Improvement of optical and acoustical technologies for the protection: Project IMOTEP.: Network of heterogeneous sensor types for the protection of camps or mobile troops

摘要

Snipers have emerged as a major threat to troops in recent conflicts. To reduce this menace, the objective of the French-German Research Institute of Saint Louis (ISL) research project "IMOTEP" is to improve the detection of snipers on the battlefield. Our basic approach is to combine several sources of information for a fast and appropriate reaction when an unusual signal (e.g. a flash or a shot) is detected. The project includes several technologies developed at ISL: acoustical detection, fusion of distributed sensor network data, active imaging and 3D audio communication. The protection of camps, convoys or dismounted soldiers rests on a distributed acoustical sensor network that detects and localizes sniper attacks. An early estimation of the threat position is transmitted through a network to an active imaging system in order to confirm and refine this position by 3D imaging. The refined position is then sent to the control center which generates an alert message that displays the threat position using two formats: a tactical map and a 3D audio signal. In addition, the camp is protected by an ad-hoc sensor network used for intruder detection.