Mission success is highly dependent on the ability to accomplish Surveillance, Situation Awareness, Target Detection
and Classification, but is challenging under adverse weather conditions. This paper introduces an engineering prototype
to address the image collection challenges using a Common Optical Path, Multiple Sensors and an Intelligent Image
Fusion System, and provides illustrations and sample fusion images. Panavision's advanced wide spectrum optical
design has permitted a suite of imagers to perform observations through a common optical path with a common field of
view, thereby aligning images and facilitating optimized downstream image processing. The adaptable design also
supports continuous zoom or Galilean lenses for multiple field of views. The Multiple Sensors include: (1) High-definition
imaging sensors that are small, have low power consumption and a wide dynamic range; (2) EMCCD sensors
that transition from daylight to starlight, even under poor weather conditions, with sensitivity down to 0.00025 Lux; and
(3) SWIR sensors that, with the advancement in InGaAs, are able to generate ultra-high sensitivity images from 1-1.7μm
reflective light and can achieve imaging through haze and some types of camouflage. The intelligent fusion of multiple
sensors provides high-resolution color information with previously impossible sensitivity and contrast. With the
integration of Field-Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) and Application-Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), real-time
Image Processing and Fusion Algorithms can facilitate mission success in a small, low power package.
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