<title>Calculation of utmost parameters of active vision system based on nonscanning thermal imager</title>

Abstract

An active vision system (AVS) based on a non scanning thermal imager (TI) and CO₂ - quantum amplifier of the image is offered. AVS mathematical model within which investigation of utmost signal / noise values and other system parameters depending on the distances to the scene - the area of observation (AO), an illumination impulse energy (W), an amplification factor (K) of a quantum amplifier, objective lens characteristics, spectral band width of a cooled filter of the thermal imager as well as object and scene characteristics is developed. Calculations were carried out for the following possible operating modes of a discussed vision system: - an active mode of a thermal imager with a cooled wideband filter; an active mode of a thermal imager with a cooled narrowband filter; - passive mode (W = 0, K = 1) of a thermal imager with a cooled wideband filter. As a result of carried out researches the opportunity and expediency of designing AVS, having a nonscanning thermal imager, impulse CO₂ - quantum image amplifier and impulse CO₂ - illumination laser are shown. It is shown that AVS have advantages over thermal imaging at observation of objects, temperature and reflection factors of which differ slightly from similar parameters of the scene. AVS depending on the W-K product can detect at a distance of up to 3000..5000m practically any local changes (you are interested in ) of a reflection factor. AVS not replacing the thermal imaging allow to receive additional information about observation objects. The images obtained with the help of AVS are more natural and more easy identified than thermal images received at the expense of the object own radiation. For quantitative determination of utmost values of AVS sensitivity it is offered to introduce a new parameter - NERD - 'radiation nose equivalent reflection factors difference'. IR active vision systems of vision, as well as a human vision and vision systems in the near IR - range on the basis image intensifiers provide obtaining the scene image having been irradiated with a source of illumination only at the expense of local differences in reflective properties. Such images are more natural and more easy identified than thermal images obtained at the expense of the scene own radiation.