Dynamically Reconfiguration Vision

Comptek Amherst Systems, Inc.

Buffalo, NY

Comptek Amherst Systems has developed inexpensive, low-power, reconfigurable sensors that reduce video bandwidth in real-time surveillance, precision strike, and other tactical imaging applications.

Three-Window DRV Imagery: Dual Target Tracking plus Full
Field-of-View Surveillance

Optional Powerpoint file

• NASA - Vision system for extravehicular helper/retriever
• Air Force - Prototype DRV system is in use and a second-generation system will be delivered in 2001 (PPM)
• US Navy - Surveillance and target identification from unmanned vehicles is a top concern. Currently the Navy is funding an infrared DRV preliminary system design.

• Fabricated a reconfigurable sensor with three programmable on- chip windows. Snapshot-mode integration, multi-resolution via pixel averaging, and multiple readout ports. The on-chip windows can be reconfigured on a frame-by-frame basis to have arbitrary position, size, resolution and overlap.
• Developed a digital camera the incorporates the aforementioned imager and features a fast Ethernet data link for sensor configuration commands and return video, TCP/CP, embedded sensor controller, and a microprocessor.
• Created a demonstration system on a laptop PC running a Windows NT graphical user interface.
Currently developing a second-generation 800x600 sensor that will have on-chip analog-to-digital converters in addition to the previous generation’s features. Engineering studies are also commencing to implement DRV technology on low light level and shortwave IR (SWIR) sensors

• Currently working with industry partners to develop field-worthy prototype systems by 2001, and plan to begin high-volume sensor and camera board production by 2004.
• Several patents are pending on DRV technology, Comptek Amherst is establishing an intellectual property core to make DRV available for licensing by interested parties

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