Ground-based Optical Target Tracker

Project Goal: Develop an easily transportable real-time optical tracking system to investigate suspicious vehicles at domestic critical infrastructure sites.

The Ground-Based Optical Target Tracking, or GOTT, an autonomous image processing tracking system, tracks a full-size vehicle moving approximately 28 kilometers per hour from 50 to 300 meters away. A camera mounted on a motion control tripod closes the loop around the camera image/target tracking algorithms. A pan-tilt motion control assembly, made of 6061 aluminum, is mounted directly to the tripod for image stabilization and target designation. After the image processing algorithms designate a target, a low-power green laser is used to designate the target for the system operator.

The object detection algorithm uses a neural network to locate a user-selected vehicle within the field of view. The target detection algorithm communicates with an optimized target tracking algorithm and sends commands to the pan/tilt assembly to keep the moving target in view. The camera is boresight-aligned and mounted directly under the laser designator. The pan-tilt assembly consists of a pulley and gear system that allows for more precise movements from the stepper motor.