Louisiana Tech researchers investigate tracking, sensors to assist...( Two Louisiana Tech faculty members D...)

Two Louisiana Tech faculty members, Dr. Sumeet Dua, an assistant professor of computer science, and Dr. Rastko Selmic, an assistant professor of electrical engineering, are using their skills and technical knowledge to help the U.S. Air Force and Department of Defense with sensor networks and tracking capabilities.

Duas project, called Automated Target Detection and Tracking, or ATR, involves the development of fast and accurate computer algorithms for the automated recognition, identification, classification and tracking of targets of interest.

Algorithms can be applied to national defense in a variety of ways, including missions involving air-to-ground, ground-to-ground, surface-to-surface and air-to-air scenarios, Dua said. The algorithm is unique in its ability to use a system-level approach to define both a targets signatures and movement. It uses sophisticated data-mining techniques, a class of computer science algorithms used to discover embedded, hidden patterns and anomalies in data which are previously unknown but very useful.

The targets are received using remote sensors such as cameras and radars. Software then determines their positions and features with rotational and translational variations. Dua said the algorithm uses patterns to get a unique targets signature information.

The algorithm is novel in its ability to take a system-level approach to achieve reinforced concurrent learning of both the targets signatures and movement in a single run of the software program, he said.

The algorithms can be used in metropolitan areas to identify humans in irregular terrains and to identify and log the suspicious movement of vehicles of interest, Dua said.

We give monthly reporting to the Air Force, which is different from regular projects, he said. We usually report to them once every six weeks. Its very good feedback we get back from them.

Selmics group study deals with research of deploymen
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