Real-time imagery over voice radios
	Ronald D. Frye vice-president, business development, Symetrics Industries, celebrates a breakthrough in photo imagery
			An unmanned air vehicle (UAV) is flying surveillance over a battle area when its sensor suite picks up the electronics signature of a threat SAM site. Immediately, the UAV’s systems record and process the signature characteristics and geo-location data and command the onboard camera to capture images of the site. Once the airborne shooter is given a mission, the aircraft moves into the area and receives a radio transmission from the UAV with all data necessary to release a precision strike munition such as the HARM. However, the difference with this mission is that the pilot also receives visual images of the target from the UAV and so can make a real-time decision about the type of bomb or missile to be used. Current military operations have illustrated the need for quality, visual confirmation of targets before engagements with new stand-off weapons. Also there is now a requirement to pass national source intelligence information to the warfighter to improve identification of the target prior to initial or follow-on attack. There are specialised, high-volume data links that support capture and transfer of imagery intelligence data, but to make data transfer to the warfighter often has required very costly additions of new radio systems to the platform.
			PRISM brings target imagery into the cockpit
			A picture is worth 1000 words The most expensive real estate in the world by volume is onboard fighter/attack aircraft, so adding another box to provide imagery transfer capability does not meet the criteria necessary to displace bullets and gas. So as an alternative to adding yet another box, the USAF began a project in mid-1997 to integrate imagery transfer capability into a box already onboard. Project Gold strike or the rapid targeting system (RTS), had a primary goal of equipping the air force with an imagery system for the F-16C Block 40 that would improve pilot situational awareness when attacking ground targets. For Project Gold Strike, a new video imagery module (VIM) was integrated into the MD-1295/B: improved data modem (IDM). This was already onboard the F-16C as a part of the Sure Strike system developed to allow ground observers assigned to the tactical air control party, using a Mark 7 laser rangefinder, a hand-held GPS receiver and an AN/PRC-113 or 117 UHF/VHF AM/FM radio, to transmit GPS-derived latitude, longitude and elevation of a target on the ground to close air support aircraft patrolling in the area. The Gold Strike VIM was integrated within the IDM’s functionality utilising the box’s 16-kilobyte data-transfer capability to transmit, store and receive up to 20 frames of compressed imagery. For the demonstration, the imagery sent from ground to aircraft required about 40 seconds per frame using a VHF AM/FM secure communications radio. With the exception of length of transmission time and the inability to utilise the IDM for other data transfer during image transfer, the demonstration was considered a resounding success because it showed use of video imagery reduced target-acquisition time from 20 to two minutes. Video imagery’s capability of reducing target acquisition times, reducing potential for fratricide and collateral damage, and providing rapid over-the-target bomb damage assessment, led to plans to develop field modifications of the 39 Block 40 F-16C jets of the 31st Tactical Fighter Wing at Aviano Air Base, Italy who were supporting NATO forces in Bosnia. The exchange of video imagery allows rapid over-the-target bomb damage assessment; reduced potential for fratricide and collateral damage; faster target identification for first time hits; reduced exposure to enemy fire and increased survivability; improved decision-making by commanders and zero-knots-one-G staff. Simultaneously, a consortium of Symetrics Industries, PhotoTelesis Corporation and ARINC, Incorporated teamed up to develop an alternative approach for getting video imagery capability into the cockpit. The approach was to modify the form factor of PhotoTelesis’ small hand-held image transceiver called the Military MicroRITTM or MMTTM to a SEM-E module configuration so it would be integrated easily into the MD-1295/B: improved data modem. The new video imagery module is the photo reconnaissance intelligence strike module (PRISM), or in the IDM configuration, PRISM-equipped IDM or PRISM-IDM. The new system employs a box-within-a-box approach to integration. Instead of the fully integrated approach of the VIM, the PRISM receives from the IDM only power and electrical plumbing to the platform’s video, communications and command buses. The PRISM acts as a separate box that happens to reside inside another system that is already onboard