5 - Appendix B - Infrared and Electro Optical Technology Certificate.docx

Appendix B Infrared & Electro-Optical Technology Certificate Course Descriptions

· Infrared Technology and Applications

· Infrared Countermeasures - Secret

· Infrared/Visible Signature Suppression - Secret

· Military Laser Principles & Applications

· Directed Infrared Countermeasures - Secret

· Modeling & Simulation in Electro-Optical and Infrared Systems

· EO/IR Polarimetric Imaging Systems

· Fundamentals of Earth Remote Sensing

· Hyperspectral Imaging

· LIDAR Engineering

· Modeling Target Acquisition with Electro-Optical Imagers

Infrared Technology and Applications

Course Description Explore infrared systems engineering with emphasis on military systems. Understand how infrared systems operate. Study the performance limitations of current infrared systems, explore issues pacing the development of new systems, and understand key component technologies. Examine problem-solving, design, and analysis techniques with emphasis on experience-based rules of thumb. Develop a perspective for assessing the promise of new infrared technologies.

Learning Objectives

· Understand the operating principles of infrared systems

· Learn the major functions and components of an infrared system

· Understand the differences between FLIRs, IRSTs, NVGs, and between missile seeker types

· Understand the goals and promise of advanced generation sensors

· Predict target signatures

· Understand the differences between cooled and uncooled detectors

· Predict FLIR target acquisition and seeker lock-on range Outline

· Thermal Radiation & Imaging System Operating Principles

· IR Applications & Target Signature Phenomenology

· Video Trackers

· Detectors

· System Specification & Evaluation

Course Length Four (4) days.

Infrared Countermeasures – Classified SECRET

Explore military infrared, electro-optical, and laser countermeasures. Understand the issues, principles, and equipment designed to defeat weapons operating in the visual and infrared spectral regions. Focus on techniques that reduce the susceptibility of air and ground vehicles to acquisition, tracking, and homing weapons. Learn their limitations and integration problems. Get an assessment of their effectiveness, and study developing technologies.

Learning Objectives

· Choose the proper countermeasure suite for your platform

· Compare the merits of different missile and laser warning receivers

· Understand counter-countermeasure techniques employed by advanced threat missiles

· Select the best flare type and dispense patterns

· Understand the defeat mechanisms used by narrow beam and omni-directional jammers

· Learn the differences between IRCM and EOCM/PIRCM systems

· Understand the status of Active Protection System (APS) development

· Assess the merits of emerging countermeasure techniques Outline

· Overview and Warning Systems

· Threat Missile Characteristics and Countermeasure Decoys ,

· Waveform Jammers and Imaging Threat Countermeasures

· Laser Fire Control Countermeasures and Active Protection Systems

Course Length Four (4) days.

Security Requirements Class may be taught at SECRET level. Applicants must have SECRET-level clearance, need-to-know certification, and be U.S. citizens. Defense contractors may meet the need-to-know requirement by having the Need-to-Know Certification and Security Clearance form signed by a Department of Defense contracting officer or an official monitoring a classified program. Government personnel can meet the need-to-know requirement by having a supervisor sign the form.

Infrared/Visible Signature Suppression- Classified SECRET

Examine threat characteristics to derive signature vulnerabilities, suppression strategies, and priorities. Explore signature-generation mechanisms and modeling techniques as well as special types of challenges posed by a LO platform requirement. Investigate the survivability impact of suppress and the value of synergistic techniques with jammers and decoys.

Learning Objectives

· Evaluate IR and visible signature management techniques for your system

· Reduce signatures with cost effective techniques

· Reduce systems integration and technique problems using when synergistic and opposing technologies for signature management,

· Compare different techniques and assess technique effectiveness Outline

· Threat Sensor Lessons

· Target Signatures

· General Suppression Techniques

· Sensor Signature Suppression

· Multispectral Coatings

· Turbine Propulsion Principles

· Turbine Engine Signature

· Aircraft Signature Suppression

· Ship Signature Suppression

· Ground Vehicle Signature Suppression

· Signature Suppression Effectiveness

· Synergism with Jammers and Decoys

Course Length Four (4) days.

Security Requirements Class may be taught at SECRET level. Applicants must have SECRET-level clearance, need-to-know certification, and be U.S. citizens. Defense contractors may meet the need-to-know requirement by having the Need-to-Know Certification and Security Clearance form signed by a Department of Defense contracting officer or an official monitoring a classified program. Government personnel can meet the need-to-know requirement by having a supervisor sign the form.

