The EOSTAR Pro Model Suite - Current and
Future Development.
Weather Impact Decision Aids Workshop,
Reno (NV),13-15th March 2012
Marianne Degache, scientific software product manager
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Outline
1. EOSTAR Pro : from research to product development – v1.x
2. Upgrades for EOSTAR Pro suite v2.x
3. Scientific and modelling challenges of interest
4. Current availability and future releases
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TNO
1. “Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research”
2. Independent research organisation funded in 1932
3. More than 4,400 employees accross7 research themes
HEALTHY
LIVING
INDUSTRIAL
INNOVATION
DEFENCE,
SAFETY AND
SECURITY
ENERGY
BUILT
ENVIRONMENT
TRANSPORT
AND MOBILITY
INFORMATION
SOCIETY
4. TNO aims at innovating with purpose:
We develop knowledge not for its own sake but for practical application.
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EOSTAR
Acronym : Electro-Optical Signal Transmission And Ranging
Container of scientific models developped for maritime scenarios
EO system Atmosphere
Processor
CM
target
False targets
background
Initially provided R&D solutions (scientific analysis)
Became a product in 3 main steps:
Integration of user requirements
Combine and coordinate a team of various specialists
Get a system perspective
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Scientific background of EOSTAR Pro library
Atmospheric studies:
Micro-meteorological & refraction models, aerosol measurement and
models, satellite remote sensing, innnovative studies (inverse
methods)
Electro-optical systems characterization:
sensor concept and trade off studies, in lab performance measurement
and modelling
Signature management:
Target modelling, signature field measurements, thermal computation
and analysis
Maritime Background:
IR Cluttered background, maritime background simulator
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Towards product development
Technical challenge : from « scientific » to « operational » (↑TRL)
Ergonomy : GUI design and selection of results to display
Communication :
END USER
REQUIREMENTS
FEEDBACK
FUNCTIONAL DESIGN
UPGRADES
Strategy :
Cooperative development (→modular approach)
Deployment (→user profiling)
Performance : optimization
MODELLER
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Examples of EOSTAR Pro v1 capabilities
Predict Horizon Reduction
Target visible!
Target not visible!
Predict Mirages effects
Simulate the sensor image
Compute the probability
of detection
Assess the impact of maritime aerosol
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Upgrades & Development of EOSTAR Pro v2.x
Scientific models:
Upgrades: sensors, target, meteo, IR plume
New Development: wake, countermeasures (IR flares), IR seeker
(hot spot/imaging)
Integration to external applications: client/server interfaces, EOSTAR
use as IR image simulator, as processor, or as signature
management tool
Training: operational and expert training for EOSTAR Pro user
community, work with (operational) schools and training facilities
Verification & Validation: unit test per module, integration and global
test, scientific validation from experiments and trials
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Electro-Optical Sensor modelling upgrades
Detailed component modelling (optical system, detector materials…)
Interface for measurement or predicted sensor performance (MTF,
sensor response, ..)
New Performance criteria (Alternative to Johnson criteria, image
quality for target classification and identification, image and signal
processing for IRST and IR seekers)
Introduce NIR/VIS sensor modelling capability for v3
TOD method as
substitute for
Johnson criteria
Image distorsion due to
sensor effects
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Targets database extension
Customized and operational target database
(CAD modelling, thermal properties, signature computations)
From TargetBuilder v1 to SHIBA : (semi) automatic generation of a
generic (unclassified) database
TargetBuilder
SHIBA
Selection of target class
Target elements
parenthood
Element
geometri
cal
paramet
ers
Automatic Generation of a
default class instance
3D
View
Contr
ol
Final customization
of the target
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Meteo inputs interfaces & integration
Interface to mesoscale format (GRIB data format), direct use of NWP
to drive EOSTAR Pro: HIRLAM operational data or WRF outputs
Build and use reference climalology (when no data is available)
We cannot change the environment….
…. But we can predict the effects on sensor performance
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Validation efforts
Lab measurements, CUBI target, met station
Field Compaigns for Atmospheric studies (RED,
VAMPIRA,FATMOSE… )
NATO field trials for signature measurement (SAPPHIRE,
SQUIRREL,…)
In 2012 : SMARTEX
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Scientific and modelling challenges of interest
Coastal environment : new complex and cluttered scene background
(land/sea interactions), Inhomogeneous atmophere characterization,
coastal aerosol models
Complex theater of operation : multiple (unknown) manoeuvring targets,
decoys, obscurants
Bring the relevant information in time and
define the operational impact (mission success?)
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Conclusion
EOSTAR Pro is meant as a link from R&D to operational product
prototyping (dual mode operator/expert)
Simple COTS product (runs on a laptop with Windows)
Demo available* (since 2011 : v2.4, by end of 2012 : v3)
Customization on request
Choice of agile development to realistically address user issues
Exchange platform thanks to a modular software design
*EOSTAR Pro requires a valid license of Modtran4 release 0 version 1
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Questions
All models are wrong, but some are useful
… the practical question is how wrong do they have to be to
not be useful.
(George E. P. Box)