| Low, slow flying aircraft (LSF) are an asymmetric threat to surface combatants at anchor or steaming in the littorals. Availability and sophistication of small aircraft and guidance systems make LSFs tomorrow’s Improvised Explosive Devices (IED). Navy ships, such as the Zumwalt class (DDG-1000), need to include LSFs in their threat set for Anti-terrorism/Force Protection (AT/FP). However, air search radars can overlook LSFs because of their low Doppler shifts, and in port, air search radar may be unavailable. Often the first source of detection is the surface search radar or electro-optic/infrared surveillance (EO/IR). Autonomous Persistent Surveillance and Targeting for the Asymmetric Air Threat (APSTAAT) is an amalgam of successful and mature technologies that we bring together to provide autonomous threat ID and allow a single operator to act as an entire watch team, supporting optimized manning concepts. The system will provide persistent surveillance even during times when the ship is at relaxed readiness condition. APSTAAT focuses on and improve upon radar and EO/IR inputs, but accepts track inputs from air search radars and other sensors. The APSTAAT team, led by Advanced Optical Systems, Inc., includes Technology Systems Inc. (TSI) of Brunswick, Maine and Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems (IDS). AOS brings the ULTOR® Object Recognition System (ORS), a collection of image processing solutions that provide real-time automatic target recognition, shaped-based tracking, and motion detection target acquisition. In previous Navy work TSI has developed an expert system for analysis of intent, and augmented reality, for effective human interface. Raytheon IDS is the system integrator for DDG-1000 and contributes the surface search radar expertise. In this SBIR Phase I the APSTAAT team concentrated on concept validation and satisfaction of Zumwalt AT/FP requirements. We successfully demonstrated through experiment that autonomous EO/IR detection and tracking is feasible. By analysis we showed that both radar cueing of EO/IR and EO/IR to weapons handoff are feasible and will help the crew to deal with the demanding detect-to-engagement timeline. We have proven feasibility of APSTAAT in this phase of the project. In the next phase we will build and test critical components and prepare for transition to the fleet. |  | 
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