KEYWORDS: Sensors, Human subjects, Surveillance, Visualization, Video surveillance, Environmental sensing, Infrared sensors, Defense and security, Data modeling, Information security
Remote detection of harmful intent is necessary for eective and appropriate countermeasures and will reduce
risks to life and property. Trained human observers and sensor systems typically use facial expressions, gaits,
gestures, perspiration, and a number of other observable characteristics as possible indicators of harmful intent
with mixed results. It is proposed that responses of human subjects to external stimuli can be used as additional
indicators of harmful intent in surveillance contexts. A variety of alerting stimuli, possible responses to the
stimuli, features to be sensed by sensors, and the utility of these sensed features as indicators of harmful intent
are discussed in this paper. An ontology-based data-to-decision framework for assessing human intent, which
would leverage the formal representations of the alerting stimuli, as well as the variety of possible responses, is
proposed in the context of Semantic Web infrastructure.
The Long Wave Infrared (LWIR) Profile Feature Extractor (PFx) sensor has evolved from the
initial profiling sensor that was developed by the University of Memphis (Near IR) and the Army
Research Laboratory (visible). This paper presents the initial signatures of the LWIR PFx for
human with and without backpacks, human with animal (dog), and a number of other animals.
The current version of the LWIR PFx sensor is a diverging optical tripwire sensor. The LWIR
PFx signatures are compared to the signatures of the Profile Sensor in the visible and Near IR
spectral regions. The LWIR PFx signatures were collected with two different un-cooled micro
bolometer focal plane array cameras, where the individual pixels were used as stand alone
detectors (a non imaging sensor). This approach results in a completely passive, much lower
bandwidth, much longer battery life, low weight, small volume sensor that provides sufficient
information to classify objects into human Vs non human categories with a 98.5% accuracy.
This paper discusses the development of an Unattended Ground Sensor based on an array of pressure sensors designed
to be buried in the ground. This sensor array, along with the required software (still under development), will have the
ability to distinguish between humans and animals based on the size and shape of the foot print. The technology may
also be applied to determine the weight and type of vehicle traveling on a road. The sensor array consists of pressure
sensitive resistors (piezoresistors) on 0.8 inch centers printed on a sheet of polyimide film. Although very large arrays
might one day be screen printed, the arrays for this study have been printed using a syringe dispenser and a precision x-y
computer controlled table. For the preliminary development, the array has been sized to 8X10 inches. The piezoresistive
properties of the sensors are discussed and preliminary test data is presented. It is shown that the piezoresistive gauge
factor (ΔR/R/ΔL/L) is roughly 10 times that of conventional metal strain gauges. Because the change in resistance is
large compared to metal strain gauges, lower cost electronics can be used. The small net size and low mass enables
sensing elements with fast response time. The fact that these piezoresistive elements are directly printed, as opposed to
being adhesively attached to a surface, eliminates many of the issues associated with bonded discrete sensors. It is
anticipated that the piezoresistive sensor approach presented in this paper will be well suited to extremely rugged
environmental conditions compared to the commercially available sensor arrays which rely on surface contact resistance
or capacitive sensors which can be easily destroyed by moisture. Environmental testing will be done in a future phase of
the project. The final system, which is still under development, will consist of a sensor array, information processing,
and RF signal transmission. The system is anticipated to be low cost and environmentally rugged.
The optical performance of an infrared sparse sensor detector system is modeled. Such a system, due to its low cost, uses single element, spherical, off-the-shelf optical components that may produce poor quality off-axis images. Since sensors will not populate the entire focal plane, it is necessary to evaluate how the optics will affect sensor placement. This analysis will take into account target location, optical system aberrations, and wavelength, in an effort to determine the proper placement of the sparsely populated sensors.
This paper addresses a new type of sensor that we are calling a profiling sensor. The profiling sensor collects sufficient
information to classify objects reliably. In addition to meeting the classification requirement, the profiling sensor is
inexpensive to build and maintain, will have a low unit production cost, uses a small amount of power, has a long battery
life, and is very low weight. A variety of concepts are presented along with human signatures from one specific profiling
sensor. In addition the paper includes a discussion of different concepts or architectures for profiling sensors as a
function of potential applications.
Conference Committee Involvement (8)
Ground/Air Multisensor Interoperability, Integration, and Networking for Persistent ISR III
23 April 2012 | Baltimore, Maryland, United States
Infrared Imaging Systems: Design, Analysis, Modeling, and Testing XXII
26 April 2011 | Orlando, Florida, United States
Ground/Air Multisensor Interoperability, Integration, and Networking for Persistent ISR II
26 April 2011 | Orlando, Florida, United States
Infrared Imaging Systems: Design, Analysis, Modeling, and Testing XXI
6 April 2010 | Orlando, Florida, United States
Ground/Air Multi-Sensor Interoperability, Integration, and Networking for Persistent ISR
6 April 2010 | Orlando, Florida, United States
Infrared Imaging Systems: Design, Analysis, Modeling, and Testing XX
14 April 2009 | Orlando, Florida, United States
Unattended Ground, Sea, and Air Sensor Technologies and Applications XI
13 April 2009 | Orlando, Florida, United States
Infrared Imaging Systems: Design, Analysis, Modeling, and Testing XIX
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