OCR Text |
Show 26 HILL TOP TIMES Wednesday, November 26, 1986 sister AlCs ' V Look into the future Laser dairt;.blart path to smarter weapon systems resolution within its field of view even at long ranges." Using various scanning and pulse rates, the LADAR test equipment can get an accurate By A1C Richard Eglin AFB, Fla. J. Bartleson Jr. Research in laser technology is blazing a path Air Force toward independent, weapon systems. In fulfilling the mission, these autonomous weapon systems must be able to identify targets, distinguish them from other background objects, and judge direction and distance to them, explained Dr. Steve Butler, an electronics engineer at the Advanced Seeker Division of Armament Division, Eglin AFB, Fla. "From a human perspective, the laser radar would be the eyes, and the seeker unit would be the brain of the weapon system," said Mr. Butler. "LADAR technology allows various target details to be identified and compiled by the seeker unit of an autonomous weapon. In other words, the weapon would depend on the LADAR ... jv as jpend on our eyes." The test equipment used in recent experiments on an Eglin test site can see objects more than a kilometer away. Test engineer 1st Lt. Mike Lank-for- d said, "The LADAR system is capable of high self-contain- (LA-DA- R) self-functioni- ng Navy C-- 1 C-13- three-dimension- al "By applying computerized algorithms to the different images, the seeker unit can identify targets and locations in a background environment," Mr. Butler said. "The images can even be combined with holographic techniques to provide images for a pilot in applications." Mr. Butler cited the civilian application of this technology, saying it can be found in assembly plants where robots pick out parts and attach them to other objects. The use of robots in nuclear power plants, where radiation levels would be too high for three-dimension- al non-autonomo- us people, is another application. It might even be used at airports to identify types of aircraft. A Doppler system, similar to that being used in the laboratory's experiments, is already being used to detect wind shear conditions near airports. "LADAR technology is opening the way for feasible application of autonomous weapons as well as that will providing information for the super-cockp- it allow pilots to perform their mission," said Mr. Butler. (AFLC News Service courtesy of AFSC News Service) 30s to go through Air Force maintenance shops was the center of attention last month during a special rollout ceremony at Robins AFB, Ga. The aircraft is the first to undergo programmed depot maintenance at the Warner Robins Air Logisr tics Center under a interservice support in the agreement Navy signed September 1985 and the Air Force inked in February 1986, said Sara Bainbridge, a logistics management specialist in materiel management's System Program Management Division. Before the contract period expires, a projected 74 aircraft will go through the maintenance process at Robins. The agreement marks a significant achievement in interservicing cooperation for depot maintenance. A Navy image of the field of view. "Although the laser beam travels at the speed of light, we can pulse the beam at short intervals in a fashion similar to current radars," said Lieutenant Lankford. "The difference is that the LADAR produces a detailed image instead of a blip." Mr. Butler explained that existing Forward Looking Infrared Systems, which give only thermal images, can be supplemented by a laser and active detector to produce reflectance, range and Doppler (motion) images as well as altitude, speed and directional information. A reflectance image is one produced by the intensity" of the returning beam. "Objects reflect part of the beam back to the system with an intensity dependent upon the objects' substances and shapes," Mr. Butler said. "These features can be used with others to tell the difference among trees, large rocks and desired targets." A range image is produced by measuring the time it takes the various pulses to return. "Each dot of the image is ranged independently to provide a picture of the tar"The Mr. Butler range image is explained. get," very stable and isn't affected by change in lighting or temperature." The Doppler image is produced by measuring the motion of other objects with respect to the LADAR, according to the electronics engineer. In this type of image, only moving objects will show up, as well as indications of their speeds. 0 five-yea- The Depot Maintenance Interservice Program is group, chaired by Brig. Gen. guided by a flag-levJohn M. Nowak, AFLC deputy chief of staff for maintenance. The program has achieved $348.8 million in cost avoidance to date. Last year, 3.4 million hours of depot maintenance work, representing $283 million, were accomplished within the el program. , The ceremony was a joint venture of the Directorates of Maintenance and Materiel Management at Warner Robins ALC and the Navy. Representing the center were Maj. Gen. Cornelius Nugteren, center commander; Brig. Gen. Gary H. Mears, vice commander; Col. Jerry Sturm, director of Maintenance; and Charles Wallace, deputy director of Materiel Management. Attending on behalf of the Navy were Capt. R.A. Kogler of the Naval Air Aviation Logistics Center, Patuxent, Md., program manager for Navy and Capt. Ernest Lewis of the Naval Air Systems Command in Washington, D.C., program manager for Airborne Strategic Communications. General Nugteren termed the occasion "a very special day" in the joint venture between the Navy and Air Force and expressed his appreciation to all those who met the challenge. He said this is another example in which teamwork made a difference. Captain Lewis also thanked everyone who had worked on the project and said that each would receive the same attention the first aircraft off the line received. (AFLC News Service) C-13- C-1- 30 HoDnday SpecoaDsS Also Located At 1720 West 1000 North - Layton 544-546- 8 Sweater - Shirts Snpcial for 1 8020 Redwood Road (Rear of E&J Mfg.) 566-505- 9 lt1 Only 2 00 Night Shirts $oo $00 ill ft Co) Children's Coats startjngat$2 k.Tl Fleece Robes $2500 Knit & Sweat Shirts All Sizes $550 & $500 |