Development of a Peripheral-Central Vision System to Detect and Characterize Airborne Threats

dc.contributor.authorKang, Chang Kooen
dc.contributor.committeechairWoolsey, Craig A.en
dc.contributor.committeememberSultan, Cornelen
dc.contributor.committeememberFarhood, Mazen H.en
dc.contributor.committeememberKochersberger, Kevin B.en
dc.contributor.departmentAerospace and Ocean Engineeringen
dc.date.accessioned2020-10-30T08:00:17Zen
dc.date.available2020-10-30T08:00:17Zen
dc.date.issued2020-10-29en
dc.description.abstractWith the rapid proliferation of small unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), the risk of mid-air collisions is growing, as is the risk associated with the malicious use of these systems. The airborne detect-and-avoid (ABDAA) problem and the counter-UAS problem have similar sensing requirements for detecting and tracking airborne threats. In this dissertation, two image-based sensing methods are merged to mimic human vision in support of counter-UAS applications. In the proposed sensing system architecture, a ``peripheral vision'' camera (with a fisheye lens) provides a large field-of-view while a ``central vision'' camera (with a perspective lens) provides high resolution imagery of a specific object. This pair form a heterogeneous stereo vision system that can support range resolution. A novel peripheral-central vision (PCV) system to detect, localize, and classify an airborne threat is first introduced. To improve the developed PCV system's capability, three novel algorithms for the PCV system are devised: a model-based path prediction algorithm for fixed-wing unmanned aircraft, a multiple threat scheduling algorithm considering not only the risk of threats but also the time required for observation, and the heterogeneous stereo-vision optimal placement (HSOP) algorithm providing optimal locations for multiple PCV systems to minimize the localization error of threat aircraft. The performance of algorithms is assessed using an experimental data set and simulations.en
dc.description.abstractgeneralWith the rapid proliferation of small unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), the risk of mid-air collisions is growing, as is the risk associated with the malicious use of these systems. The sensing technologies for detecting and tracking airborne threats have been developed to solve these UAS-related problems. In this dissertation, two image-based sensing methods are merged to mimic human vision in support of counter-UAS applications. In the proposed sensing system architecture, a ``peripheral vision'' camera (with a fisheye lens) provides a large field-of-view while a ``central vision'' camera (with a perspective lens) provides high resolution imagery of a specific object. This pair enables estimation of an object location using the different viewpoints of the different cameras (denoted as ``heterogeneous stereo vision.'') A novel peripheral-central vision (PCV) system to detect an airborne threat, estimate the location of the threat, and determine the threat class (e.g. aircraft, bird) is first introduced. To improve the developed PCV system's capability, three novel algorithms for the PCV system are devised: an algorithm to predict the future path of an fixed-wing unmanned aircraft, an algorithm to decide an efficient observation schedule for multiple threats, and an algorithm that provides optimal locations for multiple PCV systems to estimate the threat position better. The performance of algorithms is assessed using an experimental data set and simulations.en
dc.description.degreeDoctor of Philosophyen
dc.format.mediumETDen
dc.identifier.othervt_gsexam:27899en
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10919/100744en
dc.publisherVirginia Techen
dc.rightsIn Copyrighten
dc.rights.urihttp://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/en
dc.subjectCounter-UASen
dc.subjectComputer visionen
dc.subjectAircraft dynamicsen
dc.subjectOptimizationen
dc.titleDevelopment of a Peripheral-Central Vision System to Detect and Characterize Airborne Threatsen
dc.typeDissertationen
thesis.degree.disciplineAerospace Engineeringen
thesis.degree.grantorVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State Universityen
thesis.degree.leveldoctoralen
thesis.degree.nameDoctor of Philosophyen

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