Evaluation of Range Estimation Performance of FLIR with Field Requirements Criteria

Abstract

Thermal imaging performance depends on many variables, ranging from the properties of the imaged object to atmospheric transmittance and system parameters. After clarification of the functional needs in system design or procurement, system parameters of the design that can meet these needs should be determined. Diagnosis/recognition from a distance is one of the foremost of these needs. The following briefly introduces the Forward Looking Infrared (FLIR) systems, followed by explanations for calculating the theoretical diagnostic range. After the theoretical information, sample systems are given, and high-performance FLIR systems are presented. To accurately analyze, measure and predict the performance of FLIR systems, a model should calculate summary performance measures of the system in the form of Minimum Resolvable Temperature (MRT) and Modulation Transfer Function (MTF) between a target and its background and estimate range for a given scenario electro-optical required for the performance evaluation of the system. The accuracy of these calculations will ultimately determine the accuracy of the model by which the performance of the FLIR system is evaluated.

Keywords

• Forward-Looking Infrared
• Thermal Imaging
• Infrared System Performance

References

1. Biberman, L. M. (1975). Displays and Perception of Displayed Information Seminar Series, University of Tel Aviv, 1–10 September 1974. Applied Optics, 14(4), 800. doi:10.1364/ao.14.000800
2. Driggers, R. G., Vollmerhausen, R. H., & Krapels, K. A. (2000). Target identification performance as a function of low spatial frequency image content. Optical Engineering, 39(9), 2458-2462. doi:10.1117/1.1288362
3. Hou, F., Zhang, Y., Zhou, Y., Zhang, M., Lv, B., & Wu, J. (2022). Review on infrared imaging technology. Sustainability, 14(18), 11161. doi:10.3390/su141811161
4. Javidi, B. (Ed.) (2006). Optical Imaging Sensors and Systems for Homeland Security Applications. New York: Springer. doi:10.1007/b137387
5. Johnson, J. (1958, October 6-7). Analysis of imaging forming systems. In: Proceedings of the Image Intensifier Symposium (pp. 249-273). Ford Belvoir, VA.
6. Krapels, K., Driggers, R. G., Larson, P., Garcia, J., Walden, B., Agheera, S., Deaver, D., Hixson, J., & Boettcher, E. (2008, March 16-20). Small craft ID criteria (N50/V50) for short wave infrared sensors in maritime security. In: G. C. Holst (Eds.), Proceedings of the Infrared Imaging Systems: Design, Analysis, Modeling, and Testing XIX, 694108, Orlando, Florida, United States. SPIE. doi:10.1117/12.778062
7. Krapels, K., Deaver, D., & Driggers, R. (2006, September 11-14). Small craft identification discrimination criteria N50 and V50 for visible and infrared sensors in maritime security. In: R. G. Driggers & D. A. Huckridge (Eds.), Proceedings of the Electro-Optical and Infrared Systems: Technology and Applications III, 63950T, Stockholm, Sweden. SPIE. doi:10.1117/12.689140
8. Moyer, S. K., Hixson, J. G., Edwards, T. C., & Krapels, K. A. (2006). Probability of identification of small hand-held objects for electro-optic forward-looking infrared systems. Optical Engineering, 45(6), 063201. doi:10.1117/1.2213997

9. Moyer, S. K., Flug, E., Edwards, T. C., Krapels, K. A., & Scarbrough, J. (2004, April 12-16). Identification of handheld objects for electro-optic/FLIR applications. In: G. C. Holst (Eds.), Proceedings of the Infrared Imaging Systems: Design, Analysis, Modeling, and Testing XV, Orlando, Florida, United States. SPIE. doi:10.1117/12.542066
10. NATO Standardization Agency. (1995). Measurement of the Minimum Resolvable Temperature Difference (MRTD) of Thermal Cameras (NATO STANAG 4349).
11. NATO Research and Technology Organisation. (2003). Experimental Assessment Parameters and Procedures for Characterization of Advanced Thermal Imagers. No: RTO-TR-075(II). (Accessed: 01/03/2023) PDF:https://www.sto.nato.int/publications/STO Technical Reports/RTO-TR-075-II/TR-075(II)-$$ALL.pdf
12. Perić, D., & Livada, B. (2019, June 3-6). MRTD Measurements Role in Thermal Imager Quality Assessment. In: S. Vukosavić, & B. Lončar (Eds.), Proceedings of 6th International Conference on Electrical, Electronic and Computing Engineering ((Ic)ETRAN 2019) in conjunction with 63rd National Conference on Electrical, Electronic and Computing Engineering (ETRAN), (pp. 336-340), Silver Lake, Serbia.
13. Perić, D., Livada, B., Perić, M., & Vujić, S. (2019). Thermal imager range: Predictions, expectations, and reality. Sensors, 19(15), 3313. doi:10.3390/s19153313
14. Sagan, V., Maimaitijiang, M., Sidike, P., Eblimit, K., Peterson, K. T., Hartling, S., Esposito, F., Khanal, K., Newcomb, M., Pauli, D., Ward, R., Fritschi, F., Shakoor, N., & Mockler, T. (2019). UAV-based high resolution thermal imaging for vegetation monitoring, and plant phenotyping using ICI 8640 P, FLIR Vue Pro R 640, and thermoMap cameras. Remote Sensing, 11(3), 330. doi:10.3390/rs11030330
15. Schmieder, D. E., & Weathersby, M. R. (1983). Detection performance in clutter with variable resolution. IEEE Transactions on Aerospace and Electronic Systems, AES-19(4), 622-630. doi:10.1109/taes.1983.309351
16. Teaney, B. P., Reynolds, J. P., & O’Connor, J. (2007, April 9-13). Guidance on methods and parameters for Army target acquisition models. In: G. C. Holst (Eds.), Proceedings of the Infrared Imaging Systems: Design, Analysis, Modeling, and Testing XVIII, 65430L, Orlando, Florida, United States. SPIE. doi:10.1117/12.734511
17. U.S Army Night Vision and Electronic Sensors Directorate. (2001). Night Vision Thermal Imaging Systems Performance Model: User’s Manual & Reference Guide. Fort Belvoir, VA.
18. Vollmer, M. (2021). Infrared Thermal Imaging. In: K. Ikeuchi (Eds.), Computer Vision, (pp. 666-670). Springer International Publishing. doi:10.1007/978-3-030-63416-2_844
19. Vollmerhausen, R. H., & Driggers, R. G. (2000). Analysis of Sampled Imaging Systems. SPIE Press, Bellingham, Washington USA. doi:10.1117/3.353257
20. Vollmerhausen, R. H., Reago Jr., D. A., & Driggers, R. G. (2010). Analysis and Evaluation of Sampled Imaging Systems. SPIE Press, Bellingham, Washington USA. doi:10.1117/3.853462
21. Vollmerhausen, R. H., & Jacobs, E. (2004). The Targeting Task Performance (TTP) Metric A New Model for Predicting Target Acquisition Performance. Defense Technical Information Center Technical Report, No: ADA422493.
22. Wolfe, W. L., & Zissis, G. J. (1985). The Infrared Handbook, Revised Edition. SPIE Press.