WARHORSE

WARHORSE is a hyperspectral technology development program that was headed by the Optical Sciences Division of the Naval Research Laboratory. WARHORSE supported the development of algorithms, processors, and sensors for hyperspectral reconnaissance and surveillance applications.

WARHORSE capabilites were deomnstrated using a Predator unmanned air vehicle (UAV). The sensor package included the following key elements:

	a sensor suite comprised of a hyperspectral VNIR sensor and a panchromatic visible-band high-resolution line-scan sensor,
	a sensor interface computer (SIC) developed by Space Computer Corporation (SCC) for data acquisition,
	a data processing computer (DPC) developed by SCC executing SCC-developed algorithms for real-time target detection and cueing, and
	a ground station developed by SCC for displaying the hyperspectral data in the form of a waterfall display, and displaying high-resolution, visible-band image chips of detected objects.

Commands are sent from the ground station to the WARHORSE system using Predator payload control commands, and digital data are sent from the Predator to the ground station via an SCC -developed digital interface to an existing RS-170 data link.

The Predator Unmanned Air Vehicle (UAV) used in the WARHORSE experiments. This particular aircraft is operated by the Naval Postgraduate School Center for Interdisciplinary Remotely Piloted Aircraft Studies (NPG - CIRPAS).

The WARHORSE hyperspectral sensor.
CCD: 1024 x 1024 silicon FPA
Size: 8.5" w x 10" h
Weight: 15 lbs
Front-End Optics: 75 mm lens
Field-of-view: 9.3 degrees
Cross-Track IFOV: 0.16 mrad
Spectral Range: 400 - 1000 nm
Spatial Pixels: 1024
Frame Rate: 40 frames/second
Pixel Depth: 12 bits

The WARHORSE high-resolution panchromatic sensor.
Manufacturer: Dalsa
Size: 14" length
Weight: 5 lbs
Front-End Optics: 300 mm lens
Field-of-view: 10 degrees
Cross-Track IFOV: 0.03 mrad
Spectral Range: Panchromatic visible
Spatial Pixels: 6000
Frame Rate: Up to 5000/second
Pixel Depth: 8 bits

The WARHORSE sensor package consisting of the two imaging sensors, the inertial measureing unit (IMU) (left front), and the shutter-control mechanism (top) for the hyperspectral sensor.

The WARHORSE sensors mounted in the nose of the Predator with the nose fairing removed. The two boresighted sensors point down through fairing penetrations shown in the figure below.

The WARHORSE imaging sensors point down through two penetrations in the Predator's nose fairing.

The WARHORSE ground station display consists of two monitors. Normally the real-time hyperspectral waterfall is displayed on one monitor, and the high-resolution video chips are displayed on the other monitor, but both can be displayed on one monitor if desired.

The WARHORSE ground station waterfall display for the hyperspectral data. The display is corrected in real time for aircraft roll; hence the wavey black borders in the display. Digital data for the display are transmitted from the Predator to the ground station via an SCC-developed digital interface to one of the Predator's standard RS-170 data links. The red squares denote detected targets. Bright green points (difficult to see in the reduced-size image above) denote target detections that did not meet specified size constraints. High-resolution images of targets from the panchromatic sensor are sent to the ground station as part of the data stream.

The WARHORSE high-resolution target image display. The nine most recently detected targets are displayed at all times. At the right is the target log, which lists all detected targets and their geo-coordinates (lat/long). Any selected target image can be displayed in the lower right corner for prolonged viewing. All target data, including the high-resolution images, are stored in the ground station for later analysis.