may be used, or up to four infrared bands (colors) and one visible band may be specified. Any of these five bands (or independent FPAs) may be run concurrently or consecutively, depending on user input. The sensor focal planes may be either body fixed (strapdown) or gimbal mounted. With the models incorporated into a full 6-DOF missile simulation, many aspects of seeker design may be addressed from a system level; in fact, the models have been used to support several seeker-concept evaluations for the US Army Strategic Defense Command