Enhanced MMW and SMMW/THz imaging system performance prediction and analysis tool for concealed weapon detection and pilotage obstacle avoidance

The U.S. Army Research Laboratory has continued to develop and enhance a millimeter-wave (MMW) and submillimeter-wave (SMMW)/terahertz (THz)-band imaging system performance prediction and analysis tool for both the detection and identification of concealed weaponry and for pilotage obstacle avoidance. The details of the MATLAB-based model that accounts for the effects of all critical sensor and display components, for the effects of atmospheric attenuation, concealment material attenuation, active illumination, target and background orientation, target and background thermal emission, and various imaging system architectures have been reported on in 2005, 2007, and 2011. This paper provides a comprehensive review of a newly enhanced MMW and SMMW/THz imaging system analysis and design tool that now includes an improved noise submodel for more accurate and reliable performance predictions, the capability to account for postcapture image contrast enhancement, and the capability to account for concealment material backscatter with active-illumination-based systems. Present plans for additional expansion of the model's predictive capabilities are also outlined.