Analysis of Optical Acquisition and Tracking by Decision Theory

摘要

In this report, the problems of acquiring and tracking a narrow light beam are treated as an information processing problem. A search vehicle, equipped with a coherent light transmitter and a light receiver, is able to generate a physical phenomena which acts as a source of information about the direction of a distant target vehicle. After sensing and processing this information, the search vehicle is able to select a subsequent action and to generate a better source of information about the target vehicle. The approach that has been taken in this report is similar to that which is taken in the solution of pattern recognition problems. Conventionally, a pattern recognition system is treated as a two-stage information processing system. A two-stage form of information processing permits the description of the state of the environment so that subsequent information processes can be more easily implemented. The mathematical models which are defined in this report are sufficiently complete so that, given a set of specific mission requirements, the models can be used to develop the actual equipment requirements for that mission.