A report discusses the continuing development of Windows Interface for Nominal Displacement Selection (WINDS), a computer program for automated analysis of images of the Sun and planets acquired by scientific instruments aboard spacecraft. WINDS is intended to afford capabilities for identification of features, measurement of displacements and velocities, analysis of terrain and of atmospheres, and synthesis of animation sequences of images of terrains and atmospheres from small sets of samples by use of velocity based interpolation. A major element of WINDS will be a nonlinear correlator capable of tracking small features in complex image sequences. For dynamic image sequences, the correlator will enable compression of data by factors >100. In processing image data, WINDS will take account of such factors as texture in image data, rotation of features during measurement intervals, effects of viewing and solar illumination angles, and vertical structures of atmospheres. WINDS will also take account of positions, aiming directions, and fields of view of cameras to determine three-dimensional feature structures by use of triangulation and stereoscopic analysis techniques.
This work was done by Eric De Jong and Jean Lorre of Caltech for NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. For further information, access the Technical Support Package (TSP) free on-line at www.techbriefs.com/tsp under the Information Sciences category. This software is available for commercial licensing. Please contact Don Hart of the California Institute of Technology at (818) 393- 3425. Refer to NPO-30360.
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Feature-Identification and Data-Compression Software
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Overview
The document is a New Technology Reporting Form from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) detailing an innovation called "Autonomous Feature Identification and Data Compression" (WINDS). This technology aims to address a fundamental challenge in autonomous planetary missions: identifying common features in multiple images of surfaces and atmospheres. Such identification is crucial for target recognition, spacecraft positioning, displacement measurement, and wind velocity computation.
The WINDS system is designed to provide a Windows interface that facilitates feature identification, displacement measurement, velocity measurement, terrain analysis, atmospheric analysis, and the animation of terrain and atmospheric data. This capability is essential for enhancing the operational efficiency of autonomous missions.
The document outlines the current state of the technology, indicating that while a prototype has been developed, further significant development is necessary to adapt the technology for onboard spacecraft use. This includes modifying and optimizing algorithms for specific instruments and converting the code to run on onboard computer systems. The technology is not a semiconductor chip product, and it has not yet been fixed in its final form.
Potential applications for this technology include remote sensing instrument manufacturers and remote system integrators, as well as the entertainment industry, specifically Hollywood special effects. The document notes that there are plans to submit a paper regarding this technology and that it has not been distributed outside of JPL. Additionally, there are intentions to disclose the technology to the public in the future.
The funding for this project comes from NASA, and the document emphasizes the importance of the technology in relation to NASA's aeronautical and space activities. It also mentions that the technology could be eligible for publication in NASA Tech Briefs, which aims to disseminate aerospace-related developments with wider applications.
Overall, the document serves as a comprehensive overview of the WINDS technology, its development status, potential applications, and future plans for disclosure and publication, highlighting its significance in advancing autonomous planetary exploration capabilities.
