Automatic Target Recognition

This second edition of Automatic Target Recognition provides an inside view of the automatic target recognition (ATR) field from the perspective of an engineer working in the field for 40 years. The algorithm descriptions and testing procedures covered in the book are appropriate for addressing military problems. The book also addresses unique aspects and considerations in the design, testing, and fielding of ATR systems. These considerations need to be understood by ATR engineers working in the defense industry as well as by their government customers. The final chapter discusses the future of ATR and provides a type of Turing test for determining if an ATR system is truly smart (neuromorphic or brain-like).

New to this edition is a reference design for a next-generation ATR. Coupling a Controller C to a recurrent ATR Model M forms a complete system that is more powerful in many ways than a standard ATR. This next-generation ATR can learn a never-ending sequence of tasks, adapt to unknown environments, and realize abstract planning and reasoning. It is suitable for implementation on two chips: a single, custom, low-power chip (<1 W) for implementing M, hosted by a standard processor serving as the Controller C. This ATR will be appropriate for various military systems, including those with extreme size, weight, and power constraints.