Mr. Robert L. Steadman Profile

Robert L. Steadman

Technical Director

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Publications (6)

Proceedings Article | 10 June 2014 Paper

Advanced MicroObserver(R) UGS integration with and cueing of the BattleHawk(TM) squad level loitering munition and UAV

Bob Steadman, John Finklea, James Kershaw, Cathy Loughman, Patti Shaffner, Dean Frost, Sean Deller

Proceedings Volume 9079, 90790D (2014) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2049645

KEYWORDS: Sensors, Infrared sensors, Unattended ground sensors, Infrared imaging, Imaging systems, Target detection, Target acquisition, Video, Visualization, Control systems

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Textron’s Advanced MicroObserver^(R) is a next generation remote unattended ground sensor system (UGS) for border security, infrastructure protection, and small combat unit security. The original MicroObserver^(R) is a sophisticated seismic sensor system with multi-node fusion that supports target tracking. This system has been deployed in combat theaters. The system’s seismic sensor nodes are uniquely able to be completely buried (including antennas) for optimal covertness. The advanced version adds a wireless day/night Electro-Optic Infrared (EOIR) system, cued by seismic tracking, with sophisticated target discrimination and automatic frame capture features. Also new is a field deployable Gateway configurable with a variety of radio systems and flexible networking, an important upgrade that enabled the research described herein. BattleHawk^TM is a small tube launched Unmanned Air Vehicle (UAV) with a warhead. Using transmitted video from its EOIR subsystem an operator can search for and acquire a target day or night, select a target for attack, and execute terminal dive to destroy the target. It is designed as a lightweight squad level asset carried by an individual infantryman. Although BattleHawk has the best loiter time in its class, it’s still relatively short compared to large UAVs. Also it’s a one-shot asset in its munition configuration. Therefore Textron Defense Systems conducted research, funded internally, to determine if there was military utility in having the highly persistent MicroObserver^(R) system cue BattleHawk’s launch and vector it to beyond visual range targets for engagement. This paper describes that research; the system configuration implemented, and the results of field testing that was performed on a government range early in 2013. On the integrated system that was implemented, MicroObserver^(R) seismic detections activated that system’s camera which then automatically captured images of the target. The geo-referenced and time-tagged MicroObserver^(R) target reports and images were then automatically forwarded to the BattleHawk Android-based controller. This allowed the operator to see the intruder (classified and geo-located) on the map based display, assess the intruder as likely hostile (via the image), and launch BattleHawk with the pre-loaded target coordinates. The operator was thus able to quickly acquire the intended target (without a search) and initiate target engagement immediately. System latencies were a major concern encountered during the research.

Proceedings Article | 8 May 2010 Paper

Development of an infrared imaging classifier for UGS

Bob D'Agostino, Mike McCormack, Bob Steadman

Proceedings Volume 7693, 76930K (2010) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.851808

KEYWORDS: Infrared imaging, Automatic target recognition, Unattended ground sensors, Databases, Target detection, Image processing, Long wavelength infrared, Infrared radiation, Detection and tracking algorithms, Feature extraction

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Proceedings Article | 5 May 2009 Paper

Helicopter acoustic alerting system for high-security facilities

Robert Steadman, Scott Hansen, Chris Park, Dennis Power

Proceedings Volume 7305, 73050C (2009) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.820944

KEYWORDS: Acoustics, Sensors, Homeland security, Human-machine interfaces, Electronics, Diagnostics, Detection and tracking algorithms, Fiber optics, Target detection, Radar

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Proceedings Article | 16 April 2008 Paper

Target activated frame capture

G. Marlon Roberts, James Fitzgerald, Michael McCormack, Robert Steadman

Proceedings Volume 6963, 69630Z (2008) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.783045

KEYWORDS: Motion detection, Sensors, Video, Composites, Intelligence systems, Surveillance, Edge detection, Cameras, Detection and tracking algorithms, Target detection

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Proceedings Article | 11 May 2007 Paper

UGS video target detection and discrimination

G. Marlon Roberts, James Fitzgerald, Michael McCormack, Robert Steadman, Joseph Vitale

Proceedings Volume 6562, 65620J (2007) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.736101

KEYWORDS: Detection and tracking algorithms, Target detection, Image processing, Sensors, Video processing, Video, Infrared imaging, Unattended ground sensors, Acoustics, Video surveillance

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Proceedings Article | 1 September 2004 Paper

Terrain commander UGS operational trials

Robert Steadman

Proceedings Volume 5417, (2004) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.541676

KEYWORDS: Sensors, Unattended ground sensors, Target detection, Acoustics, Electro optics, Infrared sensors, Cameras, Image processing, Visualization, Infrared radiation

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Showing 5 of 6 publications

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