This paper will describe the developmental steps of a Live Fire Testing and Training Initiative project to develop intelligent, interactive infrared (IR) targets for use in both training and testing. The University of Central Florida (UCF) team will develop an IR projection capability suitable for providing live-fire targets for testing and training with IR systems in the 8-12 micron band. The system will use a Computer Generated Forces (CGF) system to control the IR projector imagery to provide intelligent, shoot-back capable, IR targets projected onto a fountain of water.
Current IR Target systems are unsatisfactory. Conventional approaches use IR targets physically heated with heating strips that are constantly being "blown away" when used in live fire. In addition heating strips have slow response time and cannot provide fast changing and moving imagery. Scanning laser projectors are not suitable since their interaction with the scanning mirrors in Forward Looking Infra Red (FLIR) sensors produces the appearance of a cloud of butterflies.
The unique developmental approach detailed in this paper is based on the Texas Instruments (TI) video projector Digital Light Processor (DLP) technology. The project is designed to produce the full range of military targets on unique reusable and renewable water-based projection screens.