A robust missile defense architecture is vital in the effort to shield the United States against the threat of ballistic missiles. Since its founding in 2008, ExoAnalytic Solutions has been committed to developing technologies for the US Missile Defense Agency (MDA) to enable such an architecture. Specifically, we develop software algorithms to provide target detection, tracking, characterization, and discrimination using data from radar and optical sensors.
FOCAL PLANE PROCESSING
ExoAnalytic Solutions is a world leader in algorithm development for processing real-time images from visible and infrared CCD cameras. Our algorithms provide end-to-end processing of raw frames, yielding positional and brightness data for objects in the scene while filtering out unwanted observations from stars, debris, clouds, etc. This filtering enables our advanced processing algorithms to estimate object positions with sub-pixel precision.
TRACKING AND PREDICTION
The MDA’s Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS) requires algorithms which convert target detections from radar and optical sensors into orbit tracks. This allows the BMDS to predict where targets will be in the future and enables downstream discrimination algorithms to determine which of the tracked objects need to be intercepted. ExoAnalytic Solutions helps to provide this critical capability by developing the algorithms which create integrated system tracks.
CHARACTERIZATION AND DISCRIMINATION
During a missile defense engagement, most tracked objects are non-threatening (e.g. debris, fuel tanks, hardware, etc.) and should be treated differently than hostile objects. ExoAnalytic Solutions develops advanced algorithms which rapidly and autonomously determine the nature of each object and decide which object(s) to intercept. This process, called discrimination, is perhaps the most critical function of the BMDS aside from tracking.
C2BMC
The BMDS is centrally controlled from the Command and Control, Battle Management, and Communications (C2BMC) element, which is responsible for tasking sensors, synchronizing data, allocating weapons, and optimizing the response to threats. ExoAnalytic Solutions develops algorithms for the C2BMC which perform sensor and weapon allocation, deliver integrated data fusion for system tracking and discrimination, and enable handover of the information to the interceptor.
MODELING AND SIMULATION
ExoAnalytic Solutions creates models and simulated data sets for the development and testing of new missile defense technologies. These simulations employ detailed physics models of all aspects of a missile defense scenario, including trajectories, target and sensor models, and environmental factors. Our simulations utilize both government-developed codes (e.g. OSC, Optisig, APSM, and Debrisim) and in-house code (e.g. Exo6Sim, ExoRFSim, CloudSim, SysTRAAK, and SEAS). People often mistake our sensor simulations for real-world flight test data.
SysTRAAK – BMDS Performance Simulation
SysTRAAK models end-to-end system performance of the Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS). SysTRAAK simulates the key elements of the missile defense system including OPIR, airborne IR, ground-based radars, and interceptors working collaboratively to quantify a range of measures of performance including probability of engagement success. SysTRAAK is a discrete event simulation. Specifically, it is an end-to-end system performance functional model designed to test system performance and to verify and validate system requirements. It controls time, propagates a constellation of satellites, schedules sensors, generates object sighting messages based on included threat scenarios and satellite positions, produces a 3D track, commits interceptors, determines engagement success, and maintains data on all significant events.
Exo6SIM – High Fidelity Modeling of Space Object Signatures
Exo6Sim models the signatures of complex objects (including missiles, satellites, interceptors, debris, etc.), and generates high-fidelity focal plane images as viewed from infrared and visible sensors. Each simulated object is propagated in 6 degrees of freedom, and each surface of the object is thermally modeled using its specific heat, hemispherical spectral emissivity, and known environment. Radiative, reflected solar, earthshine, and albedo signature components for IR and Visible wavebands are calculated for each surface according to its Bidirectional Reflectance Distribution Function (BRDF).