Military Laser Principles and Applications

Review basic operating and design principles underlying laser-based military devices. Examine the operating principles of lasers with an emphasis on military systems, and get an overview of important technical issues associated with designing systems incorporating lasers. Explore basic laser operating principles, system design considerations, and environmental effects. Focus on an examination of existing military systems that incorporate lasers as a primary component.

Learning Objectives

· Understand the basic operating principles of lasers

· Understand major design issues associated with laser-based systems

· Identify the major components and technologies in military laser systems

· Explain the operation of laser-based military systems

· Gain insight into evolving applications of lasers Outline

· Review of Optics

· Basics of Lasers

· Nonlinear Optics

· Laser Device Overview

· Laser Safety

· Laser Design and Engineering

· Beam Control

· Pointing and Tracking

· Propagation

· LIDAR

· LADAR

· Rangefinders and Designators

· Battlefield Support

· Countermeasure Devices

· High Energy Systems

· Illuminators

· Operational Issues Course Length - Four (4) days.

Directed Infrared Countermeasures: Technology, Modeling, and Testing – Classified SECRET

The threat posed by infrared-guided missiles is increasingly important in the defense of the United States and other countries. Countermeasures to threat capability are required. Review the 27-year history of directed infrared countermeasures and threat operation. Focus on supporting technologies, and examine current DIRCM systems. Explore properties of high-power damage mechanisms and future trends in missile warning and laser resonator design.

Learning Objectives

· Catalog threat types

· Identify threat defeat mechanisms

· Select infrared jamming sources

· Examine missile warning system trade-offs

· Deal with the components of a DIRCM system

· Identify test strategies

· Identify test facility resources

· Produce cost-effective system evaluations of DIRCM systems Outline

· Evolution of the Threat

· History of Directed Infrared Countermeasures

· Components of Directed IRCM System

· Infrared Sources

· Digital Modeling Requirements for System Evaluation

· Open Air Testing Considerations

Course Length Three (3) days.

Security Requirements Class may be taught at SECRET level. Applicants must have SECRET-level clearance, need-to-know certification, and be U.S. citizens. Defense contractors may meet the need-to-know requirement by having the Need-to-Know Certification and Security Clearance form signed by a Department of Defense contracting officer or an official monitoring a classified program. Government personnel can meet the need-to-know requirement by having a supervisor sign the form.

Modeling & Simulation in Electro-Optical and Infrared Systems

Develop the techniques of modeling & simulation of modern electro-optical and infrared systems. These techniques can be applied to systems design, analysis, test and evaluation, and performance assessment. Cover basic EO/IR physics principles, fundamental M&S approaches, methods of modeling & simulating electro-optical systems components and phenomenology (targets, clutter, and propagation), and simulation scenario development.

Learning Objectives

· Identify major signature drivers in each EO/IR waveband

· Understand the modeling & simulation process

· Derive requirements for signature and system models

· Solve the EO/IR signature equation

· Gain expertise in building digital EO/IR models

· Understand the verification and validation process for M&S applications Outline

· Digital Modeling and Simulation Fundamentals

· Electro-Optical/Infrared Signature Physics

· Signature Modeling

· Propagation Modeling

· Electro-Optical and Infrared Imaging System Fundamentals

· System Component Modeling

· Scene Simulation

· Electro-Optical System Simulation

· Verification and Validation

· Applications of Modeling & Simulation

Five (5) days.

EO/IR Polarimetric Imaging Systems

Polarimetric imaging is a form of remote sensing relying on the relative intensity of the polarized components of reflected radiation from natural sources in an uncontrolled environment. Examine the nature of light and the electro-magnetic description of polarization with attention to notations in common use in the literature, including the Stokes vector and the Mueller matrix. Understand basic polarimetric phenomenology regarding the interaction of natural and polarized light with materials and the origins of the imaging process.

Learning Objectives

· Master basic polarimetric phenomenology regarding the interaction of polarized light with materials

· Explore the various forms of notation used in polarimetric imagery

· Know the various types of polarizing devices

· Learn the various forms of polarimetric sensors and the imagery they provide

· Identify the critical information embedded in polarized imagery Outline

· Fundamentals of EM waves, Polarimetric Descriptions

· Coherency Matrices/Stokes/Mueller Formalisms

· Polarizing Devices

· Polarimetric Imagery and Applications

· Theoretical Simulation Approaches

· Advanced Polarimetric Techniques

· Phenomenology

· Background and History of Polarimetric Imaging Sensors

· Polarimetric Sensors - Types and Implementation

· Scattering and the Effects of the Atmosphere on Polarimetric Sensing

· Characteristics of Polarimetric Imagery including Stokes and Mueller Formats

Three (3) days.

