Archer sensitivity

[sarmed1]

So I was having a discussion with someone at work about CAP aircraft capabilites, and honestly I dont know enough about the specifics of the system.  How small of a target can it actually detect and how much of a deviation from the programed target inormation will it still "pick out" as the target.

feel free to pm me if you dont want to answer it here

mk

[cap235629]

Archer=Irrelevant

What a waste of time and resources better sent elsewhere.  Why design a system and then not support it?

[lordmonar]

So I was having a discussion with someone at work about CAP aircraft capabilites, and honestly I dont know enough about the specifics of the system.  How small of a target can it actually detect and how much of a deviation from the programed target inormation will it still "pick out" as the target.

feel free to pm me if you dont want to answer it here

mk

Assuming best conditions it think it has a resolution down to about six inches.

I think you can select the range of target selection for a "hit" so even if you have a paint sample.......the ARCHER can still search the other specras related to it.

[sardak]

Publicly available information about ARCHER is here: http://members.gocivilairpatrol.com/emergency_services/operations_support/advanced_technologies.cfm

And more information here: http://rmgsc.cr.usgs.gov/awg/addinfo.shtml

From the information on those pages: ARCHER is designed for missions to optimally be flown at 2,500 ft AGL at a ground speed of 100 knots. At these conditions, the HSI sensor will "see" objects that are at least one square meter in size within the ground swath of 500 meters.

Post-processing using the GeoSharpen and GeoRef software can create geo-referenced imagery to 6 inch per pixel resolution. However, producing 1 foot resolution imagery takes much less time and is suitable for most customers. It's important to note that the system can produce "true-color" imagery which is more useful to more customers than the hyperspectral products.

Mike

[Major Lord]

I understand that in evaluations it was relatively successful in spotting the 2nd Lt's ( ARMY: gotta love having disposable crash dummies ) laying in the snow in low altitude overflights. Without spectrum capabilities beyond visible and near-IR, its nearly useless. Maybe we could find some of the guys who are good with divining rods and do a double blind test...... Color recognition and real time albedo analysis with ambient, instead of active, controlled spectrum lighting of known amplitude,  is something mostly from Harry Potter's world. For God's sake, just buy some thermal imaging gear which will do what we want, and is off-the-shelf. We promise not to ID your indoor pot farms, honest!

Major Lord
Skeptic

[bosshawk]

After spending $19 million on planes and sensors, wCAP has six out of the original 16 units that are operational and these, largely, can detect yellow trucks and blue tarps.  I ran two tests of the system to see if it would detect marijuana and the system failed miserably on that task.

I am a sensor guy with over 40 yrs experience, so my credibility is usually fair.  IMHO, ARCHER was designed by idiots, built by novices and bought by incompetents.

[Short Field]

IMHO, ARCHER was designed by idiots, built by novices and bought by incompetents.

But that covers half the systems the military buys as well...  Don't talk just about the major ones - think back to all the small systems as well.

[bosshawk]

After 30 years on AD and in the REserves, I can well agree with you.

[davidsinn]

IMHO, ARCHER was designed by idiots, built by novices and bought by incompetents.

But that covers half the systems the military buys government is involved with as well...  Don't talk just about the major ones - think back to all the small systems as well.

FTFY 

[sarmed1]

... I ran two tests of the system to see if it would detect marijuana and the system failed miserably on that task....

was that based on the plant/leaf or soil color change around it?

mk

[bosshawk]

PM, please, Mark.  Don't like to discuss stuff like this in public.

[wingnut55]

Common Col Reed, I was one of your Archer operators, you no darned well we spotted the Blue three foot by three foot leaves. I have not been on Captalk for 7 months but I had to say something.

Bob