ITER upper port wide angle viewing system optical design and performance analysis

The Upper port Wide Angle Viewing System (UWAVS) is diagnostic system that provides visible light and InfraRed images of the divertor area in the ITER tokamak. The main functions of the UWAVS are to provide divertor wall and plasma luminance and temperature distributions at high spatial resolution (3–5 mm) and frame rates (500–1000 Hz) for...

220-GHz imaging radar with 1-Hz frame rate using an array of homodyne transceivers

We present a 220 GHz imaging radar prototype that has been developed in the European Defense Agency (EDA) project TIPPSI. The purpose of the development was to demonstrate short-range high-resolution 3D imaging for security applications at checkpoints, and to guide the development of stand-off real-time millimeter wave and sub-millimeter wave...

Assessing the prospects for robust sub-diffraction limited super-resolution imaging with deep neural networks

High resolution images are critical for a wide variety of military detection, recognition and identification tasks. Super-resolution reconstruction algorithms aim to enhance the image resolution beyond the capability of the imaging system being used. Until recently, undersampling of the optical signal on the image sensor has been the key factor...

Electromagnetic deformable mirror for space applications

To increase the collecting power and to improve the angular imaging resolution, space telescopes are evolving towards larger primary mirrors. The aerial density of the telescope mirrors needs to be kept low, however, to be compatible with the launch requirements. A light-weight (primary) mirror will introduce additional optical aberrations to...

Evaluation of deep neural networks for single image super-resolution in a maritime context

High resolution imagery is of crucial importance for the performance on visual recognition tasks. Super-resolution (SR) reconstruction algorithms aim to enhance the image resolution beyond the capability of the image sensor being used. Traditional SR algorithms approach this inverse problem using physical models for the image formation combined...

High-grade, compact spectrometers for Earth observation from SmallSats

The market for nano-and microsatellites is developing rapidly. There is a strong focus on 2D imaging of the Earth's surface, with limited possibilities to obtain spectral information. More demanding applications, such as monitoring trace gases, aerosols or water quality still require advanced imaging instruments, which are large, heavy and...

Compressive sensing for high resolution profiles with enhanced Doppler performance

In this paper we demonstrate how Compressive Sensing (CS) can be used in pulse-Doppler radars to improve the Doppler performance while preserving range resolution. We investigate here two types of stepped frequency waveforms, the coherent frequency bursts and successive frequency ramps, which can be used for high resolution range profiling....

PDR status for TROPOMI, the sentinel 5 Precursor instrument for air quality and climate observations

The Tropospheric Monitoring Instrument (TROPOMI) is being developed for launch in 2014 on GMES Sentinel 5 Precursor satellite. Global Monitoring for Environment and Security (GMES) is a joint initiative of the European Community (EC) and of the European Space Agency (ESA). TROPOMI is a passive sun backscatter spectrograph using the ultraviolet...

Visualizing the Limits of Low Vision in Detecting Natural Image Features

Purpose. The purpose of our study was to develop a tool to visualize the limitations posed by visual impairments in detecting small and low-contrast elements in natural images. This visualization tool incorporates existing models of several aspects of visual perception, such as the band-limited contrast model of Peli (J Opt Soc Am A 1996;13:1131...

Range non-linearities correction in FMCW SAR

The limiting factor to the use of Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave (FMCW) technology with Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) techniques to produce lightweight, cost effective, low power consuming imaging sensors with high resolution, is the well known presence of non-linearities in the transmitted signal. This results in contrast and range...

Image parameters for driving with indirect viewing systems

Indirect viewing systems such as tv cameras can potentially support drivers under low visibility conditions or when the driver's field of view (FOV) is restricted. In three experiments, we identified the critical image parameters of such systems on vehicle control. We used a taskbattery that measured lateral and longitudinal vehicle control in...