<title>Performance of an EO/IR sensor system in marine search and rescue</title>

Abstract

This investigation centered on the most challenging search and rescue requirements: finding small targets in high seas. Our course of action was to investigate the capabilities of known hyperspectral and LWIR sensors in realistic conditions of target and environment to drive the design of a sensor system capable of substantially improving search efficiency and efficacy for these conditions. The relevant results from this study include demonstration of significant power in clutter rejection (e.g., whitewater and wave complexity) by the LWIR sensor. In addition, several factors combine to indicate that a modest implementation of HSI and IR sensors would provide significant improvement in search efficiency and efficacy for small targets in high seas. These factors include high PD, low PFA, and the untiring nature of the sensors when combined with the potential of real-time automatic target/background discrimination. This modest implementation would translate directly into faster, more complete coverage, at lower overall costs to the USCG, and a more likely probability of a successful search mission.