Real-time hyperspectral detection and cuing

The Dark HORSE 1 (Hyperspectral Overhead Reconnaissance and Surveillance Experiment 1) flight test has demonstrated autonomous, real-time visible hyperspectral detection of military ground targets with real-time cuing of a high-resolution framing camera. An overview of the Dark HORSE 1 hyperspectral sensor system is presented. The system hardware components are described in detail, with an emphasis on the visible hyperspectral sensor and the real-time processor. Descriptions of system software and processing methods are also provided. The recent field experiment in which the Dark HORSE 1 system was employed is described in detail along with an analysis of the collected data. The results evince per-pixel false-alarm rates on the order of 10(-5)/km(2), and demonstrate the improved performance obtained by operating two detection algorithms simultaneously. (C) 2000 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers. [S0091-3286(00)01607-X].