the aircraft. Benefits of this integration include PRISM’s complete interoperability with PhotoTelesis’ ground and airborne imagery products and ease of integration of the module to the platform’s busses. The PRISM-IDM is integrated with only minor modifications to the aircraft’s OFP that do not affect software or performance of the Improved Data Modem. The PRISM-IDM shows significant improvements over other systems, such as transmission times of 15 seconds or less; wavelet and JPEG compression for smallest file sizes and best quality images; a fully developed, low-cost ground support package; interoperability with other service imagery systems; and no impact on IDM performance. The PRISM-IDM is equipped to handle a variety of mission profiles. In one scenario, images of potential targets obtained from satellite or UAV reconnaissance platforms could be loaded via data cartridge into the PRISM’s memory for viewing en route. As new imagery of the target is received at the operations or command centre, it could be compressed and transmitted via voice radios for decompression and viewing by the pilot. Once in the target area, the pilot could direct sensors at the target, capture frames of video of the target and send that information back to the operations centre for confirmation of the target. Simultaneously, the pilot could send digital message traffic via the improved data modem over another of the platform’s radios. On clearance to engage the target, the pilot can capture images of the missile/bomb in-flight, at impact, and post-attack effects. In near real-time he can review and edit images for transmission to the operations centre for preliminary bomb-damage assessment. The pilot also can send imagery to the second inbound sortie so follow-on pilots will have current imagery of what the target looks like. On return to base, captured images can be downloaded for post-mission debriefing and complete BDA. This clearly demonstrates the benefits of cockpit video imagery in terms of eliminating uncertainty of battle and providing a conduit for sharing vital tactical and reconnaissance information. Last year DERA built on its successful demonstration of the IDM onboard the Jaguar for close air support (CAS) operations by integrating and flying the PRISM-IDM system onboard the same aircraft. And the USAF integrated the PRISM-IDM on a UAV and an F-16 aircraft to demonstrate enhanced capabilities in a suppression of enemy air defence (SEAD) role. At a fraction of the cost of a new radio, PRISM-IDM provides quality video imagery and digital communications. As a COTS item, the PRISM-IDM meets customers’ needs without large development costs. By combining PRISM’s video imagery abilities with IDM’s core ability of passing digital information between all platforms independent of nationality, service, or mission profile, the PRISM-IDM is the international digital translator. © >>>>> www >>>>> Symetrics Industries
	Features and benefits of the PRISM-IDM > The ability to capture, compress/decompress, and receive/transmit imagery data for target handover/identification and near real time BDA and reconnaissance. > Imagery capture rates of four images per second to show fast sequence images such as missile travel and impact. > Compatible with existing radios for reduced installation time and cost. > Capture/transmit images from tape playback; pilot can record events in hostile environment and playback and transmit when safe. > Accessible FLASH memory for ease of upload of pre-mission images or maps for viewing en route, and post-mission download for analysis. > Compatibility with a full line of fielded systems such as laptops starting at less than $4K to complete PC workstations. > Command controlled over 1553 buss or by RS232. > Robust data communications using signal averaging and FEC to allow transmission and reception of images at longer ranges and reduced transmission times. > Transmission of colour radar, FLIR, day/night television, or of any other video colour or monochrome image source. > Relay of images over the horizon from one aircraft to another. > Display of thumbnail image directories for quick review to reduce selection and transmission times. > Programmable image compression ratios for Wavelet and JPEG that allows proper compression ratio as determined by mission. > Imagery transmission times of under 15 seconds that reduces key up time on radio net and gets image to user faster. > Wavelet and JPEG image compression for smallest file size and best quality image. > Image cropping that reduces file size by as much as 75% and can decrease transmission time by the same percentage. > Programmable ability to predetermine image capture rate and time. > Single image shot mode. > Abort of image transmission and reception to return radio-to-voice mode for high priority voice communications.