Fundamentals of Earth Remote Sensing

Remote sensing of the environment is a powerful tool in addressing a variety of scientific problems. New sensors and methods are continually under development to provide solutions to difficult detection and classification problems in surveillance, reconnaissance, defense, environmental monitoring, and homeland security. Get the basics of passive and active remote sensing (both optical and RF) as well as a review of fundamental data processing concepts. Obtain a detailed understanding of remote sensing principles, data analysis procedures, sensor technology, and technical capabilities associated with remote sensing systems. Review signature physics, data collection methods, environmental effects, image processing, data extraction, sensing modalities, and information resources.

Learning Objectives

· Explore the background and history of remote sensing

· Learn fundamental principles underlying remote sensing

· Study physics and signatures for optical, infrared, and radar sensors

· Understand atmospheric impacts on data collection

· Learn the capabilities of current and planned remote sensing modalities and platforms

· Understand fundamentals of sensor data processing and visualization

· Utilize remote sensing data resources, libraries, and archives Outline

· Background

· Signature Physics

· Sensor Fundamentals

· Atmospheric Propagation

· Sensor Data Acquisition

· Data Processing Concepts and Products

· Visualization and Analysis Techniques

· Remote Sensing Systems and Resources

Hyperspectral Imaging

Multispectral and hyperspectral imaging techniques are forms of remote imaging spectroscopy that rely on natural radiation sources in an uncontrolled environment. Explore remote spectral sensing techniques and significant technical issues associated with multispectral and hyperspectral imaging, including basic principles of spectroscopy, phenomenology of radiation-material interactions, fundamentals of hyperspectral signal processing techniques, and hyperspectral sensor design issues.

Learning Objectives

· Get the background and history of spectral sensing

· Master basic principles of hyperspectral imaging

· Know the issues and notation associated with hyperspectral processing including probability of detection, false alarm rates, and band selection

· Learn the basis of radiation-material interaction for remote spectral sensing

· Explore atmospheric corrections

· Master image, signal and data-processing techniques including decision theory, spectral matching, principal component transformations, matched filters other detection theoretic techniques

· Examine sensor design and signal-to-noise issues Outline

· Spectral Remote Sensing

· Spectral Sensors

· Modeling & Simulation Tools

· Algorithms for Spectral Target Detection and Characterization

Three (3) days.

LIDAR Engineering

Gain a comprehensive understanding of LIDAR systems and learn to avoid common problems and pitfalls. Learn the basic engineering trade-offs in the transmitter, receiver, and data acquisition subsystems. Analyze LIDARs for several applications and calculate signal-to-noise ratios for typical measurements. Understand how LIDAR techniques are used to characterize a wide range of atmospheric constituents and parameters.

Learning Objectives

· Describe how LIDAR techniques are used to characterize atmospheric parameters

· Identify the best types of LIDARs for specific applications

· Perform trade-offs among the engineering parameters of a LIDAR system

· Calculate signal-to-noise ratios for atmospheric measurements based on LIDAR system parameters and atmospheric optics

· Operate LIDAR systems and acquire remote sensing data

· Identify and understand common problems in LIDAR systems and LIDAR data

· Evaluate the performance of LIDAR systems Outline

· Overview of LIDAR Systems

· Overview of the Atmosphere

· Atmospheric Optics

· The LIDAR Equation

· Sky Background Equation

· The Laser Transmitter Subsystem

· Example LIDAR System

· The Receiver and Detector Subsystem

· The Signal-to-Noise Ratio

· Data Acquisition Subsystem

· Data Analysis and Data Products

· Other Types of LIDAR

· LIDAR SNR Analysis Examples Course Length

Modeling Target Acquisition with Electro-Optical Imagers

Explore the theory and application of the target acquisition performance models developed by the Army's Night Vision and Electronic Sensors Directorate at Fort Belvoir, Virgina. These models are published by SENSIAC at Georgia Tech Research Institute. Learn how the target acquisition performance (the range at which a target will be detected or identified) is predicted based on the image quality provided by the sensor.

Learning Objectives

· Model an EO imager to determine its target acquisition range performance

· Model the search, detect, recognize, and identify target acquisition cycle

· Compare field performance and model predictions

· Model advanced digital image enhancement techniques like extended range processing, image restoration, and local area contrast enhancement

· Understand the origin and meaning of Army range performance specifications

· Apply models to simulations to represent Computer Generated Forces

· Optimize sampled imagers for target acquisition

· Use NVThermIP, SSCAMIP, and the other NVESD computer programs Outline

· What the Models Do

· Fourier Transforms

· How the Models Work

· Analyzing Sampled Imagers

· Modeling the Effect of Motion

· Modeling Thermal Imagers

· Selected Topics for Reflected Light Imagers

· Using the Computer Models

Course Length Two (2) days.

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