NewsHottie
12th Jan 2010, 00:00
http://dvice.com/assets_c/2010/01/needle-haystack-binoculars-thumb-550x368-31838.jpgLooks like we're all going to have to ditch the phrase, "...like finding a needle in a haystack." That's because DARPA is advancing designs on something called the Fine Detail Optical Surveillance (FDOS) system, which it hopes will be able to spot "a needle moving along the surface of a haystack." That's right. Not just a needle, but a moving one!
So what's that mean? According to DARPA, that would call for a "fundamentally new optical ISR capability that can provide ultra high-resolution 3D images for rapid, in-field identification of a diverse set of targets." From the sounds of it, the FDOS system would be able to determine what's of interest and what's not and readily prepare clear images of the targets. There would be more portable applications of the technology — such as binoculars for infantry — and more heady-duty versions for spy drones and the like.
The aforementioned moving needle comes from a government statement on the FDOS which read:
[I]The program can be described as developing the technology and systems analogous to that required for the rapid imaging and identification, without the need for scanning or focusing of the optical receiver, of a needle moving along the surface of a haystack, where the location and type of needle on the haystack is uncertain
Via The Register (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/01/11/darpa_needle_haystack/)
More... (http://dvice.com/archives/2010/01/darpa-literally.php)
So what's that mean? According to DARPA, that would call for a "fundamentally new optical ISR capability that can provide ultra high-resolution 3D images for rapid, in-field identification of a diverse set of targets." From the sounds of it, the FDOS system would be able to determine what's of interest and what's not and readily prepare clear images of the targets. There would be more portable applications of the technology — such as binoculars for infantry — and more heady-duty versions for spy drones and the like.
The aforementioned moving needle comes from a government statement on the FDOS which read:
[I]The program can be described as developing the technology and systems analogous to that required for the rapid imaging and identification, without the need for scanning or focusing of the optical receiver, of a needle moving along the surface of a haystack, where the location and type of needle on the haystack is uncertain
Via The Register (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/01/11/darpa_needle_haystack/)
More... (http://dvice.com/archives/2010/01/darpa-literally.php)